Mozilla VPN
Mozilla VPN, formerly Firefox Private Network, is an open-source virtual private network web browser extension, desktop application, and mobile application developed by Mozilla.[1] It launched in beta as Firefox Private Network on September 10, 2019,[2] and officially launched on July 15, 2020 as Mozilla VPN.[3]
Developer(s) | Mozilla |
---|---|
Initial release | 15 July 2020 |
Operating system | Windows 10, Android, iOS |
Platform | Mobile app, Desktop application |
Type | Virtual Private Network |
License | Mozilla Public License 2.0 |
Website | vpn |
Functionality
Mozilla VPN is a virtual private network (VPN), which masks the user's IP address, hides location data from the websites accessed by the user, and encrypts all network activity.[4][5][6] A limited-monthly-use free version is available as a web browser extension for the Firefox browser, and a paid version for all device activity is available on the mobile operating systems iOS and Android and the desktop operating system Microsoft Windows, with plans for macOS and Linux versions.[1] The paid version of Private Network uses the Swedish Mullvad VPN service, which uses the WireGuard VPN standard,[5] while the free version uses the American Cloudflare service.[7][8]
History
The free, limited-use Firefox Private Network web browser extension beta version was released on September 10, 2019 as part of the relaunch of Mozilla's Test Pilot Program,[2][9] a program that allowed Firefox users to test experimental new features which had been shuttered in January 2019.[10] The beta of the subscription-based standalone virtual private network for Android, Microsoft Windows, and Chromebook launched on February 19, 2020, with the iOS version following soon after.[1]
Firefox Private Network was rebranded as "Mozilla VPN" on June 18, 2020, and officially launched as Mozilla VPN on July 15, 2020.[3][11] At launch, Mozilla VPN was available in six countries (United States, Canada, United Kingdom, Singapore, Malaysia, and New Zealand) for Windows 10, Android, and iOS (beta).[3]
References
- Blumenthal, Eli (19 February 2020). "Mozilla's standalone Firefox VPN is now available in beta". CNET. Retrieved 13 July 2020.
- Sawers, Paul (10 September 2019). "Mozilla launches VPN as part of resurrected Firefox Test Pilot program". Venture Beat. Retrieved 13 July 2020.
- Porter, Jon (15 July 2020). "Mozilla's VPN launches out of beta on Windows and Android". The Verge. Retrieved 15 July 2020.
- Fisher, Dennis (20 September 2019). "Mozilla Testing Firefox Private Network". Decipher. Duo Security. Archived from the original on 5 December 2019. Retrieved 13 July 2020.
- Hesse, Brendan (19 February 2020). "Everything You Need to Know About the New Firefox VPN". Life Hacker. Archived from the original on 24 April 2020. Retrieved 13 July 2020.
- Lardinois, Frederic (3 December 2019). "Mozilla launched the next phase of its Firefox Private Network VPN beta". Tech Crunch.
- Spadafora, Anthony (11 September 2019). "Mozilla is launching a VPN". Tech Radar. Retrieved 13 July 2020.
- "Secure your connection to the Firefox browser". Mozilla. Archived from the original on 6 July 2020. Retrieved 13 July 2020.
- Wood, Marissa (10 September 2019). "Firefox's Test Pilot Program Returns with Firefox Private Network Beta". Mozilla Blog. Archived from the original on 22 June 2020. Retrieved 13 July 2020.
- Wood, Marissa (15 January 2019). "Evolving Firefox's Culture of Experimentation: A Thank You from the Test Pilot Program". Mozilla Blog. Archived from the original on 20 February 2020. Retrieved 15 January 2019.
- "Introducing Mozilla VPN". Mozilla Blog. 18 June 2020. Archived from the original on 13 July 2020. Retrieved 15 July 2020.