Any plans for a browser extension?

VPN
1

Hi,

I saw that a year ago there was a thread asking the same, and the official answer was

At the moment this is not one of our priorities, but as we continue to develop ProtonVPN we may consider a browser extension.

https://www.reddit.com/r/ProtonVPN/comments/i8yveo/should_protonvpn_create_a_browser_extension/g1fj67g?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web2x&context=3

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I just wanted to know if there has been any change or if it’s already in the works.

As to why I would like to have that capability, these are the three uses cases:

  • Browse on a VPN while steam can download at full speed.
  • Browse privately while the computer is connected to a company VPN
  • Use private VPN in any computer without admin/sudo/installation rights

These three real cases are why I ended up using another provider (the one with the mountain logo). I would really prefer to use ProtonVPN, but those are important use cases for me.

2

Browser extensions are a half-assed approach to VPN’s.

#1 Split tunneling would do what you want if you absolutely needed this

#2 You can’t assume any level of privacy while using someone else’s hardware, and you shouldn’t be connecting to company services on your hardware. It’s bad for you and them.

#3 You can’t assume any level of privacy while using someone else’s hardware, and you shouldn’t be connecting to personal services on their hardware. It’s bad for you and them.

3

I second this, exspecially since apple has added safari extensions even to iPhone and iPad. It would be really convenient.

4

btw correct me if i am wrong:

  • they offer split tunneling, you’re covered that can be applied
  • usually to have an extension you need to have a client installed.
    company vpn explain: an installed company client or a wifi connection to an access point that’s part of a company’s vpn?
    - with an installed company vpn client you cannot have another installed vpn running at the same time.
    - going through the comp vpn from a physical company access point you can have proton connected only after you have accessed the network given the comp vpn has and allows internet access and it’s not a company intranet, (local physical or through the physical network of the www)
  • as said usually an extension requires an installable client. probably your work browser could have a level of prohibition to install any extension or let them remain installed after a session. moving on, to do this from a browser without installation concerns
  1. you need a portable version of a browser to run
  2. that has installed the extension you want
  3. which extension will be corresponding to a portable vpn client.
    this level of portability is a true high level pain to make. possible but complex. a company used to sell a program that made it possible to create portable directories that interconnect and work properly from usb stick, more than 10 years ago and i cannot remember what’s called. great unique product. a computer’s programs, “porrtablized” on a memory stick ready to launch without admin rights (unless if you got detected and you got your session logged off, remotely or automatically. happened to me to a uni’s library pc in 2005, running a portable version of msn messenger and the system was logging me off automatically deleting everything from the account’s sandboxed session due to " foreign unidentified process - *messengerportable.exe* ". i told the admins, they laughed and they added exclusions from a list of portable programs i wanted to be allowed to run on my uni account without a problem).
    not an easy plug-n-play option to use an app (or the tiny code of an extension on an installed admin-maintained browser) to any computer especially on computers that run under the eyes of system administrators.

this last request of yours is the pinnacle of users being allowed to run anything they want on work pcs and a great dislike of system & network admins. imagine running torrents, imagine opening a fully encrypted connection to the web to leak/sell company files n documents.

5

Split tunneling won’t do what I need, as explained before. It won’t allow 2 VPNs at the same time.

6

There are many other use cases for VPNs besides privacy. One of them is simply switching your location, or simply hiding your traffic from your company Network admin, both of which can be done using a browser add-on

7

half-assed approach to VPN’s

yes but id rather use proton then windscribe to unblock a website / change ips on the fly to a different country with out reloading my game or TeamSpeak / signal call

8

they offer split tunneling, you’re covered that can be applied

Can I connect the browser to ProtonVPN using split tunneling if I am already connected to another VPN? That is one of my issues.

usually to have an extension you need to have a client installed.

Not sure about other, but Nord and Express (can’t 100% confirm the second, haven’t used it) allow client-less VPN using the extension. Based on the descriptions of the Firefox extensions page, seems many others allow it too.

imagine running torrents, imagine opening a fully encrypted connection to the web to leak/sell company files n documents.

If the goal was to use torrents or access unsafe websites, I could still do that disconnected from the company VPN… any malicious software that could infect the computer won’t dissapear, so there is very little, if any, difference. And it’s wouldn’t be as if it was something new, other services offer it already. So if it’s possible, and there are use cases beyond privacy on company VPN, I think it’s worth considering (even if rejected in the end)

9

That does raise a problem.

10

by mentioning “steam downloading” and “if the company vpn client can run side by side with proton” i can assume you are using your personal computer, not a work pc, thus being at home, not at work, while having installed the company’s vpn client in your computer. correct?

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Can I connect the browser to ProtonVPN using split tunneling if I am already connected to another VPN? That is one of my issues

only one active vpn client at a time. i said you are covered with split tunneling to browse the web thought proton’s network while steam downloads through the normal route, being ’ your modem - isp - steam servers ’ and back. so far split tunneling is used to allow or exclude apps and addresses from using the vpn, unfortunately not in conjunction with another vpn client and network at the same time. i searched endlessly for this without result with clear common sense in mind: “if a client featuring split tunneling can separate apps and links between vpn and unencrypted isp route then two clients both with split tunneling can be set and allow easy route management and selection of apps and links per client per network. logical so viable” NOPE they cannot it’s an ip conflict/issue/something, someone was explaining in a site but i stopped reading after seeing it cannot be done currently.

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Not sure about other, but Nord and Express (can’t 100% confirm the second, haven’t used it) allow client-less VPN using the extension. Based on the descriptions of the Firefox extensions page, seems many others allow it too

- coincidentally i have an expressvpn annual subscription but i don’t know if the extension acts as a standalone client, i installed the .exe in win10 which installed the extension on its own in chrome automatically

you last paragraph confused me in the most part of it

- i said torrents through vpn due to the nature of the protocol, with the multiple simultaneous connections the torrents launch and use, which is a formidable stress test, bordering network abuse if it’s massive data flow is not supported by the vpn. encrypting torrent data packets that could never reach their destination but you do it which means resources usage. you need a really good physical infrastructure and briliant QoS to support encrypting torrent connections.
secondly I talked about the user connecting to the general internet through his vpn doing intentional harm to the company, not about malicious code due to user carelessness. without further clarification i can only say basic things based on logical steps of common sense: vpn = initial level of company’s security concerns = limitations to employees. viewing it primarily from a security standpoint, in order to prohibit the user (you) and avoid letting you managing harming the company by allowing an unknown non transparent connection connecting to the web
another angle is that they can also say: “oh okay you are harmless but you want to browse the web during work? let’s get you fired to browse the web fully carefree at home without costing us 12 paychecks annually”

see where i am going so far? to a main legitimate multifaceted pack of genuine reasons with viable created countermeasures prohibiting you

if you company doesn’t have a strict security-centric culture, you can download a portable version of chrome, install an extension standalone client of any free vpn (that actually encrypts not just rerouting and lying to collect and sell data) and test it through the company’s vpn to see what’s what

11

There is a lot to unpack, so i’ll try to address everything.

  • I have multiple computers. The one where I use steam might not be the same where I work.
  • The torrent I said because I understood you were referring to the risk of running torrent while on company VPN
  • I didn’t want to get into details as I didn’t think it was necessary, but the computer is 100% managed by me, all it’s software installed by me and I am the only person with access to it, local or remote. The company provided the hardware and gave me full free control over it. The only way they can see anything I do is through my internet traffic over the company VPN.
  • The company does not prohibit me, I just prefer to have privacy, same as I try to have privacy from Google or any other actor. I am honestly baffled as to how ‘if you use a VPN is because you have something to hide’ or ‘that is a bad idea because think of the companies!’ angles.
  • As mentioned before, I am already subscribed to Nord and it works just fine with company overall + Nord on the browser, no need to install portable versions with free vpns. My ask is not how to get over the company VPN, is that I prefer to move to Proton or some other reputable VPN instead of renewing with Nord.

Another case would be if I want to spoof my location in my personal computer browser, but I don’t want to drag all my connections to a remote server, only the browser.

12

1, 2, 3) we’re ok over the first three bullet points, clarified and cleared on point, i believe. (mixed personal and work described use creates clarification requirements). moving on

4.1) on the 4th if the company doesn’t put limitation in place then you’re good to go.
4.2) you talk about the “mod’s mentality of guilt”, to unbaffle yourself consider it a pre-emptive measure for people who hide sometimes their lack of self-control and measure of sensibility like teenagers or adults with broken or defeated minds and perceptions especially if they are employed and could go haywire causing trouble
4.3) The matter of company owned property (company vpn) I mentioned is to make you aware to avoid conflict and personal frustration over actions you might have not become aware by your system admin in the first place or got informed once and forgotten, leading to the comfort of your informed state, not the excessive use of company’s owned resources, physical or digital, that usually are insured in case of damages. if you ever manage to cause severe level of damage they’ll lay you off immediately, maybe even prosecute you, if they want to create an example. they do not lose sleep over this, neither should you if you are not involved in corporate espionage.

5.1) that bullet point also cleared. clarification in the first three though kinda paints the picture for this 5th and final.
5.2) i was scratching my head when you said you were subscribed to nord wondering “where? when?” and then i spotted the reference “the one with the mountain logo”. hahaha. mate, show mercy and say these things from the start clearly. no need for hesitation especially considering change, becoming proton’s client

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either way i think and hope that most of your concerns are addressed.

13

4.1 I’m not good to go, my whole ask was about if proton had plans for a browser extension. I can already do it with another provider, but all things being equal, I preferred to use Proton as its values are more aligned with mine.

4.2 I am not baffled at the mods, I am baffled at your patronizing responses.

4.3 You have 100% no clue as to what the relationship of the admins/my computer/me/the company… And even if you were, both in this thread and the previous poll there is a positive enough ratio of likes/dislikes that show some people is interested on this feature.

5.2 I made the reference like that (the one with the mountain) because many reddit bots mercilessly ban anything that might seem ads automatically.

5.2 (again) These responses are just increasing my hesitation, as answers seem to be ‘Proton should look for the interests of a hypothetical third party over their paying customers’

Honestly, the one concern I had is not addressed. “Is there a plan for a ProtonVPN Browser extension?”.

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There are still a few months left on my current Nord subscription. I’ll look again then and if still there is no Browser extension I’ll look elsewhere, or I’ll renew. It’s not a threat, just a fact. Proton won’t do or stop doing anything because of one me.

14

wtf? patronizing??? i was under the impression i was talking to an adult but apparently i was proved wrong
i see now…

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Tech99bananas
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1d

Browser extensions are a half-assed approach to VPN’s.

1 Split tunneling would do what you want if you absolutely needed this

2 You can’t assume any level of privacy while using someone else’s hardware, and you shouldn’t be connecting to company services on your hardware. It’s bad for you and them.

3 You can’t assume any level of privacy while using someone else’s hardware, and you shouldn’t be connecting to personal services on their hardware. It’s bad for you and them.

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