In a recent announcement, Microsoft has revealed plans to discontinue the Virtual Private Network (VPN) feature from its MS Defender in Microsoft 365 Personal and Family subscriptions by the end of February. The VPN, a tool designed to enhance user privacy by encrypting internet activity and masking online identities, has been instrumental in safeguarding users against third-party data tracking and cyber threats.
In a support note highlighted by Windows Central, Microsoft explained their decision: "We routinely evaluate the usage and effectiveness of our features. As such, we are removing the privacy protection feature and will invest in new areas that will better align to customer needs."
Introduced in 2023, this privacy tool in Defender has enabled millions of users to enjoy secure browsing without the need for an additional subscription. Despite its removal, Android users will still find the VPN feature in their settings beyond the cutoff date and will need to manually disable it should they choose to do so. Microsoft has assured users on Windows, iOS, and macOS platforms that no further action is necessary on their part.
Despite this change, Microsoft 365 subscribers in the U.S. will continue to have access to other security features, including identity theft protection and credit monitoring services.
