The Practical Guide To Mac Security: Part 7, VPN

[@mdandrews44]

This is one of the clearest, briefest, and most fact-based discussions of VPN that is available. Excellent!

[@2011sliverdude]

Best explanation of VPN

[@andrews5093]

Thanks Gary. Another easy to understand explanation. Love your channel

[@hermes8258]

Yes, another easy to understand video on computer security (even for me). I look forward to repeat viewing and seeing if and when you get into more sophisticated analysis and techniques such as actual anonymity (impossible by nerd friends say), PGP, Onion/Tor etc. PGP is another one - I was never able to get into using it because I found it so complicated. But you know, James Bond level stuff.

[@olenapozha7185]

Gary. Thank you for all the information. 🌻

[@javtimestwo]

This is one of your best videos because the subject is security is so important. Now the big question is which of the many VPN providers are the best of the best and offer good value for the user.

[@macmost]

Not only will you get different answers from different blog posts on that, but it will change all the time as those VPNs change. Plus, most blog posts (or videos) are getting paid by the VPNs to promote them.

[@PleiadesPower]

@@macmost Truth!

[@dsteffler54]

You missed a major benefit of using a VPN, and that is for geolocation. I speak English but live in Mexico for most of the year. Unless I want my web searches to come back in Spanish, I have to use a VPN (using a server in the US or Canada)... and it doesn't matter if I set my language as English for the web browser. I use Yahoo as my home page, but unless I use a VPN server in the US, I can't get the US Yahoo homepage to load! Only the Mexican (Spanish) Yahoo site will load. The US Walmart web site is completely inaccessible from Mexico, to see it I have to use a VPN server located in the US. Regarding watching content with Apple TV, I can't watch a lot of programming in English unless I use a VPN. Here on KZbin, most, if not all ads will play in Spanish unless I use a VPN server in the US or Canada. A lot of Canadian sports videos are blocked off unless you are in Canada... but I get around that restriction when I use a VPN with a server in Canada. This geolocation thing is a huge deal, and I could go on and on.... I think you should redo your video on this.

[@greebo7857]

Totally agree. I'm in Australia. Lots of sites are not available to me unless I use a VPN. It's the only reason I use one.

[@macmost]

I didn't mention that because this is a security course. Lots of features have other uses, but the idea here is to focus on security. Also, in my experience, this doesn't work very often. Maybe in specific cases, but any decently-coded site or service knows you are on a VPN and won't let you get around their location restrictions.

[@dsteffler54]

​@@macmost In my experience, the geolocation feature always works except for Amazon's Prime TV.... they know, but the others either don't know or don't care. Another example is on my iPhone... can't listen to some radio stations unless I use a VPN server in that country... then it always has worked. Your series is about security, I get it, but you give the general impression that VPNs are pretty much obsolete, when they are more useful than ever. A quick mention about geolocation wouldn't have been inappropriate.

[@dsteffler54]

@@greebo7857 It's 95% why I use a VPN because 95% of the time I'm using my own router..... When I travel, it's more about the security aspect.

[@hermes8258]

My situation too. When I am in Thailand for example, I want to read Google Maps in English not Thai. However, I am not sure how to deal with the 'your location' issue.

[@lawrencelaven1407]

I am glad I found your tutorials. You mention the benefit of HTTPS websites and SSL, and claim that most websites are HTTPS, however there are many un-secure HTTP sites out there and I can not tell what kind of a site I am communicating with when I click on a site like "Details that surfaced after Charley Watt's Death," shown to the right of this lesson, a site I plan on looking at. I also click onto pop up advertisements when I am studying food. I would like to know if these sights have to be SSL HTPPS sites if they are reached after first logging into a SSL or HTPPS site and if not how can I tell the status of such sites or sites like your video "Using a flash drive for the first time," when I found it by searching for "How to use a flash drive," but the video link did not identify the web address of your website?

[@theoneD1]

If your wifi was turned off when you shut down your computer (coz some people recommend turning off your wifi if not using it), then you turned your computer back on again, how would your VPN launch on system startup? what would enable VPN to connect to the wifi automatically, if the wifi was already turned off? Would you then need to connect to the wifi manually and then the VPN will start automatically?

[@macmost]

First, I wouldn't turn off Wi-Fi. Many maintenance tasks like software updates, iCloud syncing and online backups (if you have that) can be done while you aren't using your Mac so those things won't slow you down while you are using your Mac. But as for getting the VPN to connect, that is up to the software provided by the VPN service.

[@theoneD1]

@@macmost Bitdefender uses Hotspot shield's VPN, wouldnt it be risky if you leave the wifi on? what if your wifi is compromised, ive seen videos where they target your router and somehow manage to break through. Sometimes my VPN wont connect at all and keeps giving me this error notice, which bitdefender ignores anyways, and for a moment i start going into panic mode thinking, is there a hacker stopping me from connecting my VPN, are they messing with me right now. A scary world we currently live in right now, unless you disconnect yourself to the world wide web, but thats very hard to do considering most things requires the internet.

[@vtuservuuh]

I do not have a Google account but I use my computer for work and for work, I do have a Google account and use Google Chrome. Would it help to create a separate user on my Mac for work just to isolate Google into that user and have nothing to do with Google in my personal user account? Thank you for the answer!

[@ge0graphaly]

Ive been using Cisco AnyConnect, but I can’t tell if it is working, would you use it?

[@macmost]

You can tell if it is working by turning it off and asking Google for your IP address. Then turn it on and ask again.

[@briantdaniel9280]

I hotspot to my iPhone when at hotels or coffee shops mostly because their internet speeds are terrible. Any concern of data being spied on? I would assume it just follows your cellular provider privacy?

[@macmost]

Mobile data is encrypted and many people use this as how they connect when traveling because of that. In my experience, however, mobile speeds are often slower than hotel Wi-Fi and of course you'll burn through your mobile data allotment quickly.

[@magyorane4647]

Hello i keep following you sir😊

[@theoneD1]

With my VPN, in the settings i have it switched to "Run at Startup" but it never does, ive tested it with the wifi still on after i shut down the computer but upon starting up the computer, the wifi is connected automatically but the VPN remains off until i manually turn it on, but i have to wait for like 5 seconds before i click the VPN button and then it takes another 5 seconds before it connects. very annoying. Is there any way to get around that on the Mac or is it to do with the VPN companies themselves? i use bitdefender VPN

[@macmost]

I'd contact the developer for support on this.

[@theoneD1]

@@macmost trust me, ive contacted them many times in the past, but they dont do anything about it, they dont care about the mac user side, they only focus more on pc users. Its amazing how youtube reviewers or magazine reviewers for bitdefender rarely review it through a mac computers perspective, i understand that PCs are the main target but then that leaves Apple to be vulnerable as not many companies are testing mac until its too late.

[@sbeckas]

Do you still use PIA as a VPN? I do not see it in the App store-I would like to use this on MacOS Venture & iPads

[@macmost]

I do, but I rarely need a VPN.

[@sbeckas]

@@macmost thank you for taking time to respond!

[@TheCigarpoet]

Can a VPN allow certain web sites to bypass the VPN. In my cases I use many wifi appliances for testing but the company needs to look at the device but the VPN will not allow them to access the devices. i.e. Arlo, Ecobee, Eufy, NeatRobotics, etc etc. Can the VPN be configured to allow normal traffic info back to the company that I am testing without turning off and on the VPN?

[@macmost]

I've never tried to do that. I think I have seen options where you can allow only certain apps. So if the VPN service you are using has that then maybe you could have two browsers and use the VPN with only one, and then the other browser for this specific work.

[@snappycattimesten]

I dislike private telcos spying on me and selling my data. I dislike governments spying on me. That’s why I use a VPN. Principal.

[@pomme4moi]

Great video. Thanks Gary. The examples you cite relate to accessing websites. Do VPN’s help in any way when using apps, which also communicate with remote servers?

[@21Lettere]

I'm using AirVPN, very good service and open source client (or you can use OpenVPN client too).

[@reallifelegend4781]

If I'm away on a trip for weeks at a time and I need to check my financial accounts at different institutions, but I don't have a VPN, is it safe to use the hotel's wifi (or coffee shop's wifi, or whatever else) to connect to the different banks and or other financial accounts from a browser on my MBP? Or maybe I should ask, if I haven't got a VPN, then how do I know when it isn't safe for me to perform those kinds of necessary activities on my MBP?

[@macmost]

It is relatively safe since any site like that would be using SSL (https). anyway. VPN is a second layer of security, which isn't a bad thing. You could also just use your mobile connection on an iPhone instead of Wi-Fi.

[@snana9665]

How can I configure my VPN to be used by 2 users on one Mac? My VPN disconnects when switching users, and when I try to log in on the second user screen, it messes up my configurations… 😢one user is for my personal, one is for my work

[@macmost]

You'd have to contact your VPN app's support about that.

[@snana9665]

@@macmost ok, thank you. I was hoping it was just a simple configuration issue

[@stefanol9272]

I no longer use VPN its expensive and overrated but the last I used was Proton VPN the best of the best

[@JGaryEllison]

Would the VPN be helpful in accessing certain USA pay sites from overseas? I’ve tried to pay some bills and gotten a “Forbidden” error.

[@macmost]

They could if the tech the sites were using were so weak that they just relied on IP address. But they can also get in the way as the sites could notice you are using a VPN and block you.

[@desertpatient]

Thank you

[@danbloedow8832]

Great video!

[@garyackers1469]

Very informative …..😉😉😉

[@theoneD1]

If a wifi is weak and your VPN keeps dropping in and out of the wifi, lets say for a minute your VPN cannot be connected, would that be enough time for hackers to get into your computer through the wifi and do some damage?

[@macmost]

Unless you are a spy or a CEO it is doubtful that someone is "trying to get you." VPN is about encrypting your data as you use websites and services. It isn't about protecting your Mac from someone trying to "hack into it." That really isn't possible unless you have malware on your Mac or a weak password or something.

[@theoneD1]

@@macmost but as you mentioned earlier about connecting to wifi at a coffee shop and at no fault of the owner, a hacker manages to bypass security and ends up hanging around the free wifi, wouldnt they be able to see your mac address through the ip address theyve hacked already? lets say they wanted some quick money and you didnt have a VPN, can they already just hop onto your computer with the info they have and see everything that your doing on your computer or do they need social engineering and require you to click on a link or send them info through your phone in order to get to your computer? thanks Gary, sorry to be a nuissance, im just very curious and precautious thats all :)

[@klauskluge2685]

iCloud+ users will soon have access to a VPN-like service, with no additional charge. Il will not be a fullblown VPN, mind you.

[@loisskiathitis8926]

I find the ways to keep us safe are most important. I may not understand it all, but I’m getting better! Another awesome video tutorial today! Thank you, Gary! 👍🏻👏❤️

[@thomascrown3816]

But it’s easy to create a https company … ???? (You could fake WHOIS) …

[@chrissnyder7968]

This is a very long document, but very informational if you are looking at singing up with a VPN company. digital-lab-wp.consumerreports.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/VPN-White-Paper.pdf

[@hermes8258]

How useful is the information in this document for Mac users?

[@chrissnyder7968]

@@hermes8258 If you can read, I think you will find it very useful. You do have to get beyond the first couple of pages ....