Apple releases videos from its 2025 AI Reasoning and Planning Workshop
The newly published videos from Apple’s two-day event focus on three key areas related to AI: Reasoning and Planning, Applications to Agents, and Model Development. Here are the details. more…

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iPhone users can test encrypted RCS texts to Android in iOS 26.4 beta 2
After the first beta was iPhone to iPhone only, the second iOS 26.4 developer beta lets iPhones and Androids trade fully encrypted RCS messages for the first time.RCS support will be extended to include end-to-end encryptionYou may recall that in the first iOS 26.4 developer beta, Apple introduced end-to-end encryption (E2EE) for RCS messaging. You may also remember that it was extremely limited and only worked between iPhones with iMessage disabled. Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums

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Visual Intelligence could be Apple’s killer AI wearable feature
Macworld Mark Gurman’s latest Power On newsletter has several interesting tidbits about upcoming Apple products, but perhaps the most fascinating concerns Apple’s plans for future AI-powered wearables. We’ve heard about these before—Apple is working on smart glasses (similar to the Meta Ray-Bans), AirPods Pro with cameras, and some sort of pin/pendant item. All are at various stages of development, and all of them will apparently lean heavily on Visual Intelligence. That’s Apple’s brand for the application of AI to things your device’s camera sees. It launched as part of the iPhone 16 Pro and then came to other devices with expanded capabilities. You can take a photo of something around you to get contextual information about it, or even take a screenshot and do the same. You can ask ChatGPT about the subject as well, and the system is smart enough to change your options contextually. If you’re looking at an event poster with dates and times, you can simply add it to your calendar. If it’s a restaurant, you can look up reviews, hours, or the menu. You can identify plants or animals, and do google image search to find similar objects online. Apparently, Tim Cook sees this area of AI technology as central to its upcoming AI devices. Apple is building its own visual models and intends to make this technology—contextual awareness based on what the AI “sees”—a central pillar of future devices. For example, you could simply look at your plate of food to get information on ingredients, portions, or nutritional info. Turn-by-turn directions could use visual landmarks instead of just street names or distances. Reminders could be triggered by walking up to and seeing something, not just times and locations. Cook has been singling out the feature in recent appearances. He gave it a shout-out at the company’s last earnings call, and at an all-hands meeting in which he discussed the company’s AI ambitions. It’s a little odd to bring it up so consistently when it’s not exactly new and hasn’t changed much in the last year or more. Clearly, the technology is on his mind, likely because he’s focused on the company’s upcoming new products. Obviously, privacy is central to AI that is processing what it sees around you. And in this area, Apple has an advantage—strong neural processors in hundreds of billions of devices enables more on-device processing than most competitors, and the company’s Private Cloud Compute architecture ensures that anything that is processed in the cloud protects your privacy by design, too.

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MagSafe Monday: TopMade Wallet review – Find My and massive storage
Find My is quietly one of the best things Apple has done in the last decade. It started with tracking your iPhone, expanded to the Mac and iPad, and eventually covered physical items with AirTags. Now that third-party accessories are adopting the standard, it is becoming a true platform that I think is highly underrated. The TopMade MagSafe Wallet integrates this technology directly with Find My. It removes the need for a separate AirTag bump while keeping your wallet trackable within the native Apple ecosystem. more…

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iOS 26.4 makes two app updates that bring back iOS 18 designs
iOS 26.4 beta 2 arrived today for developers, and it expands two changes that reverse iOS 26 app search designs to be more like iOS 18. more…

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Help us figure out macOS Tahoe 26.3 external drive mounting issues
Some Mac users are discovering they can't use their external drives with macOS Tahoe 26.3 and it seems Apple knows something's wrong. Let us know what works for you, and what doesn't.An external drive connected to a Mac. Apple released the update to macOS Tahoe 26.3 on February 11, with the update adding more machine learning performance for M5 users as well as other smaller changes. It seems that one undocumented alteration may have caused problems for some users.A number of users have taken to online support forums and social media to try and get help with an external drive issue in macOS Tahoe 26.3. Affected users are finding that external drives are not mounting properly, despite previously working fine. Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums

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iOS 26.4 beta 2 adds support for testing encrypted RCS between iPhone and Android
iOS 26.4 beta 2 is now rolling out for developers, and it expands support for testing encrypted RCS messaging on iPhone. more…

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Apple’s App Store growth is reaccelerating – Morgan Stanley
Apple’s App Store revenue growth is accelerating in February, according to Morgan Stanley analyst Erik Woodring… The post appeared first on MacDailyNews.

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Second iOS 26.4, macOS Tahoe 26.4 developer beta lands for testing
Apple is on its second round of developer betas for the current generation, issuing new builds of iOS 26.4, iPadOS 26.4, watchOS 26.4, tvOS 26.4, visionOS 26.4, and macOS Tahoe 26.4 for testing.Apple's hardware that works with the 26-generation operating systems - Image Credit: AppleThe second developer betas for iOS 26.4, iPadOS 26.4, watchOS 26.4, tvOS 26.4, visionOS 26.4, and macOS Tahoe 26.4 arrive after the first, which arrived on February 16.iOS 26.4 build 2 is 23E5218e, replacing 23E5207q Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums

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Apple releases beta 2 for tvOS 26.4, visionOS 26.4, more
New betas are now available for developers. Apple has just released beta 2 updates for tvOS 26.4, visionOS 26.4, and more. more…

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Apple releases macOS 26.4 beta 2, here’s what’s new
Just a week after releasing macOS 26.4 beta 1, Apple is now rolling out beta 2 for developers. Here’s what to expect. more…

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iPadOS 26.4 beta 2 is now available
, rolling out for developers via the Software Update screen in Settings. more…

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Apple releases iOS 26.4 beta 2 for iPhone with upcoming features
Apple has released the second iOS 26.4 beta version for iPhone. iOS 26.4 includes a number of exciting new features and changes, including AI-powered Apple Music updates. more…

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How to tell the difference between AirTag 2 and the original AirTag
There’s a new AirTag in town, but you might not know it based on the official product name. Fortunately, there’s a way to distinguish between old and new AirTags just by looking. more…

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Here’s everything new Apple TV has coming in March
March will be a huge month for Apple TV. Not only will the streamer air ongoing episodes of major series like Monarch and Shrinking, but it also has the kickoff of the Formula 1 season, a highly anticipated new psychological thriller series, the return of its longest-running sci-fi show, and a lot more. Here’s everything new coming to Apple TV in March. more…

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This cool project crams classic Mac emulation into a four-inch alarm clock chassis
It was only a matter of time. A YouTuber turned a palm-sized classic Mac styled clock into a working computer. Here's how he did it.This tiny Mac clock mod becomes a working Raspberry Pi MacI'm sure almost everyone reading this is aware of the meme "Can it run Doom?" — the meme that challenges tech-savvy DIYers to get Doom up and running on just about anything. But maybe what we should actually be asking is, "Can it Mac" coupled with playing Doom.YouTube channel This Does Not Compute has taken up the mantle, it seems, and has actually taken a Mac-inspired clock from cute tchotchke to functional computer. The process is documented in a fifteen-minute-long YouTube video that is worth watching. Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums

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Why red iPhone 18 Pro would be an exciting first, despite its many red predecessors
How does Apple follow up on the fun of Cosmic Orange from the iPhone 17 Pro line? By bringing back the red iPhone, according to the latest iPhone 18 Pro rumor. Despite making more than a half dozen red iPhone models before, the red iPhone 18 Pro will be a first… more…

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Best VPN for Mac 2026: Trustworthy Mac VPNs tested by experts
Macworld If you want to protect your privacy and security online, using a VPN on your Mac is one of the easiest and most effective steps you can take. While macOS includes built-in security features, a VPN adds an extra layer of protection by encrypting your internet traffic and hiding your IP address. This helps prevent tracking, protects your data on public Wi-Fi, and can make it appear as though you’re browsing from another country. Many people also use VPNs to access region-restricted streaming services or bypass location-based website limitations. With so many VPN providers available, choosing the best VPN for Mac can be challenging. To help, we’ve tested and reviewed the top VPN services for macOS, focusing on speed, privacy, ease of use, and value. Our current top recommendation is NordVPN, which delivers excellent performance, strong security features, and reliable unblocking on Mac. Get our top recommendation NordVPN here How we test VPNs We test each VPN service at three times of the day (morning, afternoon, evening) using Ookla Speedtest. We measure our internet speed before testing the upload/download speeds of the VPN service on various servers around the world over a 100Mbps ethernet connection. We also consider the number of countries a VPN offers servers in, the total number of servers worldwide, and the monthly or annual cost to connect. Additionally, because privacy is such a crucial aspect of what makes a good VPN, we research the providers to find out who owns them, their location, how they handle subscriber information, and their business practices. PROMOTIONLifetime VPN $25 + Free Family Password Manager Unlock lifetime online privacy with FastestVPN and get a FREE Family Password Manager. One-time payment, zero monthly fees. Now just $25 — save 93%. Secure every device, forever. Limited-time offer.Use Code foundryexclusive Get The Deal At a glance: Feature comparison VPNBest formacOS App QualityNo-Logs PolicySpeed & PerformanceStreaming SupportSimultaneous ConnectionsFree / TrialNordVPNBest overallExcellent (native, polished)Yes (audited)Very fastVery strong~10 devices30-day refundSurfsharkSpeed & priceVery goodYes (audited)FastStrongUnlimited30-day refundExpressVPNStreamingExcellent (very simple UI)Yes (audited)Very fastExcellent~8 devices30-day refundProton VPNPrivacy & free optionGood (privacy-focused)Yes (audited)GoodModerateVaries by planFree tier availableMullvadAnonymityBasic Yes (audited)GoodPoor5 devicesNoFastestVPNBudgetBasicLimitedDecentGoodVariesTrial / lifetime plansCyberGhostBeginnersVery easy to useYesGoodVery strong~7 devices45-day refundPrivate Internet Access (PIA)CustomisationGood (advanced options)YesGoodModerate~10 devices30-day refundhide.meFree tierGoodYesGoodGood~10 devicesFree tier Best VPNs for Mac: Reviewed & Ranked Below you will find reviews of all the VPN services for Mac that we recommend based on our tests. All of these VPNs will also work on your iPhone and iPad as well, and many with Apple TV, but you might want to check out our separate guide to the best VPNs for iPad and iPhone. 1. NordVPN – Best VPN overall Pros Easy to use Impressive WireGuard speeds Lots of servers Cons Two separate apps can be confusing Price When Reviewed: Basic plan from $3.39 a month for two years. Usually $12.99 a month Best Prices Today: Retailer Price NordVPN (Monthly) $3.39 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket 5,300 servers 10 simultaneous connections Why we like NordVPN: Nord offers a great combination of security, speed, streaming and ease of use. It’s also an excellent option if you want robust privacy protections. NordVPN is one of the biggest and best-known VPN services. It’s a fully featured VPN option that’s secure, easy to use, and unbelievably fast compared to its competitors. There are cheaper options, with unlimited connections and more in-depth VPN features, but NordVPN is our top choice right now because it stands out in so many areas, from speed and privacy to unblocking and ease of use. There are more than 5,300 servers (none of which are virtual) available across 60 countries, which sounds great. You probably only care about the servers where you want to unblock content, but the more servers the better as it means you have a better chance of finding one that’s not overloaded. You won’t have to figure out which one to choose thanks to the handy ‘Quick connect’ feature that picks the server best suited to your needs. Connections are fast and reliable, and NordVPN unblocks popular streaming services around the world including Netflix and BBC iPlayer. You can connect up to six devices simultaneously including your Apple TV. Nord has added support for the faster WireGuard protocol in NordLynx, making it one of the fastest VPN services out there. However, it’s only available on the ‘IKE’ version of the app, which only offers a permanently enabled kill switch. To have more control, you’ll need to download the ‘OpenVPN’ version, albeit with slightly slower speeds. Nord has an up-to-date independent audit. It also has specialty servers for specific purposes. Nord frequently has deals on offer that save money on the usual monthly price if you take advantage of the two-year plan. NordVPN offers three tiers: Standard, Plus and Ultimate. You can get Plus features (data breach scanner and password manager) or the Ultimate tier adds cloud storage and insurance options. Prices change all the time, so take a look at the prices and plans at NordVPN.com. Read our full NordVPN review 2. Surfshark – Best VPN for speed & price Pros Simple to use No device limits Great for streaming services Cons Expensive to renew Price When Reviewed: Starter plan from $1.99 a month for two years + 3 free months. Usually $15.45 a month. Best Prices Today: Retailer Price Surfshark (Monthly) $1.99 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket 3,200 servers in 100 countries Unlimited simultaneous connections Why we like Surfshark: Surfshark is one of the lowest-cost premium VPNs, plus it lets you secure unlimited devices under one subscription making it perfect for families or people with lots of gadgets. Surfshark is a reliable, affordable option with more than 3000 servers spread across 100 countries. Surfshark’s network is one of the widest and most varied of any VPN. Its apps, which work with Macs, iPhones, and even Apple TV, as well as other devices, are easy to use. The macOS app offers light and dark modes, and you can opt to have it shown in the dock or the menu bar. The iOS version of SurfShark offers features like MultiHop and Dedicated IP – it’s not a watered-down versions of their desktop VPN. SurfShark offers three tiers of features at varying price points. SurfShark Starter offers VPN functionality as well as an ad blocker and the option to generate a proxy email address and personal details. SurfShark One adds email and payment detail breach alerts, as well as personal data security reports, antivirus and other malware protection. And the One+ plan adds data removal from company databases and people search sites. When we reviewed Surfshark previously we had some performance issues, but this time around things were a lot better. With WireGuard, SurfShark is the slickest VPN around, removing very little speed from my connection. OpenVPN, where we had problems previously, was much swifter this time around. Whichever protocol we used, we were able to flick between streaming libraries with ease. Those protocols also offer varying degrees of encryption to keep your data secure. The Kill Switch feature is billed as a “safety net”, It’ll shut down your connection if your VPN connection falters, preventing personal data from sneaking out to bad actors. Surfshark is is headquartered in the Netherlands and has a privacy-minded no-logs policy that’s regularly audited. Surfshark’s process means it logs a small amount of data that’s then scrubbed from its servers with 15 minutes of closing the connection. Surfshark confirmed to us in June 2025 that they had their no-logs policy independently verified again and Deloitte confirmed that they don’t monitor what our users do online and do not keep logs of their activities. For even more security, the Antivirus Scan feature (available with Surfshark One and One+) can run scheduled background scans if you leave the app open. Ransomware Shield and Webcam Protection can stop your personal folders and hardware camera from falling into the wrong hands respectively, and the app will constantly look to update its database of viruses to cross-reference files. Sign up to Surfshark here. Read our full Surfshark review 3. ExpressVPN – Best VPN for streaming support Pros Simple to use Big focus on privacy and transparency 105 countries Cons Pricing changes offer tiered services at the cost of flexible contract lengths Price When Reviewed: Basic: $3.49 a month for 2 years + 4 free months; Advanced: $4.49 a month for 2 years + 4 free months; Pro: $7.49 a month for 2 years + 4 free months Best Prices Today: Retailer Price ExpressVPN (Monthly) $3.49 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket 2,000 servers 8 simultaneous connections Why we like ExpressVPN: ExpressVPN is fast, easy to use, and reliable, with strong connection speeds and excellent streaming support. It also offers broad device compatibility. ExpressVPN is one of the most straightforward and reliable VPN services on the market, especially for users who want speed, simplicity, and solid privacy without a lot of complexity. The clean, minimal Mac app quickly connects to servers in over 100 countries. There’s no cluttered interface or confusing menus; you pick a server and go. While this simplicity means ExpressVPN doesn’t have some of the advanced built-in tools (like antivirus or extensive malware protection offered by some competitors), it does include the essentials: a large server network, strong encryption, and reliable connection options. There is also browser plugin support and the inclusion of ExpressVPN’s password manager in certain plans. ExpressVPN’s apps are very easy to use across platforms – on Mac, iPhone, iPad, Windows, Android and more – making it especially appealing for newcomers and those who just want a “set it and forget it” VPN experience. In testing, ExpressVPN had very respectable performance. We saw around a 13% drop in download speeds – better than many other VPNs. The proprietary Lightway protocol, designed for speed and reliability, was the best choice for overall performance, though other protocols like OpenVPN remain available for compatibility reasons. ExpressVPN is good for streaming: reliably unblocking the major services and offering fast speeds. ExpressVPN is headquartered in the British Virgin Islands, a jurisdiction with strong privacy protections, and operates a no-logs policy backed by regular third-party audits. The company also runs a bug bounty program and maintains a Trust Centre dedicated to transparency. In 2025 ExpressVPN introduced a tiered pricing model with Basic, Advanced, and Pro plans, each offering different features and device limits. While still more expensive than some rivals, the tiers give users options depending on their needs, and longer commitments offer better value. The service now supports up to 14 simultaneous connections depending on your pricing tier. ExpressVPN is easy to recommend as a fast, secure, and user-friendly VPN – especially for users who value simplicity and privacy, even if it lacks some advanced extras seen in competing services. See ExpressVPN subscription plans here. Read our full ExpressVPN review 4. ProtonVPN – Best VPN for privacy (+ a free plan) Pros Simple to use Free plan Great speed Cons Setup on macOS was a little fiddly Price When Reviewed: Proton Free; VPN Plus from $2.99 a month for two years. Usually $9.99 a month. Best Prices Today: Retailer Price Proton Technologies (Monthly) $2.99 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket 6,500+ servers in 100+ countries (access servers in 5 countries on free plan, on one device) 10 simultaneous connections Why we like ProtonVPN: Proton VPN is one of the most privacy-focused VPNs you can get, perfect for those who value robust, trustworthy privacy protection online. It also offers one of the best free plans. ProtonVPN’s free tier of membership helps to set Proton VPN apart from some of its rivals. It’s naturally limited, with US, Japan, and Netherlands as the server locations and some speed drop – but it’s still pretty usable If you pay for the service it offers a sleek interface, impressive connection speeds and just about enough features to improve your day-to-day web experience without throwing too many complex concepts at new users.  Proton VPN Plus offers a host of features, including an ad and tracker blocker and speed of up to 10 Gbps, as well as a 10-device limit. There’s Port Forwarding for downloads and gaming, too, as well as a Kill Switch for disconnecting should the VPN drop out. Some VPN services offer features like dark web data notifications. Proton VPN sticks to the basics – and does so very well. The company’s “no-logs” policy confirms it doesn’t track sites, IP addresses, communications, or session lengths, nor does it track location-based information. Proton is Swiss-based, and only Swiss court orders can request data from the company, but since it doesn’t log data there’s very little it can offer to law enforcement. For the privacy-minded, Secure Core, routes traffic through one of the company’s ‘Secure’ servers, minimizing the potential of a data leak. These secure servers are owned by Proton and are located in more than 90 countries. Proton VPN does increase latency, but only by about 29% in our testing on a modest 60 Mbps broadband. In fact, it’s only about 7% slower when downloading and 5.5% slower when uploading, making it one of the slicker VPNs we’ve tested. In terms of included VPN protocols, Smart will be ideal for most users, automatically setting the right protocol for your current usage, but WireGuard, WireGuard (TCP), IKEv2 and Stealth are also offered. Proton VPN is an easy recommendation both for new and experienced users. Sign up for Proton’s subscription plans here. Read our full ProtonVPN review 5. Mullvad VPN – Best for anonymity Pros Privacy-focused sign-up Great for getting around geoblocks Great pricing Cons 5 connections is lower than some rivals Price When Reviewed: $5.26 a month (€5) Best Prices Today: Retailer Price Mullvad $5.26 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket 700+ servers 5 connections Why we like Mullvad: Mullvad is one of the most privacy-focused VPNs available, but for those who really want to remain incognito it’s ideal. You don’t need to provide an email address and you can even pay with cryptocurrency to really cover your tracks. Mullvad doesn’t offer recurring plans, you pay €5 a month whether you sign up for a month, a year or longer. The only price change will be dependent on the exchange rate from euros at that time. This way you aren’t caught up in a recurring subscription and Mullvad doesn’t store your personal information – a great example of its privacy-first mindset. You can even buy prepaid cards if you don’t want to log payment information, which makes Mullvad the ideal VPN service for anyone looking to leave a minimal digital footprint. Split Tunnelling, multihop connections and even an AI-focused defence mechanism called DAITA are included. Performance is excellent and there are plenty of features that would be paid additions elsewhere. For example, the Kill Switch to cut traffic if the VPN drops, and a Lockdown Mode that forces the user to reconnect via Mullvad if the connection drops. Multihop will bounce your connection via multiple servers, and split tunnelling is available so you can send some traffic via the VPN and ignore it for others. There is also an ad blocker. It’s available on Mac, Windows, iOS, iPadOS, and Android. It’s accessed exclusively from the menu bar on Mac. The iPhone and iPad apps pack plenty of power user features that in some services are limited to desktop, like multihop connections and the DAITA protection. DAITA (Defence against AI-guided Traffic Analysis) will add ‘network noise’ so data packets are all the same size. The main disadvantages are the five device limit, which is lower than many VPNs, and. a lower server count. It has 700, but this is still lower than the likes of NordVPN with over 7,000. Mullvad’s servers are all real, not virtual, servers though. Connection speeds are impressive. Mullvad is a fantastic VPN service that’s about as privacy-minded as can be. It might not have the most servers, but that’s a small price to pay for the service on offer. Sign up to Mullvad here. Read our full Mullvad review 6. FastestVPN – Best budget VPN Pros Great pricing, including lifetime plan Impressive speeds and features Cons Fewer servers than some rivals Price When Reviewed: Lifetime special deal: $30, usually $600 Best Prices Today: Retailer Price FastestVPN (Lifetime payment) $30 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket 800+ servers in 49+ countries 10 simultaneous connections Why we like FastestVPN: FastestVPN’s biggest strength is its pricing, especially its unusual lifetime subscription option. It’s great for users who just want affordable basic VPN protection without big monthly costs. FastestVPN packs impressive VPN performance, but that’s only one facet of what makes it worth a look. It’s also relatively cheap compared to many rivals, and has seen a bunch of improvements since we took a look in 2021. The app is sleek and easy to use and offers 10 simultaneous connections. FastestVPN is headquartered in the Cayman islands and has undergone a third-party audit from Altius to confirm its no-logs policy. Since the last time we looked at it it’s gained a number power user features like multi-hop connections. It also now features an Internet Kill Switch to shut down all traffic if your VPN drops for any reason. You can also use Smart Tunneling to ensure certain apps go via a VPN while others don’t. Will FastestVPN help you get around geoblocks? Yes, in fact, FastestVPN highlights certain streaming-focused servers to help get around geoblocking. You’ll find a variety of VPN protocols to choose from, with Wireguard, OpenVPN (TCP and UDP options) and IKEv2 available, and Servers have recently been updated to 10 Gbps options, but despite the name, it’s not the fastest around. However, it’s so affordable that it’s hard not to recommend, with a lifetime price of $40 (normally $600), which we’ve even seen reduced to just $30! FastestVPN does a great job and for a lot less than others. FastestVPN has more than 800 servers, which is a lot – but in context, that’s dramatically less than NordVPN or ExpressVPN. Rivals do offer a larger server count, but the ease of use, and low barrier of entry, make FastestVPN one of our best VPN picks in 2025. FastestVPN is available on Mac as well as Windows, iOS, iPadOS, Android, and plenty more apps. See FastestVPNs plans here. Read our full FastestVPN review 7. Hide.me Pros Free tier Streaming-focused servers included Advanced features Cons Fewer servers than other options Price When Reviewed: From $2.49 per month for two years (+4 months extra) Best Prices Today: Retailer Price Hide.Me (Monthly) $2.49 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket 2,600+ servers in 90 countries 10 simultaneous connections Hide Me is a versatile VPN with a free plan (though limited). It unblocks Netflix libraries globally and keeps data secure. Hide Me is available on various devices, with native apps for Windows, Mac, iPad, Android, and iOS. The Mac app has a main window and a Menu bar icon for quick access. The initial setup is straightforward, focusing on quick app usage. Want to quickly connect to a server? Open it and click the Enable VPN button. It’s great to see 10 simultaneous connections available, so one plan can cover a family’s devices. You can choose where you’re connecting from a list of locations or a list of streaming-friendly options. While it offers advanced features like Split Tunnelling and multi-hop servers, these are easily accessible. Split-tunnelling lets you send traffic via the VPN on a per-app basis, while a Kill Switch can stop all traffic when your VPN connection wavers. Multi-Hop connectivity is included in the price, which means your data bounces between servers, further hiding it and making it harder to trace, though it does slow down connectivity. OpenVPN is supported, as expected, but IKEv2, SoftEther, and SSTP are also available, so you can easily switch to an alternative protocol if needed. We found sub-10% download speed drops across multiple servers, making it one of the slicker VPNs we’ve tested. Geo-unblocking is great, as Hide Me switches your location to various streaming-friendly servers. Privacy-wise, Hide Me is an ‘Offshore VPN’ with its headquarters in Labuan, Malaysia, giving it anonymity from the Five Eyes intelligence coalition and other countries. The company has a strict no-logs policy, preventing it from keeping any data from users and their sessions.  There’s a free plan with basic features, but it lacks multihop functionality and streaming support. Easy to use, Hide Me is a great service with many features, such as split tunnelling and multihop connections, a device limit of 10 (double some rivals), and excellent streaming support. The only downside is the limited server count.  See full Hide.me pricing here Read our full hide.me VPN review 8. Private Internet Access Pros Lots of servers Fast WireGuard speeds Split tunneling works well Unblocks BBC iPlayer Cons Clunky Mac app Based within 14-eyes Price When Reviewed: From $2.03 a month for two years + 4 free months. Usually $11.99 a month. Unlimited devices. Best Prices Today: Retailer Price Private Internet Access (Monthly) $2.03 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket 35,000+ servers, 91 countries Unlimited connections Private Internet Access (PIA) is a powerful VPN designed for savvy users, offering “power user” tools and features such as custom DNS, connection rules, split tunnelling, and more at a lower cost than many competitors. The PIA Mac app offers pretty much everything its Microsoft counterpart does.  The app can be used on any device and offers servers in 91 countries. In my testing, the “auto” setting did a good job of picking servers that balanced speed and privacy. The main window provides information on performance graphs, download and upload speeds, and quick settings for tools like Light Mode, Port Forwarding, and LAN connections. While you can use PIA for getting around geoblocked content on your streaming services, PIA is more privacy-focused than other VPNs, with features like the Advanced Kill Switch, Split Tunnelling, port forwarding, and Multi-Hop server obfuscation. PIA also offers customizable features like automation setup and DNS options.  Private Internet Access can’t beat the speeds of NordVPN and Surfshark, and its stablemate CyberGhost VPN offers more impressive speeds, but at the cost of some power features. In our testing, we saw a reasonable drop of around 8% on Mac while using the PIA VPN. Upload speeds dropped considerably– by around 25%, which may be an issue if you do a lot of uploading.  Its zero-log policy has been verified by Deloitte Audit Romania. Despite inconsistent speeds, Private Internet Access is a great VPN for all budgets with a wealth of features for privacy-inclined users. Subscribe to Private Internet Access here. Read our full Private Internet Access review 9. ClearVPN Pros Nice design. Great for getting around geo-blocks. Cons Lacks some features like split tunneling. Not the fastest. Price When Reviewed: Three day trial. Currently $44.99 a year, usually $119.88 a year ($9.99 a month). Best Prices Today: Retailer Price MacPaw (first year, 6 devices) $44.99 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket More than 50 servers Six device limit MacPaw’s ClearVPN service is a VPN that lacks many more advanced features offered by its rivals, but on the other hand, it’s one of the easiest to use. With a nice UI and easy-to-use features it’s thoughtfully designed for VPN newcomers. It really is as simple as hitting a button to connect. In the settings are options to block ads, keep ClearVPN in the dock, and a Kill Switch so that you can cut traffic from your device if the connection to the VPN is broken. It’s all pretty basic stuff, but it’s offered in such an easy-to-use way that it’s hard not to appreciate the simplicity. There are also handy keyboard shortcuts to move around the app. There are more than 50 servers, which sounds like a lot, but it’s dwarfed rivals who have thousands of servers. That means your choices are limited, but at least ClearVPN lets you filter between Optimal Location or jumping straight to something like Disney Plus US or UK. One of the more common power user features for VPNs is split tunneling, which lets some traffic go through the VPN while some goes around it. That’s not supported here. Sadly, MacPaw’s VPN speeds also need some work. We saw considerable speed drops across multiple servers – even closer ones. We saw drops of around 20 to 30 percent in download speed, and around 50 percent for upload speed. It’s still fast enough to use Netflix, but it’s slower than the majority of alternatives out there. Most VPN companies use external auditors to verify that they’re not recording user or session data, but ClearVPN hasn’t undergone one at the time of writing. This shouldn’t mean anything untoward as the company is headquartered in Ukraine, which falls outside of various surveillance alliances, so it can’t be asked to share your data. ClearVPN is priced affordably, but prices and the deals on offer change all the time with VPNs. Look out for low monthly prices that don’t lock you in for too long. There’s a six-device limit. If you’re new to using a VPN service, ClearVPN makes a compelling case to be your first choice, and stress-free access to Netflix around the globe, it’s a great starter option. Still, the speed drop and lack of common features like split tunneling likely mean power users should look elsewhere. You can save money by paying for the first year up front, but you can also pay monthly. See full ClearVPN pricing here. Read our full ClearVPN review 10. PureVPN Pros Easy to use Works on multiple devices Additional power user features Cons Obtuse pricing model. Caused many websites to question whether we were “human” Price When Reviewed: From $1.49 per month ( + 3 months extra) Best Prices Today: Retailer Price PureVPN (Monthly for first year) $1.49 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket 6,500 servers, 78 countries 10 simultaneous connections If you’re looking for a flexible VPN service that will get around geoblocking and is easy to use, PureVPN is well worth a look. The basic plan includes the VPN service and nothing more, but you can add a Password Manager and File Encryption tools in the Plus plan. The Max plan adds a Digital Privacy Manager that requests your records be scrubbed by data brokers, blocks web trackers, and recommends ways to maximize your privacy. Whichever plan you opt for you’ll be able to connect 10 devices at once. PureVPN will run on your iPhone, iPad, Mac and Apple TV, and is easy to use on each to let you connect to over six thousand servers. As far as getting around geo-blocks, we found PureVPN to be as easy as any other service to use. Select a location, load your streaming service or app of choice, and you’re off. PureVPN is registered in the British Virgin Islands, which is more privacy-friendly than Hong Kong where it operated previously. PureVPN offers one of the more impressive no-logging policies, with an ongoing “always-on” audit process whereby an auditor can request confirmation of that policy at any time. PureVPN has been winding down its virtual servers, of which it has less control. There are still 23 such servers, but PureVPN is transparent about which servers are virtual and which are physical – you can see a small ‘v’ next to each virtual server on the PureVPN website. At the time of writing PureVPN is offering more than a whopping 80% off its plans if you sign up for 24 months. Two years is a long time in the world of VPNs, but at least means the full monthly pricing won’t kick in twelve months time. See PureVPN offers here. Read our full PureVPN review 11. Malwarebytes Privacy VPN Pros Kill switch and other advanced features Decent speeds Cons Fewer servers than some rivals Inconsistent geoblocking Price When Reviewed: $39.99 a year for one device Best Prices Today: Retailer Price Malwarebytes (first year, 1 device) $39.99 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket More than 245 servers 32 countries Malwarebytes is probably best known for antivirus software and advice (see our review of Malwarebytes Premium for Mac), but it also offers a standalone VPN service called Malwarebytes Privacy VPN. It’s an easy to use app with the right kind of privacy promises – as you’d expect. Malwarebytes Privacy VPN is easy to use and offers speeds that are better than many of its rivals for both downloads and uploads. It also has split-tunnelling via its ‘Connection rules’, and a Kill Switch to cut all traffic if the VPN drops out. There are some caveats — namely that it features fewer server locations than its rivals, and getting around geoblocks for different versions of streaming services can be a tad inconsistent. There’s no multi-hop server jumping, but the company does have a verified no-logs policy in place which means information isn’t held about a user’s activity. See full Maywarebytes pricing here Read our full Malwarebytes Privacy VPN review 12. CyberGhost Pros Simple to use Decent speeds Plenty of servers Cons Two-year plans are much cheaper Lacking some power user features Price When Reviewed: $2.02 a month for two years + 4 free months. Usually $12.99 a month. Best Prices Today: Retailer Price CyberGhost (Monthly) $2.03 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket 11,000+ servers in 100 countries 7 simultaneous connections CyberGhost is a user-friendly app that connects to numerous servers worldwide, making it ideal for streaming Netflix from different countries and routing traffic away from untrustworthy open Wi-Fi networks.  It offers core features like kill switch support, split tunnelling, and no bandwidth restrictions. CyberGhost’s no-logging audit history is thorough, and there is a 45-day free trial available. CyberGhost apps can be downloaded for various platforms, including Chrome extension and game consoles (we tested on Mac and iPhone). The app offers a simple “click and go” connection process, with a list of server nations and multiple locations. Encryption is standard across servers, and split tunnelling prioritizes traffic where needed. An automated kill switch can cut connections if the VPN drops out, while ‘Block content’ blocks DNS domains for ads, trackers, and malware. The app does not offer anything like Proton VPN’s Secure Core or additional features like a Password Manager, but subscription tiers are based on adding a dedicated IP address. The VPN has over 9,000 servers located in over 100 countries, with plans to expand in South America and Asia in late 2023. CyberGhost VPN has an impressive no-logs policy, meaning no one can access records of your activity while connected to the VPN. The app does not offer the Dark Web monitor offered by NordVPN, but it does have an automated kill switch to cut connections if the VPN drops out. The DNS blocking feature is easy to use but doesn’t allow you to choose what to block. CyberGhost offers a compelling package with just one main plan and a 45-day money-back guarantee. It’s an excellent VPN for newcomers, with impressive audits, an array of servers, decent speeds, and easy-to-use apps. See CyberGhost pricing here. Read our full CyberGhost review 13. Norton Ultra VPN Pros Antivirus protections Cloud Backup and Password Manager Email tracking quarantine Cons Slower than rival VPNs Inflexible payment options Price When Reviewed: First year is from $39.99 Norton Secure VPN; $49.99 Norton Ultra VPN; $59.99 Norton Ultra VPN Plus. Renews at a higher price of $79.99/$109.99/$129.99. Best Prices Today: Retailer Price Norton (first year) $49.99 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket Servers in 32 countries Norton has decades of experience protecting devices from cyber threats (read our review of Norton 360), but what or its VPN? Norton’s VPN plans are, outside of the basic tier, tied into its security software. It also comes with a password manager, dark web monitor, and cloud storage, but the VPN side of things is a little lacking. Perhaps it’s from testing so many of the best VPN services that we’ve grown used to a certain set of non-negotiables. Chief among them is browser extension options to allow for quick switching, but at the time of writing, there’s no such offering from Norton. Norton’s VPN does include plenty of accoutrements that other VPNs either don’t have or charge extra for. You can install the app on your iPhone, iPad, and Mac, and all three platforms have apps that work well and run nicely in the background. Norton offers Browser Protection, which scans sites as you browse. Norton also scans files before they land on your device. This worked well in testing, with barely added any additional time to the length of downloads. There’s a password manager, but it’s tied to the middle subscription tier and above. VPNs naturally decrease your internet speeds as your signal is fired across the globe, and Norton has servers in 32 countries – a steep drop from the 111 in NordVPN’s portfolio – but it does offer four protocols to choose from. IKEv2, OpenVPN and WireGuard are pretty commonly found across the board of rivals, but Norton has its own Mimic protocol which is intended to be ideal for unblocking international streaming services. Sadly, testing on a 70 Mbps connection saw a consistent speed drop-off. As for Mimic, Norton’s own VPN protocol, I was disappointed to find some international streaming services simply weren’t able to be unblocked with it. Norton clarified that Mimic is specifically designed for customers with special use cases who are unable to use WireGuard. We did have more luck with the more standardized protocols. VPNs worth their salt should always focus on privacy as their primary concern, and Norton does a good job, having undergone an audit from VerSprite, a security firm. It’s not a bad VPN, and if you’re looking for an option that packs a whole host of cyber-security tools into one easy-to-use package, it’s a great option. It’s disappointing that there is only a pay yearly option, where other VPNs have the option to pay monthly. Added to that is a steep jump in price for the second year.  See full Norton Ultra VPN pricing here Read our full Norton Ultra VPN review 14. VyprVPN Pros Fast WireGuard speeds Very easy to use Unblocks Netflix and BBC iPlayer Low starting price Cons Comparatively few servers Not clear which servers are virtual Patchy support experience Price When Reviewed: From $3 a month for two years. Usually $10 a month. Best Prices Today: Retailer Price VyprVPN (Monthly) $3 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket 70 servers 5 simultaneous connection VyprVPN offers everything most people are looking for in a VPN, without needing to spend much money. You get fast WireGuard speeds, alongside separate protocols focused on reliability, anti-censorship and ease of use. It’s also excellent at unblocking geo-restricted content, whether that’s local versions of Netflix or BBC iPlayer & ITV Hub from outside the UK. Premium features such as split tunneling and a kill switch are here too, even if the latter can’t be customised.  VyprVPN’s no-logs policy has been independently audited, and the service adheres to a strict Privacy Policy from parent company Golden Frog. More than 700 servers in over 70 countries should be plenty for most people, although there’s often only one per country. It’s also not clear which of these are physical and virtual. Nonetheless, it’s still speedy, reliable and affordable. See full VyprVPN pricing here Read our full VyprVPN review How we test VPNs For each VPN service we review, we conduct tests at three different times of the day: morning, afternoon, and evening, using Ookla Speedtest. We start by measuring the speed of our unprotected internet connection before testing the upload/download speeds of the VPN service. These tests are conducted to servers located in North America, the UK, Europe, Oceana, and Asia over an ethernet connection with a service provision of 100Mbps. To test upload and download speeds, we close down all background internet processes on the Mac, using TripMode. The only traffic on the system able to upload or download any data is Ookla. We use this setup to ensure that the numbers that Ookla produced were not stymied by anything else that the computer may have been doing at the time. The speeds Ookla captured were then averaged, providing us with a final numeric score. We then use those scores to calculate a percentage of difference in speeds, which is what you’ll see in our reviews. Since internet speeds change constantly based on server load, how fast your connection is, and a gazillion other factors, we feel this provides a better picture of what you can expect from a service, on the whole, than merely quoting the exact upload/download speeds we encountered during testing. Speed isn’t the only quantifiable metric that we look at. The number of countries that a VPN offers servers in, total number of servers worldwide, and how much it’ll cost you to connect to those servers on a monthly or annual basis are also taken into consideration when recommending a VPN service to you. Additionally, we conduct hours of research into the VPN providers to find out who owns them, where they’re based, what they do with subscriber information, and whether the provider has a track record of questionable business practices. Why you can trust Macworld’s advice The team at Macworld has been testing Mac hardware, software, and services since the 1980s. We put every product through its paces using rigorous benchmarking and hands-on evaluation. We’d never recommend something we wouldn’t use ourselves. We conduct through testing of VPNs, focusing on the practicalities of device compatibility (iPad, iPhone, Apple TV, and Mac), the number of devices supported, geo-restrictions and ease of use. We also pay attention to security – and validate the privacy promises made by each VPN company. We use the software ourselves so our reviews are based on our own experience with the software and include our own insights and unbiassed opinions. Macworld’s VPN specialist Lloyd Coombes has made it his aim to assess every VPN going. What to look for in a VPN A clear privacy policy. A good VPN should offer an easy-to-understand privacy policy that outlines what, if any, information the company collects from its users. It’s important that this policy details what they do with this information. Some VPN providers, especially those that offer their services for free, sell their user information to advertisers and other interested parties, just like an ISP does. Choose a provider that offers a level of privacy that suits you. Know where the provider is based. Many countries have no laws demanding that VPN providers maintain logs of their users’ activity. This makes maintaining your privacy more assurable than it would be if you use a VPN located in a country that requires that user-activity records be maintained. Some companies, in an effort to make their network of servers look bigger or more varied than it actually is, spoof the locations of their servers. The more servers, the merrier. Choosing a VPN provider with a ton of servers around the world is important for a couple of reasons. First, having a multitude of servers to choose from means that you won’t be forced to connect to an overpopulated server where the data flows like mud. Second, having a wealth of servers to choose from both at home and internationally means more opportunities for spoofing your location, allowing you to hide where you are or access region-locked content with ease. Multiple payment options. It’s a vicious circle. Paying for a VPN with a credit card online before you have access to a VPN could allow your financial information to fall into the wrong hands. Look for providers that offer alternative payment options such as PayPal, Bitcoin, AliPay, or via the Mac App Store. An easy-to-use interface. It takes a lot of digital wizardry to connect to a VPN. Some people want to see how their VPN operates, behind the scenes. Using an open source VPN client like Tunnelblick is great for this. Most folks, however, just want their VPN to work with minimal frustration. Look for a VPN service that offers a Mac client with an easy-to-use interface. Protection for all of your devices. A good VPN service will offer licenses for multiple devices to protect your loved ones’ computers as well as your personal smartphone and tablet. To this end, before investing in a VPN subscription, make sure that it provides software clients for all of the devices you own. What to avoid when choosing a VPN The price of a VPN might look attractive, but the price can rise over time. Most VPNs will cost less than $3/£3 per month if you sign up for a one- or two-year deal. However, once the deal period ends the price often jumps significantly. By the time your deal is up you may not notice the extra cash leaving your bank account so our advice is to set a reminder to shop around a month before your subscription runs out so you can search for a better deal. Best Free VPNs for Mac You may be able to save money if you take a look at our round-up of VPN deals. But, if you were hoping to spend nothing, there are also a number of free VPNs available, just beware that some severely restrict which servers (and therefore countries) you can connect to and the amount of data you can download through those servers. Our recommendation is ProtonVPN, which has a free tier that may be sufficient for your needs. It’s important to read the terms and conditions before using a free VPN, as in rare cases they sell your data to third parties to offset the cost of you using it without paying. It’s a bigger problem on iPhones and Android where unscrupulous companies try to cash in on the VPN ‘gold rush’ and offer up poorly put together apps. Stick with our recommendations and you’ll be safe from these, though. FAQ 1. Do Macs have a built-in VPN? There is a big question. Do Mac users even need a VPN? Since Apple introduced iOS 15 and macOS Monterey in 2021 the company has offered a handy private relay service. iCloud Private Relay acts a bit like a VPN because it encrypts your web-browsing traffic and sends it through a relay to hide your location, IP, and any information about what you were browsing. iCloud Private Relay solves part of the problem that Mac users have used VPNs for in the past–it means that companies cannot build a clear picture of you on the web, thereby protecting your privacy. iCloud Private Relay has some disadvantages: it only works when you are using Safari, you have to be a subscriber to iCloud, and you can’t use it to pretend to be surfing from another country in order to access content that is locked to a particular region. Read more here: iCloud+ Private Relay explained. If you are a subscriber to iCloud, and only use Safari, then iCloud Private Relay will provide you with some anonymity when you are surfing the web. You may therefore be thinking that this means you don’t need a VPN to hide your location and identity. However, iCloud Private Relay does not allow you to choose an IP address or a region, and you won’t be able to make it look like you’re coming from another location. So you can’t watch geographically locked Netflix content, for example. 2. What is a VPN? VPN stands for virtual private network. If you’re not using a VPN, when your computer connects to the internet, it does so through the local gateway provided by your internet service provider (ISP). Doing this allows you to connect to all of the online services you use everyday. However, connecting this way also allows an ISP to know your physical location based on where you access the internet—be it at home, at work, in a cafe, or at a public Wi-Fi hotspot. This information is often sold to marketers and other parties interested in getting to know more about you and your browsing habits. Worse still, if you connect to the internet through an access point with weak security, such as at an airport, mall, or local library, hackers connected to the same network could intercept personal information like your social media passwords or banking credentials through what’s called a man-in-the-middle attack. A VPN service can help prevent all of that. A VPN creates an encrypted digital tunnel between your computer and the server of the VPN service you choose to use. Once this tunnel has been established, your web searches, the sites you access, and the information you submit online will be hidden from prying eyes. This means that your ISP can’t log or sell your information and hackers using the same network as you will find it difficult to initiate an attack on you. Almost no one will have any idea of what information you’re accessing. For our recommendations of Mac Antivirus Software that we have tested see: Best Antivirus for Mac 2024: Top Security Software Compared. VPN apps are very easy to install and use but for a step-by-step guide, read how to set up a VPN on a Mac. 3. What a VPN can’t do A VPN can’t protect you from viruses, malware, or ransomware attacks if you choose to download an infected file, or a visit site designed to inject your computer with malignant code. It won’t keep spoofed sites from stealing your personal information, if you happen to visit one. So, you’ll want to bone up on online security best practices. You should know that while using a VPN will allow you to anonymously engage in peer-to-peer file-sharing/torrenting, some service providers may cancel your VPN subscription or turn over your information to the authorities if they catch you trading copyrighted material with others. 4. Should you use a VPN? Is it legal? While accessing locked content is a bit of a gray area, due to licensing agreements, we don’t blame anyone who is desperate to watch the latest season of their favorite program when it airs in the U.S. rather than waiting for it to come to their country. Paying to watch a streaming service that’s not available in your country has to be less morally wrong than actual piracy! For more information on the legalities and whether it is safe to use a VPN read: Is a VPN safe for Mac? 5. What is the difference between a VPN and a Proxy? VPNs and proxies can both mask your IP address and bypass geo-restrictions, but they differ significantly in their scope, security features, and the level of privacy provided. For example, VPNs offer encryption between your device and the VPN server, while a proxy server is likely to forward unencrypted data. VPNs also offer a broader range of security and privacy benefits beyond just IP masking. VPNs will function on the operating system level while proxies only conceal your IP address for certain applications, such as a web browser. 6. Are VPNs safe to use Reputable providers of VPNs that prioritize user privacy through features like no-log policies and strong encryption. Users should exercise caution with unknown free VPNs, as some may compromise data security 7. Can a VPN help me access Netflix and other streaming services? VPNs (Virtual Private Networks) can be a valuable tool for accessing Netflix and other streaming services that are geographically restricted, enabling access to content libraries that would otherwise be unavailable. However, streaming services are constantly working to detect and block VPN usage. 8. Will a VPN slow down my internet Because a VPN encrypts data and routes it through external servers, there can be a degree of internet speed reduction. The extent of this will depend on your location, your internet speed, and the choice of VPN server. 9. Should I use a free VPN Free is appealing, but it is important to exercise caution. Some free VPNs have security vulnerabilities and even contain malware. They may also capture your activities. Other disadvantages include data caps, less encryption, and fewer servers on offer. We do recommend Proton VPN because it’s free-tier combines with a strong privacy track record. 10. Can a VPN really hide my address? VPNs are effective in obscuring a user’s location and online activities from various entities, but they do not offer absolute anonymity. While it’s not possible to completely hide your digital presence, a VPN provider with a strict “no-logs” policy will at least mean your traffic or online activity is not recorded.

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March 4 Apple Experience & more with guest Brian Tong on the HomeKit Insider podcast
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