A new FAULTY feature has sparked backlash from Google customers who fear their private data could be compromised.
Earlier this year, the tech giant announced that it would shut down its VPN By Google One service on June 20.
A VPN, or virtual private network, establishes an airtight connection between a device and a network, scrambling your data and protecting it from prying eyes.
As promised, the service became unusable yesterday, leaving users with a replacement called Google’s VPN.
First announced as an exclusive feature for the Google Pixel 8 line, the new VPN – launched on June 3 – is also available for Pixel 7, 7 Pro, 7a and Pixel Fold devices.
However, problems are already emerging and frustrated customers are flocking to Reddit to air your complaints.
A Pixel 7 user said he was unable to use the new VPN due to complications with his service provider.
“The problem is that the help page says that the built-in VPN will be available with the June software update,” the user wrote.
“Well, Google still hasn’t released the June update for my carrier. They couldn’t wait to shut it down until the replacement was ready?”
Even those who managed to connect to the VPN had problems. A Pixel 8 user claimed the new VPN had “bugs.”
“I got an update this morningthe built-in VPN will connect, but nothing will load while it’s active,” wrote another user.
Still others joined the conversation. “I’ve had intermittent issues with the VPN, but today I had to turn it off for most of the day to load anything,” said one user.
Based on customer responses, the issue appears to affect the Pixel 7 and Pixel 8 series, although it will likely extend to the Pixel Fold as well.
Several Redditors mentioned the need to completely turn off the VPN to charge the phone.
However, this presents a new problem. By disabling the VPN, users can expose themselves to malicious actors who want their data.
“I feel a little scared without it,” confessed one Redditor.
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A VPN encrypts your data from the moment it leaves your device.
This means that the information is encrypted and can only be accessed by someone with the correct encryption key.
It goes through the VPN’s own servers, which can hide private information, including location details.
This provides an extra layer of defense against hackers, who may attempt to intercept traffic in what is known as a “man-in-the-middle attack.”
Using a VPN is encouraged when using public Wi-Fi, which allows you to spy on your data by design.
Until the issues are resolved, alternatives to Google’s built-in VPN are available in the Google Play Store.
What is a VPN? Virtual Private Networks Explained
Here’s what you need to know…
- A VPN, or virtual private network, is a type of application or computer program that protects your privacy online
- There are many situations where using a VPN can help increase your security or help you access content you wouldn’t otherwise be able to access.
- For example, if you don’t want to share your real IP address with a website you’re using, accessing it through a VPN will hide your real IP address from the website.
- You can also use a VPN if you are trying to access a website that is regularly blocked over a public internet connection. Of course, we are not suggesting that you visit nefarious sites using the Internet at school or work, but you may need to access a social media site that may be blocked.
- Finally, if you are accessing an insecure, public Wi-Fi network, perhaps at your local coffee shop or airport, you will have absolutely no way of knowing whether it is a secure network or not.
- Using these open networks can invite criminal hackers to steal your confidential data. Using a VPN in this case helps keep your files and data private and safe from prying eyes
This story originally appeared on The-sun.com read the full story
