Software Reviews

Are VPNs Legal to Use? Everything you Need to Know

Last updated on July 12, 2019

Looking to unlock the power of the internet but concerned that are VPNs legal to use in your region? Here’s everything there is to know about the countries that allow the use of VPN, and regions where it is restricted by the government, or banned entirely.

During the early days of the World Wide Web when the network infrastructure was not yet as abundant as it is today, there was more freedom offered to users too. From being able to connect to services across country lines, to be able to access websites freely, the openness of the internet certainly has been disrupted as the number of users has skyrocketed to billions over the past couple of decades. However, the fight to keep the essence of the internet alive and been fueled by virtual private networks (VPNs), offering way to access any part of the World Wide Web freely, while keeping things private and confidential.

Whether you’re trying to access a website that has been restricted by your ISP (Internet Service Provider), or just want to enjoy an international version of Netflix with all of its extra content, a VPN is the way to go. But over the years, even VPNs, which were designed to be a beacon of privacy and security, have been perverted into being used as tools of malicious activities all across the world. The restrictions put forward by certain regional authorities can make you wonder are VPNs legal to use in the first place, which is why we’re here to help it break it all down for you.

Are VPNs Legal or Illegal?

It is estimated that around 1 on 4 people all around the world use a VPN service to secure their online browsing experience for different purposes. What was once the brainchild of a Microsoft chief engineer, today stands as the evolutionary technology that not only allows users to go around the internet anonymously, but barricade their privacy as well. VPNs have been used for decades by corporate entities and government organizations to secure their network services, and in the past decade, has become commercially available to individuals.

The fact of the matter is that VPNs are legal to use in most of the major countries all around the world, and is acceptable to federal authorities. Using a VPN is around 196 countries is completely legal. This includes the major superpowers such as the United States of America, the United Kingdom, Canada, India, Germany, Japan, and several others. However, there are certain countries that either restricted the use of VPNs partially, or have straight up made virtual private network illegal to use all across the region.

Where are VPNs Illegal and Why?

The core purpose of a VPN is to offer security, bolster privacy, and yet, grant complete and unrestricted access the World Wide Web. While the theory behind the service is a force for good, it hasn’t curbed the use of VPNs for a slew of illegal and immoral activities across the world. Unlawful and fraudulent use of a service that allows you to become untraceable and anonymous on the internet can wreak havoc on unsuspecting users.

The unethical use of such as service has been a concern for federal authorities worldwide, which is the reason users are compelled to ask are VPNs legal to use in the first place. However, most countries continue to allow the use of VPN services, with the regard of user freedom, but this does not apply to countries that have a sketchy record when it comes to human rights in the first place. A total of 11 countries have either explicitly banned the use of VPNs, or allow only government-approved VPN services for individual use.

Government-controlled VPN usage

China – Setting up a dedicated cross-border line of communication requires direct consent of the Chinese government. Individuals caught accessing VPN services can be fined up to 15,000 Yuan (approximately $2,200).
Russia – Under the guise of restricting “extremist materials” through social media, Russia blocks the access to VPN services and also imposes a fine of 300,000 RUB ($51,00) on the individual user, and an additional 700,000 RUB ($12,000) on the VPN service provider.
Iran – The government-approved VPN services by the judiciary service in Iran are still subject to surveillance by the government, which defeats the purpose of having a VPN service.
United Arab Emirates – Although the United Arab Emirates does not restrict corporations and institutions from using VPN services, individuals are barred from using VPN services to maximize the profitability of the government-owned telecommunication services. Fraudulent use of a VPN service is, however, a chargeable offence with can land you in custody or with a fine of $544,000.
Oman – VPN services are restricted to curb the use of VOIP for communication and for users outside the Sultanate of Oman to be able to use the online services provided within the region only. A fine of 500 Omani Rial ($1,300) on individuals and 1,000 Omani Rial ($2,600) can be imposed upon unauthorized usage.
Turkey – The government has imposed strict censorship on the content available for viewing to the users, but with no legal fines put forward.

Regions with VPN ban

Iraq – In an order to keep the extremist propaganda by groups such as ISIS from spreading among the common population through social media, Iraqi government has outright banned the use of VPN services.
Turkmenistan – For political reasons and to keep the coverage of foreign media away from the citizens, Turkmenistan’s one and only ISP is government-owned and filters out the content that the users have access to.
Belarus – The government feels strongly about how services like Tor and VPNs can lead to an increase in online criminal activity, thus enforcing a complete ban all across the country.
North Korea – Although a minuscule amount of users in North Korea have access to its version of the internet called “Kwangmyong” in the first place, usage of VPNs is entirely banned under the oppressive regime.
Uganda – After the use of social media was made taxable by the Ugandan government, citizens turned to VPN services, which sparked the ban on the services and was mandated by the authorities on all ISPs.

Choose ExpressVPN

Just because the country that you reside in has not barricaded your access to the internet, does not mean that you don’t need a VPN service. From restricting access to websites from foreign adversaries, to keeping a tab on citizens through unprecedented measures of surveillance, there are plenty of ways the federal authorities are attacking your right to access the World Wide Web with complete freedom.

Even if you do choose a VPN service, it isn’t guaranteed that your online browsing sessions are not being monitored by the ISP or by high authorities, such as the NSA in the United States. Since certain VPN service providers choose to log the user browsing history and can cough up these details to the federal authorities upon request, just plugging into any VPN service won’t cut it. This is why we recommend using ExpressVPN, which guarantees to log no user information, is backed by the highest standards in encryption, and offers hundreds of servers scattered all across the world.

ExpressVPN covers 90+ countries – If you’re looking to access the local or national websites of a country far away, ExpressVPN has got you covered. With more than 160 server locations established in a total of 94 countries, you can spoof your IP address to appear from any of the enlisted countries, choose among 160+ different server locations, and get the fastest transfer speeds going.

Unlock entertainment content – For those who just want to take a look at the catalog of movies and TV shows that Netflix offers outside of your country of residence, or wish to try out services such as BBC iPlayer which is not available to residents outside of the UK, enabling ExpressVPN grants you access to a world of entertainment that you are yet to discover.

ExpressVPN on all devices – Whether you want to set up the VPN service on your mobile phone to make VOIP calls and go under the detection radar, or wish to unlock the power of Kodi with ExpressVPN, there’s an app to do it. You get support for all of the popular platforms such as Windows, Mac OS X, Linux, iOS, Android, and even VPN-enabled routers.

Keeping you secure – To keep your online activities private and away from the prying eyes of your ISP, the government, and especially hackers, ExpressVPN has the highly strengthened 256-bit encryption in place. Since your IP address is hidden, your location and your identity are also safeguarded for complete anonymity.

Final Words

While federal authorities tend to look at VPN services as a means for individuals to bypass necessary restrictions, the mainstream user only looks at it as a way to reclaim the core of what the World Wide Web was initially created for. As a means to connect the world, you cannot deny the fact that there are plenty of ways the resourcefulness of a VPN service can be amalgamated by those with malicious intent. The question of are VPNs legal has been answered in the list above, and the regions where it is restricted or banned, have been detailed as well.

Are you a resident of the countries where using VPN is a rite of passage, or are you among those who could land in trouble if caught communicated to a virtual private network? Be sure to let us know in the comments section below.

Best Rainmeter Skins to Get in 2019

Last updated on July 6, 2019

Finding the best Rainmeter skins is not an easy task. There are hundreds or even thousands of choices out there with most of them being completely free.

That being said, skins are mostly a matter of personal preference. The look, feel, and functionality that each skin provides will greatly differ and what separates the good from the bad comes down to the person who is using the said skin. So, do keep that in mind.

Without any further ado, let’s get right into it!

What is Rainmeter And How To Install it

So, for those of you who just happened to come across this article and don’t know what Rainmeter is, it’s basically a program to modify you Windows desktop. In order to accomplish that, it uses skins.

Skins can be made by pretty much everyone which means that you can either create your own or rely on those that others have made and shared. Thankfully, there are tons of options out there which means that you most likely won’t have to lift a finger.

A skin can provide anything from shortcuts to moderation tools and anything in between. So, it’s not all about making your desktop pretty – it’s also about giving it more utility.

You can install Rainmeter from its original website and skins from websites like Deviant Art, Visual Skins, Rainmeter Hub, and more!

This program isn’t exactly a resource hog. But, if you’ve got a rather weak build, say, a dual-core i3 or something like that, then you probably don’t wanna install it. Still, it’s free! So, you can always give it a try.

1: Circle Launcher

This is the skin that I’m currently using and I’m loving it. It’s simple, gets the job done, and looks beautiful as well. Furthermore, it needs little to no adjustments at all. Most of the icons work out of the box as they are.

In my case, the only thing I had to change was Discord as it wouldn’t launch by its own. If that’s the case for you as well, click on the starter skin that is included, find the name of the app that doesn’t launch for you, find its location, then paste it where the skin tells you to.

This certainly sounds tough for someone who is not into computer stuff. But, again, chances are that you won’t have to touch anything. 99% of the shortcuts work by default. And if you are only using one drive then everything should be fine (I’ve got at least 3).

The screenshot that you look at above isn’t the stock skin. The clock and the interactive wallpaper are part of Wallpaper Engine while the CPU and RAM usage is part of the stock Rainmeter skin. If you wish to know more about that, check out our guide on how to customize Windows 10.

Pros:

Free
Fine balance between simplicity and fanciness
Easy to use
Numerous icon choices (Depending on the program)
Almost everything works right out of the box

Cons:

If a shortcut doesn’t work, you’ll have to adjust it on your own and despite how much the creator has simplified it, the process can still be a little bit tough for non-tech-savvy users.
May need 3rd party apps or other skins to feel complete

Get Circle Launcher From Deviant Art

2: GameBanner Collection V.2

Don’t be scared by the screenshot. This skin may look a bit messy at first glance. But, it’s not. That’s because it’s fully customizable and it can also be used alongside any other skins that you may be running at that point.

I’d honestly prefer something like Gameview as it looks and feels objectively better. However, the options that it gives you are so limited that it’s pretty much worthless for most of us.

So, when it comes to gaming skins, GameBanners wins its rightful place as one of the best Rainmeter skins that you can get right now. Mostly because it gives you so many options that it’s very hard to not find your games.

And in the rare occasion that you don’t find what you’re looking for, multiple people keep on working on this. So, chances are that sooner or later everything will be there.

If you’re feeling a bit brave, you can also try creating your own banners. That’s a bit time-consuming in the first time and it does take a little bit of experience. So, good luck with it.

Pros:

Great for gamers
Offers a wide variety of games – more than most skins out there
Relatively easy to use. Just read the instructions
Works great alongside other skins without messing up anything

Cons:

Not the most beautiful skin out there but it gets the job done

Get GameBanners From Deviant Art

3: Elegant Clock

Elegant Click doesn’t offer shortcuts, doesn’t monitor anything, and is generally not fancy in any way. So, why choose it as one of the best Rainmeter skins? Because a lot of people want nothing more but a simple, beautiful clock with a nice wallpaper and that’s about it.

If you’re one of these people, then this is definitely the best choice for you. It literally offers nothing else but a clock that you can add in combination with any wallpaper you want. Simple as that.

No need to bother with shortcuts, monitor tools, editing stuff, or anything. Just install it, select the dark or the light theme, and you’re good to go. Just do keep in mind that the wallpaper that you can see above is not included. So, you’ll have to find something on your own.

Nothing more to say about this one. You either love it or hate it.

Pros:

Doesn’t get any more simplistic than that
Easiest skin to use ever
Looks awesome if you combine it with an appropriate wallpaper
Extremely lightweight
Can be used with other skins (But it’s hard to pair it without ruining the sort of dark vibe)

Cons:

It’s just a clock. If you want anything else you’re looking at the wrong skin

Get Elegant Clock From The Rainmeter Hub

Best Rainmeter Skins: Wrapping up

Remember, I choose these skins with evergreen content in mind – which means I’m only showing what most people would like and nothing else. If you’re willing to search for more, you’ll find limitless options.

That being said, to be more specific, this is how I look at it:

Circle Launcher: Simple and beautiful launcher that will work for almost everyone
Game Banners: A great choice for gamers who mainly use their PC for gaming
Elegant Clock: Awesome for casual users who want to make their desktop more beautiful

Let us know about your skin preferences down in the comments.

Best Antivirus for 2019

Last updated on March 28, 2019

Summary: When your computer, smartphone, tablet, or internet-enabled device is connected online, the potential for hackers and scam-artists to invade your privacy is high.

One of the best ways to protect these devices from hackers and scam-artists attempting to hijack your device to steal your sensitive information, bank, and credit card accounts is to use a quality antivirus software.

After extensively testing each of the antivirus services available in 2017, I have found that Avast Antivirus provides the best protection in an easy-to-use package with competitive pricing.

To protect your computer, smartphone, tablet, or other device with Avast Antivirus in 2018, click here now.

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Why is An Antivirus Important?

In 2017, there are more devices connected to the internet than ever before, and each of these devices are at risk of being taken over by hackers and other scam-artists.

Depending on the device you’re using, you could have already stored sensitive information, like passwords to your bank accounts and credit card data on the device.

That means, if a hacker manages to hijack your device, they could access your bank accounts and use your credit cards, or even use your device to commit crimes against other people.

Many hackers devote significant effort to ensuring that their viruses and malware remain hidden from the user, so if you do not have a way to detect the viruses, you could end up dealing with a very frustrating experience.

The way to ensure you’re not going to fall victim to these attacks is to install a high-quality antivirus software on your device, and ensure that it’s updated on a regular basis.

Antivirus software will regularly scan your device to identify malicious software and identify threats as you attempt to download new files or access potentially harmful websites.

A good antivirus will also encrypt the sensitive information that’s stored on your machine so that hackers cannot decipher what’s stored, even if they do gain access to it.

In 2017, you cannot simply trust that your device is safe online, even if you follow the best practices for keeping yourself safe. You need to use an additional layer of protection, like an antivirus.

You can learn which antivirus software I recommend now by clicking here.

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Antivirus Software Testing Methodology

I tested the effectiveness of each service’s software by using the Anti-Malware Testfile, which you can learn more about by clicking here.

The Anti-Malware Testfile is developed by the European Institute for Computer Antivirus Research and the Computer Antivirus Research Organization.

The Testfile used has been specifically designed to verify the accuracy of antivirus software and trigger the software into providing a warning for potential threats.

In 2017, the Testfile is currently the only piece of software that’s being continually supported because development of the tools previously used, by Spy Car, has been discontinued.

How I Judged Their Performance

Criteria #1: Is It Easy to Use?

It’s unfortunate that software that’s meant to protect you is typically hard to install and configure or creates a frustrating experience for people attempting to use it.

To ensure you do not get frustrated while protecting your device, I have tested each service’s software to ensure that it is easy to install and configure.

Criteria #2: Do They Offer a Refund Policy?

I take pride in the tests that I have run and being able to recommend a quality antivirus software, but do understand that your experience may be different than mine.

To ensure that you do not waste money by taking a recommendation that I’ve given you, I have ranked any service without a refund policy lower than services that take away your risk.

Criteria #3: Can You Protect Multiple Devices?

If you are like so many other people reading this, you probably connect to the internet with more than one device, and need an antivirus software that will protect every device you own.

Some companies will require you to purchase additional licenses if you attempt to protect more than the original device you signed up to their service with.

To ensure that you can protect every device you own without spending more money, I have ranked companies that allow you to protect them with a single license higher in my review process.

Criteria #4: Does It Slow Down your Machine?

One huge complaint that people have about their antivirus software is that it typically slows down their machine and makes it unusable, especially while scanning for existing threats.

I have tested each of the service’s software to ensure it does not place excessive loads on a machine, and that you do not need high-end hardware to run the antivirus software.

Any service that provides software that causes lagging and freezing issues has been ranked lower in my review.

Criteria #5: Does It Create False Warnings?

Another complaint people have with their antivirus software is that they are being constantly inundated with false warnings and the software identifying objects as viruses that are truly harmless.

These false warnings can confuse many users, making them believe that their computer is infected when it’s simply a poorly developed antivirus software identifying harmless threats.

I have tested each of the service’s antivirus software to ensure that they do not warn of false threats, with software that is 100% accurate being ranked higher in my review process.

Criteria #6: Does It Protect Against 0-Day Attacks?

0-day attacks, if you’re unfamiliar, refer to threats and viruses that are not currently known by major antivirus developers. For an antivirus service to be recommended, they must be able to identify these threats.

Many antivirus software developers will force their software to update on a regular basis to help stay ahead of hackers and scam-artists.

That’s why I’ve tested each service’s software to ensure they maintain a fresh database and can properly detect threats that aren’t currently included in their database.

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Best Antivirus in 2018

By now, you can probably see that a significant amount of work has gone into testing each of the different service’s antivirus software that’s currently available.

After working through the list of available services, I have concluded that three have performed better than the rest, with one service easily setting themselves apart from their competition.

Each of the three services that performed the best during my review process have been listed below.

#1 – Avast Antivirus – 9.4 / 10 – Voted Best Antivirus in 2018

Avast Antivirus is the service that has clear put themselves at the front of the line in nearly every test I performed, and have earned the right to receive my top recommendation.

PROs

The antivirus software developed by Avast is easy to install and intuitive to use, making it possible to protect your PC with a few clicks and minutes after subscribing to their service.

Whenever you are subscribed to Avast, you subscribe with an email address that can be used on any additional devices you own without worrying about purchasing additional licenses.

During testing, I did not notice their software causing my machine to slow down or freeze, even while running tests on known infected files, such as the Testfile.

I verified Avast’s ability to avoid false warnings by visiting websites that caused false warnings with other software, and did not have any of the same warnings with Avast.

Their development team is large and you can tell they devote substantial resources toward maintaining their database of potential threats.

If you do happen to have issues with Avast and your machine, they offer a full 30-day refund policy so you can easily receive a refund and try a different service.

CONs

Even though Avast did perform well in most tests, their pricing is slightly higher than other services that I have tested. Their higher pricing is a con, but it does allow them to spend more on development of their antivirus software.

OVERALL

When you want to protect your computer, smartphone, tablet, or other device that’s connected to the internet in 2017, I have found Avast to be the clear winner in my review process.

If you’re looking for the absolute best antivirus software in 2017, we recommend you get Avast Antivirus by clicking here.

#2 – Bit Defender – 7.9 / 10 – Quality Antivirus if Avast Antivirus Doesn’t Work for You.

I understand that some people reading this may not have the same experience with Avast Antivirus that I had. For times when Avast doesn’t work on your machine, Bit Defender may be a good alternative solution for keeping your device protected in 2017.

PROs

Bit Defender, like Avast, is easy to install and configure it to work on most machines. I had it installed and configured within a few minutes after subscribing to their service.

While testing for false warnings, there were times that I received warnings for files that I believe shouldn’t have been flagged, but the number of warnings were minimal compared to other software.

The way you subscribe to Bit Defender allows you to protect multiple devices while using the same license key, so you do not need to spend more money.

Bit Defender’s development team works hard to maintain a database of the latest threats, and I didn’t have any issues with them properly identifying 0-day threats I tested.

CONs

I did notice that Bit Defender caused a few minor hiccups during testing, and my machine slowed down while performing full scans on my hard drive.

They also offer a shorter refund policy than what I consider to be the industry standard, but I didn’t find any signs of them refusing to stand behind their refund policy.

OVERALL

Whenever you are trying to protect a computer, smartphone, or tablet in 2017, Avast is currently the best antivirus software available.

However, if they are unavailable for you or do not function properly with your device, Bit Defender could be a decent alternative solution for keeping yourself protected.

If you’re unable to get Avast Antivirus to work, you can protect your device in 2017 with Bit Defender by clicking here.

#3 – Kapersky – 6.7 / 10 – Poor Performing Antivirus That Lacks Proper Protection

If you want to protect a computer, smartphone, tablet, or other device in 2017, there are far better options available than Kapersky Lab’s antivirus software.

PROs

Kapersky’s saved themselves with the fact that their software is simple to install, though it did have more options to configure than either Avast or Bit Defender.

CONs

Once I installed the Kapersky software on my machine, I began having issues that make it hard for me to recommend them as a viable solution to my readers.

Their software caused significant delays, both while scanning for existing threats, and while scanning new files to determine if a threat had been found.

They do allow you to register the software with a single email address, but I experienced “licensing issues” while attempting to protect more than one device using the same email.

I also had multiple false warnings with files that are known to be harmless, suggesting that the Kapersky team has work to do in the false detection realm.

They do not offer a money-back guarantee, but they do offer a 7-day trial period so you can test their software without risking your money.

OVERALL

While I have gone to great lengths to find the best antivirus in 2017, I can say that Kapersky Labs does not claim that title. There is better antivirus software currently available, like Avast.

If you want to find out more about the Kapersky Antivirus, you can visit their site by clicking here.

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Conclusion

Whenever your computer, laptop, smartphone, tablet, or other device is connected to the internet, hackers are trying to find new ways to target it and steal your sensitive information.

The best way to protect yourself in 2017 is to use an antivirus software that can find these viruses and malware before they have a chance to infect your device.

When you want to use the best antivirus software available to protect your device in 2018, download and install Avast Antivirus now by clicking here.

Features to Keep in Mind When Choosing a VPN for Mac

Last updated on March 24, 2019

Features to Keep in Mind When Choosing a VPN for Mac

Getting a VPN for Mac is one of the smartest decisions you can make. It will encrypt your internet connection, making you anonymous online, hiding your online activity even from your ISP. It will prevent anyone from gaining access to your Mac and data, fully protecting your privacy and sensitive information.

However, choosing the right VPN for Mac can be challenging, because there are hundreds of different VPNs out there. How can you know what to look for?

Don’t worry, you’ve come to the right place. Here are the essential features you should look for when choosing the right VPN for your needs.\

The Locations It Covers

It’s vital to check a VPN for all the locations it covers. You don’t want to end up with a VPN that doesn’t allow access to particular servers you need.

For instance, China has a lot of restrictions regarding which servers you can access. If you plan on traveling or moving there, you’ll need a VPN that covers your location.

Reliable Connections

This is extremely important when choosing a VPN. You need to make sure your connections are safe and secure at all times.

Many VPNs have a kill switchthat automatically terminates a connection if a hacker compromises it. It monitors your internet connection and instantly changes your IP address if it detects any intrusion. That way, your sensitive data stays secure.

High Speed

High speed is something everyone expects when surfing the internet, especially if they spend a lot of time online. So, find a fast VPN with a high internet speed across all the locations it covers.

If you plan on doing a lot of online streaming, this is the most important feature to look for. Speaking of streaming, make sure your chosen VPN also comes with unlimited bandwidth.

Multiple Simultaneous Connections

This feature is essential for users who want to simultaneously use a VPN on multiple devices. For instance, if you want your entire family to use your VPN, make sure it allows multiple simultaneous connections. Either that or choose a router-based VPN, which will also enable your entire household to connect at the same time.

Some VPNs allow unlimited devices, while others allow only two or three, for example. So, be sure to check this in advance.

Compatible Devices

You should make sure your Mac VPN provider supports other devices as well. That way, you can connect your Android phone, for instance. If anyone in your family doesn’t use a Mac, they’ll thank you for choosing a VPN that supports their platform. Not all VPNs support every platform, so check this before you pay for a particular service.

Unlocking Region-Blocked Content

A lot of people start using a VPN to unlock region-blocked content. A VPN replaces your real IP address with a new one, virtually putting you in a different geographical location. This is what enables you to access content that’s not available in your area.

For instance, if you wish to access the entire Netflix content, look for a VPN that can bypass the restrictions. This is also useful for traveling to countries with region-restricted websites.

A User-Friendly Interface

You don’t want to jump through hoops to use your VPN for Mac. That’s why you should find one that’s easy to set up and use. Many VPN providers can even virtually set up your network. This is a perfect solution if you’re not really tech-savvy.

24/7 Customer Support

Reliable customer support is one of the most critical factors to look for when choosing a VPN for Mac. If you happen to experience some issues with your VPN, the provider should be available 24/7 to help you out.

Every VPN provider will give you their email address and some – a phone number. However, be sure they also have a live chat on their website. That way, you can quickly resolve any potential issue.

A Free Trial, or a Money-Back Guarantee

Every trustworthy VPN provider will offer you a free trial, or a money-back guarantee. Choosing such a provider will prevent you from ending up with a VPN that doesn’t fit your needs. A free trial will help you explore all the features and see whether or not you’ve made the right decision.

If you find a VPN that checks all your boxes, but doesn’t include one of these two features, walk away. Otherwise, you may get stuck with something you don’t want.

As you can see, choosing a VPN for Mac isn’t as confusing as it may seem at first. Simply think about what you need it for, put everything on paper, and look for those specific features. These tips will help you make the right choice, as they cover the essential features anyone needs in a VPN.