A VPN creates a safe internet connection between your computer and a different network. Mac users can use VPNs for VPN for a variety of reasons. Some of the reasons include the protection of your data on public WiFI, accessing content that is restricted to certain regions or connecting from home to corporate networks. Installing VPN on your MacBook can be accomplished without much difficulty, no matter your level of technical knowledge. In this article, we’ll take you through the steps to manually configuring your Mac to connect to the network VPN with either a free or commercial service.
There are some key differences between the two options, and we’ll cover both of them here. Free services typically have limited server locations and/or slow speeds. Paid services provide a greater selection of servers. If the location or speed of a server does not meet your requirements you can always alter it once you are connected.
When you connect to a VPN your data is encrypted, meaning it’s rearranged into code that only your VPN knows how to decode. This protects your personal information from cybercriminals, ISPs, governments, advertisers and other third parties. It also makes it more difficult to spy on your browsing history, even when you are on unsecure networks like Wi-Fi that are public.
Depending on your VPN service, you’ll have to enter your server address and account name (also known as the “local ID” or “remote ID”), and then click Create. Certain VPN providers display these details in the System Preferences menu, while other require you to select your VPN and then enter the details within their own application.