Google One, a subscription-based cloud storage service, is adding new security features to its offerings. One such feature is the expansion of its virtual private network (VPN) to all its subscribers at no extra cost. Previously, the VPN service was only available to subscribers with plans that included at least 2 terabytes (TB) of storage, which cost $10 per month or $100 per year. However, now all subscribers of Google One will be able to access the VPN without having to upgrade to the 2TB plan.
The VPN service offered by Google One was first launched in October 2020, but it was only available to users with the more expensive plan. The VPN provides users with a secure connection when browsing the internet by encrypting their online activities and masking their IP addresses. With this expansion of the VPN service, Google One subscribers can benefit from enhanced online security and privacy without having to pay extra for it.
Google has announced that it will be offering VPN access across all plans for users in 22 countries, including Android, iOS, Windows, and Mac devices. Even the Basic $2 per month plan, which provides 100GB of storage across the user’s Google account, will have access to the VPN.
Additionally, the VPN can be shared with up to five other people who are on the user’s One plan. Google claims that the VPN will protect users’ internet activity from hackers and network operators, and the company has assured users that they will not track, log, or sell any online activity through the VPN connection.
Google is introducing a new feature for its One subscriber in the US to help protect their personal information. The feature, called the “dark web report”, will be rolled out over the next few weeks and is designed to scan the dark web for any personal details that may have been involved in a data breach.
Users can select which specific details they want Google to monitor, including their name, address, email address, phone number, and Social Security number. The company assures users that it will handle this information in accordance with its privacy policy. If users wish to stop monitoring their information or remove certain details from their monitoring profile, they can do so at any time.
Google’s dark web report feature, available for One subscriber in the US, will notify users if their tracked personal information appears on the dark web and provide suggestions on how to protect themselves. For example, if the report detects the user’s Social Security number, it may recommend reporting it as stolen and taking action to safeguard their credit.
Additionally, the report may highlight information related to the user that goes beyond the details they initially added to their monitoring profile. In addition to security measures and extra storage, Google One also offers access to the Magic Eraser feature in Google Photos, which was previously only available on Pixel 6 and Pixel 7 devices.
