Microsoft has confirmed that, from Feb. 28, privacy protection available to millions of users will no longer be supported—here’s what you need to know.

Microsoft announced it is killing off its Privacy Protection VPN feature in the Microsoft Defender app at the end of the month to focus on other features.

Subscribers still get device protection and ID theft and credit monitoring features, but Microsoft is ditching the VPN feature to focus on 'areas that will better align to customer needs.'

Microsoft has announced the discontinuation of the VPN feature in its Microsoft Defender app, which was previously included for free for all Microsoft 365 Personal and Family subscribers. The feature was first introduced in 2023 as a privacy protection measure and will be removed at the end of this month.

Microsoft is getting ready to remove the VPN feature from its Microsoft 365 subscription later this month. Originally designed as a privacy feature, the VPN in Microsoft 365 utilizes the Microsoft Defender app to encrypt internet traffic and hide IP addresses.