Issue:
Mobile Protection Network Protection (VPN) functionality shown as OFF in the user interface and is no longer be available to be enabled or turned on.
Resolution:
It is by design that the Network Protection feature is greyed out and cannot be enabled in the Elements Mobile Protection user interface. VPN functionality was removed from version 24.1 for iOS and Android, since it will be replaced with the Network Gateway feature.
Note: On Apple iOS devices, the VPN icon will still be visible in iOS user interface even if the Network Protection feature is disabled
Network Gateway component on the device will replace the current VPN functionality, with the introduction of Network Gateway will acts as a “device VPN”, intercepting all mobile application traffic and is used to validate any URLs visited with our reputation service, just the same as used in other WithSecure products.
This involves checking the domain names against a list of known URLs If the Network Gateway detects a malicious or phishing request, it will block it and notify the mobile phone app.
If the URL is categorized as Adult, Gambling, or one of many other categories, this information is returned to the Mobile Protection application, and can be used to block traffic based on profile settings set by the Security Administrator.
To check the full details of Network Gateway component and new version of Mobile Protection check our community release article:
New Elements Mobile Protection Release - WithSecure Community
On 1st of April 2024 VPN will stop working on the devices, check that device is running the latest version of Mobile Protection.
For iOS devices Network Protection will be working as soon as Mobile Protection is up to date, currently under Apple review.
And as of 2024-04-08, we have now released a version of Elements Mobile Security for Android, which enables the Network Gateway functionality.
Article no: 000044227