Google’s Pivot: Reflecting on the 2023 Security Expansion and Its 2025 Reality
In March 2023, Google made waves with an announcement that promised to bring "pro-level" security to the masses. As reported by The Verge, Google One began rolling out its VPN service to all subscribers—including those on the entry-level $1.99/month plan—while simultaneously launching a new "Dark Web Report" feature.
At the time, it felt like a major win for the average user. Security tools that were once behind a $9.99/month paywall were suddenly accessible to anyone with a basic cloud storage plan. But as we look back from late 2025, the landscape for "regular users" has shifted dramatically. Here is the story of that 2023 expansion, the impact it had, and where those features stand today.
The 2023 Vision: Security for Everyone
Before the 2023 update, the Google One VPN was a "Premium" perk reserved for users paying for 2TB of storage or more. By opening it up to the 100GB "Basic" and 200GB "Standard" plans, Google effectively democratized basic digital privacy.
For the regular user, this meant:
- Encrypted Browsing on the Cheap: You no longer needed to trust the spotty Wi-Fi at your local coffee shop or airport. One tap in the Google One app shielded your traffic from prying eyes.
- Proactive Breach Monitoring: The "Dark Web Report" gave users a way to see if their sensitive information—like Social Security numbers, email addresses, or phone numbers—had been leaked in underground data breaches.
It was a compelling value proposition: for less than the price of a cup of coffee, you got cloud storage plus a security suite.
How It Affected the Regular User
The immediate impact was a massive reduction in the "friction" of staying safe online. Most regular users don't want to research complex VPN protocols or pay for a standalone $12/month subscription to NordVPN or ExpressVPN. By bundling these tools into a service users already paid for (storage for Photos and Gmail), Google made security a background process rather than a chore.
However, the Google One VPN was always a "lite" version of the tool. It didn't allow for "geo-spoofing"—the ability to make it look like you were in another country to watch different Netflix shows—which is a primary reason many people use VPNs. Instead, it was strictly a privacy shield, designed to mask your IP and encrypt your data.
The "Google Graveyard" Strikes Again: Where Are We Now?
If you are a regular user looking for these features today, the situation has changed. In a classic Google move, the very features celebrated in that 2023 Verge article have mostly been retired or rebranded:
- The Google One VPN is Gone: In June 2024, Google officially discontinued the VPN for Google One subscribers, citing "low usage." While it lives on as "Pixel VPN by Google" for owners of the Pixel 7 and newer phones, everyone else (including iPhone and other Android users) lost the perk.
- The Dark Web Report is Evolving: As of early 2026, the standalone Dark Web Report is being retired. Google is consolidating these privacy tools into a feature called "Results about you," which allows users to find and request the removal of their personal contact info from Google Search results.
The Final Verdict
The 2023 announcement was a high-water mark for Google One’s value. For a brief window, it was the best deal in tech security for the average person.
Today, the "regular user" is left in a bit of a lurch. If you want a VPN now, you either need to own a Google Pixel phone or pay for a dedicated third-party service. The lesson for users is a familiar one in the Google ecosystem: enjoy the perks while they last, but don't get too attached to the "bundled" security dream. The tools are still there, but the "all-in-one" $1.99 security suite is a thing of the past.