Proton VPN lands on next-generation Windows devices
Further VPN upgrades are also set to be released over the winter
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VPN support for next-generation Windows computers strengthens as another one of thebest VPNapps on the market launches its dedicated app.
Today, November 5, 2024,Proton VPNunveiled its native application specially developed for ARM-based devices. Users can expect all the provider’s core functionalities, privacy, and security features natively supported for seamless performances.
Alongside the new release, the Swiss provider also revealed an exciting lineup of upgrades which are set to be officially released throughout the winter season. Keep reading as I walk you through everything you need to know.
ARM VPN support, for Windows and beyond
The long-awaited Snapdragon X Elite chip Landed on Windows devices over the summer, offering users better battery life and super-fast performances thanks to its dedicated Neural Processing Unit (NPU) which can handle up to 45 trillion operations per second.
While the release was surely exciting for Windows aficionados – Apple launched its ARM-based M1 processor back in 2020, in fact –Snapdragon VPNapps still weren’t ready at that time. This delay is because providers had to build their VPN app from scratch to be compatible with Windows ARM devices – and this needed some time.
Proton VPN said to have worked in close collaboration with Microsoft to deliver a fully compatible VPN app. This means that also subscribers using Windows' latest computers can now enjoy a secure and private browsing experience.
“Overall, it was a smooth build despite the specialist nature of building apps for ARM devices,” Antonio Cesarano, Product Lead at Proton VPN told me. “We’ve worked hard to make it easy to identify and download the right version, while also preparing our support team for a growing number of requests from ARM users.
Cesearno confirmed, in fact, that the team is currently working on extending ARM support for other platforms – namely macOS and Linux.
Proton VPN has joined a handful ofWindows VPNproviders already offering a native application for Windows ARM devices.
TechRadar’s top pick,NordVPN, unveiled its native app for Snapdragon PCs only a few weeks ago.Private Internet Access (PIA)launched its ARM-native app back in August, withWindscribeandSurfsharkalso offering ARM-native Windows VPN apps.
ExpressVPNhas been the only provider so far to take a different path, coming up with an"innovative” solutionfor its ARM-compatible VPN. With the release of Microsoft’s new Prism emulator, the provider believes it’s now possible for emulated apps to match the quality of a native build. The team then decided to harness this new opportunity by shaping its in-house WireGuard-inspired VPN protocol,Lightway, accordingly.
However, Cesarano believes that native technologies perform better, hence the decision to build a native implementation for ARM users. “We were able to do this for two reasons. Firstly we use the standard version of Wireguard, and we also use open-source technologies, which happen to be the most secure,” he added.
A winter of upgrades
As mentioned earlier, the provider has also unveiled some details for further updates expected to be launched over the next few months. These upgrades include:
For more information on past and new releases, you can check the provider’sdedicated blog poston its website.
Chiara is a multimedia journalist committed to covering stories to help promote the rights and denounce the abuses of the digital side of life—wherever cybersecurity, markets and politics tangle up.She mainly writes news, interviews and analysis on data privacy, online censorship, digital rights, cybercrime, and security software, with a special focus on VPNs, for TechRadar Pro, TechRadar and Tom’s Guide. Got a story, tip-off or something tech-interesting to say? Reach out to chiara.castro@futurenet.com
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