Changes to Microsoft Defender

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Changes to Microsoft Defender

This email includes details regarding features going away next month as well as reminders about current benefits included with your Microsoft 365 subscription. You are receiving this notification because you have onboarded the privacy protection (VPN) feature within Defender.

Beginning 2/28/2025, you will no longer have access to privacy protection (VPN) within Microsoft Defender with your Microsoft 365 Personal or Family subscription. Learn more in the FAQ.

With Microsoft Defender, you still have peace of mind with an easy-to-use security app.
Safeguard your identity, data, and devices with Defender, included with your Microsoft 365 subscription.
Learn more about Defender.

(email I received tonight – interesting that they are dropping the VPN feature)

Susan Bradley Patch Lady/Prudent patcher

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lmacri

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https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/topic/end-of-support-privacy-protection-vpn-in-microsoft-defender-for-individuals-8b503da5-732a-4472-833a-e2ddca53036a

Why is Microsoft removing the privacy protection (VPN) feature from the Microsoft Defender app?

Our goal is to ensure you, and your family remain safer online. We routinely evaluate the usage and effectiveness of our features. As such, we are removing the privacy protection feature and will invest in new areas that will better align to customer needs..

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Deprecation isn’t the end—it’s an opportunity

…Although deprecation is often thought of as “the end,” it’s not. A deprecation announcement is an advance notice or a “save the date” courtesy to signal that the product will be retired or removed in the future….When understood correctly, deprecation announcements are good news because:…

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The spin is strong on this post for sure.  The Dynamic remote web workplace feature for Essential server has been deprecated. On a pretty regular basis it breaks and people have to jump up and down to get it working again. Deprecated means there is no longer a support team dedicated to fixing issues with fill in the blank.

I saw this in the standalone consumer product that added VPNs in cell phones.  I think that’s what they are referring to.  I think.

Susan Bradley Patch Lady/Prudent patcher

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Alex5723

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Susan Bradley wrote:

I saw this in the standalone consumer product that added VPNs in cell phones.  I think that’s what they are referring to.  I think.

Not just phones though. I can currently enable VPN on my computers via the Microsoft Defender app (for up to 50 GB traffic per month before throttling):

Privacy Protection is supported on all of the device platforms supported by Microsoft Defender – Windows, macOS, Android and iOS.

Microsoft Defender privacy protection FAQ

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Maybe dumb question but what is this saying?  What privacy protection (VPN) feature in the Defender Security App for individuals?

Are they saying that Windows Defender App will no longer provide protection if/when utilizing a VPN connection for internet access?

Windows 10 Pro x64 v22H2 and Windows 7 Pro SP1 x64 (RIP)

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Hi Tex265:

Further to b’s post # 2744623, from the 20-Aug-2024 groovyPost article Secure Your Internet Connection on Windows: Enable Microsoft Defender VPN:

“If you are a current Microsoft 365 (formerly Office 365) subscriber, you can use the Microsoft Defender VPN for free. It is accessible via the free Defender app from the Microsoft Store.”

I don’t subscribe to Microsoft 365 so AFAIK I could not use this VPN app on my Win 10 laptop even though Microsoft Defender is my primary  antivirus.
———–
Dell Inspiron 15 5584 * 64-bit Win 10 Pro v22H2 build 19045.5371 * Firefox v134.0.2 * Microsoft Defender v4.18.24090.11-1.1.24090.11 * Malwarebytes Premium v5.2.5.158-1.0.5135 * Macrium Reflect Free v8.0.7783 * Microsoft Office Home and Business 2019 C2R Version 2412 / Build 18324.20194

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Tex265 wrote:

What privacy protection (VPN) feature in the Defender Security App for individuals?

The “privacy” of the VPN is that the website you download only sees the VPN server it downloads to and does not see your IP address and will not know your location.

Tex265 wrote:

Are they saying that Windows Defender App will no longer provide protection if/when utilizing a VPN connection for internet access?

No, they are saying that the Windows Defender App will no longer provide a VPN service which means they will no longer have a VPN server for you to connect to and if you want a VPN service you need to look for a different VPN service.  Windows Defender will work when using a different VPN server and service.

HTH, Dana:))

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Alex5723

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The app in question (for 365 users) has always been called Microsoft Defender:

https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoft-365/microsoft-defender-for-individuals

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lmacri

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