How To Install Best VPN For Mac – Protect Yourself Online
After testing dozens of VPN providers, we found Surfshark to be the best VPN for Windows PC. We explain our reasoning in more detail below.
A new bill within the House of Representatives has made it possible for Internet Service Providers to sell your Internet activity to third parties without your consent.
It has also been widely reported that Microsoft may “access, disclose and preserve personal data” when you’re using a device that runs on Windows.
This guide is organized into the following sections:
- The Benefits of Installing VPN on a Mac
- How To Install VPN On Mac Guide
- How To Configure Your Surfshark VPN Settings
- Frequently Asked Questions about Surfshark VPN for Mac
Best VPN for Mac – Benefits
Why would you want to use a VPN for Mac?
There are several reasons why thousands of cord-cutters use Surfshark on their Mac and other devices.
Protect Your Online Identity
By installing the best VPN for your Windows computer, you will enjoy an encrypted connection to the Internet which will hide your activity online such as downloads, streaming, sites visited, etc.
A VPN will also change the IP Address that your Internet service provider assigns to your account which makes it impossible to trace where your connection is coming from.
Block Ads and Malware
Sufrshark is the best VPN for Mac because it offers a CleanWeb feature that will stop annoying ads/malware while protecting against other attacks from hackers. This is something most VPNs do not offer.
A feature like this is very important for those who use movie streaming sites and sports streaming sites to view content from their devices.
Traveling & Protection from Public Wi-Fi
For those who travel, using a VPN for Mac is a great tool to have on the go when connecting to public Wi-Fi hot spots.
Surfshark will encrypt your traffic on your Mac computer and make it impossible for hackers to intercept your connection to the Internet.
Faster Speeds
Surfshark is the best VPN for Mac also because of its fast speeds. They are one of the fastest VPN providers available.
A fast VPN for Mac like Surfshark will likely increase your download speeds at times because many Internet providers impose throttling methods for various streaming websites.
Torrenting
Many choose to use a VPN for Mac when downloading torrents. Torrenting is a popular way to download movies, TV shows, games, software, books, and more.
Without using a VPN for Mac, downloading torrents will expose your IP Address to the public and leave you vulnerable to malicious activity.
Unblock Websites
Another reason Surfshark is the best VPN for Mac is its ability to unblock websites that are only available to people in certain geographical regions.
Using Surfshark will help evade censorship due to geographic locations. This is especially useful in areas like Russia, Ukraine, and other parts of the world.
They have over 3,200 secure servers that are located in 95 countries around the world.
Unlimited Devices
With over a dozen internet-connected devices always running in our household, having a VPN provider with unlimited connections is a must.
This means you can use Surfshark on a Firestick, Android TV box, Mac, iOS devices, Android phones, tablets, and more.
Get 82% Off Surfshark + 2 Months Free
*Surfshark provides a 30-day money-back guarantee if you aren’t satisfied so you have nothing to lose.
How To Install Best VPN for Mac
Below you will find a step-by-step screenshot guide for installing the best VPN for Mac.
Step 1 – Register for a Surfshark account – Click Here for Discount
Step 2 – Visit the Surfshark download page for Mac and click Get Surfshark.
Step 3 – You should receive a message about opening Surfshark. Click OK.
Step 4 – Drag the Surfshark VPN app icon into your Applications folder.
Step 5 – Then open your Applications folder on your Mac and locate the Surfshark VPN app.
Step 6 – Click Open when this message appears.
Step 7 – Launch the Surfshark application on your Mac and click Agree & Continue.
Step 8 – Next login to Surfshark with your email address and password.
Note: After registering for an account you will receive an email from Surfshark with your login information.
Step 9 – After you have logged in click Quick Connect.
Step 10 – When this message appears click Add VPN configuration.
Step 11 – Click Allow.
Step 12 – That’s it! You have successfully downloaded Surfshark for Mac.
Step 13– To double-check your Surfshark VPN connection is working, visit dnsleaktest.com, and your IP address should be different.
Great news! You have successfully installed the best VPN for Mac and can now enjoy your online activity anonymously.
Get 82% Off Surfshark + 2 Months Free
Best VPN for Mac – Settings
Another reason Surfshark is the best VPN for Mac is due to the large number of settings we can customize.
To access features within Surfshark, click Settings in the left-hand menu.
Then click VPN Settings and you will notice the various features we can customize within Surfshark for Mac. We explain more in detail below.
CleanWeb is a feature offered by Surfshark that blocks ads, malware, trackers, and offers further protection when using unverified websites or apps.
The Kill switch setting will block internet access when you are unable to connect to Surfshark.
The best part is that kill switches typically don’t work on Firesticks or Android TV Boxes but it does on Surfshark!
VPN Protocol is the connection protocol used by the application.
You will notice Surfshark has various VPN Protocol selections including WireGuard®, OpenVPN (UDP), OpenVPN (TCP), and an Automatic option.
If your VPN app is not connecting, it may help to switch your connection protocol in this section.
The Bypasser option is Surfshark’s feature for Split Tunneling. This allows the VPN user to choose applications that can connect to the Internet without being routed through the encrypted VPN connection.
Invisible on LAN will make sure that devices connected to your local area network (LAN) won’t see that you are connected.
Rotating IP is a unique feature that will rotate your IP address while your VPN location remains the same.
NoBoarders is another cool setting that supports internet access and connectivity around the world.
Lastly, to change VPN servers, return back to the home screen of the Surfshark VPN app and click Locations on the main menu.
Then select whichever country you want to connect to. You can change to any of Surfshark’s 3,200 servers located in 65 countries around the world.
You can also save certain servers to your Favorites as we did with Chicago and Kansas City in this example.
Best VPN for Mac – Frequently Asked Questions
Why is Surfshark the Best VPN for Mac?
Surfshark is the best VPN for Mac for many reasons explained in this article. With Surfshark for Mac, you are guaranteed that your VPN service provider will not keep any record of your activity or connection data, prevent any IP addresses from leaking, automatically block all network traffic when your VPN connection is lost, and much more.
How does Surfshark VPN Work on a Mac?
Surfshark VPN works on a Mac by routing your device’s internet connection through a private server instead of your internet service provider (ISP). This will mask your IP Address to any websites you visit.
How Many Servers are Available on Surfshark?
As of this writing, there are more than 3,200 servers across 95 countries to choose from.
What Operating System (OS) does Surfshark Support for Mac?
Surfshark VPN supports MacOS 10.12 and higher.
What VPN Protocols does Surfshark have on Mac?
Surfshark provides many of the best VPN protocols for Mac including WireGuard, OpenVPN, and more.
Should I Buy Separate Surfshark Plans if I have Multiple Devices Running on Mac?
No, as Surfshark supports UNLIMITED connections on multiple devices so you don’t have to spend on additional plans.
What is the Best Free VPN for Mac?
There is no good free VPN for Mac. Free VPNs are unsafe, sell user data, offer limited features, and should never be used on any Internet-connected device.
Can you be Tracked if you use a VPN for Mac?
No, a VPN encrypts your IP Address from your Internet Service Provider (ISP) making your online activity anonymous.
Is Using a VPN for Mac Legal?
Yes. A VPN is 100% legal to install and use in most countries including the U.S. However, in some countries VPNs are not legal to use.