Microsoft 365 includes a VPN now, but there is a catch

Martin Brinkmann
Jul 31, 2024
Microsoft
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15

Microsoft has added a VPN service to Microsoft Personal and Family subscriptions. It is available as part of the subscription plan, which means that there are not any additional costs.

Here are the details:

  • Available as part of Microsoft 365 Personal and Family subscriptions.
  • Supports the platforms Windows, macOS, Android, and iOS.
  • Requires the Microsoft Defender app.
  • Limited to the countries United States, United Kingdom, Germany, and Canada.

Microsoft Defender Privacy Protection

All that is required to use the service is to download the Microsoft Defender app on a supported device and enable its privacy protection feature.

Toggling VPN to on connects to a Microsoft VPN server. Microsoft is giving customers 50 gigabytes of traffic per month. Microsoft displays the time until the next reset in the interface.

Note that the app may display in a different language than the system default. Mine was set to German automatically with no option to change it.

Microsoft Defender VPN
German interface of the Microsoft Defender VPN

The interface is bare bones. It lists the total and remaining data, the days till the next reset, and whether your location is publicly visible. Microsoft Defender Privacy Protection will also notify you by default if the device is connected to an insecure wireless network. Last but not least, you may add networks to the list of trusted networks.

Compared to top-of-the-class VPN services, Microsoft's solution is fairly limited. There is no option to pick a server or configure advanced features, such as kill switch functionality or split tunneling support.

While split tunneling is not offered as a customizable option, it is enabled automatically for certain services. Microsoft lists the following:

  • Video: YouTube, TikTok, Netflix, Disney+, Amazon Prime
  • Social: Facebook video, Instagram, Snapchat
  • Music: Spotify, YouTube music
  • Messaging: Whatsapp

The main purpose of the VPN solution baked into Microsoft Defender is therefore the securing of insecure connections. Ideal when connecting to public wireless networks in hotels, at airports or coffee shops.

Microsoft's solution offers similar functionality to what Google offered for some time to Google One customers. I called Google's solution the most basic VPN that you could get. Google is limiting its service now to Pixel devices.

Microsoft Defender VPN collects "a minimum set of service data" according to Microsoft. The following data is collected and anonymized, according to Microsoft:

  • The duration the VPN is used.
  • The bandwidth that is used while the connection is active.
  • Wi-Fi hotspot names detected as malicious.

Closing Words

Microsoft Defender Privacy Protection is a welcome addition to Microsoft 365. While the VPN is limited in many regards, subscribers may still find it useful, provided that they do not have access to a better VPN service already.

The main purpose of the VPN is to protect the Internet connection. The monthly bandwidth should be enough for most users, especially since some popular media and social sites bypass the VPN.

Do you use free or commercial VPN services? What is your take on Microsoft's offer? Feel free to leave a comment below.

Summary
Microsoft 365 includes a VPN now, but there is a catch
Article Name
Microsoft 365 includes a VPN now, but there is a catch
Description
Microsoft has added a free VPN service to Microsoft Personal and Family subscriptions. Here is all you need to know about it.
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Ghacks Technology News
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Comments

  1. VioletMoon said on August 2, 2024 at 2:12 am
    Reply

    Proton suffices for the most elementary needs; never have tried RiseUp.

    A paid VPN service gets expensive for my budget–an Internet connection, cell phone service, a streaming service. Adding a good VPN service would bring me to well over $100/month in services. Phew!

  2. Mr. Stank said on July 31, 2024 at 9:38 pm
    Reply

    With Microsoft there is a catch in everything.

  3. curious said on July 31, 2024 at 9:32 pm
    Reply

    Martin….
    Is it automatically installed during an Office 365 update?

    And for that matter, Is the default setting (when it’s installed) opt-in or opt-out? (I realize it can be toggled off/on after installation)

    Thanks for your great articles!

    1. Martin Brinkmann said on August 1, 2024 at 6:26 am
      Reply

      It is automatically available if you install the Microsoft Defender app. It is not turned on automatically.

  4. Billy Jo Bob said on July 31, 2024 at 7:32 pm
    Reply

    With Microsoft you pay for the product and you are still the product.

    1. yronnen said on August 2, 2024 at 2:16 am
      Reply

      Just like all other services. The difference is that Microsoft is at least transparent with you…

  5. boris said on July 31, 2024 at 6:05 pm
    Reply

    It all depends on what are you using VPN for. If you want to watch videos from another country that are blocked in yours, it is probably fine. But anything for privacy, I would not use Microsoft VPN if they paid me.

    1. Anonymous said on August 1, 2024 at 11:13 am
      Reply

      Which will not work, since several services will not use it as described in the article. It says:
      Video: YouTube, TikTok, Netflix, Disney+, Amazon Prime
      Social: Facebook video, Instagram, Snapchat
      Music: Spotify, YouTube music
      Messaging: Whatsapp

      So the most popular services bypass this VPN and are directly routed. So no circumventing the geoblocking.
      I fail to see the use of this specific service with the mentioned limitations.

  6. Kalmly said on July 31, 2024 at 4:40 pm
    Reply

    No subscriptions, thank you.

  7. cams1303 said on July 31, 2024 at 4:32 pm
    Reply

    Can’t imagine any data passing through MS servers will ever be private.

  8. Tachy said on July 31, 2024 at 9:07 am
    Reply

    If your not paying for the product, you are the product.

    1. bruh said on July 31, 2024 at 3:12 pm
      Reply

      @Tachy,

      Microsoft 365 is a paid product.

      1. Anonymous said on July 31, 2024 at 10:55 pm
        Reply

        Youre still the product even if you paid nowadays. Just look at Windows 11.

      2. No Thanks, CIA said on July 31, 2024 at 9:12 pm
        Reply

        The description of the product alone shows that it is spyware that monitors your traffic, and even requires compromising your device with Defender.This is the antithesis of what a VPN is supposed to do.

      3. Tony said on July 31, 2024 at 3:58 pm
        Reply

        Microsoft double dips though.

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