Google Project Fi (or, Google Fi as it is now being called more often now) is really one of the best programs that Google has made – especially for international travelers. If you don’t know too much about it or you want to know more, check out this ultimate FAQ guide to Google Fi to get your questions answered and to see why you may want it!
New Feature for Google Fi Phones Improves Online Security and Access
A VPN is a virtual private network and it is designed to keep your online traffic secure. Whenever you are using a public access point, it is alway wise to use a VPN to help keep your privacy.
Now, Google is offering a feature (that should be available on all Fi phones by the end of this week) that will automatically make all of your traffic to be run through their VPN. Not only does this keep your traffic secure, it also shields all of your traffic from Google itself and that it isn’t tied to your Google account or phone number. For anyone that is nervous about companies like Google using their data, this is a nice nod of reassurance from the tech giant to their Fi phone users.
Another feature that comes with this new feature is that Google Fi phones will start more efficiently transitioning between WiFi and cellular networks for when your WiFi signal is getting weaker.
Turning on the VPN Feature
To turn on this new feature, open your Project Fi app and toggle it on in the Fi Network Tools area. According to Google, using the VPN may increase your data usage by 10%. Please note that this feature is only for Google Fi-compatible phones.
Better Website Access for Some Sites and Services
Not only is the always-on VPN feature a great thing for security, it is also a nice thing for accessing certain websites. I have never had a problem accessing Southwest from my Pixel 2 anywhere in the world (unlike when trying to access it from IP addresses in these countries) because it uses IP addresses in the US (and sometimes I have noticed it does with the UK as well).
It will be interesting to see if this VPN service being setup by Google is better able to fool Netflix as well. Most VPNs are easily detected by Netflix and they will not work. Yet, if you use your Fi network, Netflix does work as it does in the US. But that uses a lot of your Fi data. If the new VPN plays nice with Netflix, it will allow you to access things like Netflix on a WiFi network and not have to worry about using your data.
Just be cautious – some countries have made VPN use illegal.
This is a nice addition for Google Fi-phone users. It allows us to have access to a service that, most of the time, comes with a monthly or yearly fee. Not only that, it is a good move by Google to let their customers know that they are giving options to shielding traffic – even from Google.
HT: TechCrunch
