Monday My Two Cents: Is Google Fi's VPN Worth the Investment? I have my Doubts. 🤨
/"Google Fi" is Google's answer to AT&T*, Verizon, etc., cellular coverage for phones and internet access. It just announced a free VPN service for iPhones*. Their VPN may make your internet traffic free from prying eyes. But I question whether it is safe.
First, as of the timing that I am finishing writing this blog entry, Google Fi's service with iOS is still in beta (and may not work with older models). Remember when a software or a piece of technology is in beta, it is still unpolished, not really ready for prime-time use, and has holes in its security. So, it's not "guaranteed" to be safe.
Second, Google makes its money from gathering user's information. When you search on Google, it gathers what information it can from the user (sometimes with the user unaware of this) and sells the collected input to data collectors. The VPN may be free, but what are you unwittingly giving away?
I am not as concerned about corporate “viewing” of my data when using my carrier or other carrier’s “free” VPNs. I am also not that concerned when I am using Google to search on the web (noting that I don't enter in a client's Personal Identifiable Information or confidential information). But when I am transmitting this information over a phone service's cellular data, I don't want to have to worry that the company's fundamental means of making money, i.e., my data, has an interest in the actual communications I make on a day-to-day basis. So, while I appreciate the competition, I am not ready to jump services given my personal and professional privacy concerns without knowing much more.
Either way, I’d stick with a reliable third-party VPN.
MTC
