What is a Mac VPN?
Virtual Private Network is the general name for software used to increase the layers of security and privacy surrounding a public system. A Virtual Private Network (VPN) is a secure and private tunnel between multiple devices connected to the internet. A working VPN allows ordinary computer users to communicate with a virtual private network which in turn is used to connect to a public network. To any website, you visit while using a VPN, it looks like your data is coming straight from the virtual private network. VPNs are used to good effect to protect your web traffic from being monitored, tracked, and censored.
Once you connect your Mac to the internet via a virtual private network, your internet traffic becomes secure and encrypted. In fact, your internet protocol (IP) address is replaced with the address of your VPN server. In the early days of its emergence, VPNs was used by huge corporations to prevent sensitive data leaks. This was done by allowing users in different parts of the globe to connect to vast data banks over a virtual private network secured by tokens, passwords, and other security measures.
What are the Advantages of a VPN for Mac users?
These days, VPNs have received widespread usage among Mac users for reasons such as anonymity, privacy, and security. In simple terms, VPN helps users to:
● Avoid ISP bandwidth reduction by online streaming services
● Connect multiple users to a secure system without purchasing more hardware and software (scalability)
● Circumvent geo-blocking features in any part of the world
● Keep their personal information and data from being stolen off the web
● Protect their computers and mobile gadgets from being attacked by malware
● Avoid targeted ads
● Maintain total anonymity and privacy on the internet
Features to Look Out For When Choosing a Mac VPN service
Selecting the best Mac VPN can be a little bit challenging. Apart from the fact that there are a lot of VPNs out there, each VPN comes outfitted with its own unique set of features. Choosing the best VPN for your Mac is easier if you know exactly what to look out for in a virtual private network. With that in mind, here are the features to look out for when selecting a VPN:
Best VPN Protocol for Mac
VPNs offer you a variety of protocols. Some VPNs offer you one or two different protocols while others offer you a wide range of protocols. When selecting a protocol, security, authentication, and tunnelling are a few of the factors you should look out for. It is also important to consider the compatibility of the protocol with your Mac.
For high-security purposes, an L2TP protocol is a reliable protocol. L2TP offers users high standard encryption algorithms. These algorithms go as far as verifying information and data twice. Bypassing restrictions, censorship and firewalls is best achieved with OpenVPN. SoftEther can also be used to ensure security on public networks. SSTP is another strong and reliable protocol. It is usually advisable for users to pick VPNs that offers a wide range of protocols that can be selected at will.
VPN Registered Business & Server locations
Depending on your needs, the location of a VPNs servers and the location in which the business is registered is an essential factor to consider. Many a time, corporate VPN providers, especially those who save user logs, may be forced to turn over your data to the government under the laws of that country. In the same vein, getting around a geo-blocking service would be impossible if your VPN doesn’t have servers in the right region. Before purchasing a virtual private network software, make certain that it possesses servers in a wide range of locations.
Data Policy
Although your data is protected from all other internet users, other systems that are connected to the same VPN service might be privy to your data. Since you are entirely trusting your VPN service provider with your information, it is essential to know the ins and outs of its data policies. Quite a few VPN services opt not to log user data. Others record some data for administrative purposes, aggregating it to prevent hackers from identifying a particular user’s data. Depending on your choice, it is highly important that you know your VPN service provider’s policy when it comes to data logging and saving.
Anti-Malware and Anti-Spyware capabilities
Surfing the web on your Mac while using a VPN means that your activities on the internet are secure and private. However, it is still vital to make sure that you don’t download a file with malware. This is why some VPNs come outfitted with malware protection and shields. Some VPNs go as far as offering malware scanners that continuously monitor the files that you download.
VPN Mac Compatibility
One of the many advantages of subscribing for a VPN package is to enjoy a consistent user experience across all platforms. It is therefore highly critical that you confirm if your VPN can be used on platforms such as Mac, Windows, Android, and iOS.