Malwarebytes releases new VPN service for Windows
Malwarebytes is expanding into privacy with the release of a new Windows VPN service called Malwarebytes Privacy. Malwarebytes plans on offering Mac, iOS, Android, and ChromeOS versions in the future.
Malwarebytes Privacy is available today for $59.99 as a stand-alone product for supporting five devices or can be bundled with a 1-year license of Malwarebytes Premium for $89.99. When combined, users save $49.99.
Once installed, you can turn the VPN service on and then select the server location of the VPN server you wish to use.
During our tests yesterday, you could select from 10 states in the USA and 30 countries around the world.
The states that Malwarebytes has servers at launch are Georgia, Illinois, Texas, Colorado, California, Florida, New York, New Jersey, Utah, and Washington.
The server locations outside of the USA are Australia, Austria, Belgium, Brazil, Bulgaria, Canada, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Latvia, Luxembourg, Moldova, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Romania, Serbia, Singapore, Span, Sweden, Switzerland, and the UK.
Malwarebytes told BleepingComputer that this is not a white-label service, but rather one they developed themselves.
A trusted-third party built the network infrastructure, and Malwarebytes developers created the app and other components.
Malwarebytes Privacy using the modern WireGuard VPN implementation that was recently integrated into the Linux kernel.
Data and log retention policies
Unfortunately, not much is known about Malwarebytes Privacy's logging and data retention policies.
For the best privacy, you want your VPN server to keep no logs at all, and if any are required, to wipe them hourly, or at least daily.
According to Malwarebytes' product page, "Malwarebytes Privacy does not log your online activities, whether it's browsing or accessing any websites."
This is what most people want, but it would be good to get more specific language in a dedicated data retention policy or language in their privacy policy.
BleepingComputer has asked for more information about Malwarebytes data and log retention policies but had not heard back as of yet.
Gloss