APRIL 2020 | MACFORMAT | 87in France, Japan or the United States, you
can use a VPN to access, say, BBC iPlayer by
connecting to a VPN server in the UK. Not
all countries are so keep on VPNs though. In
some countries, such as Belarus, using a VPN
is illegal, while Russia and China only allow
certain pre-approved VPN services.
There are free VPNs but they come with
major caveats. Free VPN services can limit the
speed and quality of your connection, and spam
you with plenty of ads. You really
are better off paying for a high-
quality VPN that offers an ad-free
service while robustly protecting
your data.... or lower?
Private Internet
Access
$3.33/month (about £2.52/
month) for year’s subscription
privateinternet
access.com
Cover up to 10 devices
with a wide range of
configuration options,
and access servers in 32
countries with this VPN.3
Number of connections
If you are paying for a VPN, ensure
that you get the most bang for your buck.
Most VPNs support between 3-5 devices
simultaneously. Due to fair use policies, this is
sometimes limited to a single user. Be sure to
check the terms of service before letting your
friend or family member use your VPN.4
Connection protocols
While it’s a bit ‘in-depth’, it’s a good idea
to learn which protocols a VPN provider uses.
Playing around with the protocol settings
can sometimes help improve the speed and
reliability of the service. The most popular are
OpenVPN and IKEv2, they provide the fastest
and most secure service. SSTP and the older
PPTP are also available, but aren’t as reliable.VPNs for Mac APPLE CHOICE
How we
tested
We connected to each
VPN on our Mac and
tested for connection
speed, reliability,
security features and
compatibility with Mac/
iOS. We ran speed tests
connecting to the VPN
and not connecting to
the VPN and then
compared the results.1
Number of servers
A good VPN should offer a large number
of servers in multiple countries. The more
servers you have in a single country, the more
the load is spread which can help improve
connection speeds. Having many options is also
good for security, as you can keep switching
servers to avoid being tracked.2
Security
Check for features like double VPN
(routing data via two VPN servers) and an auto
kill switch (disconnecting your computer if the
VPN connection fails). Also check if the VPN
logs your data. While most say they do not, this
isn’t always the case. Read the privacy policy
and terms of service to ensure you are really
protected when using a VPN.T
he next time you are tempted to
log onto your email from a public
Wi-Fi network, you might want to
wait. Could anyone be ‘listening in’? To ensure
that you are truly safe, you should be using a
virtual private network (VPN). A VPN allows
you to send and receive data across the internet
while hiding personally identifiable information
like your location and device. All traffic is
rerouted through the VPN server before it
comes to your device, and is encrypted. So
while you won’t see much difference when
surfing, behind the scenes there’s a bit of
magic going on to protect your privacy.Why use a VPN?
When using a VPN, your browsing history is
hidden from hackers and your internet service
provider (ISP). This also means you are less
likely to get hacked or spoofed when surfing on
public Wi-Fi networks. VPNs are also a great
tool for accessing a company’s intranet from
an out-of-office location, giving employees
the ability to work remotely with ease.
VPNs are also handy when you are
travelling abroad. Whether you are holidayingA VPN allows you to send and receive
data across the internet while hiding
personally identifiable informationThings to consider...
Everything you need to know before getting started
Higher...
Hotspot Shield
£6.99/month for
year’s subscription
gethotspotshield.com
The paid version offers
2,500+ servers in 70
countries and support for
up to five devices. It only
offers its own protocol.VPNs allow you to connect to international servers.Image credits CyberGhost, VPN Unlimited