As of Feb. 28, Microsoft Defender clients will lose entry to the VPN that got here with the subscription. Billed as “the privateness safety function,” the VPN included within the subscription remoted Microsoft 365 functions for added safety. It was launched in 2023.
Why did Microsoft take away the VPN function?
“Our purpose is to make sure you, and your loved ones stay safer on-line,” an nameless Microsoft worker wrote within the end-of-support notification. “We routinely consider the utilization and effectiveness of our options. As such, we’re eradicating the privateness safety function and can spend money on new areas that may higher align to buyer wants.”
Studying between the traces, the assertion could imply the VPN didn’t see large buyer adoption. Microsoft’s VPN didn’t let clients select a location for his or her web connection, which means it couldn’t be used for one of the widespread client use circumstances: streaming country-gated media.
No different options of Microsoft Defender will change.
SEE: How are you going to inform in case your VPN is working correctly?
Do Microsoft 356 customers have to take any motion?
Microsoft 365 customers do not need to take any motion, though Android customers may need to. Microsoft will take away the VPN function from Home windows, iOS, and macOS customers routinely. Android customers can take away the VPN profile from their gadget if they like. Holding the VPN profile will neither negatively impression the gadget nor preserve the VPN energetic. To take away the VPN profile, go to Settings > VPN > Microsoft Defender and faucet the identify to take away it.
The brand new value consists of Copilot in Microsoft 365
Home windows Central, which noticed the end-of-support notification for the VPN, identified Microsoft elevated costs for Microsoft 365 Private and Household subscriptions just some days in the past. The elevated value comes with the addition of the generative AI assistant, Copilot. The $1.99 month-to-month Fundamental plan, which doesn’t include Copilot, was not affected by the worth hike.
Microsoft Defender requires a Microsoft Private or Household subscription. It supplies:
- Knowledge and gadget safety.
- Credit score monitoring within the U.S. solely.
- Id theft monitoring within the U.S. solely.
- Risk alerts.
Equally to Microsoft’s value improve, Google elevated the price of Workspace by a couple of {dollars} to make the Gemini chatbot out there by default.
