Mozilla VPN Review—Is It Secure Enough for Your Needs?
Virtual Private Networks (VPNs) may be useful for cyber protection, but their benefits still aren’t well-known to some users despite the rising occurrence of online threats. A survey done by All About Cookies[1] found that even though 85% of Americans have heard of VPNs, only 55% know what they do. Other reports[2] show that around 33% of Americans use them, so VPNs still have some way to go before becoming ubiquitous.
Launched by the privacy-minded company Mozilla, Mozilla VPN is often the go-to choice for those who are familiar with its parent company’s online security efforts.
This Mozilla VPN review will help you assess whether this service would meet your criteria by answering the following questions:
- How does Mozilla VPN work?
- What are its key features and functionalities?
- Is it enough to protect you from all cyber threats?
You will also learn about security practices beyond VPNs that can help you protect your financial data online.
All information is valid as of April 15, 2024. For the most recent information, visit the Mozilla VPN website.
How Does Mozilla VPN Work?
Virtual Private Networks—Mozilla VPN included—work by allowing users’ devices to connect with VPN servers via an encrypted tunnel. This allows the user to access the Internet without revealing personal data, such as an IP address and location. All network traffic is sent through the encrypted tunnel and protected from third parties, even from the user’s Internet Service Provider (ISP).
There are three key benefits of using Mozilla VPN:
- Enhanced security—The encryption the VPN employs protects against cyber attacks, such as the man-in-the-middle attacks where a hacker intercepts one’s communication with the destination server.
- Privacy protection—Hiding the user’s real IP address and location helps keep their online activity private. This feature also makes it harder for websites or advertisers to gather data on users.
- Access to local content—By assigning users an IP address of a specific location, the VPN allows them to access local content or services.
Mozilla VPN’s Key Features
Mozilla VPN’s features can be categorized into five groups:
- Privacy and security features
- Speed and performance
- Global server network
- Device compatibility and support
- User experience and customer support
Privacy and Security Measures
During the first four years of its operation, Mozilla VPN underwent two independent security audits, publicly releasing the audit results[3][4]. While both audits showed some security concerns, the service has subsequently addressed and fixed them[5].
Here is the current list of privacy and security features of Mozilla VPN:
Mozilla VPN’s privacy policy[6] states that the service doesn’t keep logs of its users’ activity. The company does collect data, including users’ IP addresses, and stores it for 90 days.
Among other VPNs with robust security features are BitDefender VPN and VPN Unlimited.
Speed and Performance
Numerous security features and procedures Mozilla VPN (and any other reputable VPN) employs can reduce users’ internet speed. The severity of the issue depends on various factors, such as:
- Distance to the server
- Server load
- Protocol and encryption
- Infrastructure of the VPN service
The results of various speed tests available online were inconclusive. However, some sources showed that Mozilla VPN had reasonably fast speeds, and the WireGuard protocol can make Mozilla VPN faster than VPN services that use older protocols.
Mozilla VPN users can also set custom DNS[7], which allows them to choose a faster DNS than the one provided by Mozilla. Doing so can help users achieve better connection speeds.
Users who are still unhappy with Mozilla VPN's speed and performance should check other VPNs known for their speed, such as NordVPN, Private Internet Access VPN, CyberGhost VPN, and Surfshark VPN.
Global Server Network
When first creating a VPN service, Mozilla partnered with the Swedish virtual private network service provider Mullvad VPN for its network of servers. Malwarebytes is another provider that chose this setup for its VPN service.
The partnership with Mullvad VPN allows Mozilla VPN users access to over 680 servers in 44 countries[8]. Having servers across numerous countries makes it easier for users to find a server nearby, which can increase VPN speeds. Users looking for a higher server count across more countries could look into CyberGhost VPN or ExpressVPN.
Device Compatibility and Support
Mozilla VPN is compatible with all the major operating systems, including:
- Windows
- Mac
- Linux
- iOS
- Android
Thanks to its OS compatibility, the VPN is available on mobile devices and computers. However, it doesn’t support installation on smart TVs, routers, or gaming consoles.
Mozilla VPN can be used on up to five devices at the same time with a single subscription. Those interested in VPNs that support more simultaneous connections can look at Norton Secure VPN and Proton VPN.
User Experience and Customer Support
Mozilla VPN offers easy-to-use apps across different devices. The service integrates with Firefox, Mozilla’s browser, allowing users with the multi-account containers extension to add container-specific VPN connections. For example, users can set their shopping, professional, and entertainment containers to connect to different countries.
As for customer support, Mozilla VPN users can:
- Submit a form for the staff
- Access the Knowledge Base for useful resources
- Join the Mozilla support community
Pricing and Availability
Mozilla VPN offers a monthly and annual subscription. The monthly subscription costs $9.99 per month. With the yearly subscription, the price of Mozilla VPN comes down to $4.99 per month or $59.88 per whole pricing period.
The service is available to users from the following countries:
If a Mozilla VPN user finds themselves in a country that’s not among the supported ones, they’ll still be able to use the service for as long as their subscription is active. However, they won’t be able to renew the subscription until they reach a supported country.
Are VPNs Enough for Complete Online Security?
Mozilla VPN is an effective online security solution, but it wasn’t designed to protect you against every attack vector. A VPN can’t prevent you from opening an email attachment that may infect your device with malware or stop hackers from exploiting software vulnerabilities to access your system and steal your information.
VPNs also can’t protect the personal information you leave with merchants when shopping online or signing up for a subscription service. Information such as your payment card number is coveted by hackers who may use it to commit fraud—retail is one of the industries they target, with 119 cases of data violations due to cyberattacks reported in 2023 alone.[9]
To reduce the risk of your financial information being stolen, consider using a virtual card for online purchases. This card allows you to make payments online without providing your actual card details. Your real financial data is masked by the virtual card number, so if a data breach on the merchant’s servers occurs, your actual card and bank information will remain safe. While some banks offer virtual card services to their customers, independent card providers such as Privacy provide convenience and spending control on top of robust security.
Privacy Virtual Cards Help Protect Your Financial Information
Privacy Cards include a unique 16-digit number, security code, and expiration date that serve as a stand-in for your real financial information at checkout. Your sensitive data cannot be accessed by any unauthorized third party as it never leaves Privacy’s servers.
A BBB®-accredited company, Privacy employs several measures to protect the security of your financial information, including 2FA, data encryption, and strict data storage policies.
Privacy Card Types and Features
Privacy offers three types of virtual cards:
- Merchant-Locked Cards—This type of card “locks” to a single merchant and cannot be used elsewhere. It is suitable for recurring payments such as bills and subscriptions, as well as merchants you shop at regularly.
- Single-Use Cards—This type of card is valid for a single transaction and closes shortly after that transaction is completed. This makes the card useless to a potential hacker. It is best used for one-off purchases and transactions with unfamiliar merchants.
- Category-Locked Cards—Rather than "locking" to one merchant, this card type can be used within one merchant category, such as utilities or travel. It’s useful for budgeting and securely managing spending in a particular category.
All types of Privacy Cards have the following features:
- Setting spending limits—This feature helps you avoid overcharging and hidden fees by allowing you to define the amount you can be charged. Privacy will block any charge above the designated limit.
- Pausing, unpausing, and closing—These features can help you block unexpected fees. They can be useful in case a subscription service you’re trying to cancel attempts to charge you.
Besides these features, Privacy offers a browser extension for all major browsers—Chrome, Edge, Firefox, Safari, and Safari for iOS—that autofills card numbers at checkout. This saves you from having to reach for your wallet or memorize card numbers every time you want to shop online.
The company also offers a mobile app for iOS and Android and 1Password integration that allows you to create and manage your virtual cards via the password manager.
How To Get a Privacy Virtual Card
You can use Privacy Virtual Cards with most vendors that support Visa® or Mastercard® cards. The process of getting a Privacy Virtual Card is straightforward:
- Visit the Privacy signup page
- Fill out the necessary information
- Add a funding source
- Request and generate your Privacy Virtual Card
You can choose between one of four monthly plans that Privacy has on offer:
