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 put money into new areas that can higher align to buyer wants.”

Studying between the traces, the assertion might imply the VPN didn’t see extensive 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 crucial frequent client use instances: 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 shouldn’t have to take any motion, though Android customers may need to. Microsoft will take away the VPN function from Home windows, iOS, and macOS customers robotically. Android customers can take away the VPN profile from their gadget if they like. Conserving the VPN profile will neither negatively affect the gadget nor preserve the VPN lively. To take away the VPN profile, go to Settings > VPN > Microsoft Defender and faucet the title 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 only a few 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 offers:

• Knowledge and gadget safety.
• Credit score monitoring within the U.S. solely.
• Identification theft monitoring within the U.S. solely.
• Menace alerts.

Equally to Microsoft’s value enhance, Google elevated the price of Workspace by just a few {dollars} to make the Gemini chatbot accessible by default.