Google Fi expanding VPN service from Android to iPhone
Google is using "Safer Internet Day" to announce an improvement to Google Fi VPN, by expanding access to the service to iPhone users.
![](https://photos5.appleinsider.com/gallery/40222-77391-google-fi-vpn-l.jpg)
Up until Tuesday, Apple had only provided its Project Fi VPN to Android users, despite the low-cost carrier Google Fi being available to use on iPhones since 2018. Now, Google is finally bringing the VPN to iOS.
"Everyone should have easy access to tools that protect their personal information," writes Google in a blog post announcing the expansion. The VPN will be available to iPhone users of the service starting in the spring.
At the same time, Google is bringing the Android variant of the VPN out of beta. Performance improvements are also being included to make the VPN work more effectively across apps and services on an Android device.
Android users are also benefiting from a new privacy and security hub within the Fi app. The hub will explain Fi's privacy and security features, as well as providing tool to manage them.
The Fi VPN has so far been a success for Google, with high usage by subscribers. Google claims the VPN (check VPN deals) secures over 226 TB of data each day, which the company approximates is enough data to stream video to one user for 107 years.
The last major change to Google Fi for iPhone users was in May 2020, when it enabled support for the eSIM included in newer generations of iPhones. The change enabled customers of the MVNO to free up the physical SIM slot on dual-SIM iPhones so they can use other services in tandem.
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Comments
Running all net traffic through a Google product is increasing security? Out of the pan and into the fire!
They should. Which is why you shouldn't route all of your personal information through Google.
AFACT You don't give up personal information while using ProjectFi.
https://support.google.com/fi/answer/10388412#zippy=,how-the-fi-vpn-works,how-we-protect-your-data,youre-in-control
I don't think anyone commenting up until now had bothered looking into Project F, how it works, and how it increases your privacy.
The Fi VPN increases protection for your online activity by:
Google Fi doesn’t tie your online activity to who you are
Your VPN session is established with a one-time token that’s not linked to your Google Account or your phone number. When you turn on the VPN, Google Fi confirms with one of our servers that you’re a valid user.
The server sends back a one-time token, which has no information about you. The server just verifies if you can use the VPN. With this token, the VPN establishes a connection with our VPN server. Our VPN servers make sure that the token is valid, which allows you to use the VPN.
"Because the server we use to make sure that you’re a valid user is separate from our VPN servers, our VPN servers only know if you can use the VPN. Our VPN servers can’t tell who you are...
Google Fi may take actions to prevent abuse over the VPN, but we do so in a way that still maintains your privacy. Because we don’t tie your Google Account to your VPN connection, we can’t tie this traffic back to who you are."
The service will protect you from non Google monitoring on public WiFi, which if you’re in a place like China, is definitely better than no VPN though.
IMO it's far safer than even using a US telcos network from a privacy perspective.