How to Add a VPN Connection to Your Mac – A Simple Guide

The best thing about Apple computers is that they are pretty much plug-and-play when it comes to connecting to the internet. You simply need to load up the device with an internet connection and the devices themselves will take care of the rest. In most cases, you will only need to load up your Mac with an Ethernet cable to get started with basic internet usage. However, this is not always the case and in some instances, you may need to load up additional drivers or tools to make sure your internet connection is working at its best. This is where adding a VPN connection to your Mac can be helpful. In this guide, we will discuss the steps needed to connect to a VPN server and browse the web securely.

Choosing The Right Nic For Your Network Interface

If you are using an Ethernet cable to connect to the internet, you will most likely already have one in your vicinity. If you are using a wireless connection, however, you will need to choose a wireless network card that is specially designed for use with VPNs. The best VPN cards for Macs are currently the TP-Link TL-WR842ND and the Netgear Nighthawk. With these two cards, you will be able to connect to an unlimited number of VPN servers and be sure that your personal data is always protected when browsing the web. Let’s take a closer look at each one.

TP-Link TL-WR842ND

If you are looking for a basic, inexpensive Ethernet card that is capable of connecting to VPNs, the TP-Link TL-WR842ND is the ideal choice. This particular model from TP-Link provides a reliable service and is easy to use. In addition, the device is very small and lightweight which makes it even more convenient to carry around. The downsides are that it does not come with an onboard flash drive and it has a relatively low transfer speed of up to 250 Mbps.

Netgear Nighthawk

For a more affordable solution that offers better performance, you can try the Netgear Nighthawk. This particular model from Netgear offers a blazing fast connection speed of up to 1 Gigabit per second (Gbps) which is more than enough to ensure that you always have a solid connection regardless of the device you are using. In addition, the Netgear Nighthawk is extremely small and lightweight which makes it easier to carry around in your pocket. The downside is that it does not come with an onboard flash drive and it is rather expensive (about $100).

Checking Your Internet Connection

To ensure that you are always connected to the internet when you want, you will need to make sure that your connection is always active. There are a few ways to do this, but the simplest method is to use the built-in tool on your Mac. To access the internet on your Mac, simply type in the name of the website that you are trying to visit in the Safari browser. The tool will then check your network connection and if it is determined that you are not connected to the internet, it will ask you if you want to connect now. Simply click on the Connect button to connect instantly.

If you are still having trouble connecting, you can try one of the other methods discussed below.

Using DNS Changer To Manage Your DNS

DNS stands for Domain Name System and is responsible for translating human-readable website addresses to the IP addresses that your devices need to connect to. Normally, your internet service provider (ISP) will give you the DNS servers of your choice when you signed up for internet access. However, sometimes ISPs go out of their way to make sure that their customers do not manage their own DNS server which can be problematic if you want to use a VPN. In this case, you can try using a DNS changer. Just type in the www.google.com address in the address bar of your browser and press Enter. A simple dialog box will appear with the option to enter the IP address of a DNS server that you want to use in place of the one that is currently being routed by your browser. When you click on the Change button, a dialog box will appear with the DNS server IP address filled in automatically for you.

Proxies And Virtual Private Networks

Another way to access the internet without needing a constant connection is to use a VPN. A VPN is a virtual private network that tunnels all of your internet traffic through a secure connection to a remote server. When you use a VPN, all of your traffic is encrypted which makes it virtually impossible for someone to intercept and view your data. This is why a VPN is the perfect tool for keeping your personal information secure while browsing the web. However, using a VPN requires a little more work. You will need to set up a VPN connection on your Mac before you can use it. In most instances, this is not a problem and it is definitely worth it.

The Best VPN For You

The information discussed above should have made it clear to you just how much a VPN is worth having. If you are looking for a safe and easy-to-use tool for connecting to the internet, the Netgear Nighthawk is the ideal choice. For a faster connection speed, you can try the TP-Link TL-WR842ND. The choice is totally up to you.