Mozilla Experiments With a VPN via Firefox

[engine]

Mozilla is planning a limited experiment with a small number of U.S.-based users for a VPN for Firefox in the coming months. It starts from October 24, 2018, so look out for it if you're one of the users selected for the test.
The test will include a sign-up for a monthly $10 subscription, and a software download, via a partnership with ProtonVPN

Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, and Android are all supported. The VPN can be easily turned on or off as needed, and the subscription can be cancelled at any time.

ProtonVPN will be providing the service in this experiment. Mozilla will be the party collecting payment from Firefox users who decide to subscribe. A portion of these proceeds will be shared with ProtonVPN, to offset their costs in operating the service, and a portion will go to Mozilla. In this way, subscribers will be directly supporting Mozilla while benefiting from one of the very best VPN services on the market today.

[blog.mozilla.org...]

[justpassing]

In one hand, Firefox is preventing web publishers to earn money (their private mode, which, "at a time" was by default, has the "side effect" to block ads), and in the other hand they found a way to earn money.

By the way, Opera has a free VPN function, with all the guarantees to protect your privacy and so on, ... which is paradoxical for a browser owned by a Chinese company :)

[graeme_p]

On balance, Mozilla diversifying their income streams is good: they are less likely to be influenced by any one income stream.

[henry0]

I hope there will be a test period prior purchase. I use Opera's VPN which slows down content display,

[engine]

It's just a limited test at the moment henry0.

[henry0]

I know it's off topic. I use proton mail (free), love it, the proton team is great,

[keyplyr]

$10 per month when there are dozens of other established secure VPNs available, some free?

Well maybe since it's added to the browser features it could work. Of course, FF is not used by very many other than techies and unless they promote it independently, only current FF users may even be aware it exists.

Does the average user even know what a VPN is? Do they understand what it is used for? Understand the (perceived) advantages?

[Demaestro]

$10/month is way higher than most premium VPN services charge.

I won't promote the names of any here, however the highly reputable and widely used VPN that I use allows activation on 10 devices, including phones, tablets and modems and is $3.00 a month... This service is more than 3x that amount. Seems very steep.

I would say that more than ever people are understanding what VPNs are, usually at a very basic level, but I've found the layman understands that at the least it protects you while online, even if they don't know how or why that's good, they know security is good generally.

[justpassing]

I use Opera's VPN which slows down content display,

The more you add intermediate nodes, the more you add latency. Also, all depends on how many people are using a VPN simultaneously, and how much a VPN provider can handle.

Does the average user even know what a VPN is?

For Europeans, VPN is something which allows to access US services which are blocked in the EU. For example, to watch Netflix US, or to Champions League (soccer) from a free channel at another EU country.

For Geeks, it's to watch #*$! without leaving a trace (more or less).

For kids thinking they are smarter than the others, this is to do P2P, also thinking they will not be tracked.

etc...

privacy / protection comes in last on the list ...

[keyplyr]

Checking my LG phone I see 2 different free VPNs available:

• The Android VPN
• The LG VPN

Both supporting full IPsec features and advanced interoperability.

Mozilla may be a bit late to the party but probably don't want to be the only major browser without it.

[Steven29]

"They are not violating the law but they are violating my terms and conditions".

Can't you just update your terms of service to state that downloading an offline copy of the website is against the terms of your website and wait for violators?