Request to login to Google Play to Open VPN

Question

Recent reinstall of VPN through Google Play on my Android mobile. Now encountering issues with requests to log into Google Play when launching VPN app (only when the app has logged out).

Logging into Google Play I am then presented with a message to say that I need to download the VPN but I already downloaded the app! Screen shot provided.

When I go to the VPN app on Google Play, the buttons available are Uninstall or Open! Screen shot provided.

Alexandru_BD · Answer

The app on your phone is downloaded from the Google Play store, isn't it? Have you checked what other login options are displayed there? You should simply enter your email address and password associated with your Bitdefender Central account instead of selecting the Google login option:

The other login options are..optional. 🙂

Spirit Vodka · Answer

I didn't purchase my subscription from Google Play store.

Until recently, the Bitdefender VPN Premium app on my mobile did NOT have to go through a verified sign in through Google Play (I know this with confidence, as I always remove Google Play sign in once I have completed my interactions).

Whilst Bitdefender may not view this as a privacy or a security, I as a User do.  I was not aware that the Bitdefender VPN mobile app sign in is now being verified by Google Play - in terms of User experience this is poor and I have stopped using some apps that have tethered sign in to Google Play due to privacy concerns.

This doesn't happen when using Bitdefender Total Security or Bitdefender VPN on Windows.

I don't understand how the statement about app publishers must obtain approvals to post apps on app stores being relevant to app sign in verification: other apps on my mobile are not presenting the Google Play sign in screen.

Alexandru_BD · Answer

If you've purchased your subscription from Google Play store, then this is normal, the same applies with all subscriptions tied to the App Store, for example. For the record, all app publishers must obtain approvals to post their apps on the respective stores. That's not to be considered a privacy nor security risk, because the app is standalone, after all. It's just the subscription that is tied to the store, and the same happens with the Bitdefender subscriptions purchased from the official website, as Bitdefender doesn't sell them directly, they sell via a vendor/payment processor, in that case Verifone (formerly 2Checkout).