Skip to main content

Your Google One plan just got 2 big security updates to keep you safe online

Google just added some major new security features to keep its Google One subscribers safe while on the web. After all, the internet is where you spend a lot of your time, whether that’s looking things up, paying bills, shopping, booking appointments, or sharing photos with family and friends. That’s a lot of information, and Google wants to keep subscribers safe from the darker side of the web.

Regardless of whether you use an iPhone or an Android smartphone, all Google One subscribers are getting the following two security features.

VPN by Google One for everyone

Samsung Galaxy S23 on astroturf
Christine Romero-Chan / Digital Trends

Starting today, and rolling out over the next several weeks, more Google One subscribers can access VPN by Google One. Google initially rolled out its VPN service in late 2020, but it was restricted to the $10-per-month 2TB plan. Starting today, any Google One subscriber has access to it.

With VPN by Google One, you can add an extra layer of security to your data connection. With a VPN, you’ll be able to mask your IP address, keeping it clear of the prying eyes of hackers and other shady network operators. Without the use of a VPN, websites and apps can utilize your IP address to track your activity and determine your location, so adding a secure layer over that can help keep you safe.

VPN by Google One is now accessible by all Google One subscribers, even those on the Basic $2-per-month (100GB) plan. The VPN is available in 22 countries and can be used on Android, iOS, Windows, and Mac.

Dark web report monitoring

A keyboard that displays a darknet button.
Getty Images

With everyone so reliant on online services these days, there’s always the risk of a data breach, unfortunately. When a data breach happens, your personal information can be stolen and used for online identity theft and other crimes — and this happens more often than you think. Google wants to help protect you against those situations as well.

Google One is adding a new dark web report, which helps you scan the dark web for your info, like name, address, email, phone number, and Social Security number. If anything is found as a match, you’ll be notified.

With the dark web report enabled, you can just provide the information that you want to keep an eye on within your monitoring profile, and Google will take care of the rest. In addition to the results that match your personal info in the monitoring profile, you can also get additional related info that may have been found in data breaches.

All of this information is handled through Google’s own privacy policy, and you are able to delete any info from your monitoring profile or simply stop monitoring completely. Again, if you have an active Google One subscription, you will have access to dark web monitoring as it rolls out within the next few weeks on your smartphone and other devices.

Christine Romero-Chan
Christine Romero-Chan has been writing about technology, specifically Apple, for over a decade. She graduated from California…
Google just redesigned one of its biggest apps, and it’s bad
Google Chat app on the Play Store.

Google Chat — Google's business-oriented messaging platform that is similar to Slack and Microsoft Teams — just got a big update for its Android and iOS apps. The update dramatically changes how you navigate the app and, uh, well, it sure is something.

Google Chat's mobile app used to be broken up into two pages: Chat (direct messages between you and other users) and Spaces (larger chat rooms for multiple people). As with most apps, you switched between these with a navigation bar at the bottom of your screen.

Read more
AT&T just made it a lot easier to upgrade your phone
AT&T Storefront with logo.

Do you want to upgrade your phone more than once a year? What about three times a year? Are you on AT&T? If you answered yes to those questions, then AT&T’s new “Next Up Anytime” early upgrade program is made for you. With this add-on, you’ll be able to upgrade your phone three times a year for just $10 extra every month. It will be available starting July 16.

Currently, AT&T has its “Next Up” add-on, which has been available for the past several years. This program costs $6 extra per month and lets you upgrade by trading in your existing phone after at least half of it is paid off. But the new Next Up Anytime option gives you some more flexibility.

Read more
Motorola is selling unlocked smartphones for just $150 today
Someone holding the Moto G Stylus 5G (2024).

Have you been looking for phone deals but don’t want to spend a ton of money on flagship devices from Apple and Samsung? Have you ever considered investing in an unlocked Motorola? For a limited time, the company is offering a $100 markdown on the Motorola Moto G 5G. It can be yours for just $150, and your days and nights of phone-shopping will finally be over!

Why you should buy the Motorola Moto G 5G
Powered by the Snapdragon 480+ 5G CPU and 4GB of RAM, the Moto G delivers exceptional performance across the board. From UI navigation to apps, games, and camera functions, you can expect fast load times, next to no buffering, and smooth animations. You’ll also get up to 128GB of internal storage that you’ll be able to use for photos, videos, music, and any other mobile content you can store locally. 

Read more