PIA unveils revamped Android VPN app with Shadowsocks integration

Private Internet Access (PIA), a no-log Virtual Private Network (VPN) service, has announced the introduction of a fully revamped Android VPN application. Equipped with enhanced user privacy, accessibility standards, and a comprehensive shift to a Kotlin codebase, they aim to provide users with an optimal online shielding experience, according to a statement.

The new application introduces several key enhancements including an upgrade to the user interface, Shadowsocks integration, and revamped accessibility features. The refreshed user interface builds on the pre-existing features that the customers are used to while introducing a cleaner, smoother design. Head of Product at Private Internet Access, Himmat Bains said, "In updating our UI, we kept all the features and functions our customers know and love and built on a refreshed new clean design." He added that Android users are enjoying a sneak peek of this experience as the company anticipates a full release across all platforms by the end of the year.

Notably, Shadowsocks implementation was a long-awaited feature by PIA's Android VPN users for its enhanced security and privacy provisions. Bains stated, "Delivering enhanced and upgraded security, usability, and accessibility protocols is a constant drive for the PIA team. We are constantly building and refining the toolkit we offer to keep users safe in an increasingly insecure digital world."

The redesigned Android application prioritises accessibility. It is developed per the latest Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG)—internationally accepted standards designed to streamline digital experiences for users with a range of accessibility requirements. The new design incorporates a series of innovative features, including a location picker, dark mode, IP information, quick connect and settings, traffic information, and connection information.

Key to the revamp is the integration of Shadowsocks—an open-source proxy project. It will ensure enhanced privacy and Internet freedom for users worldwide, particularly those living or travelling in restrictive regions, by allowing them to disguise their connections to bypass firewalls or thwart censorship. The amalgamation of Shadowsocks protocol with PIA's existing VPN privacy suite, offers users advanced privacy provisions, ensuring an invisible digital footprint disguisable as regular HTTPs traffic.

An integral part of the overhaul is the transition to a full Kotlin codebase—a programming language renowned for its clarity and conciseness. This change will expedite the delivery of updates and fixes while simplifying the integration of future features. Principal Android Engineer at Private Internet Access, Iva Nedeleva, affirmed: "By rewriting the codebase in Kotlin, we are now able to deliver features more than 10 times faster. Some features that previously would have taken a week now take only two hours to implement—with greater certainty around both release quality and long-term stability."

With its new design, PIA's Android VPN is designed to provide a comprehensive privacy solution integrating enhanced accessibility and usability provisions, secure Shadowsocks integration, and the speed of Kotlin deployment. Customers can benefit from a more customisable, secure, and swift online experience, the company states.