- Vpn On Mac Free
- Vpn On A Mac
- Vpn For Mac
- Mac App Connect Vpn Zenmate
- Mac App Connect Vpn Settings
- Best Vpn Apps For Mac
With a Virtual Private Network (VPN), you can achieve security and privacy online. However, the process to install a VPN for Mac can seem tricky or daunting if you are not familiar with it.
Buy once, use on Mac, iPhone and iPad. Secure, fast, zero config. We think it’s the world’s fastest VPN for Apple users. Magic VPN: Let World Connect automatically pick the best VPN destination for your needs; Unlimited traffic, no restrictions; Note: While the software is classified as free, it offers in-App Purchases. Set up a VPN connection on Mac. To connect to a virtual private network (VPN), you need to enter configuration settings in Network preferences. These settings include the VPN server address, account name, and any authentication settings, such as a password or a certificate you received from the network administrator. spoiler show=”Click on the Mac icon to begin download.” hide=”Click on the Mac icon to begin download.” /spoiler spoiler show=”Wait until the download completes, and then open it (the exact procedure varies a bit per browser).” hide=”Wait until the download completes, and then open it (the exact procedure varies a bit per. It’s available for $1 on the Mac App Store. This is a simple application that basically replaces the built-in VPN menu bar icon on Mac OS X. If the VPN connection drops, it will automatically reconnect. This applicaiton uses the built-in VPN support in Mac OS X, so it’ll only work with connections you can configure in the Network Settings.
In this article we'll show you:
Actually, the process is quite easy, regardless if you are a beginner or an advanced Mac user. Let us show you how to install a VPN for your Mac!
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What is a VPN?
A VPN can allow you to build a secure connection between your computer to a different network through the internet. You can use VPNs for many reasons. These include shielding activity on public Wi-Fi, accessing region-restricted content, and possibly connecting to a business network to work from home.
VPNs work by forwarding your traffic directly to the network you have created a secure connection with. Essentially, you are connecting your PC, tablet, or another device to a server on the internet. This connection allows you to use the internet or a private network using that server's connection.
People choose to use a VPN for many reasons. Perhaps the biggest goal is to help protect themselves from cybercriminals. Paired with an antivirus program, this can help keep you and your Mac safe while browsing online.
This security is even more critical if you tend to access the internet on unsecured connections, such as at your local library, favorite coffee shop, or the airport. These connections make it incredibly easy for hackers to gain access to your information, including passwords to your banks and social media accounts.
A VPN may also speed up your WiFi connection. It’s also worth noting your Mac doesn’t have a VPN or ‘create VPN’ feature built-in, nor is there Mac VPN server associated with your machine, so you’ll need your own. Most cost money – and be wary of free VPN services; you’re often just giving them your information, which they may be selling to advertisers.
Keep in mind that while VPNs offer an increased level of security, they can't help someone with unsafe browsing habits. Just remember to protect yourself by not downloading suspicious files, clicking on potentially spoofed websites, or other risky browsing behaviors.
Vpn On Mac Free
How to Choose a VPN for Mac?
First, you need to ensure that the software you choose is has a macOS version. Some VPNs offer dedicated Mac software, though it is not always as supported as Windows is when it comes to custom VPN clients.
You also want to ensure that the VPN service can do what you need it to do. While most providers offer similar features in encryption, performance, and server locations, they can differ in other areas.
- Privacy: While all VPNs hide your IP address and location, they may not offer complete privacy. For instance, they may have different data logging policies, limit the number of connections and browser extensions, and have limited security features.
- Streaming support: Most VPNs claim that they unlock content streaming sites, not all actually do. If this is why you are looking into a VPN, you may want to spend more time looking at reviews or try to find one with a free trial.
- Amount of available servers: Some VPNs have limited servers in even more limited locations. First, this could slow down your browsing and streaming speed as more people connect to fewer servers. Second, having fewer server locations means you are severely limited to where you can appear to be browsing. If you want to browse region-restricted content, having more server locations is a must for you!
- Protection across all devices: Some VPN services do not provide support to protect each device you have. The better ones will provide licenses across multiple devices. This means you can hopefully protect everything from your desktop to a laptop to a smartphone!
If you choose to use a VPN service that has its own app, you want to research it before downloading it.
Some VPN apps flaunt themself as being free. However, they have to make money somehow! Usually, they sell user data to third parties, still putting your privacy at risk.
Some third-party VPN apps may also install adware on your system, completely undetected! So, be sure you know what you are getting into before you download a third-party VPN app.
How to Install a VPN for Mac
Now it is time to learn how to install a VPN for Mac. Since specific software setups can vary, these steps are just in general. Be sure to follow any setup steps recommended by the software.
You will also want to ensure that your macOS is up to date or that your VPN app is compatible with the macOS your system is operating.
- Register with a VPN. This process usually involves payment.
- Get the Mac-specific VPN software.
- Install the Mac app. Usually, this is as simple as double-clicking on the .dmg file and following the on-screen prompts.
- Run the VPN app. Be sure to have your account details ready for the first run. Usually, you need to have administrative privileges for this.
Once the app has launched, be sure to review the preferences and settings carefully. Sometimes, important settings are automatically disabled. In multiple VPNs, you must manually enable options like firewall-based kill switches and DNS leak protection.
Also, you want to make sure that your chosen VPN uses the OpenVPN protocol. This protocol ensures that your app does not default to a less secure VPN.
When you finish reviewing the settings, select the VPN server you need and select 'Connect.'
Shimo is an app for Mac that lets you both connect to and configure a VPN, or manage your VPN. Setting up a VPN in Shimo is roughly the same process as it is via your Mac’s settings, but it makes managing your VPN connection(s) much simpler.
If you want to use a VPN for Mac, the options seem endless. Choosing a VPN client for Mac is only one step in the process – there’s still the matter of setting it up, and possibly syncing settings across Macs! Let's show you how to configure a VPN on macOS.
Importing a Settings File
For some network connections for businesses, your administrator may supply a VPN settings file. You can import this file for easy setup. There are two ways to go about this:
- Double-click the settings file to open the Network preferences. This allows the settings to import automatically.
- Click the Apple icon in the upper left-hand corner of your screen and click on System Preferences. Click the Network icon. Click on the Action pop-up menu and click on Import Configurations. Then, select the VPN settings file and click on Import.
Living in your menu bar, this VPN client allows quick-glance access to your connection, and tells you which VPNs you use may be connected; especially handy if you have multiple VPN providers. Shimо also shows connection data in real-time so you know how long you’ve been using your VPN, and the incoming/outgoing traffic.
Manually Configure a VPN for Mac
Perhaps you want to use the built-in VPN client that comes with macOS. This client supports the PPTP, IKEv2, and L2TIP/IPsec VPN protocols.
Apple doesn’t make it hard to set up a VPN on Mac, but it also doesn’t make it easy. Keep in mind these steps require you to choose your VPN first. The main advantage of these connections is that you can set them up without having to download a separate VPN app to use them.
To manually configure the built-in VPN client:
- Click on the Apple icon on the upper left corner of your display and click on System Preferences.
- Click the Network icon.
- Click the + (plus) button on the lower left-hand corner of the box.
- Click on Interface and then VPN from the dropdown menu in the dialog box.
- In VPN Type, select the VPN protocol you want to use.
- Choose a name for the VPN connection and enter that into Service Name. It does not have to be anything specific.
- Click Create.
- Using the settings provided by your VPN service, fill in the server details, including the Server Address and Account Name. Check the option to Show VPN status in the menu bar. Then, click Authentication Settings.
- Enter the Password (or other user authentication supplied by your VPN Service) and Shared Secret, then select OK.
- Usually, you won't have to change any other settings. However, you should still click on the Advanced button. Check the option to Send all traffic over VPN connection. Then, click on OK to save your changes.
- Click Apply in the lower right-hand corner, then click on the Connect button.
- Your VPN should now connect. When done, select the Disconnect button.
There you go! You’ve just linked a VPN to your Mac, and it’s connected. Pretty simple, but is that all there is to do? Yes and no.
When using the built-in macOS VPN client, be aware that it does not have WebRTC leak protection. Be sure not to use a vulnerable browser. If you are, you need to disable WebRTC manually. If you are using Safari, this is not a worry as it is not susceptible to WebRTC leaks.
Also, check with your VPN service to make sure that there are no unique settings that you need to enable/disable to log in from the built-in macOS client.
Testing a VPN for Mac
Regardless of the VPN, you end up using; the testing process is the same.
In the notification bar, macOS displays an icon when you connect to the VPN. This icon lets you know that you are connected. If you want additional access to details and options, you can click on the icon.
Toggle across networks easily
You can connect to as many private networks as you like with Shimo, a dedicated VPN client for Mac. Stay on the safe side!
Perhaps best of all, Shimo allows you to set up triggers easily. If you use a VPN for public WiFi networks, you can choose to trigger them to activate when you connect to a chosen network. This feature is especially handy for setting a VPN to activate geographically; travelers may want to hide their location, or your work network may require a specific VPN to access files.
A VPN is only as good as your WiFi connection, and there are also smart ways to manage that. WiFi Explorer provides deep analysis of your WiFi connection, and offers up advice on why your connection may be troubled, even monitoring 2.4GHz and 5GHz bands of the same connection.
NetSpot is another great app which can use a map of your home to isolate poor coverage areas as well as provide per-connection troubleshooting. It’s a great app to have for homes with guest WiFi networks, and especially nice for those with VPN connections used at home.
How to Sync VPN Settings Across Macs
Have multiple Macs? You’ll probably want to sync your VPN settings across devices. Apple’s settings can be synced across machines, but it doesn’t work seamlessly all the time, and there are plenty of times you don’t want all of your settings synced!
To sync VPN data, Shimo is your best bet. Doing it Apple’s way means you have to reconfigure on each Mac you have, and that’s time-consuming.
Shimo allows you to use it across any Mac you own as it’s license-based. Best of all, it syncs your settings outside Apple’s scope, so activating Shimo on a new Mac activates all your settings. It’s as simple as it gets!
Connecting Your Mac to Your VPN
Once you initially set up your VPN, connect to it in the future is a breeze!
- Click on the Apple menu and then on System Preferences.
- Select the Network icon.
- Select your VPN service on the list at the left-hand side of the box.
- If a Configuration pop-up menu appears, choose the appropriate configuration.
- Click the Connect button.
That's it! You now know how to install a VPN for Mac! Once you connect to your selected VPN, you can start browsing the internet with privacy and security. Learning how to install a VPN for Mac is just that easy!
Conclusion
VPNs can speed up your WiFi connection speeds, hide your location from service providers, and help keep your browsing anonymous from websites. It’s a handy tool to have for the privacy-minded, and worth the spend.
Shimo is a better, more user-friendly option for managing your VPN connections. It makes all the fine-tuning much simpler, which can make your VPN feel much more like a powerful tool than something to hide behind.
We also like NetSpot and WiFi Explorer for managing your WiFi connection. The two apps are similar, feature-wise, so choose whichever is right for you.
Want to install all of your apps in one easy go? Check out a free trial of our app to get everything you need.
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Key Features
Cross-Platform.
Viscosity has been designed from the ground up for both macOS and Windows, using native frameworks for perfect integration.
VPN For Everyone.
Completely configure your OpenVPN connections through an intuitive interface, without any need to know complex commands.
Proven Technology.
Viscosity has been protecting users for over a decade, everyone from home users to large enterprise, with regular updates the entire time.
Traffic Statistics.
Viscosity monitors your OpenVPN connections to ensure you know all the important traffic, network and connection details in style.
DNS. Done Right.
Viscosity's powerful DNS system allows you to ensure that all DNS queries use your VPN DNS servers, or only lookups for select domains.
Enterprise Support.
Easily bundle Viscosity with settings and connections so your users are ready to get started. Create simple deployable connection profiles.
Performance Focused.
Every component of Viscosity has been designed to maximise the speed and reliability of your OpenVPN connections.
Script Everything.
Control Viscosity using AppleScript or VBScript, and call custom scripts and actions when a VPN connection changes state.
More. Much More.
Powerful authentication options, connection folders, IPv6, traffic obfuscation, advanced networking, simultaneous connections, and more!
![Vpn on mac free Vpn on mac free](https://www.howtogeek.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/img_554539a283ae2.png)
Powerful Connections
Viscosity is a first class VPN client, providing everything you need to establish fast and secure OpenVPN connections on both macOS and Windows.
Viscosity caters to both users new to VPNs and experts alike, providing secure and reliable VPN connections. Whether remotely connecting to your workplace network, home network, VPN Service Provider, or other setup, Viscosity ensures it's done with ease and style.
Stay Informed
Viscosity has a clear and intuitive interface for monitoring your VPN connections. Whether you simply want a quick overview of your OpenVPN connections, or want to drill down to the technical network and encryption details, Viscosity has you covered.
Viscosity's unobtrusive main menu provides an instant overview of your VPN connections, making it a breeze to monitor connection details in real-time. When more information is needed, Viscosity's powerful Details window provides a stylish traffic graph and detailed connection statistics.
Intuitive Editor
Vpn On A Mac
Viscosity takes the complexity out of editing VPN connections, while also adding a lot of power at your fingertips. Viscosity's connection editor makes it easy to configure new VPN connections from scratch or edit existing ones. All without needing to know complex commands.
Easily configure everything from network settings to complex multi-factor authentication. Viscosity's powerful DNS modes and traffic routing are also readily accessible to ensure that traffic goes where you want. Power users are also accommodated, with scripting and advanced command support.
New to VPN?
Viscosity makes it easy for users new to VPNs to get started. Its clear and intuitive interface makes creating, configuring, or importing connections a snap. Read our detailed 'Introduction to VPNs' guide for an extensive introduction to VPNs and how to get started using Viscosity.
Experts Welcome
As well as being welcoming to new users, Viscosity caters for power and expert users. Viscosity allows for full control over VPN connections, powerful routing options, running custom scripts, controlling Viscosity using scripting, advanced configuration options, and much more.
Enterprise Ready
Viscosity has been designed for both small business and enterprise. Easily make connection bundles for your users, or completely preconfigure Viscosity with all settings and connections. You can even auto-mount shares and open apps to make life easy for your users.
Expert Features
Obfuscation
Obfuscation helps to prevent your VPN connections from being blocked or throttled by network operators, and Viscosity has powerful traffic obfuscation features built right in. Easily integrate with an existing Obfsproxy server, or run your own, to allow your OpenVPN connections to function even when Deep Packet Inspection (DPI) is being used.
Powerful Editor
Viscosity's connection editor offers unparalleled control over your OpenVPN connections. It allows users unfamiliar with OpenVPN to quickly get started, while also allowing experts to configure all aspects of their connections.
Connection Scripts
Viscosity supports automatically calling your own custom scripts on VPN connection events. Power users can write their own AppleScript, Batch, or VBS scripts to automatically perform almost any action they want. This includes tasks like opening and closing certain applications on connect or disconnect, opening web pages, mounting file shares, or controlling other apps.
Scriptable
Viscosity is fully scriptable, allowing your OpenVPN connections to be controlled using your own custom AppleScript or Batch scripts. It also allows Viscosity to be combined with other third party tools to provide functionality such as automatically when connecting to certain WiFi networks, or when in certain locations.
Complete IPv6 Support
Viscosity has complete IPv6 support. No matter whether you want to connect to your OpenVPN server over an IPv6 network, or have your VPN network support IPv6, Viscosity has you covered. Viscosity's DNS support also fully supports IPv6, including Split DNS.
Connection Folders
Easily group your OpenVPN connections into folders to make them easier to manage. This is particularly useful if you want to share credentials or scripts between multiple VPN connections, such as with a VPN Service Provider.
Full & Split DNS
Viscosity's powerful DNS system goes above and beyond other VPN clients, offering both Full and Split DNS modes. Ensure that your VPN DNS servers are used by default with Full DNS mode, or use Split DNS mode to only use your VPN DNS servers for certain domains.
Native Apps
Viscosity is written using completely native frameworks on both macOS and Windows, letting it perfectly integrate with your operating system and offer top performance. No memory and CPU hungry cross-platform frameworks are used: Viscosity offers a completely native user interface with no bloated web-application frameworks.
Simultaneous Connections
Connect to a single VPN connection at a time, or connect to multiple simultaneously. No need to switch between VPN connections when working with multiple sites remotely: Viscosity lets you connect to them at the same time and correctly routes traffic and DNS requests for each network.
Enterprise Features
Cross-Platform
Viscosity has been developed from the ground up for both macOS and Windows to provide a premier and native experience on both platforms. This makes is easy to deploy a single solution to all of your users, without the expense of having to train support staff and users in the use of multiple clients for different platforms.
Deployment Ready
Viscosity has been designed to be easy and straightforward to deploy in managed environments. Easily package Viscosity with VPN connections and settings and deploy it using tools such as Mobile Device Management (MDM) or Group Policy (GPO). Or use third-party deployment software such as Munki or Jamf to deploy Viscosity and offer self-service installation.
Bundle Connections & Settings
Viscosity can be bundled together with connections and settings, so Viscosity is ready to go as soon as it is installed, with no configuration required by end users. Viscosity also provides a number of extra customisable settings to help Viscosity fit into your networking and security environment, including the ability to change Viscosity's username and password storage behaviour and global scripting.
Supported Software
Viscosity is commercially supported software. We stand behind our products: if you run into trouble, need help, or would like advice, we are only an email away. There is no need to try your luck on mailing lists, or attempt to hunt down developers for support.
Ease of Use
Viscosity has a clear and intuitive interface for controlling VPN connections, allowing users new to VPNs and Viscosity to easily use OpenVPN on both macOS and Windows. Viscosity's Details window provides a simple interface for obtaining connection statistics and diagnostic information to pass on to support staff.
Reliability
Viscosity is in use everywhere, from large enterprise to small business, schools, universities, at home and on the road. You can use deploy Viscosity with piece of mind that it has been constantly tested and refined for almost any network environment. Viscosity has been constantly refined to automatically adjust to a huge variety of network conditions to ensure your user's VPN connections are reliable and trouble-free as possible.
Connection Profiles
Viscosity connection packages can be exported and distributed to users, providing an easy mechanism to supply users with connections (and all associated certificates, keys, and scripts) in a single package when providing a fully bundled version of Viscosity is not suitable.
Standard & Admin User Support
Viscosity can run under both administrator accounts and standard user accounts, for both macOS and Windows. This makes deploying Viscosity to machines that are not department controlled/imaged (such as machines at a user's home) much easier and simpler.
Smartcard, Token, & U2F Support
Viscosity supports PKCS#11 and FIDO Universal 2nd Factor (U2F) authentication options, allowing your users to use devices like smartcards and eTokens for authentication. You can use these devices as the sole method for authentication, or combine them with other authentication methods to create two-factor, or even three-factor, authentication. This helps you meet strict security polices, such as the Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard (PCI DSS).
Automatic Actions
Viscosity allows calling custom scripts before a connection connects, when it connects, or when it disconnects. This allows common tasks to be easily automated, such as connecting to file servers and mounting shares, opening web pages, opening applications, controlling other applications, and displaying messages to the user. Viscosity supports AppleScript scripts under macOS, and both Batch (.bat) and Visual Basic/VBS (.vbs) scripts under Windows.
Conditional Connections
Viscosity's conditional connections mechanism makes it easy to have Viscosity only connect to a VPN server on certain networks, or only in certain environments. A custom script can check for certain conditions (such as the wireless network the machine is connected to, the IP address, location, etc.) and decide whether to allow or terminate the connection attempt.
Big shout-out to @sparklabs! Viscosity is excellent with constant updates and flawless operation. #wortheverypenny #bestvpnclient
@daveprovine | Twitter
Vpn For Mac
If you're using #OpenVPN and you're not using #Viscosity then you're doing it wrong :) @sparklabs - Thanks for an awesome app!
@systemcentersyn | Twitter
Just wanted to say that Viscosity is a great app. I'm very happy with its performance, ease of use, reliability, and design.
@CyborgInteract | Twitter
Every professional VPN solution I've used for Mac can't hold a candle to @sparklabs's Viscosity. Its by far the best
@JonoH | Twitter
Hat tip to @sparklabs for Viscosity. It's the OpenVPN client I'd write if I had to. Which I don't, because they wrote it.
@landonfuller | Twitter
I'm really pleased with Viscosity. It's an extremely elegant #Mac #OpenVPN client solution.
@noviantech | Twitter
PSA: The Viscosity OpenVPN client from @sparklabs is awesome - regularly updated and a great value. Recommended!
@_4bdi3l | Twitter
Love Viscosity from @sparklabs. Easy install, it just works. Reliable OpenVPN connections for Windows and Mac.
@clemensmol | Twitter
I just downloaded Viscosity after toiling with the various OpenVPN offerings.. I must say, I have fallen in love! Keep it up!
@MilesKjeller | Twitter
All Features
Authentication
- Username & Password
- Public Key Infrastructure (PKI) & PKCS#12
- Shared Secret
- PKCS#11 Token & Smartcard
- FIDO Universal 2nd Factor (U2F)
- One Time Password (OTP)
- Dynamic & Static Two Factor
Network
Mac App Connect Vpn Zenmate
- Simultaneous Connections
- Full & Split DNS Modes
- Connect via HTTP or SOCKS Proxy
- Traffic Obfuscation
- DHCP IP, DNS, And Route Assignment
- Complete IPv4 and IPv6 Support
- Automatic & Manual Proxy Settings
- Powerful Traffic Routing Options
- Intelligent Server Selection & Fallback
Mac App Connect Vpn Settings
Interface
- Powerful Connection Editor
- Traffic Graph & Statistics
- Unobtrusive Status Icon & Menu
- Customisable Menu Icons
- Customisable Menu Quick Statistics
- Connection Folders & Shared Credentials
- OpenVPN Version Selection
Performance & Integration
- Native Implementation for Each Platform
- Low CPU & Memory Usage
- Reliable OpenVPN Connections
- Automatically Disconnect on Inactivity
- Automatically Reconnect on Disconnect
- Automatically Reconnect on Network Availability
- Automatically Disable Time Machine Backups
Security
- Latest Cipher & Digest Support
- Sandboxed OpenVPN & Scripts
- Keychain & Windows Password Store Integration
- IPv6 Leak Protection
Best Vpn Apps For Mac
Enterprise
- Bundling Connections & Preferences
- GPO Group Policy Deployment
- Connection Importing & Exporting
- Admin Rights Not Required for User Operation
Advanced
- Conditional Connections
- Control Viscosity using AppleScript
- Control Viscosity using Scripts or Command Line
- Run Scripts on Connection Events
- Advanced Configuration Commands
Platform Screenshots
Viscosity for macOS and Windows
Download Viscosity now to trial it for 30-days with no purchase necessary and no limitations. Purchase Viscosity to remove the 30-day trial limitation and help support its development. Viscosity is a one-time purchase, with no subscriptions or recurring fees.
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