Apple has walked back its decision to make changes to how iOS devices handle VPN following a $368.2 million patent verdict in favor of VirnetX. Apple originally posted a support document to its website earlier this month detailing how the settings would change when iOS users connect to VPN networks, but it updated the document this week to say the changes are no longer happening.
When Apple first posted the document, it specifically pointed to the lawsuit by patent firm VirnetX as the reason for the behavior change on iOS's VPN On Demand feature. The change was going to be relatively minor—devices with VPN On Demand configured to "always" would instead behave as if they were set up to only establish a connection as needed.
As noted by MacRumors, some users pointed out that this option doesn't always perform as expected. Luckily for them, it looks like the "always" option will remain as part of VPN On Demand—Apple's updated document hints that it came to an agreement with VirnetX and was able to keep things the same without issuing any kind of software update.
"Apple no longer plans to change the behavior of the VPN On Demand feature of iOS 6.1 for devices that have already been shipped. The 'Always' option will continue to work as it currently does on these devices," wrote Apple.
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