The VPN service is available on Windows, macOS, Android and iOS. Configuration is done via the Defender app. Microsoft excludes streaming services such as Netflix and Amazon Prime from its offering.
Microsoft has added a new service to its Microsoft 365 software and services subscription. Users can now protect their Internet connection with a virtual private network (VPN) protectThe service is activated via the Defender app for Windows, macOS, Android or iOS.
The VPN service is initially available in the USA, Great Britain, Canada and Germany. A monthly data volume of 50 GB is available, which is reset at the beginning of each month. The VPN service encrypts data traffic and conceals your own IP address, which is particularly recommended in public Wi-Fi networks or other untrustworthy networks.
In the Defender app, the VPN is activated under the item “extended data protection”. There you can also see the data volume already used and the number of days until the data volume is reset. However, configuration options such as those offered by paid VPN services are missing. Among other things, it is not possible to select a location in order to bypass local blocks of certain service providers, for example.
Certain applications are also automatically excluded from Microsoft’s VPN service. These include streaming services such as YouTube, Netflix, Disney+, Amazon Prime, Spotify and YouTube Music, but also social media services such as TikTok, Instagram, Snapchat, Facebook Video and WhatsApp.
Since all data is routed through the VPN provider’s servers when the VPN is active, Microsoft emphasized that neither browser data nor history, personal information or even the location of a device are stored. However, certain anonymized data such as the length of time the VPN was used, the bandwidth used and potentially harmful Wi-Fi hotspots are recorded.
