Google One’s VPN security holds up, according to an audit
- According to an independent (but commissioned) review, Google One has “robust” security.
- There were 14 issues, three of which were rated “acceptable risks” by Google.
- It’s more private, although Google still has the ability to track you if it wants to.
Wondering if it’s worth using Google One VPN for Android versus alternatives? Google believes it can clear up that question. How Android police Google reportedly commissioned an independent audit from the NCC Group to assess the security and privacy of the virtual private network from early 2021.
According to the auditors, the Google One VPN holds up overall. The service offers a “very robust” security situation that corresponds to industry standards, with encryption that protects against typical cyber attack methods. You shouldn’t have to worry about someone recording your phone or data activity.
Continue reading: The 15 Best Android VPN Apps
It wasn’t all perfect, however. NCC identified 14 problems with the Google One VPN. Google fixed ten of them directly and partially another problem, but the remaining three were classified as “acceptable risks”. One was a medium risk that would have required a protocol change to resolve. The audit team emphasized that some of its observations did not necessarily indicate immediate safety issues.
The bigger concern could have been Google’s control over data. While the company can’t peek into the Google One VPN, it can theoretically re-link the secure tunnel to your identity, tweak the client app to map traffic, conduct server-side data studies, or choose cryptographic keys that can be used to identify users. There was no evidence Google was doing this, NCC pointed out, and the company was able to run controls to reduce fears.
With that in mind, the main advantage of Google One VPN is convenience. If you’re already paying for $ 9.99 per month ($ 100 per year). A plan that you need to get the VPN can also be used. However, it’s harder to sell when you want to protect other platforms. While Google is working on supporting iOS, macOS, and Windows, you’re still better off with a third-party VPN if you want to keep your entire household safe.
