Disconnect Launches Next Generation Cloud-Based Online Protection, Announces Partnerships With Blackphone and Deutsche Telekom

SAN FRANCISCO, Nov. 13, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Disconnect, a certified public benefit corporation and maker of popular open source privacy and security software used by millions, today announced the launch of the next generation of their award-winning software. The new Disconnect offering combines powerful protection, beautiful design, and ease-of-use in an integrated single application available for iOS and Android devices, as well as Mac and Windows computers. Disconnect will launch its new software at the Privacy Identity Innovation conference in Palo Alto, CA.

The new Disconnect software is a cloud-based technology that offers real-time protection from hackers and trackers, who are increasingly able to access users' identities and sensitive personal information. The product includes the following core features:

1. Visualized tracking: see the invisible tracking and unsecured connections on websites you visit and apps you use.
2. Encrypted Internet: route all traffic through Disconnect's encrypted tunnel to prevent wireless eavesdropping, secure your connections, and protect sensitive personal info from privacy invasive tracking, including mobile and desktop supercookies.
3. Safe browsing: prevent malvertising, block 5000+ malicious trackers, sources of malware and other identity theft threats with Disconnect's virtual private network (VPN) technology.
4. Anonymous search: search privately and securely using your favorite search engine.
5. Location control: defeat Internet censorship and access content freely without revealing your true location and IP address.
6. Privacy icons: at a glance, easily understand the privacy policies of 1000s of sites, plus other details about how your data is collected and used.

"The technology powering our new software allows us to protect users from more threats than ever before," says Disconnect CTO and ex-NSA engineer Patrick Jackson. "Moving our logic to the cloud means we can adapt in real-time to counter new attacks, and simultaneously offer this protection across all the major platforms and devices."

Founded in 2011 by former Google engineers and a consumer-rights attorney, Disconnect's goal has always been to create powerful privacy and security tools that are simple to use and don't break or slow down the Internet.

"Identity theft and unwanted collection of sensitive data is a major concern for most of us," says co-founder and CEO Casey Oppenheim. "This revolutionary product makes it incredibly simple for people to protect themselves and their loved ones across all their devices without sacrificing usability or convenience."

The new Disconnect product allows users to visualize invisible tracking connections for free, and offers premium protection that covers up to 3 devices for $5 a month, or $50 a year. Downloads for Mac, Windows and Android are available from the Disconnect website, and the iPhone and iPad versions are in the App Store.

Notably, Disconnect will not make the Android version available in the Google Play Store. In September, Google controversially banned Disconnect's anti-malvertising application because the app interfered with advertising services, including Google's own ad network. The new Disconnect app includes an even more robust anti-malvertising filter, which protects users from ads that look legitimate but may contain malicious tracking or malware.

"Based on communications with Google there's no point in submitting the new application to the Play Store at this time, as they've made clear their decision to put advertising profits ahead of consumer safety and choice," says Oppenheim. "We're hopeful Google will reconsider, especially because their own ad network has been repeatedly hacked, and suffered a major breach over the past few months that allowed criminals to expose millions of users to malware using a malvertising attack that our apps protect against."

In addition to the Android version being available from Disconnect's website, the new app will be pre-installed on Blackphone, the world's leading private and secure smartphone, which runs PrivatOS, an Android based operating system without the usual security compromises.  "We're delighted to see the progress Disconnect is making to bring safety and choice into the hands of more and more internet users. In particular we're thrilled with the response Blackphone customers have had to Disconnect's products," said Toby Weir-Jones, CEO of SGP Technologies, manufacturer of Blackphone. "All our new devices coming off the production line will include the new Disconnect software, and we'll also make it available to existing customers via an upcoming OTA update."

Disconnect is also excited to announce a partnership with leading European telecommunications provider Deutsche Telekom (DT), which will offer the new Disconnect software as part of a special promotion to encourage DT users to protect themselves online. "Enabling online privacy and security for our customers is a top priority," said Marc Sommer, Senior Vice President of Business Development at Deutsche Telekom. "We're excited to partner with Disconnect and to distribute their innovative products."

About Disconnect

Disconnect was founded on a basic principle: that it should be easy for people to understand data collection and control access to their personal information online. Disconnect's top-rated apps for mobile and desktop are used by more than 3,000,000 people every week. Visit Disconnect on the web at https://www.disconnect.me/.

Disconnect exists to help solve an important social issue and our founding principles are reflected in the way we run the company. We're proud to be a Certified B Corp.

SOURCE Disconnect