Feature Request: Bitdefender VPN Extension for Seamless Browser Integration

Flexx

After reviewing various Bitdefender products and finding their capabilities outstanding, I am now focusing on Bitdefender VPN. It is available both as part of the Bitdefender antimalware suite and as a standalone product.

I think Bitdefender should create extensions for Chrome, Firefox, and Microsoft Edge Chromium. This would allow users who only want the extension to use it easily.

When installed, the extension would ask for Bitdefender Central login details. Users without a subscription would get 200 MB of data every 24 hours or access to limited servers, similar to other VPNs like Hotspot Shield, NordVPN etc. Premium subscribers could use the extension with full features, helping those who rely on VPNs.

Scott

I like it :) Voted +1

Flexx

What are your thoughts on this, @Alexandru_BD

Regards

Alexandru_BD

@Flexx almost certainly the VPN squad will explore the concept and there are good chances they will start working on this in the upcoming months. The VPN was recently overhauled and many improvements were already implemented, and once the remaining ongoing projects are finalized, they should be able to begin development in this area, since from what I understand this is a standard feature that some VPNs offer on the market.

As always, we can't set the date in stone, but I can confirm that the idea is being considered for implementation in the future.

Thanks for sharing your suggestions here once again. 🤜🤛

Flexx

https://community.bitdefender.com/en/discussion/comment/340211#Comment_340211

Thank you for the update @Alexandru_BD

Regards

Flexx

I also received the update from the support teams.

Regards

Petersl

Hi @Flexx

If the bitdefender vpn would be able to be used in the firefox browser with an add-on does this mean that then only the browser would be protected with the vpn?

What if you are already connected with a vpn app for example nordpvn or expressvpn and then use the bitdefender vpn add-on in the browser, would this then get you an double hop?

Or would this not work and simply disconnect your vpn app and replace the connection with the bitdefender vpn?

Flexx

https://community.bitdefender.com/en/discussion/comment/343070#Comment_343070

Well, this is a tricky question to answer. A quick web search shows that it can create a double hop and it cannot.

But if I make an assumption, the addon will be limited to routing traffic only through the browser, not through other apps installed on the device. If you use any standalone app installed on the device, the traffic will first go through it and then through the addon. However, this is just my understanding.

@Alexandru_BD, can you provide any information on this if possible?

Regards

Petersl

https://community.bitdefender.com/en/discussion/comment/343085#Comment_343085

Hi @Flexx

I thought as much that it would only route the traffic from the browser to the vpn and not other apps.

What if you would install the browser extension in several browsers for example brave and firefox, would you be able to connect to 2 different bitdefender servers when using both browsers at the same time for example set the brave browser to France and the firefox browser to UK?

Would the bitdefender vpn support this or would you only able to connect with one of the browsers at a time?

Thx

Flexx

https://community.bitdefender.com/en/discussion/comment/343157#Comment_343157

@Alexandru_BD, any thoughts on this?

https://community.bitdefender.com/en/discussion/comment/340259#Comment_340259

Also, this email response being received on June 18, 2024 via Bitdefender support, can you check on the update regarding its development internally?

Regards

Alexandru_BD

Sure, i'll share my thoughts on this.

@Petersl essentially, a 'VPN browser extension' would only have an effect on the traffic made by the browser.

Assuming that there are no compatibility issues, indeed the setup you described can be considered similar to a double-hop function.

Regarding you latest question, I think here it depends a lot on the way the VPN teams decide to implement this functionality and any system limitations involved. But if we were to do an exercise of imagination and say they would consider this, taking into account that we are talking about multiple browsers installed on one Windows device, then theoretically the traffic could be redirected from each browser to different servers. But again, this is purely theoretical in the sense that it is probably doable, but at the moment Bitdefender does not have browser extensions for VPN and I know they are not planned for the future. Personally, I don't think it's a functionality that will be developed. if, however, this will change, I will return to the thread with more information.

Thanks!

Petersl

https://community.bitdefender.com/en/discussion/comment/343366#Comment_343366

Hi @Alexandru_BD

Thx for the update, it would be nice if Bitdefender would reconsider and adding this in the future as I think I could be very useful to be able to change the location and IP for one browser while still having the other browser on a different location and IP for example one browser is for Netflix and the other browser you use is for your other activities like work, banking, youtube and reddit etc.

If Bitdefender would reconsider and someday add this it would also be very useful if you could set the VPN add-on or widget in the browsers to auto connect when launching the browser app.

Thx

Alexandru_BD

Cheers @Petersl,

Whether or not they will implement this feature remains to be seen. Anyway, this feature request has been automatically forwarded to the development teams for consideration, following the posting of the thread in this category.
Thanks again for the feedback and suggestion! 👍️