Mozilla partners with ProtonVPN to offer security-conscious Firefox users a VPN
Mozilla has announced a partnership with ProtonVPN as it explores new ways to keep people safe online.
Starting today, a select group of Firefox users in the US will see an ad for ProtonVPN encouraging them to take out a monthly subscription with the service. It's an experiment that is part of Mozilla's attempt to explore new revenue streams to help keep Firefox funded.
Webroot launches VPN to protect Wi-Fi users
Many people rely on connecting to Wi-Fi networks when they are out and about, but using public hotspots does present a significant security risk.
The best way to protect yourself is to use a VPN and cybersecurity company Webroot is launching its own in the form of Webroot WiFi Security, to provide security and privacy for users who connect to WiFi networks using Windows, Mac, and Android operating systems.
NordVPN finally launches a dedicated Linux app -- here's how to install and use it
A VPN is pretty much essential these days if you want to protect your privacy and beat annoying geographic restrictions put in place by websites and services. There are plenty to choose from, including some very good -- but usually limited -- free options.
NordVPN is one of the best paid VPNs, with apps for all of the major platforms. The one platform it hasn’t directly supported up until now is Linux, but that changes today.
Facebook VPN Onavo Protect disappears from App Store for violating Apple's data collection and privacy rules
Facebook bought Onavo and its VPN tool back in 2013, and ever since there have been concerns about how the social network uses the tool to gather data -- even when it is disabled.
Now Apple -- itself not a stranger to allegations of privacy violations -- has taken objections to the way Facebook sucks up data from its users through the Ovano Protect VPN app. The iPhone-maker warned Facebook that it was violating its rules on data collection and suggested that the company might want to voluntarily pull the app before it was forcibly removed from the App Store.
BBC recommends using VPNs after HTTPS switch leaves it blocked in China
Since switching all of its sites to secure HTTPS rather than plain old HTTP, the BBC has found that it is completely blocked online in China.
The corporation has issued a statement recommending that people in the region looking to access its services should turn to either a VPN, or the censorship-busting app Psiphon.
How much does Google know about you?
We all know that Google collects data and uses it to sell adverts. But just how well does Google know you?
VPN service comparison site TheBestVPN has created a full guide to how the corporation tracks you and what it does with the information.
Keeping your data safe while traveling
As we enter the summer people start to go away on vacations and visit sporting events like this year's World Cup in Russia, potentially exposing their digital devices and data to extra risks.
VPN advice service vpnMentor has produced a report looking at the particular risks travelers face and how they can protect themselves.
Opera VPN app to be permanently discontinued
Opera launched its VPN app for Android and iOS two years ago. The free app provided users with secure VPN encryption to the web (with support for spoofing one of five countries), plus the blocking of both ads and tracking cookies.
At a time when privacy is at the forefront of a lot of people’s minds, and VPNs are growing in popularity, it will perhaps come as a surprise to hear that Opera has made the decision to discontinue its app as of April 30. Yes, that’s the end of this month.
Privacy: Hotspot Shield, PureVPN, and ZenMate found to leak sensitive data
VPN tools have been in the headlines recently. Firstly, Facebook's Onavo VPN was found to be gathering user data, and then McAfee snapped up VPN firm TunnelBear. Now for users of Hotspot Shield, PureVPN and ZenMate, there's a warning: sensitive data such as your real IP address may be leaked.
A VPN company with a strong interest in privacy, vpnMentor, commissioned research into the three well-known tools, and problems were found in all of them. The developers were notified, but only HotSpot Shield has addressed the problems that were found.
McAfee buys VPN firm TunnelBear
Security firm McAfee has announced the acquisition of VPN company TunnelBear. Full details of the deal have not been revealed, and it is not known how much money has changed hands.
With a growing awareness of the importance of online security and privacy, VPN tools have grown in popularity in recent years, and the Canada-based TunnelBear has managed to gather 20 million users around the world.
Facebook Onavo VPN app gathers user data even when it is disabled
It is a number of years since Facebook acquired mobile data compression firm Onavo, but in recent weeks concern mounted about how the social network's Onavo VPN tool collects user data.
The collection of user data while an app or service is being used is one thing, but a security researcher noticed that Onavo seemed to gather certain snippets of user data even when switched off.
If you're concerned about privacy, you might want to skip Facebook's VPN -- Onavo Protect
Facebook and privacy are not words that really belong in the same sentence, so the idea that the social network is offering a VPN tool might well raise your suspicions. Back in 2013, Facebook acquired Onavo, the company behind the VPN tool Protect.
Recently, users of the Facebook iOS app noticed a link to something labelled Protect within settings. While this appears to be a built-in setting, it is in fact just a link to the Onavo Protect VPN app -- and the idea of a Facebook-owned VPN tool being promoted from within the Facebook app has people concerned. Take a look at the app description, and you may well understand why.
TunnelBear 3.2 improves and refines its VPN service, rebuilds VigilantBear component
Canadian VPN provider TunnelBear Inc has released TunnelBear 3.2 for Windows. TunnelBear, also available on Mac, provides users with both free (500MB/month) and paid-for VPN plans.
Version 3.2 features a completely rebuilt VigilantBear component and comes with the promise of improved reliability when switching networks as well as some other tweaks and bug fixes.
Hotspot Shield flaw could reveal the location of VPN users
There are many reasons for turning to VPN software, but anonymity and hiding one's location are pretty high up the list. A newly-discovered flaw in the popular free VPN Hotspot Shield, however, means that it is possible to determine key pieces of information about users.
The VPN -- produced by AnchorFree -- is used by 500 million people around the world, and security researchers have discovered a vulnerability (CVE-2018-6460) that means it is technically possible to home in on the location of an individual using the service.
ProtonVPN launches unlimited free VPN service for Android
ProtonVPN’s free VPN service got off to a very rocky start when it launched 7 months ago. Demand was such that free users got put on to a waitlist, where they languished for months before even seeing an invite. The company did sort things eventually, and today it expands ProtonVPN further, by bringing the service to Android.
If you’re concerned about using a free VPN, the company says you shouldn’t be. The free service is funded by paid subscribers and subsidized by ProtonMail, meaning there are no ads and user data won't be sold to pay for it.
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