You Need a Mac VPN
There's a dangerous belief out there that macOS is somehow immune to attacks, that Apple's computers need no antivirus, and that Macs are intrinsically protected against spies and hackers. While it's true that Windows machines see more attacks, perpetrators of mass surveillance and online data thieves aren't discerning. That's why virtual private networks, or VPNs, are so important, even for Mac users.
The problem isn't your Mac, per se. It's the fundamental structure of the internet. The first bricks of the web were laid by government and university academics who were interested in making information sharing faster and easier. Privacy and security were secondary concerns. Fast-forward a few decades into the future, and things are quite different.
Today, we use the web for far more than just trading academic papers. We transmit important documents filled with personal information; we file our taxes; we send money to our friends and request money from our enemies; we even exchange incriminating emails and compromising photos. And we do it all over a system that makes finding your location and intercepting your information very easy.
Editors' Note: IPVanish is owned by j2 Global, the parent company of PCMag's publisher, Ziff Davis.
GitHub - vilmibm/tildemush: a modern mush tailored to tilde town. Welcome to Reddit, the front page of the internet. Become a Redditor. And subscribe to one of thousands of communities. Web-based MUD client? So I need to find myself a web-based client! The Best Mac VPNs of 2018 A virtual private network, or VPN, is one of the best and simplest ways to take control of your privacy online. We did the tests, and these are the best VPNs for your Mac.
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Who Wants Your Data?
In short, just about everyone wants your data. Your personal information is valuable to hackers because it can be sold and resold on Dark Web marketplaces. Scammers and other criminals can then buy that information in order to commit fraud, which is not something people usually enjoy having done in their name.
In a similar vein, advertisers are keen to get your information so that they can better target you with online advertisements. Special trackers note information about you when you visit a website. When you navigate to a website that hosts another tracker from the same ad company, your movements are correlated across the web.
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Even internet service providers (ISPs) are starting to get in on the act, now that Congress has given them the go-ahead to sell anonymized metadata about user activity. The ISPs argue that if advertisers can get a cut of the sweet>
Stay Safe and Private on Your Mac
Apple has polished macOS to a shine, and the company has always paid careful attention to stability and security. But out on the web, anything goes. That's why you need a VPN to provide a critical layer of security and privacy. It's a simple but powerful tool, and you'll be grateful for taking better control of your online experience.
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While you're thinking about privacy for your Mac, you should also consider security. If you're not protected yet, you ought to read our roundup of Mac antivirus software.
Best Mac VPN Services Featured in This Roundup:
NordVPN (for Mac) Review
MSRP: $11.95Pros: Largest collection of servers. Specialized servers. Six simultaneous connections. Well designed, consistent user interface. Ad blocking and web protection.
Cons: Expensive. Lackluster speed test scores.
Bottom Line: NordVPN provides Mac users excellent network security, impressive features, specialized servers, and the largest network of VPN servers on the market, making it one of the best VPNs for macOS.
Read ReviewPrivate Internet Access VPN (for Mac) Review
MSRP: $6.95Pros: Thousands of servers across dozens of locations. Good speed test scores. Excellent, advanced tools. No logging. Works with Netflix.
Cons: Minimal interface. No free version.
Bottom Line: The perfect choice for a security wonk, Private Internet Access is a no-frills macOS VPN with the most robust network we've yet seen, at a very reasonable price. Don't expect much hand-holding from the interface, however.
Read ReviewTunnelBear VPN (for Mac) Review
MSRP: $9.99Pros: The best overall speed test scores for macOS. Friendly, charming interface. Blocks ads. Excellent privacy policies. Unique features specifically for macOS. Plays nice with Netflix. Bears.
Cons: Few server locations. No P2P or BitTorrent allowed.
Bottom Line: TunnelBear has always offered a great experience and excellent protection with its VPN software, and it shines on macOS. With a robust network of servers, a killer interface, strong speed test scores, and unique features for macOS, it's an Editor's Choice.
Read ReviewPureVPN (for Mac) Review
MSRP: $10.95Pros: Excellent geographic diversity of servers. Specialized servers. Allows P2P and BitTorrent. Excellent privacy policy. Works with Netflix.
Cons: Few servers. IKEv2 and OpenVPN not supported in client. Unfriendly interface.
Bottom Line: PureVPN offers robust protection for your web data with an excellent collection of servers and strong privacy protections, but it isn't the fastest Mac VPN we've tested.
Read ReviewGolden Frog VyprVPN (for Mac) Review
MSRP: $12.95Pros: Robust features, including split tunneling. Supports multiple protocols. Allows P2P and Bittorrent. Direct control of servers. Geographically diverse server options. Some stand-out speed test scores.
Cons: Lacks ad-blocking. Small number of servers.
Bottom Line: Golden Frog VyprVPN not only provides the secure encryption of a virtual private network, but it also packs a host of advanced features into a slick macOS app.
Download the Pulse Secure for Mac VPN client installer Double click the downloaded package and follow the prompts to install Open Pulse Secure from the Applications folder, and click on the Pulse. Obtaining the Junos Pulse client for OSX (Software portal) The Junos Pulse VPN client for OSX installer is avalable as a downloadable application from the Rutgers Software Portal. To obtain the installer package, log into the Rutgers Software Portal with a valid NetID and password. Re: Junos Pulse Client won't start on Mac 10.10 / Yosemite Thanks, I passed this onto my company's IT folks in case it helped. It's weird actually, I have 2 Macs both running 10.10, this one with Java 8 is having the problems but when I checked the other one which connects fine, it's running a build of Java 7. Latest Knowledge Base Articles. Up-to-date information on the latest Juniper solutions, issues, and more.
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TorGuard VPN (for Mac) Review
MSRP: $9.99Pros: Numerous advanced settings. Very robust network of some 3,000 servers. Five simultaneous connections.
Cons: Unfriendly interface. Does not automatically select best server. Fewer options than Windows version.
Bottom Line: TorGuard is meant to be the VPN for BitTorrent acolytes, and it delivers a raft of advanced features confident users will appreciate, but it's not for networking newbies.
Read ReviewKeepSolid VPN Unlimited (for Mac) Review
MSRP: $9.99Pros: Affordable, flexible pricing structure. Nifty Touch Bar integration. P2P and BitTorrent allowed. Supports OpenVPN. Specialized servers. Information-dense client.
Cons: Lackluster overall speed performance. App Store and downloadable versions offer different features. Small number of servers.
Bottom Line: KeepSolid VPN Unlimited is a solid service with unparalleled flexible pricing, and robust security technology, but its interface feels clunky for a Mac app, and its speed tests results were only fair.
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