Google's Fi VPN for iPhones 

How the Fi virtual private network protects your online activity

The Fi virtual private network (VPN) increases your protection from third-party monitoring. With the VPN, you can:

• Stream, browse, and download on an encrypted, private connection
• Shield against hackers on unsecure networks (like public Wi-Fi)
• Prevent websites from using your IP address to track your location
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• Google is rolling out its bundled VPN to iPhone users on its Fi network.

VPNs are handy, so long as you trust the service provider to route your traffic safely through their servers. The key question is whether you, as a device owner, trust the service provider. 

A VPN gives you a private tunnel over the open internet and ensures that packets are encrypted, so if they're intercepted by a government agency or hacker, they can't be deciphered. 

How the Fi VPN works

While you’re online, your browser and your apps frequently communicate sensitive information. Some websites and apps use outdated or weak encryption, or no encryption.

Sometimes, hackers and third parties can intercept or modify unsecured information while the information is in transit. This can put your privacy and security at risk.

When you use the Fi VPN, your online activity has increased protection from hackers and other third parties. The Fi VPN increases protection for your online activity by:

• Using a one-time token so that your online activity isn’t tied to your Google account or phone number
• Encrypting your online activity between your phone and Fi’s VPN servers
• Hiding your IP address

Google has delivered performance improvements to its Fi VPN and inmoving it out of beta for Android phone users. 

"This means you can get the benefits of the VPN while also getting a faster, stronger connection across your apps and services," Google notes. 

It's also coming to the iPhone, bringing coverage to all of Google's Fi users. "We plan to roll out the VPN to iPhone starting this spring," Google notes. Google is also bringing its privacy and security hub to Android devices, offering users a shortcut to features available to Android users, such as its VPN. 

Turn the Google Fi VPN on or off

Important: Your phone must use Android 8.1 or higher.

Check if your phone is designed for Fi or compatible with Fi.

If you’re on a phone that’s designed for Fi:

1. Open the Google Fi app .
2. Scroll to “Phone settings.”
3. Tap Privacy & security.
4. Turn Protect your online activity on or off.
5. When the status bar shows , you're connected.

If you’re on a phone that’s compatible with Fi:

1. Open the Google Fi app .
2. Scroll to “Phone settings.”
3. Tap Privacy & security.
4. Turn Protect your online activity on or off.
5. On the dialog that pops up, tap Got it  OK.
6. When the status bar shows , you're connected.

Most apps connect through the VPN, but some might not so they can work as intended (for example, smart home device apps). You can manage this setting in the Fi app. Please note that apps critical to Fi service are always exempt from the VPN. See what’s exempt.

VPNs use mobile data for encryption and network optimizations. To make sure that you don’t lose connectivity, when your Wi-Fi connection is unusable, the VPN will move you to a cell network. If you're in the middle of a download, it might keep downloading over mobile data. To go back to Wi-Fi, try moving closer to your router or access point, or pick a different network. 

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