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To our surprise, Google Fi is rolling out a new “virtual carrier network” or “VCN” for Pixel users. It’s basically a VPN for your cellular connection – it hides your IP address, web traffic, and physical location from everyone, including Google and their MVNO partners.
Google Fi VCN is automatically enabled for customers using a modern Pixel smartphone (specifically Pixel 4 and all later models). Because this feature takes advantage of Android VcnManager, it requires Android 12 or later, so it probably won’t work on older Pixel phones.
A white paper detailing the Google FI VCN states that it will not interfere with setting up private DNS, VPNs, HTTP proxies, or other personal security tools. And unlike a mobile VPN app, Google Fi VCN protects any device that’s connected to your phone.
At the time of this writing, Google Fi is the only carrier that creates an end-to-end VCN with Android VcnManager. Other operators are encouraged to do the same, although we don’t really expect them to do the same.
Please note that Google may disable your VCN if it interferes with network activity. This is an experimental release, so the company will prioritize network speed and reliability. I should also clarify that this VCN will not protect your privacy on a Wi-Fi connection; for that, you need a VPN.
This change to Google Fi occurs during Cybersecurity Awareness Month. For better web security, we suggest using a VPN and password manager.
Source: Google via 9to5Google
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