macOS

How to Find a Lost iPhone or Mac

Tuesday September 15, 2026 8:23 pm EAT by Dave Johnson

The Find My app’s Devices view and the Find Devices web app initially show a zoomed-out map plotting all your devices that are close to you and within reasonable proximity, as with people. If you’re in a Family Sharing group, you can see all devices of members in your group sharing their location with you. That can be quite a few devices. On an Apple Watch, you can only view a list and tap to see a map.

Any iPhone, iPad, Mac, or Apple Watch you own will appear as a device, along with all Apple and Beats audio devices. Because audio-device tracking has become more useful and differentiated over time, AirPods are covered separately.

The list is organized by person for Family Sharing with you at the top. As with People, each device shows the name assigned to it, a rough location, the last update, and its approximate distance from your location.

Your location is also plotted on the map as a blue dot if you’re near or between any of your devices, as is likely.

Find My doesn’t differentiate devices based on whether they’re located via an internet connection, proximity to your equipment, or the Find My network.

Select a device in the list or on the map, and Find My zooms in to center it in the map, typically showing it within a rectangle shaped by a radius of about 1/4 to 1/2 mile (400 m to 800 m). In the version 27 releases, select the device again to have the map zoom out.

You can take action on the device like this:

On an iPhone or iPad or macOS 27: Select a device and view the actions available in its sheet. Tap or click the close button in the upper-right corner to return to the full list.
On macOS 26 or earlier: After selecting a device, click the Info button to the right of the device name in macOS. Click anywhere but in the actions sheet in macOS to dismiss it.
On an Apple Watch: Tap the device and scroll down for actions. Tap the back arrow button to return to the main view.
On iCloud.com: A sheet appears in the upper-left corner of the webpage when you select a device.

Only the Directions options and the Notifications label (with different options) also appear in the People View.

Here’s what you can view or select from in Devices:

Play Sound: See how to play a sound on a lost device.
Directions: See how to play a sound on a lost device.
Notifications: See how to get Find My alerts.
Lost Mode/Mark As Lost: See how to mark an iPhone as lost.
Erase/Erase This Device: See how to erase a lost iPhone or Mac remotely.

The top of the Find My sheet of actions shows a graphical depiction of the battery level for an iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch, or Mac laptop. Audio devices’ battery levels are not displayed.

Find My shows the device’s location on the map as a dot with its model icon above it. The dot is the center of a blue-shaded area if a device can be pinpointed; otherwise, the shaded area is larger and green. The shading radius indicates the level of confidence in the location.

Devices are listed even if they haven’t connected for months—or years! If it’s been longer than 24 hours, they appear as “No location found.” (For the full status rundown, see how to read the Find My app’s status labels.)

To remove old devices, see how Activation Lock protects a lost or stolen device.

Find a device you cannot reach

Here’s how to help someone else find their lost device—or find your own when you don’t have one of your devices at hand:

Family Sharing: Use the Find My app on a device or the Find Devices web app at iCloud.com from a group account with which the missing device’s owner has enabled sharing.
iCloud.com: For all other uses, turn to the Find Devices web app at https://www.icloud.com/find.

Some actions are limited: on the sheet for a device, you can play a sound, mark as lost, or enable notifications when found for your or anyone’s device using the Find My app on any device in the Family Sharing group. To erase a device, Find My prompts for the Apple Account password of the associated account.

If you cannot pass two-factor authentication

Apple requires two-factor authentication (2FA) for nearly all Apple Accounts—it’s useful in resisting account hijacking. However, it complicates using Find My if you (or someone you’re helping) don’t have access to any trusted, or Apple Account-linked, devices or phone numbers. Here are three approaches to set up in advance:

Add a trusted phone number for people you trust: You can add a phone number for a partner, family member, close friend, or even an attorney or other professional you could contact in an emergency. Then, as long as you remember your Apple Account password, you can select that other person’s phone number in the 2FA validation process and they can provide you the code.
Create a passkey for your Apple Account: Apple lets you bypass two-factor authentication if you enable a passkey. While a passkey is typically stored on your iCloud-synced devices, you can use some password managers to store one instead.
Use a hardware encryption key: Apple lets you rely on hardware encryption keys for Apple Account access. As long as you still have one of the keys you set, you’re not locked out of iCloud.

Tags: Find My, iOS, iPadOS, macOS

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The Kinds of Mac Malware, and How Infection Happens

Tuesday September 15, 2026 8:22 pm EAT by Abigail Shilets

Malware describes a broad category of unwanted software that is installed without your explicit knowledge, and which carries out tasks beneficial to the operator and creator of the malware, and detrimental to you, your local network, your friends, family, and colleagues, and potentially strangers and even the whole of the internet.

Malicious software can be as “benign” as adware, which is bundled with software you intended to install, and which redirects your browser to a portal through which the adware’s creator earns commissions when you search or make purchases; or which overlays or replaces ads on pages you view to earn income on your stolen time (also effectively stolen from the sites you visit).

But it can also be quite hostile: it might encrypt all your files and demand a ransom (more on that below), delete your files, or use your computer to launch attacks. Malware often tries to find other devices reachable on the same network—often which are more susceptible to network infiltration than from attacks launched over the internet—to infect them with the same software.

The main point is that you don’t want any software to run on your Mac that you aren’t aware of and haven’t given approval to run. What follows is the kinds of threat a Mac user faces; what Apple does about them and what you can do is separate, as is whether to install anti-malware software at all.

Why Apple avoids the worst of it

While the first widespread malware appeared on Macintoshes many, many years ago, Apple’s choices over the last 25 years have meant that Macs have been generally resistant to the most common vectors of attack that afflicted and still plague Android and Windows users, as well as people running servers of all types.

There are a lot of reasons for this, some of it due to system choices and some due to obscurity—the number of devices running each operating system.

Windows wasn’t designed with the internet in mind, nor the receipt of arbitrary emails from people outside an organization. For too many years, a successful exploit could hijack a machine by someone merely receiving (not even viewing) an email message or passively viewing a webpage. Microsoft has improved its security dramatically in Windows 10, the first release of which was 2015, but older versions—still in use on hundreds of millions of devices—still suffer from many attacks.

While Google built Android as a modern, Unix-based, internet-connected operating system, they made multiple interconnected errors that led to Android being highly insecure. Among other issues, they handed control to handset makers and carrier networks, making it difficult to push out security updates directly. They also rapidly revised and abandoned older versions, no longer releasing security updates, even while handsets were still being sold as new in the box that ran those versions. And despite the dangerous world into which Android was first launched in 2009, the OS seemed full of easily exploitable flaws that took years to move past. As with Windows, even if newer versions of Android are fairly secure (in relative terms), a billion older Android devices still remain on the market.

It’s in this space that Apple finds itself, with both iOS/iPadOS and macOS. Frankly, there are billions of better targets than any of those Apple operating systems. Apple didn’t have to engineer a system that was 10 times better than Windows, but just enough—better coupled with the substantially fewer numbers of Macs in use in the world—that malware creators targeted the low-hanging fruit instead.

While Apple has sold a lot of iPhones and iPads (and some iPod touches), the user base for Android and forked-Android phones and tablets (forked ones use open-source-derived variants) outweighs iOS and iPadOS copies by a bit under three to one—and Apple patches security flaws quickly. (Apple has closed that gap in recent years, but it’s the mass of older devices that remains the concern.)

Remember the old joke about a bear rushing toward two campers woken from slumber: one stops to put on his shoes. The other says, “You can’t outrun the bear!” The first replies, “I only have to outrun you.” Apple always ties their shoes.

The kinds of malware

Malware and its enablers come in a lot of varieties, and it’s worth knowing the terminology. Here’s a primer:

Virus: Malware that injects itself inside existing software, and executes whenever that software runs. It can spread by software being copied, such as an app being corrupted by a virus on a download site, so everyone who downloads it receives and runs an infected version. A virus can be a payload of a worm or Trojan horse, which install the virus.
Worm: Worms are free-standing malware that can spread themselves across a network, and may install other malware, such as viruses. The world’s first widespread malware was a worm.
Trojan horse: Malware masquerading as legitimate or desirable software that a user installs. It may result in freestanding malignant software or a virus inserted into otherwise valid software.
Phishing: A technique of convincing someone, typically via email, to hand over personal details, particularly payment information, by sending them to a malicious webpage that’s a close copy of a credible site.
Ransomware: Malware that targets user document files and encrypts them with a key that is discarded and only the attacker has access to. The attacker demands money to provide the key.
Bots: A bot is not a “robot,” but automated software that performs automated activity on behalf of its owner, which can include coordinated attacks against websites or servers, illegitimately clicking ads, sending spam email.

The most likely scenario for a Mac user to be infected by malware is through a series of seemingly innocent, chained actions: phishing, Trojan horse, virus, and ransomware. Often this has to be coupled with a form of understandable naïveté: bypassing Apple’s warnings and installing seemingly unknown software.

How an infection actually happens

Because I don’t want you to feel targeted in this story, let’s call the victim Bob. Bob is checking his email in Apple Mail or a third-party email app. Because Apple Mail has always been quite resistant to in-mailer attacks and most other mail clients are the same, Bob’s not at risk by reading messages.

But Bob sees a message about a piece of software he uses regularly. “Get a free 90-day trial of the new version of AliceDrawPlus! Click this link, and download and install. Because this is a special trial version, right-click the installer and click Open to make sure it runs!” (Real phishing email is often not that grammatically correct or well targeted, but some is.)

Bob isn’t thinking about unsigned software. Instead, he looks carefully at the email, which absolutely looks like other messages he’s received from Alice Corp. He downloads the file, bypasses Gatekeeper protections, and the Trojan horse he was phished to download runs and installs a virus.

Lest you think this is a problem I know about only secondhand, several years ago, one of my kids was having problems with their computer. I checked, and they had been fooled into installing an Adobe Flash “updater.” I had accidentally enabled administrator privileges on their account, and I had apparently never had the malware talk with them. We installed some anti-malware software, and fortunately the thing they’d installed was fairly benign.

But because the installer is running in Bob’s home folder, and not accessing or trying to install in a privileged location or make similar changes, it doesn’t trigger a request for an administrator password—although Bob might have entered that without worrying, too.

The software appears to install, but instead of launching, it claims there was a license problem, and the file was corrupted. “Check back in four weeks for another update!”

Meanwhile, as Bob continues to work, every file in his home folder, starting with Documents, is being encrypted and copied to a new file and then the original deleted. He may have no notion it’s happening, particularly if he has an SSD and can’t hear a hard drive working away like mad, though his fan might spin up unexpectedly.

macOS requires users to agree to allow apps access to certain folder locations, but because we have been trained to click OK most of the time, it might not raise Bob’s hackles or most of ours. See how to control which apps use your Mac camera and files.

A few hours pass and Bob tries to open a file. It has a strange extension. It won’t open in the app that created it, but when he double-clicks the file, he gets a message that explains all his files are encrypted, he needs to pay up, or the decryption key will be thrown away and his files lost forever.

Bob’s been attacked by ransomware, and his only way out may come if he has a backup history—or wants to pay the Bitcoin or other cryptocurrency the criminal demands.

If Bob were as credulous as depicted, he could just as easily have been phished, where he was presented with a website that absolutely looked like AliceCorp and told to enter his serial number and payment details for a huge discount. Phishing is a virus of the mind, and your Mac can’t help much against that.

ClickFix, the fake CAPTCHA

Bob is too clever to fall for the above, but he visits a website that flashes up a CAPTCHA, which is typically some text you are using your human eyeballs to perform OCR on or identify squares containing the same object (they are stealing our brain’s processing power here), or to solve a simple puzzle. Bob performs the sequence of actions he’s told to perform in the “CAPTCHA,” and he falls to phishing.

This technique, ClickFix, has been around since 2024, but apparently dramatically accelerated how often malware fighters detect it.

Why? Fiendishly simple. We’re so used to following the “orders” of a CAPTCHA, clicking images or solving puzzles, that this doesn’t seem that weird if we’re on autopilot.

However, it should go without saying—but I’ll say it—never paste anything into Terminal from a random source on the internet, whether it appears to have authority or not. I try to avoid it even here, because of the consequences of a Terminal-based command going wrong and taking a lot of your time to reverse.

Apple agrees, and rolled out an anti-paste warning in Terminal! Starting in Tahoe, if you have something on the clipboard that macOS deems could be harmful, you receive a warning that might cause you to think twice.

Apple can escalate further than a warning, blocking paste entirely if they’re sure there’s malware involved. Your Mac may also block a script from running for the same reason.

Ransomware is your biggest worry

While our theoretical friend Bob was fooled into installing malicious software and bypassing protections in the examples above, the risk to many people isn’t quite as straightforward as the above.

Before I dig in, I want to note that ransomware is your biggest worry, but ransomware remains nearly non-existent on Macs as Apple continues to crank up protections that make it increasingly unlikely to thrive—particularly while it’s easy to infect users of other platforms. Several of those are covered in how Gatekeeper decides which Mac apps can run and how macOS protects its own system files.

The reason I characterize it as the biggest worry is that it’s so blessedly simple to create and provides easy rewards for those who deploy it. Macs aren’t inherently resistant to it, but it feels as if they were. That luck could change with the right (“wrong,” really) exploit and timing.

You can see how with a phishing attempt like the above or email messages that tell someone a sequence of commands to perform, ransomware could be rolled out en masse to millions of people. Payments are quasi-anonymous to avoid easy tracking, and ransomware is effective against naïve and some more experienced users because it doesn’t seem like the way in which malware gets delivered and runs.

As noted above, when a ransomware app is launched, it encrypts all user files. The operation typically passes a file through an encryption algorithm, writes a new file with a new extension, and then deletes the source file.

Depending on the attack, you may get a message on screen when it’s done, explaining what happened. Some ransomware embeds the message into every file, so double-clicking provides the same text.

Send hundreds to thousands of dollars (or, as an organization, up to tens of millions of dollars) in Bitcoin to a specified address—kind of like a semi-anonymous post-office box—by the specified date and the hijacker will give you the key to decrypt it. Fail to comply, and they throw away the key.

Occasionally, white-hat hackers, who use their coding and online prowess for good, will crack open a ransomware scam and distribute passwords or a generic decrypting tool to victims!

Ransomware works on the portion of macOS (and any afflicted operating system) that contains user files and for which file and folder permissions more or less all belong to the logged-in user, as well as the partitioned-off part of memory that runs programs, called user space.

This is distinct from the system files and kernel space that contains all the components of macOS and in which the operating system itself runs. While crackers want to subvert system files and have software run with the highest permissions, that’s a hard lift—and why bother, when you can just use ransomware instead?

Here’s the other thing that should reduce your blood pressure if I just raised it: it’s also remarkably easy to mitigate the effects of ransomware (or any malware) with a little prep and ongoing work that’s not likely to exhaust your patience or wallet. The built-in measures come first, and then the question of third-party anti-malware software.

Tags: macOS, Security

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How to Get Find My Alerts When Someone Arrives or Leaves

Tuesday September 15, 2026 8:03 pm EAT by Stacey Butler

Find My lets you take a variety of remote actions on devices and short-range actions on items. Options vary in utility based on whether your device has fallen behind a couch cushion, or has been misplaced or stolen, and whether the device or item is directly reachable via a local network, the internet, or the Find My network. With devices, Apple follows up many actions with an email message sent to your Apple Account’s associated address.

You can set up notifications within Find My to provide a variety of information depending on the category:

People: You can opt to receive alerts when they arrive and leave locations you define, or send them alerts based on your location.
Devices and Items: You can be notified when a device is found if it’s marked as lost. You can also receive a prompt when you leave something behind.

People-based notifications let you track when someone (including you) arrives at or leaves a location. The alert can be set once or on a recurring basis. Here’s what to do:

In a native Find My app on an iPhone, iPad, or Mac, bring up the sheet of actions for a person via the Person view.
In the version 27 releases, beneath either Notify Me or Notify Person, tap or click Add Location Alert. In earlier releases, beneath Notifications, first tap or click Add, then select Notify Me or Notify Person.
For Notify Me, you can select I Arrive or I Leave; for Notify Person, you can select Person Arrives, Person Leaves, or Person Is Not At.
Pick a location. Some locations will be prefilled, such as you or another person’s current location.
- You can also tap or click New Location, then drag on the map or enter a location.
- Clicking or tapping in the search field brings up potential matches from the person’s contact card before you start typing.
Optionally set a radius. Tap Small, Medium, or Large at the bottom of the map to switch among radii of 300, 800, and 1,250 feet (90 m, 240 m, and 380 m).
- Or drag the blue dot at the right out to a preferred distance; a label indicates the radius as you drag.
- The minimum is a 300-foot (90 m) radius. The maximum is 792,000 feet — 150 miles or 241 km.
- A wider area prevents excessive notifications for departures, or gives earlier warning of an arrival.
Your final option varies based on the Arrives/Leaves/Is Not At selection:
- For yourself or someone else, Arrives/Leaves lets you pick Only Once or Every Time for notification frequency.
- For another person with Person Is Not At chosen, you can set a range of time and days of the week.
Click or tap Add to complete. If you set this up to track someone else, they now receive a notification that you’ve done so.

If you’ve asked your child to remain within a certain distance of home, or want to know when they’re returning so you can hide the liquor—er, clean up around you—then changing the radius is useful. However, an older child might employ a Cat in the Hat strategy towards a parent.

This map selection tool is also used with Notify When Left Behind, a way Apple helps you avoid accidentally losing stuff.

Is Not At could be useful with an employee or child to know when they’re not in a place you expect at certain times.

The other person is always told

When you let other people know what you’re up to with notifications, they receive an alert that tells them what they can expect to receive. This appears across your devices and is an anti-stalking measure; see how to check whether someone is tracking you.

Your Apple Watch lets you notify or be notified about people’s locations, but it’s limited to Notify Me/Notify Person with two options. You can notify someone when you leave your location or arrive at theirs, or when they leave their location or arrive at yours. You can’t select locations or set up other nuances below.

If you want to see notifications about someone else’s comings and goings, you’re told what they will be informed of and given a chance to cancel, and they receive a notification about what you’ll be updated about.

For recurring alerts set to Every Time, you’re told that someone has to approve the action. The notification is slightly different for Person Is Not At recurring alerts, specifying that the other person will be notified at the moment the schedule first goes into effect. So if you set the schedule to Wednesday at 9 a.m. and it’s Sunday night, the alert will say a request will be sent for approval at 9 a.m. Wednesday. (The time zone will be whatever time zone the location you set is in, not your or the other person’s current time zone.)

For notifications that require permission, you see a Pending Request label on that person’s sheet of actions.

It can be useful to pause notifications for a lot of reasons; tap or click Pause to pick a time to resume: either “Until the end of Today” or from a calendar.

You can freak someone out by creating a notification without alerting them first. When you use Find My to track someone’s arrival or departure, that person receives a notification that you’ve done so. This can happen in the most benign circumstances.

After my wife texted that she was coming home with oodles of groceries a couple of years ago, I created a notification to alert me when she got home so I’d break off what I was doing and go down a couple of flights of stairs to the street level to help her. She was surprised by the alert she had received. At that time, Apple had just changed their system to provide this disclosure to others.

That disclosure is quite useful, because tracking can be used in non-benign situations, too: see how to check whether someone is tracking you.

Tags: Find My, iOS, iPadOS, macOS

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How to Fix macOS Sonoma Internet Problems

Tuesday October 10, 2023 8:10 pm EAT by Dave Johnson

Are you facing issues establishing a Wi-Fi connection on your Mac after macOS Sonoma update? While connecting to Wi-Fi is generally an easy and straightforward process on a Mac, some users have faced problems in getting internet access via Wi-Fi after installing macOS Sonoma. Users have reported that their Macs have no Internet access, even though Wi-Fi seems to be connected.

The common Wi-Fi issues associated with Sonoma often involve frequent connection drops, slow internet connection, unreliable Wi-Fi connections, or subpar overall network performance. Various factors, such as Wi-Fi router issues, third-party app conflicts, or post-update software-related problems, could cause these issues on your Mac.

If you are also facing these problems, follow the troubleshooting steps explained below to fix Wi-Fi issues in macOS Sonoma.

Troubleshooting macOS Sonoma Internet problems

Whether you’re using a MacBook, MacBook Pro, MacBook Air, Mac mini, iMac, or Mac Pro, these troubleshooting steps should fix all macOS Sonoma WiFi problems. After trying each step, please test to see if your Wi-Fi problem is fixed:

1. Check for macOS updates

A bug in macOS Sonoma may be the cause of your Wi-Fi issues. There is a possibility Apple has already released an update to fix this. To check, open System Settings and select General, then Software Update and install available updates. Also, you may want to turn on Automatic Updates.

2. Update the Wi-Fi router

If you manage the network’s Wi-Fi router, install the latest firmware updates for the router, as recommended by its manufacturer.

3. Reboot your router and Mac

Rebooting is a simple fix that’s known to solve many network-related problems. Start off by shutting down your router: unplug it from the wall and then wait a few minutes. Once you plug it back in, wait a minute or two for the device to set up. While you’re waiting, go ahead and reboot your Mac. To restart your Mac, go to the **Apple  menu **and select Restart.

Once both your computer and the router are back up and running, turn on Wi-Fi to see if your Mac can connect now. If it didn’t, it’s time to move on to the next step.

4. Check anti-virus or VPN software

Sometimes, you might have a VPN installed to protect your network by, for example, hiding your IP address. However, it just might be what’s causing macOS Sonoma internet problems.

Check the VPN or any other security-related software to ensure that they aren’t the source of the macOS Sonoma Wi-Fi problems by disabling them and seeing if the issue persists.

Uninstall the anti-virus software and then check if you can connect. If you can connect, then, obviously, this software is the problem. Check if there is an update to the software. Then, you can try to install the updated version. If the updated version causes problems, too, you may want to keep the software uninstalled until its developers address the issue.
VPN services may also be the cause of macOS Sonoma Wi-Fi problems. Are you using a VPN? Then disable or uninstall it and then try again.

Please note that uninstalling the VPN may not be enough. Even after uninstalling it, its configuration may stay on your Mac and continue to cause issues. You may need to remove it. On your Mac, go to** Apple menu** >System Settings > Network. Then select VPN. Then, tap the info (i) button next to the VPN service and select Remove Configuration. You will be asked if you are sure you want to remove it. Click Delete again.

5. Reset network settings

When all else fails, reset network settings. Doing so may fix macOS Sonoma internet problem. This will not get rid of your saved Wi-Fi passwords. Here is how:

Go to Apple Menu and then System Settings.
From the sidebar, select Network.
You will see Wi-Fi. Control-click (or right-click or double-finger click) it.
Select Delete Service. You will be asked if you really want to delete it. Click **Delete **again. When you delete it, your Wi-Fi status bar will say Not Configured. This is normal.
After deleting the Wi-Fi service, restart your Mac.
Now, go to the Network settings (Apple menu > System Settings) again.
Click the** three-dot button** and selectAdd Service.
From the Interface options, select** Wi-Fi**. You can also change the Service Name if you wish.
Click the blue** Create** button.

Now, check if you have solved macOS Sonoma Internet problems.

Tag: macOS

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What is a VPN and why is it important on a Mac?

Friday July 21, 2023 3:28 pm EAT by Dave Johnson

"Hold up," you’re probably thinking. "Isn’t macOS famously secure by default?" You’re not wrong, actually: All Macs and MacBooks ship with built-in antivirus software that blocks and removes malware, and any apps you download from the internet are swabbed for malicious code by Apple’s Gatekeeper tool. Furthermore, all of the data that lives on your macOS device’s hard drive is secured with FileVault 2, a full-disk program featuring XTS-AES-128 encryption and a 256-bit key.

It’s when any of your precious data ventures outside the localized protection of your Mac that things start to get dicey — and that happens every single time you connect to the web. Your Internet Service Provider, or ISP, tracks your every click to compile browsing logs they (sometimes) sell to marketers, who are champing at the bit to use your data for targeted ads. That information can also wind up in the hands of certain government agencies if your ISP is served with a subpoena. Thankfully, adding a VPN on Mac enhances protection and eliminates any cybersecurity risks.

In this article, we cover a few of the key reasons why you may want to consider downloading a VPN for your Mac. Or, if you already have one, highlight some of the less common VPN benefits you can take advantage of.

What is a VPN?

Before diving into all the benefits of using a VPN on your Mac, let’s quickly look at what it is. A virtual private network, or VPN, is an encrypted connection between your Mac and a private, remote server. In the most basic sense, it’s a service that keeps you totally incognito on the web by masking your online activities and making it seem like your connection’s coming from somewhere you aren’t. This makes it more difficult for third parties to track your activities online and steal data. The encryption takes place in real time.

How does a VPN work on an Mac?

The concept is pretty complex, but the general idea is relatively simple. A VPN establishes a direct connection and encrypts all its online traffic, thereby protecting the user’s activity and details.

Essentially, the VPN service sends all the Mac’s digital traffic through remote servers, which are typically located in different parts of the world. The service also hides the device’s real Internet Protocol (IP) address, replacing it with that of the service’s servers. This means the connection is secure, the device’s actual location is hidden, and hackers—or, indeed, internet service providers—cannot monitor activity over the connection or access any data.

Do I need a VPN on my Mac?

In a word — yes. It is very common now for people to use their computers for all sorts of digital activities, from making bank transfers and purchasing items online to sending emails and surfing the web. However, all of these actions require someone to input personal details that cybercriminals or businesses try to harvest. Here are some examples of why you do, in fact, need a VPN on your Mac:

Internet Service Providers (ISPs) can view the Mac’s online activity and sell the data to third parties for targeted advertising.
ISPs can also use IP addresses to monitor internet use and throttle (slow down) connections if too much bandwidth is being used, such as with too much gaming and streaming.
Websites can use IP addresses to track the location of visitors, and search history, to gauge interest and create targeted advertisements and suggestions.
Some services are restricted to people in specific regions, for example, TV content, or videos from YouTube. If you are travelling, but still want to keep up with your favorite show, a VPN will allow you to do this.

As such, what a VPN does on an Mac is help protect the user’s online privacy and the security of the data they send. The service can secure sensitive data and personal information, such as bank details and credit card information.

Ensuring the security of an Mac by using a VPN service is important for any user. However, it is especially essential for remote workers and business people. This is because business MacBooks are often used to send and receive a lot of sensitive information, such as confidential documents and financial records. If these computers are hacked, all of this information can be leaked, causing problems or embarrassment for the business.

What are the benefits of having a VPN on my Mac?

As well as offering some security and privacy, a VPN has many benefits for those using an Mac. Computer users are becoming increasingly aware of what using a VPN on an Mac does and, as such, are increasingly choosing to use the service. Here are just some of the reasons:

Avoiding geo-restrictions: Not all online content is available everywhere. For example, some countries restrict the use of search engines like Google while certain streaming services, like Netflix and Amazon Prime, offer country-specific catalogs. Connecting an Mac to a VPN circumvents these types of geo-restrictions so that users can access the digital content they want.
Getting location-specific search results:The geographical location of your Mac can skew the results of search engines. As such, using a VPN ensures that the search results are relevant to the location the user wants. For example, using a VPN configured to use a Bangkok-based VPN can help narrow the search for a specific store in Thailand, even when the user is physically in the USA.
Avoiding targeting: IP addresses are often used to create targeted advertising and personalized suggestions for each website visitor. VPNs can change the user’s IP address, thus minimizing the ability of ISPs and third parties to make these bespoke adjustments.
Minimizing throttling: VPNs can help Mac users avoid bandwidth throttling from ISPs, especially if the computer is being used a lot for streaming and gaming, for example.

What are the potential drawbacks of using a VPN on my Mac

Although there are many reasons why users should add a VPN to their Macs, there are, of course, some disadvantages. Although this does not mean users should begin removing VPN services from Macs, it is important to take these into account:

Slower connection speeds: Because VPNs encrypt data and must re-route all traffic through remote servers, many users find their internet connections become slower. However, users of premium VPN services usually do not encounter this issue.
Insecure connections: Because free VPNs do not charge any fees, they are forced to monetize their service in different ways. This is often done by tracking user data and then selling it to third parties, which is what many users are trying to avoid in the first place. Because of this, paid services offer greater protection.
Subscription costs: The best VPN services available often charge basic fees, which some users may balk at. However, these subscription costs are usually negligible when weighed up against the security and privacy benefits.
VPN bans: Before setting up a VPN on their Macs, users should note that the service is banned or restricted in certain countries. For example, VPNs are illegal in North Korea and Belarus, while Russia and India only allow VPN providers that agree to log and share user data.

When should I use a VPN on my Mac?

By now, most users will be aware of what a VPN does on an Mac and why the service is important. At this point, many wonder whether they need to use a VPN connection all the time, or only under particular circumstances. The short answer is that using this service consistently affords the highest level of security, and so users should use it at all times. However, VPN connections are most critical when accessing bank information and making transactions, providing credit card information, downloading files, and sharing sensitive information through email and chat services.

Does my Mac’s macOS encryption offer enough security?

It is a common misconception that Apple’s macOS makes MacBookss, iPhones, and iPads impervious to hackers and other security threats. The security that macOS offers is limited to protecting passwords stored on the device and encrypting the device’s data when the device is locked. As such, macOS encryption does not extend to web traffic, leaving data sent or received on Macs vulnerable if they do not use a VPN.

Choosing a VPN for an Mac

It is tempting to think that all VPNs are created equal, but this is simply not the case. Services differ in their quality and functionality, and of course, how they handle user data. As such, it is important to do some research when choosing a VPN for your Mac. Here are a few important points to consider:

Connection security: Look at what encryption method the VPN provider uses—256-bit encryption is the minimum for a secure VPN.
Activity logging: Read the provider’s terms and conditions or privacy policies to ensure that it does not track or log user activity.
Monetization: Find out how the VPN provider makes money—if it does not charge a subscription fee, it might be selling user information to third parties for advertising.
Connection speed: Ensure that the VPN will not slow your internet connection—check reviews or test it during the trial period that most providers offer.
Usage caps: Some providers implement daily or monthly limits on their VPN connections, especially if they offer free and paid tiers—check to see what caps apply and whether this is acceptable.

Setting up a VPN on an Mac

After deciding that you do need a VPN on your Mac, setting up the service is simple. In most cases, once you have selected a provider, the process of configuring your computer with the VPN service should take just a few minutes. Here are the steps to take:

Create an account on the provider’s website—users may need to choose a subscription tier, provide payment details, and confirm their account by email.
Purchase and download the provider’s VPN app through the App Store.
Follow the provider’s setup instructions, which usually only require users to log into their account.
If not already done when creating the account, choose a subscription tier and confirm the account.
Connect to the VPN service using the automatic quick-connect function, or by selecting a location-specific server.
Go back to the app to turn off the connection when no longer required.

Removing a VPN from an Mac

Mac users who no longer need a VPN service on their devices can simply remove it. This can be done by navigating to the Mac System Settings, disconnecting the VPN service, and deleting the app.

Conclusion

While most people spend some effort to keep their smartphones, email, and bank accounts secure, computers are often a second thought. But because these devices are such a crucial part of daily life, it is especially important to ensure their security—even if the device in question is an Mac. Setting up a VPN service on an Mac provides many benefits. Security and privacy are, of course, two of the most important. But, users can also elude geo-restrictions, access more content and digital services, and minimize the chances of targeted advertising. As such, it becomes imperative to add a VPN configuration on Macs.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is VPN for Mac?

A VPN—or Virtual Private Network—is a service that encrypts a user’s data and activities and masks their IP address while online. When an Mac’s settings are configured with an active VPN, the service will route activities through a remote server using an alternative IP address and masking all personal details and traffic.

Do I need a VPN on my Mac?

In a word, yes. Having a VPN an Mac ensures its security and privacy. Not only does this help protect sensitive data such as personal details, bank accounts, and credit card information, but it minimizes the ability of Internet Service Providers (ISPs) and third parties to track activity and create targeted advertising.

What does VPN do on Mac?

The main function of a VPN setting on an Mac is to secure data sent to and from the device and ensure all web activity remains private. However, a VPN service can also be useful for circumventing geographical restrictions, accessing location-specific content,.

Tags: macOS, VPN

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8 Reasons Why Every Mac User Should Use a VPN

Wednesday July 19, 2023 5:14 pm EAT by Moses Johnson

Make your Mac more secure than ever before.

Apple’s MacBooks are renowned for their robust security. After all, how often do you hear about Macs getting infected with viruses? But despite Apple’s stringent security measures, there’s still always a chance that your Mac could be compromised. A simple measure to further boost security on your Mac? Install a VPN.

Consumers across the globe are using VPNs for security. But that’s just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to using a VPN on Mac. Think better internet accessibility, improved gaming – even, in some circumstances, better pricing on online shopping!

In this article, we discuss a few of the key reasons why you may want to consider downloading a VPN for your Mac. Or, if you already have one, highlight some of the less common VPN uses you can take advantage of.

Without further ado, here are the main importance of a VPN for Mac users.

1. Access geo-blocked content

There’s a common problem with streaming services: geo-blocking. This is when a service prevents users from viewing or installing content because of their geographical location. For example, when you’re unable to find a title on Netflix but your friend in a different country has access to it. And, sometimes, a streaming service may not even be available where you are, like HBO Max, which is only present in the US.

Using a VPN for streaming is handy for bypassing geo-restrictions because it connects you to servers in other countries. To a streaming service provider, your internet traffic looks local, so it unlocks that region’s catalog for you. With a VPN on your Mac, you can unlock a new world of entertainment on the go and, when you’re travelling, make sure that you can still watch what you’d normally be able to at home.

2. Tunnel through restricted apps

Whilst connected to your school or office WiFi, you may have faced restrictions when trying to access social media or other websites and apps on your Mac. This is because most schools and many companies limit internet use, and they set up firewalls on the network to prevent users from accessing certain websites.

Although it’s best to comply with the rules set out by your school or workplace, if you urgently need to access a blocked website, a VPN can help. It’ll tunnel right through the firewall to securely access all the content that’s blocked. A VPN also encrypts your internet traffic data, so your online activity will be private.

3. Security on Public Wi-Fi

Public Wi-Fi is convenient but comes at the expense of security. When you’re answering emails at a local coffee shop, someone may be tracking your online activity.

Using a VPN protects your data while you are on other networks, hiding your browsing history, banking information, account passwords and more from ill-intentioned internet strangers.

Now most credible apps these days are getting much better at securing your data, but the VPN will further encrypt the network data across all the applications on your Mac, making it even harder for intruders to read your online activity or steal your credentials.

4. Better deals on services and products

If you are willing to put in a little research, a VPN can help you save money via its location spoofing capabilities. Many types of businesses, such as subscription services and airlines, offer the same amenities or products for different prices.

A VPN can help you with this. For a website to inflate pricing on its services or products, it needs to gather your IP address details and cookies. A VPN on your Mac (or phone) will anonymize your identity, preventing the website from collecting your data and targeting you.

Now we’re not suggesting that this will work every time, but if you’re continually seeing flight, hotel and other tariffs shooting up after the first time you looked, then hopping on to another server and trying again may save you some cash.

5. Avoid bandwidth throttling

Bandwidth throttling is a major inconvenience for heavy internet users in some parts of the world. Internet service providers (ISP) use bandwidth throttling to slow down a user’s internet and provide stable speeds to everyone on the network.

One of the downsides of using a VPN is that it inherently slows your internet connection, at least by a little. There are instances where a VPN boosts your Mac’s internet speed, though. Some internet service providers throttle certain types of content.

If you stream a lot of videos, play data-heavy online games or frequently download large files, some ISPs will track that you’re consuming a lot of data and potentially limit you.

One way to try and avoid this is by installing a VPN on your Mac because it’ll mask your IP address. This way, your ISP will not know what activity of yours is using up data, and they won’t throttle your bandwidth.

Make sure you choose a good VPN for your Mac. Low-quality providers will not give you a good speed for your online activities and free VPNs often have their own server speed limits in place – so completely counterproductive.

6. Extra security for online banking

Any sensitive online data must be handled with care, and that’s exactly why online banking has high-grade security. Multiple levels of security make it difficult for hackers to breach through and access crucial financial information.

Of course online banking apps and services are getting more secure all the time and banks go to great lengths to protect their customers from cybercriminals. To have an even safer banking experience on your Mac, you can use a VPN. This will set up a secure and encrypted data tunnel to the VPN’s server so that bad actors have even less opportunity to intercept or steal your information.

7. Bypass VoIP restrictions

VoIP is the technology that applications like Skype use to make calls over the internet. As the world grows more connected, VoIP helps us to communicate at low costs with people living far away from us and is a crucial means of communication in a lot of the developing world.

VoIP apps are banned in certain countries like UAE and China, but a VPN can help you bypass such restrictions. Keep in mind that you’ll need a top-of-the-line VPN for this because not all VPNs are capable of working around blocks imposed by the government and letting you unblock WhatsApp and others.

8. Improved online gaming

Believe it or not, a VPN can help with gaming too. When playing online battle royales, timing is key, and that’s why even a little lag can give another player a competitive advantage over you. If you’re experiencing lag on your normal network, a VPN can help by reducing the ping (lag) so that you have a more responsive gaming experience.

Since a VPN encrypts and reroutes your data, it generally slows down the internet speed a bit. But if you select a VPN server that’s fast and close to your game’s server, you’ll experience better speeds. Not all VPN providers give you access to good quality servers, so pick one that has servers optimized for gamers.

Tags: macOS, Security, VPN

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How to choose the best VPN for your Mac?

Wednesday July 19, 2023 4:28 pm EAT by Kevin Hollington

Thinking about choosing a VPN for your Mac but don’t know where to start? Here’s what you need to check before signing up to a VPN service.

A VPN is an invaluable way to protect your privacy, but choosing a VPN provider is an exercise in trust. You are handing over access to much of your online data to a third party, so you need to be sure they will protect your information and not misuse it. If you’re new to using a VPN, it can be tough to know which providers are reputable.

Fortunately, there are steps you can take to check out a VPN provider before making a commitment. In this article, I’ll show you how to assess a VPN provider, so you can see for yourself whether they are worthy of your trust and your money.

What Is a VPN on an Mac?

A virtual private network, or VPN, sets up a secure and encrypted pathway between your Mac and the internet. A VPN server can be used to reroute your internet traffic, which will disguise your IP address and keep your online activities private from hackers, ISPs, government agencies and other third parties.

Why should I use a VPN on Mac?

Many Mac users have come to believe that macOS as a whole is an incredibly secure platform. That may be true to an extent, but vulnerabilities still exist. More obviously, these vulnerabilities may not exist in macOS themselves but rather third-party apps that implement poor code.

Using a VPN on an Mac offers several benefits:

Enhanced privacy and security: VPNs encrypt your internet traffic, making it unreadable to anyone who may try to intercept it. This includes hackers on public Wi-Fi networks, ISPs monitoring your browsing habits and government surveillance.
Bypass internet censorship: VPNs enable you to bypass internet censorship and access blocked websites by connecting to a server in a different country. This can be useful for accessing georestricted content, such as streaming services or news websites that are not available in your region.
Prevent online tracking: VPNs help protect your privacy by hiding your true IP address, making it difficult for advertisers and other third parties to track your online activities and build a profile based on your browsing habits.
Secure data transfers: Using a VPN on your Mac is particularly important when transferring sensitive information, such as when conducting online banking or accessing confidential business files. The encryption provided by a VPN ensures that your data remains secure during transmission.
Improved network performance: In some cases, using a VPN may improve network performance by avoiding ISP throttling or congestion on heavily used networks.

How To Choose the Best Mac VPN

An Mac VPN can protect your privacy on the go and at home. Here’s what you need to know about choosing the best one.

Essential VPN Features

Strong encryption: Get a VPN with industry-standard encryption protocols such as OpenVPN and WireGuard for better security and privacy.
Number of Servers: For convenience, you want a VPN provider with plenty of servers for you to connect to.
Strict no-logs policy: No-logs policy assures that the VPN provider doesn’t store any info on your internet usage, making it impossible for them to share your data with other people.
Kill switch: This feature automatically severs your device from the internet if the VPN connection disconnects, ensuring there are no data leaks.
DNS leak protection: DNS leak protection safeguards your DNS queries, keeping your browsing activity private and secure.
IPv6 leak protection: This feature prevents IPv6 leaks, which can expose your real IP address and compromise your privacy.

macOS Compatibility and Multi-Device Use

Most Mac VPNs also work on other Apple devices such as iPhones, iPads and iPod Touch. Additionally, many VPN providers offer apps for non-Apple products, including Android and Windows devices, allowing you to secure multiple devices under a single subscription. However, some providers have protocols built for specific devices (for example, hide . me has Bolt for Windows).

Pricing

Users should expect to pay for premium VPNs on a subscription basis, typically monthly or annually. Standard Mac VPN rates are around $7 to $10 per month if paid month to month, but users can save significantly by opting for longer-term plans. Annual and multi-year subscriptions often come with considerable discounts, lowering the average monthly cost.

There’s usually no difference in pricing for computer VPNs compared to mobile as most VPN providers offer multi-platform support within the same subscription plan. However, additional features such as a dedicated IP address, which provides you with a unique IP for enhanced privacy and access to certain services, may come at an extra cost.

To reduce VPN costs, you can:

Look for promotional offers or seasonal discounts provided by the VPN provider.
Choose a longer-term subscription plan, which often comes with a lower average monthly cost.
Compare various VPN providers to find the best balance between price and features.
Give the VPN service a test run with a free trial or a money-back guarantee.
Keep an eye out for special deals, such as student discounts or referral programs that offer rewards for bringing in new customers.

Don’t always go for the cheapest option–consider value, features, security performance and customer support when choosing a VPN for your Mac.

Speed

When evaluating VPNs, it’s essential to consider the average download and upload speeds they offer to ensure an optimal browsing experience. Speed is crucial for a variety of online activities, such as streaming video, online gaming, video conferencing and file transfers. Fast speeds provide a seamless internet experience, while slow speeds can lead to buffering, lag and a frustrating user experience.

Fast VPN Speeds

A fast VPN should provide download speeds of at least 50 Mbps and upload speeds of 20 Mbps or more. These speeds are generally sufficient for most online activities, including HD video streaming and large file downloads. Faster speeds mean better user experiences, especially for those on high-speed connections.

VPN Throttling and Speed Reduction

It’s important to note that using a VPN can sometimes result in slower internet speeds. This is because your data must travel through the VPN server, which can add latency and decrease speed. The level of speed reduction largely depends on the VPN provider, server distance and network congestion.

Some VPNs also implement bandwidth throttling, intentionally limiting users’ connection speeds to manage server load or encourage users to upgrade to a higher-priced plan. However, many top-tier VPNs prioritize providing fast and stable connections without throttling.

To maintain fast speeds while using a VPN, consider the following:

Choose a VPN with a large server network: A VPN with a vast server network can distribute user traffic more efficiently, reducing the likelihood of server congestion and slow speeds.
Connect to a nearby server: The closer you are to the VPN server, the lower the latency and the faster the connection. Selecting a server in your country or a neighboring country can help improve speeds.
Use a VPN with WireGuard or similar protocols:WireGuard is a cutting-edge VPN protocol that offers faster speeds and improved performance compared to older protocols such as OpenVPN and IKEv2. Many top VPN providers now support WireGuard or have developed their own high-speed protocols.
Test different servers: If you’re experiencing slow speeds, try connecting to a different server. Some servers may be less congested or offer better routing to your destination, resulting in faster speeds.
Check your base internet speed: Your VPN speeds can’t exceed your base internet connection speed. Ensure you have a fast internet connection to make the most of your VPN’s capabilities.

Customer Support

Quality customer support is crucial when using a VPN. Look for providers with various support channels including email, live chat and ticket systems. Support that is 24/7 ensures you can receive assistance at any time, while comprehensive knowledge bases and FAQs can help you troubleshoot common issues independently.

What’s next for VPNs and macOS?

Discussions around VPNs will continue to occur so long as security is in the forefront of user’s minds. Until Apple rolls out its own VPN, users will have to rely on their own intuitions on which to pick from.

Tags: macOS, VPN

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Do VPNs Protect Mac From Malware and Cyber Threats? Debunking myths

Monday July 17, 2023 8:02 pm EAT by GeeksModo Staff

In the vast and wild world of the Internet, the term VPN — or Virtual Private Network — has been thrown around quite a bit. For many, it’s synonymous with online security, acting as the ultimate shield against cyber threats. But can it really protect your Mac from malware and cyber threats? Let’s debunk some common myths.

What is a VPN, and What Can it Do?

Put simply, a VPN is software that works to increase your level of anonymity on the web.

While VPNs have numerous benefits, their capabilities and limitations are often misunderstood, resulting in myths and misconceptions. So, let’s play the role of a myth-buster and clear up what a VPN can and cannot do when it comes to protecting your Mac from malware and cyber threats.

Myth #1: : A VPN can protect my Mac from all kinds of malware

A common misconception is that a VPN can protect your Mac against all kind of malware. While VPNs play a vital role in securing your online connections, they are not designed specifically to protect your Mac from malware and viruses. That’s the job of antivirus software.

Malware typically enters your system when you download infected files or visit compromised websites, activities a VPN doesn’t necessarily prevent. A VPN can’t inspect the contents of your downloads or the scripts on websites you visit for potential malware threats. So, if a website tries to plant a Trojan horse on your Mac, your VPN won’t leap into action and save the day. In fact, like any computer program, VPNs are susceptible to malware and online attacks. If infected, a VPN’s security benefits are nullified.

The likelihood of attacks and security breaches is increased by using a free VPN service. To recoup their business costs, "free" VPN services may sell user data or run ads that could be infected with malware.

Some VPN services come with built-in malware blockers that can add an extra layer of protection. These tools can block known malicious websites, prevent tracking cookies, and sometimes even scan downloads for threats. Yet, this doesn’t make a VPN a comprehensive solution for malware, as these features are typically supplementary to the main offering and can’t replace a full-featured antivirus.

To protect your Mac from malware, it’s crucial to employ a robust antivirus software alongside a VPN. Antivirus software continuously scans your device for any hints of danger. It compares running programs to known types of malware and assesses your computing activity to make sure there’s nothing out of the ordinary.

If the antivirus finds a suspicious code, it isolates it and removes the threat automatically. By combining the encryption provided by a VPN with the malware detection capabilities of antivirus software, you can significantly enhance your Mac’s security.

Myth #2: A VPN provides complete protection against all cyber threats.

Although VPNs are indispensable for online security, they can’t protect you from everything. Here are a few cyber-threats that a VPN can’t protect you from.

Malicious Software (Malware): Unless it has a built-in malware blocker, a VPN won’t protect your Mac from malware downloaded from the internet. Antivirus software is the only thing that can provide complete protection from malware.
Social Engineering & Phishing Attacks: By using personal data, like your email, name, workplace and names of relatives, a hacker can send targeted attacks, such as phishing emails, that seem to come from a legitimate sender — like the IRS or your boss — most of the time assuming a threatening tone. Because phishing attacks and other social engineering methods happen over email or other forms of communication, there’s nothing a VPN can do to protect you from them.
Software Security Flaws: Software, including operating systems, can have serious flaws in their security. A skilled attacker could exploit software vulnerabilities to gain access to your Mac, install malware, and even lock your device and demand ransom
Human Error: Even with the best VPN, antivirus and password manager, you can still fall prey to a cyberattack. By visiting a malicious website, acting on a phishing email or inadvertently downloading an infected file, you could become the victim of a cyberattack, regardless of the cybersecurity tools you use.

You need to use a multilayered approach to fully protect your Mac online, including using antivirus software, a password manager and two-factor authentication.

Myth #3: I don’t need antivirus software if I have a VPN

Another common myth is that a VPN can entirely replace the need for antivirus software on your Mac. As we’ve already pointed out, VPNs and antivirus software serve two different purposes. VPNs primarily focus on securing your internet connection and protecting your data in transit. As a result, every bit of incoming and outgoing traffic is encrypted, meaning you can’t be tracked online and spied on by your ISP, hackers, or anyone else.

While a VPN adds an extra layer of security to your online activities, it cannot replace the comprehensive protection provided by antivirus software. A VPN will NOT protect you from viruses and malware, although some of them have these features as an addition — NordVPN, for example.

Still, A VPN’s function is to ensure online privacy and allow you to hide your browsing activities. On the other hand, antivirus software is specifically designed to identify and eliminate malware from your system.

Antivirus software uses a variety of techniques, including signature-based detection, behavior monitoring, and heuristics, to detect and remove malware. It constantly updates its database with the latest malware signatures, ensuring that your Mac is protected against the newest threats. While a VPN can help protect your data while it’s in transit, antivirus software is essential for safeguarding your Mac from malware that may be present in files, applications, or malicious websites.

Myth #4: VPNs Make You Completely Anonymous

Many people believe that using a VPN can make them completely anonymous online. While a VPN is a great tool to help separate your location (and in many ways, you) from your data, it doesn’t obscure everything about you. In fact, no internet privacy tool can completely hide your online presence. A VPN can encrypt your data, obscure your IP address, and even protect you from online trackers, but entire anonymity isn’t possible.

If you take a Facebook quiz or like a post on Instagram, the app you are using while connected to the VPN is still able to use your behavior to tailor in-app ads and content. They might not know where you are browsing from, but they will still know what you are doing on their apps.

Similarly, if cookies are enabled on your Mac, companies can follow you while you are on their site–and after. Your full data isn’t obscured with a VPN alone. Combining a VPN’s protection with Tor, an open-source tool that allows you to browse the web anonymously, and other security measures are necessary for a fuller security.

Myth #5: VPNs Are Only Necessary When Using Public Wi-Fi

Many VPNs are designed to stop nefarious users from hacking into your network. That’s something that mostly affects public connections and is unlikely to happen from home.

However, while using your own private network means you can restrict who has access to your Wi-Fi connection, it’s not 100% private. That’s because you’re still connecting directly to your ISP. By doing so, your ISP is able to see what sites you’re browsing.

By using a VPN, your data is encrypted so your ISP never knows where you’re browsing or what you’re doing online. A good quality VPN doesn’t keep logs so there’s no way to trace what you’ve been doing or when.

While accessing a public Wi-Fi network is where the biggest dangers are, threats are still viable everywhere. By using a VPN at home, you’re much safer than before and you know you’ve covered all the bases.

Crucially, no one wants their ISP to be selling their data, and using a VPN stops that. Most VPNs are available for a very low price too, meaning there’s hardly anything to lose in using one.

Myth #6: All VPNs offer equal protection

Here’s the kicker. All VPNs are not created equal. Not every VPN will necessarily protect you and some actively compromise your privacy. This is especially true with free VPNs, because if you’re not paying, your data is probably being harvested. A free VPN service usually sells your data. Even worse, one study found that 85% of free VPNs have permissions or functions that could compromise user’s privacy, while 35% of VPNs expose a user’s traffic, and 18% contain potential malware or viruses. Bottom line? Chances are good that, with free VPNs, you’re not protecting your privacy, you’re actually putting it at risk.

It’s far better to opt for a reputed, paid VPN–but beware, three popular VPN services have been hacked in recent years. Paid VPN services are the better choice because, since you are paying customer, they’re not incentivized to share your data and actively compromise your privacy. That said, paid VPN services can still have security flaws and aren’t always upfront with their customers about security breaches that puts their data at risk. Case in point: when NordVPN, which has regularly been rated the best VPN service, was hacked, they only acknowledged the attack after rumors began to circulate that a hack had occurred.

When it comes to selecting VPNs or other tools to protect your privacy, always do a thorough assessment before deciding, researching the different discussions and assessments of a tool so that you can understand its features, limitations and any security flaws. It can be tempting to opt for the free option but a good rule of thumb to remember is that if you’re not paying, your data is probably being harvested. It’s also important to be aware of what the tool _does _protect you from and what its limitations are–no single tool is going to solve all your privacy problems. A reputed VPN will protect your browsing history and other information you submit from outside eyes. It doesn’t protect you if you submit information over an insecure site or download something malicious. And even after you decide on a tool, stay alert. Keep an eye on the news and any conversations about the privacy tools you use so that if a breach _does _happen, you know immediately and can take steps to protect your data.

Role of a VPN in Cybersecurity

While it’s clear that a VPN can’t single-handedly protect your Mac from all forms of malware and cyber threats, it doesn’t imply that it’s useless. Quite the opposite, a VPN plays a vital role in your overall cybersecurity strategy.

A VPN ensures that your data is encrypted and your online activities are anonymized. This is especially important when using unsecured public Wi-Fi networks, where attackers can easily snoop on your data. By masking your IP address, a VPN also makes it harder for advertisers and websites to track your online behavior.

Moreover, as mentioned earlier, some VPNs come with additional security features such as malware blockers, tracking cookie blockers, and protection against suspicious downloads. These can provide an added layer of security, although they should not be relied upon as a primary defense against malware.

A Multi-Layered Approach to Cybersecurity

To effectively protect your Mac from malware and other cyber threats, a multi-layered approach to cybersecurity is necessary. This means combining the use of a VPN with other security tools and good cybersecurity practices.

Use a reliable antivirus software: A robust antivirus software will scan your system for malware, quarantine detected threats, and protect your Mac from various kinds of viruses, ransomware, and other threats.
Install a firewall: A firewall controls the data that enters and leaves your system. It can help block malicious software from gaining access to your computer.
Keep your system and applications updated: Regularly updating your Mac and installed applications ensures that you have the latest security patches, reducing the risk of hackers exploiting known vulnerabilities.
Practice good cyber hygiene: This includes not opening suspicious emails or attachments, avoiding sketchy websites, and refraining from downloading files from untrusted sources.

Conclusion

While a VPN offers significant advantages in terms of data privacy and security, it’s not a silver bullet solution for protecting your Mac from malware and cyber threats. It can provide essential encryption and anonymity but falls short of being a comprehensive security solution.

Employing a multi-layered approach to security–combining a VPN, a good antivirus, a robust firewall, regular updates, and good cyber hygiene practices–is the most effective way to protect your Mac from the varied landscape of digital threats.

Hopefully, this article has debunked some common myths and provided you with a clearer understanding of the role and limitations of a VPN in protecting your Mac from malware and cyber threats. In the ever-evolving landscape of digital threats, understanding the tools at your disposal is the first step in fortifying your digital life.

Tags: macOS, Security, VPN

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How to Setup and Use a VPN on Your Mac: A Step-by-Step Tutorial

Monday July 17, 2023 3:33 pm EAT by Moses Johnson

Setting up and using a VPN on a Mac is easier than you may think

A VPN is an essential tool for maintaining privacy online. Here’s how to find the best one for you and how to set it up on your Mac.

These days, cybersecurity is something everyone needs to think about, not just governments and big corporations.

The good news is, you can use a few basic tools to defend yourself and become a less desirable target to hackers. Antivirus software can help protect you from viruses and other types of malware. But antivirus programs typically only secure your physical devices. To create a secure connection and safeguard your internet activity, you’ll need a VPN to protect the information you’re sending to and from your device.

Even Apple devices, which generally have fewer issues with malware, aren’t 100% safe. So, setting up a VPN on your Mac is important if you want to keep your personal information from being stolen.

A VPN is an important tool used to encrypt your internet connection and maintain your online privacy.

But VPNs are also useful for other tasks outside of protecting your internet traffic and data from prying eyes. You can use a VPN to unblock geo-restricted sites and streaming services, or to securely upload or download files.

Let’s take a look at what a VPN is, how to find the right VPN service for you, and how to set a VPN up on your Mac.

What is a VPN and how does it work?

A VPN, or virtual private network, is a tool that can be used to improve your internet security and privacy. It works by creating an encrypted tunnel for your internet traffic and obscuring information that could identify you, like your IP address. This makes it more difficult for others to track your browsing habits or see your personal information.

A VPN service encrypts your data and securely routes it through a VPN server on the way to its final destination.

This gives you a level of security and anonymity because your internet provider and the sites you’re accessing won’t be able to track you or determine your location.

Why you need a VPN for your Mac

Apple MacBooks are known for robust security protections, but their toughness against malware and viruses doesn’t automatically protect your privacy. So If you want to prevent your internet service provider from being able to see what websites you are looking at on your Mac and what apps you are using, a well-tested virtual private network will do that.

A good VPN will also prevent websites you browse — and most internet-connected apps on your Mac — from easily being able to determine your exact location. If you travel and frequently use hotel, airport or other public Wi-Fi, a VPN will protect your Mac from the snooping of other users and potentially malevolent actors.

In addition to providing an extra level of security, VPNs are also essential tools for accessing geo-restricted content. In the most extreme cases, VPNs can be used to bypass censorship imposed by authoritarian governments and maintain a free flow of information.

However, it’s more likely that you’ll want a VPN to unblock location-restricted streaming services or sporting events. VPNs are also popular for P2P file sharing or torrenting because they can hide your activity from your internet service provider.

How to choose a VPN service

Not all VPNs are created equal. The level of features, usefulness, security, and service varies greatly from one company to the next.

A good place to start is to figure out why you want a VPN for your Mac and test various services to see which one best meets your needs and fits your budget. Most of the best VPNs have money-back guarantee periods of 30 days or more.

There are free VPNs, but in most cases, you’ll want to avoid these services. A free VPN will often have severe data or performance restrictions and fewer features than a paid service. And that’s the best-case scenario.

Free VPNs could make money by selling your data or bombarding you with ads. And even free services with good intentions may not have the resources to maintain high levels of security and service.

It’s a good idea to shop around, read reviews, and test out the features. To ensure you find a VPN that works for you, here are some factors to consider:

Speed: VPNs can slow down your connection a bit. You want to make sure you choose a VPN that offers good speeds.
Server network: The more servers a VPN has, the more choices you have about where to route your traffic.
User-friendly apps: Some VPN apps are feature-rich, while others are simple. Make sure to pick an app that is easy to use and has all of the options you want.
Security and trust: Some VPNs earn money by selling ads or your data. It’s important to trust your VPN provider. Read the terms of service and look for independent audits of the company that verify the VPN is providing the level of security it claims to have.
Device compatibility: If you have more than one device, for example, a Mac, an iPhone, and an iPad, you’ll want a VPN that can be installed on all of them.
Money-back guarantee: Make sure to get a VPN that offers a money-back guarantee, so that if you don’t like the service, you can easily cancel your subscription within the allotted time frame.

How to set up and use a VPN on your Mac

VPNs are easier to use on your Mac than you may think Here’s how to get a VPN set up on your Mac quickly — and start browsing privately — in just a few minutes.

How to Set Up a VPN on Mac Using a Third-Party VPN App

Setting up a VPN on a Mac is a quick and easy process. Once you’ve found a VPN provider you want to use, just visit the VPN provider’s website to get started.

**Find the download for your Mac device — **Find the appropriate application for your Mac device and begin the download. In most cases, there will be a list of download links you can click on right at the top of the VPN website.
Enter the payment information — Depending on the VPN, you may be asked to provide payment information before you can use the service.
Set up the VPN on your Mac–Launch the application installer to begin the installation process on your MacBook. With some products, you may be asked to grant permission to install different parts of the application, such as configuration files or helper tools.
Launch the VPN service on your Mac–Once installed, launch the application and begin using the service by choosing a VPN server location (or quick connect) and connecting to the server.

And you are good to go! Once you’re connected to the VPN, you’re all set to begin browsing the web privately and securely. For peace of mind, you can check the VPN’s connection status on the application screen (it should say On/Off, or Connected/Disconnected, etc).

How to Set Up a VPN on Mac Using VPN Settings

To set up a VPN via the Mac’s built-in VPN settings, make sure you have all the necessary data first. This includes the VPN type, the server address, username, password, and shared secret. All this information is specific to each VPN and provided by your VPN operator.

How To Set up a VPN in macOS 13 Ventura

If you’re using macOS 13 (Ventura), follow the steps below to manually set up a VPN on your Mac

On your Mac, choose Apple menu .
Click System Settings.
Select VPN from the sidebar.
Click Add VPN Configuration on the right.
Select the type of VPN connection you want to set up.
In the Display Name field, type in a name for the new VPN service.
If you’re setting up an L2TP over IPSec VPN, click the Configuration pop-up menu, then select a configuration.
If you don’t need multiple configurations, stick with the Default configuration.
Type in settings for the new VPN service.
If needed, enter additional settings.
L2TP over IPSec: You can enter settings for Options, TCP/IP, DNS, and Proxies.
Cisco IPSec or IKEv2: You can enter settings for DNS and Proxies.
Click Create to finish setting up BPN on your Mac.

How do I remove a VPN from my Mac?

If your VPN provider has you using an app, quit out of the app and locate it (most likely in the Applications folder) then delete it. If it’s not an app, follow the steps below to remove a VPN configuration from your Mac:

Choose Apple menu.
Click System Settings.
Select VPN from the sidebar.
On the right, click the Info button next to the VPN service you want to remove.
Click Remove Configuration.
Confirm you want to remove configuration.

The Bottom line

If you’re looking to secure your Mac’s internet data and keep your information private, then you should consider installing a VPN on your Mac. A VPN can also hide your location and unblock geo-restricted content, which also makes it a useful tool for streaming and P2P file sharing.

Most VPNs give you a month or more to try out the service and receive a full refund if you’re not satisfied. So it’s easy to try out a VPN and see if it’s a good fit for you.

Tags: macOS, VPN

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5 Reasons Why Every Remote Worker Should Use a VPN on Their Mac

Monday July 17, 2023 2:38 am EAT by Kevin Hollington

In this article, I’ll discuss the importance of a VPN for remote workers.

The business world has seen massive changes in the last few decades, mostly due to the internet going mainstream and other new advances in modern technology.

Thanks to the internet, MacBooks, iPhones, iPads, and other similar tools, a lot of employees can now work remotely, whether that means being able to access their company’s resources from home or while traveling.

The last decade has also brought a surge in the number of freelance workers, which has allowed modern companies to employ the best experts even if they are scattered around the world.

Of course, while working remotely is quite convenient, and provides greater flexibility, there are still issues with this approach and some problems that companies and their employees need to keep in mind, such as security and privacy.

On average, someone tries to hack a computer every 39 seconds. This is why remote workers need to use a VPN to protect themselves.

In this article, we’ll explain five importance of a VPN for remote workers.

Remote workers — What are the problems?

As you know, working remotely revolves around accessing the company’s resources and database from afar, which means that there is a constant stream of data traveling from the company to the remote worker.

This is when the firm’s sensitive information is at its weakest, and regardless of how much money the company spent on its own security, if its remote workers are vulnerable, the sensitive data could still leak and end up stolen by online criminals.

Working remotely is done in two ways these days:

Employees can access the company’s resources from their own computer
They use a screen-sharing app to connect to their computer at work and control it from afar

In both cases, the information traveling between the employee and the company is vulnerable, and that connection needs to be protected.

A similar issue can be found when it comes to freelancers, who are often hired by firms or private clients for all kinds of work, which can sometimes be sensitive.

As such, freelancers also need to secure their connection to their clients and prevent this data from getting into the wrong hands. Fortunately, a VPN is a solution for both situations.

What is a VPN?

A VPN, or virtual private network, is a tool that helps to keep your online activity private and secure. When you connect to the internet through a VPN, your traffic is routed through a secure server operated by the VPN provider.

With that in mind, here are 5 benefits of a VPN for remote workers.

Importance of a VPN for remote workers

1. Avoid Data Throttling

Data throttling is when your ISP (internet service provider) decides to slow down your internet speed intentionally. As a remote worker, you’re most likely working from home or a café using a private network supplied by a local internet service provider (ISP).

ISPs usually throttle the bandwidth of their users during congestions or whenever they deem necessary. This action leads to a slow internet connection, significantly affecting a remote worker’s efficiency and productivity.

Using a VPN on your Mac, your IP address will be hidden, effectively getting you around these throttling measures. This means you never again have to worry about your internet being slowed down intentionally while you are working.

2. VPNs Make Connections More Secure

Remote workers often do a lot of their business online. Whether you’re accessing your banking info, tax records, or any other sensitive information, you want to make sure your data isn’t being leaked.

The most important way a VPN will help you stay safe online is by securing this information, whether in public or at home.

As a remote worker, you may at times find yourself working in public places such as airports, libraries, shared workspaces, hotels, or your local coffee shop. You’ll need to connect your Mac to a public Wi-Fi in such areas given that personal hotspot is much slower.

However, these public hotspots are not often secure and are usually an easy target for hackers preying on unprotected MacBooks. A VPN allows you to use public Wi-Fi networks on your MacBook securely and without worrying about hackers in public places. As such, with a VPN, you can take advantage of public networks and get the work done in time wherever you are.

3. Get Around Internet Restrictions

Being a remote worker allows you to work from any part of the globe. You can travel to a different country and work from there as you enjoy your vacation. However, several websites and services are often blocked in some countries due to geo-restrictions.

Some of the reasons why these measures are necessary include; government censorship, copyright laws, security concerns, and monetization strategies, among other individual preferences. For example, if you work or live in countries like China or Russia, you may not be able to access internet basics like Gmail or Twitter.

Not being able to access a particular resource or service due to geo-restrictions can negatively affect your productivity. For some remote workers, accessing geo-restricted content is the primary reason to use VPN on a Mac. A VPN will help you to bypass any geo-blocks by making it appear that you are in a different location altogether.

Even if you aren’t living in a totalitarian state, geo-restrictions and firewalls can hinder your productivity. If you live in another country, you may not always want to be redirected to a website in a foreign language. A VPN can adjust your location so that you can get your preferred version of these websites. Furthermore, have you been in a hotel that has an erroneous firewall stopping you from getting work done? A VPN can tunnel through this firewall and let you work in peace.

4. Manage Other remote workers efficiently

As an employer, you may sometimes outsource tasks to remote workers. This happens when you’re overwhelmed with work or seeking niche professionals for a particular task.

While outsourcing enables you to find specific talents for improved outcomes; it comes with its fair share of security challenges. Outsourcing gives cybercriminals new avenues for launching their attacks. For instance, hackers can intercept unencrypted connections and steal passwords, as well as sensitive information shared between you and the remote worker.

With a VPN, however, you can efficiently manage remote workers and ensure top-notch security. A VPN makes it possible to centralize and manage remote access by enabling the remote workers to access vital resources over the public internet as if they were plugged into a secure private network.

In summary, VPNs, especially cloud-based VPNs, facilitate better management of remote workers. Your remote workers can simply install the software on their devices and start working right away with minimal cyber threats.

5. Cost-Effectiveness

There are a lot of benefits to being a remote worker. One of the most important is that it allows you to live anywhere. But living abroad can bring with it a lot of extra costs. A VPN can sometimes help you cut down on those. But how?

Many companies base their prices on where you live. A flight, a piece of software, or a phone call can all have different prices depending on where you live. By altering your location with a VPN, you can do away with price discrimination and bring down the costs of living abroad. So if you often use Skype to call home, you could use a VPN so that you appear in your home country, effectively bringing down the per-minute price of that call.

It’s also worth noting that VPNs are a cost-effective way of achieving internet security. Compared to other internet security tools such as firewalls, Smart DNS and access control, VPNs are much more cost-effective plus offer a smoother onboarding process.

With a starting price of around $4.00 per month, you can get an effective VPN and enhance your productivity. A few dollars a month barely scratch your wallet, especially when dealing with internet security and enhanced productivity.

What to look for in a VPN for remote workers?

When it comes to choosing a VPN, it can be a difficult task, even when it comes to picking a service for private use, even more, when you pick a VPN for work.

Even so, that doesn’t make it easy, as there are hundreds of VPN providers around the world, and without knowing what it is that you are looking for, picking one is a dangerous gamble.

Fortunately, there are easy ways to determine if a service is good or not, and all you need to do is make sure that it has the right features by carefully studying its website in detail.

Things that you should look for include:

1. No-logs policy

Above everything else, ensure the remote work VPN you’re using on your Mac doesn’t keep logs.

It wouldn’t do to go through all the trouble of securing your connection only to have all that sensitive data stored on the VPN servers.

This is why you should check the service’s privacy policy and terms of service, and make sure that all data that gets stored on its servers is deleted after your session is over or not collected at all. Fortunately, all major VPN services do this, so finding one that respects user privacy should not be difficult.

2. Fast speeds

Having good speeds is crucial as well; otherwise, your work will suffer. You need your data to properly flow back and forth, without delays, jams, and similar problems. This is particularly important for freelancers, who often work with images, videos, audio files, and the like.

3. Strong privacy & security features

Since privacy and security are the main reason for using a VPN in the first place, you should ensure that your VPN does a proper job at protecting your data stream. Since this is of such large importance, you should go for the best right away, and look for services that use **OpenVPN **security protocol and 256-bit AES encryption.

This encryption has never been broken, and the protocol is the best in the industry, apart maybe from some custom-made solutions that some services have developed themselves.

In addition to that, ensure that the VPN you are using has a DNS leak protection, a kill switch, perhaps even split tunneling and auto-connect options. The existence of these features will ensure that you are dealing with a proper, serious VPN service and that** you won’t lose data in case of VPN malfunction**, or have it leak without your knowledge.

Finally, ensure that the VPN is located in a privacy-friendly country to avoid any online surveillance by the government or some other entity that might find a way to request that the VPN hands over your details, or force it to start recording your logs.

4. Large server network

A large server network is always a desirable feature when it comes to VPNs. Most of the time, these are used for unblocking geo-restricted content, bypassing censorship, and alike.

This may come in useful in some situations, as mentioned, but for remote workers, the best use of a large server network is connecting to nearby servers, which will increase your internet speed even further.

Basically, the closer the server is, the lesser the distance that data needs to travel, and the quicker the response, so keep that in mind.

5. Large device coverage

Also, you need to ensure that the VPN you plan on using has a lot of dedicated apps that cover all systems and devices that you may need. There is nothing worse than discovering that the VPN you have paid for doesn’t have an app for your device or OS.

This is usually not a problem, as most VPNs already cover Windows, iOS, iPadOS, Mac, and Android, with many also having a dedicated app for Linux. However, if you happen to pick the one that doesn’t cover it, and you are a Linux user, that might make it completely useless for you.

6. Money-back guarantee

Lastly, check the VPN’s money-back guarantee. Nearly all VPNs have it, and all the good ones definitely feature one, but the length may differ from one provider to another.

Money-back guarantees are important, as you may discover that your VPN doesn’t work quite well only after you have been using it for a while. It may not have servers in the necessary locations, or it might be too slow for your needs.

It might simply not be user-friendly enough, or you may notice that your connection is constantly breaking up. No matter what the problem ends up being, you should have the ability to switch to a different provider without having to pay twice, so make sure that you get a good, long money-back guarantee that will give you enough time to test the service.

A VPN Is a Great Fit for Your Remote Work

From preventing data throttling to enhancing internet security and better managing employees, a VPN is indeed a great fit for your remote work. The digital age has numerous online security challenges, especially with the growing threat of malware and phishing attacks.

With such threats, companies, as well as remote workers, should now, more than ever, be concerned with cybersecurity. As a remote worker, a VPN enhances your productivity and ensures your online activities are secured.

The future of remote work and VPNs is promising. With companies moving towards a more flexible and remote workforce, the demand for VPNs is expected to rise further. For Mac users, VPNs will continue to be a significant tool that guarantees online privacy, security, and unrestricted access to resources, thereby facilitating a more efficient and productive remote work environment.

Tags: macOS, Security, VPN

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