Last week, Google announced that it would soon be discontinuing the VPN service included in Google One. The company noted that only some subscribers are using it, but one wonders if part of that is due to a lack of consumer trust.
If you want a little more privacy while browsing the internet, a VPN is one of the easiest solutions. A VPN provides an easy way to keep your internet provider from seeing your browsing habits. VPNs also mask your IP address, making it a little harder for businesses to track multiple visitors (assuming you’ve properly cleared cookies, etc.). Connecting to free public Wi-Fi networks also typically involves using a VPN.
When Google One VPN became widely available, I mentioned it to the only friend I knew who was interested enough to use a VPN on a regular basis. His first question to me was, “Why should I believe that?”
It’s a simple enough question. And to the company’s credit, we have a detailed explanation, backed by third-party audits, of why you can trust Google One VPN for potentially sensitive browsing. Masu. However, this is not something that can be quickly and easily conveyed in a casual conversation with someone who is not already familiar with networking principles.
Granted, this is just an anecdote, but I think there may be a grain of truth behind it. Did people simply not use Google One VPN because they weren’t sure it could be trusted? After all, the service was already bundled into a convenient $1.99 monthly subscription In contrast, NordVPN’s monthly plans start at $12.99, which is 6 times that amount.
As the saying goes, if something seems too good to be true, it probably is. Paid VPN 1/6 Surely a major competitor must have significant obvious (privacy/functionality) shortcomings, right? Google has long been tracking individuals’ browsing habits, sometimes even when users least expect it. It is done. In this case, that perception alone could have been damaging, even if it wasn’t true.
However, the service’s lack of use may be explained simply by its lack of mainstream appeal. The average person may not care (or be aware) of the security and privacy issues that VPNs are designed to solve.
Returning to perception, Google is also currently facing its own reputation for “killing” a beloved product (by launching another product on Stadia). This reputation undoubtedly discouraged some people from using Google’s VPN, even if they were already paying for Google One.Worse, by shutting it down, Google affirm those beliefs – “I’m glad I didn’t switch to Google’s VPN. already Shut it down. ”
Let’s think about it another way. If so few people are using Google One VPN, what’s the reason for shutting it down? Since everyone kept paying their subscriptions, Google offered his VPN to the few customers who actually used it. All I had to do was Google isn’t completely shutting down the VPN service, as Fi Wireless customers and Pixel owners will still have access.
Instead, the company chose to worsen its “killer” image by removing features from Google One. But I deviated.
At the end of the day, I really wonder how much of Google One VPN’s failure is due to a lack of trust. If you don’t immediately fully trust that your VPN won’t track your browsing, still exists What does it mean in the near future?
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