VPN or Virtual Private Network adds a layer of protection over your online activities by directing your traffic via a secure encrypted tunnel. If a hacker is looking to spy over your online browsing, that person will not be able to decipher your encoded internet traffic, thus making it impossible for anyone to launch an online hacking attack.
Also, the tech of VPN makes your internet traffic jump through several servers placed strategically all across the globe. When your internet traffic hops from one server to another, tracking algorithms lose track of your activities, thus ensuring that no one is spying over you.
In addition to encryption and server changes, VPN also allows you to access region-locked content which is otherwise not available in your area. Unblocking sites, streaming videos online, P2P servers, port forwarding, internet kill switch, and defeating ISP throttling, etc. all are the perks of having a VPN shield around your operating system.
PureVPN is one of the top leaders in the VPN industry. The VPN provider is active since 2007 and has been delivering rock solid online privacy and security via its VPN products. Once a user downloads, subscribes and installs the application of PureVPN on their OS, the user gets the freedom to select from the following categories:
- Streaming
- Internet Freedom
- Security/Privacy
- File Sharing
Currently, the company is headquartered in the British Virgin Islands and has 6,500+ servers placed across 78+ countries. The strategically placed servers help the users to access restricted content by changing their geographical location.
The VPN giant also had its security audit conducted by KPMG and has a no-logs certificate which ensures that PureVPN does not log, collects, store, or keep any form of data of the clients who are utilizing their VPN to surf over the internet.
PureVPN directly competes with ExpressVPN, NordVPN, and Surfshark VPN, which makes PureVPN a serious competitor when it comes to selecting an ultimate security pack for your internet privacy needs.
Is Mac More Secure Than PC? Not anymore
Mac OS by Apple is considered to be the most secure operating system when we compare it to Windows or PCs. If make macOS go head to head with Windows, undoubtedly macOS is the clear winner.
Mac utilizes the technology of UNIX, which cannot be exploited easily. macOS is well-built for protection against malware and malicious software, however, it is still a technology that has loopholes like human errors, web threats, and cyber-attacks.
Human Error:
A macOS user can click on a link, get phishing emails, download applications/files from the internet containing malware and malicious software, etc. All of these can lead to a massive infection in your Mac operating system.
To put it simply, Mac does not protect you from phishing scams, web-based attacks, and unaware installation of malware on your system.
Flashback Trojan:
In addition to that, Macs do get viruses. One of the most famous virus attacks infected more than 700,000 macOS users. The virus is called Flashback Trojan. This particular attack means that Apple’s claim about Mac being completely virus free is outdated and false.
Bypassing Gatekeeper:
There was a time when Apple’s Gatekeeper was considered to air-tight. However, experts have been able to bypass Gatekeeper. Not only did they manage to bypass, but they also stole data, information, and installed malware onto the Mac user’s system.
Buyer’s Guide: What to LOOK for in Buying a Mac OS VPN?
VPNs comes with a dozen benefits ranging from encrypted internet traffic, unblocking websites, masking IP address, and anonymous browsing. However, which VPN to buy? There are so many variants available in the market nowadays, each claiming to be the best. So, how can one differentiate?
Look out for the following aspects when you are in the market to buy a VPN.
- Figure Out Your VPN Needs
List down the features you need in the VPN of your choice and line them up against every VPN you see. For instance, if you want a VPN to protect your entire household or office environment, you might need a VPN that provides unlimited simultaneous connections or a router-based VPN.
If you want to stream online movies & TV shows or play online games, you might need a VPN with lag-free service, state of the art unblocking abilities, reliable connections, unlimited bandwidth, and streaming optimized servers.
Additionally, if you travel a lot and connect to public Wi-Fi’s then you need a VPN that is integrated with strong security protocols like IKEv2, L2TP/IPSec, PPTP, OpenVPN, or WireGuard.
- Zero-Logging
The VPN of your choice must not keep any types of logs of your internet browsing and surfing. The majority of the free VPNs collect data of their users and sell it to interested third party clients like advertising agencies or cybercriminals.
So, beware and conduct thorough research on which VPN has a zero-logging policy. You can check the list of best VPN services and see what are the top-rated VPNs right now in the market.
- 256-bit Encryption
Usage of encryption makes VPNs stand out from proxies. Always go for a VPN that utilizes military-grade encryption like 256-bit AES encryption that remains unbeatable to this day. Not even supercomputers can crack this encryption and all the VPN leaders have this tech integrated into their products.
- Compatibility
Go for a VPN that is compatible with all the major platforms like Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, and Linus. If a VPN application is not available for all these platforms, it can cause major distress if a user is switching from one technology to another.
- Easy to Setup & Install | User Interface
A VPN must not be complex. It must have a simple user interface with one-click connectivity, and easy to configure settings. The entire process of setting up and installing the VPN of your choice needs to be streamlined. No manual configurations, maintenance of IPs, IP permissions, router panel settings, etc.
- Variety of Servers
The VPN chosen must have a huge list of servers and a variety of locations to choose from, instead of 4 to 5 server locations like you get in freemium VPNs. Opt for a paid premium VPN so that you can access the entire world on your device.
Best Mac VPN
How to Setup VPN on Mac?
A macOS user can set up a VPN on their Mac either manually or via a VPN application. Here’s how you can make it happen.
Setup VPN Connection on Mac Manually
To connect a VPN on your macOS you need to enter the configuration settings by going into your Network preferences. Setup the VPN server address, account names, optimize the authentication settings like passwords or use a certificate.
Perform the below-mentioned steps one by one:
- Go to the Apple menu and navigate to System Preferences.
- Click on Network.
- Locate the Add button in the list on the left side and Click on the Interface pop-up menu.
- From there choose VPN.
- Click on the VPN Type pop-up menu. You need to select the type/kind of VPN connection you are trying to set up. It all depends upon the type of network you are connecting to.
- Afterwards, name the VPN service and click on Create. The security protocols are:
- L2TP works as an extension and is used by ISPs (internet service providers) for enabling a VPN connection over the internet. It is similar to Point-to-Point Tunneling Protocol.
- IKEv2 is associated with setting up security in IPSec.
- IPSec (internet protocol security) are a set of security protocols.
- Now, move forward to enter the account name and server address for your VPN connection.
- Navigate to Authentication Settings where you’ll need to enter the information sent to you by your network administrator.
- Follow the instructional steps you receive from your network administrator like:
- Session options.
- DNS servers.
- Proxies.
- TCP/IP settings,
- And more.
- Once done, click on Apply & OK.
- Move to ‘Show VPN status in menu bar’ to connect to the VPN you have recently set up.
- If you want to remove the VPN configuration you have set up, click on the Remove button next to your VPN network connection service from the list.
PureVPN Mac App: Setup Guide
Are you looking to secure your macOS device entirely? Here’s a complete guide on how can you install/set up PureVPN’s Mac App on your macOS and start experiencing internet freedom, security, & privacy at any given time.
How to Install PureVPN App on Mac?
Simply download and install the PureVPN Mac App by:- Go to the official PureVPN site from here. And Download their Mac VPN app.
- Open your downloaded file to run the PureVPN installer on your macOS.
- Follow all the guided steps to finish the installation.
- Once your installation is complete, launch the PureVPN Mac application to log in.
- Enter the username & password you had set up earlier during your subscription to their service.
- Once logged in, you’ll see the main dashboard of the PureVPN Mac app.
- Click on the Connect button in the middle of your dashboard.
- A dialogue box will pop-up asking, “PureVPN would like to add VPN configurations.” Click on Allow.
- Your setup is complete and the VPN shield of PureVPN will be up and running on your macOS.
How to Change Location in PureVPN Mac App?
PureVPN uses a smart algorithm to automatically choose the best server location once a user clicks on the Connect button. The process was put into place to eliminate the hassle of manual configurations. PureVPN calls it ‘one-click connectivity.’ However, if you want to manually change your location, you have the option to select from 78+ countries. Here’s how to do it.- Navigate to the location icon on the left panel of your PureVPN application and click on it.
- You’ll see a number location in the form of a list, move about and select the country/city of your choice. Or you can enter the name of the country/city in the search bar, and connect to it.
- Once a new location is selected, PureVPN will automatically revert your VPN connection to that location.
Use Dedicate IP via PureVPN Mac App
Dedicated IP helps you connect and gain secure remote access to a specific network from anywhere in the world.- Navigate to the location icon on the left panel of your PureVPN application and click on it.
- From there, locate the dedicated IP option on the top left corner of the app.
- Click on Dedicated IP.
- Your connection will be established automatically with a dedicated IP address.
What Features PureVPN Mac App Has To Offer?
PureVPN has bombarded their Mac VPN application with several useful and helpful features which work coherently round the clock to maintain your macOS’s security shield at all times. Some of the highlighted features are discussed below.
- Keychain
You’ll not find such a feature in any of the top-rated VPNs out there. Keychain is a password management app for your macOS. It comes built-in with your PureVPN Mac App.
The application stores all your usernames and passwords from everywhere to save you from the hassle of a lost password. Once you access a network server, email account, social media profile, or website, Keychain automatically gives you the option of saving that password.
If you save your passwords on Keychain, you will not need to enter your password every time you log in. All your credentials will be safely saved.
- Encryption & Wi-Fi Protection
PureVPN has employed 256-bit AES Encryption in their VPN application which helps to cipher your internet traffic during your browsing, streaming, and online activities.
Also, as soon as you connect to a Wi-Fi network with PureVPN, it automatically creates a secure protection shield around your macOS device. As your Wi-Fi becomes secure, no tracker, hacker, or spy can opt to get into your system or monitor your online surfing.
- Port Forwarding
The tech of Port Forwarding or Port Mapping is a practical application of NAT (network address translation). It works by redirecting communication requests from specific addresses and port number combinations while packets are traversing network gateway (like router or firewall).
PureVPN offers a port forwarding add-on for additional layers of security to prevent hackers from exploiting all types of security loopholes during network communication processes.
- Internet Kill Switch
What if your VPN gets disconnected and a chances of your real IP address getting exposed happens? To address this query, PureVPN has introduced an Internet Kill Switch.
Kill Switch comes into action when your VPN gets disconnected for one reason or another. It immediately cuts off your Wi-Fi connection thus making sure that your macOS is not still connected to the internet and depreciates the chances of your IP address getting exposed.
- DDoS Protection
Denial-of-service attack is a type of cyber-attack where the hacker penetrates the machine of the user and makes it impossible for the user to access their OS.
To prevent and keep all types of cybercriminals at bay, PureVPN offers an add-on capable of DDoS Protection. The add-on is able to defeat even the most complicated DDoS attacks.
- Leak Protection (DNS, IPv6, & WebRTC) & IP Masking
PureVPN offers built-in DNS, IPv6, and WebRTC Leak Protection. It makes your device impenetrable so that none of your data and devices can experience leaks. In addition to this, the app works to keep your real IP safely hidden while you are connected to the internet.
FAQs
Using a VPN on your macOS depends upon your purpose majorly. If you want to roam over the internet freely and anonymously without restrictions, then you can definitely opt for a VPN service. Also, if you are looking to stream geo-restricted content on streaming website like Netflix & Disney Plus, then a VPN can help you in this area.
Free VPNs tend to collect their user’s data to sell it to third parties (which can cause major damage to you in case a hacker gets their hands on it). Also, they do not use encryption and are not loaded with features like internet kill switch. So, free VPNs are not a recommended pathway to go to fulfill your internet privacy & security needs.
