Longtime readers of Apple World Today know that there’s one thing that we recommend for anyone who uses a Mac or any other device on an unsecured network — a VPN (Virtual Private Network). Today we’re introducing you to Surfshark, a highly-rated and well-respected VPN. Download this VPN for Mac, iOS/iPadOS, and even Apple TV to keep all of your devices safe and anonymous.
Refresh My Memory: What’s a VPN and How Does It Work?
A VPN is used to securely connect a computing device — Mac, iPhone, iPad, Apple TV, etc… — to the Internet and protect data by transferring it through a secure, encrypted “tunnel”. In doing so, the VPN also hides your real IP address and displays the IP address of the VPN server you’re connected to.
We connect to the Internet through Internet Service Providers (ISPs) and mobile carriers, with our data traveling through a network of routers to reach a destination — a website or online service. That data is usually unencrypted and in plain text, but even if it is encrypted, information like your IP address and location is still visible to the ISP.
This means that your ISP or mobile carrier is aware of what you’re doing online, and just about every website you browse (including this one!) knows the city, region and country that you’re coming from. That IP address can even be traced to a specific street address!
As you can see in the diagram above, a VPN creates a secure, encrypted virtual tunnel between you and your Internet Service Provider. All of your data is scrambled and cannot be decrypted without a complex access key.
Why Would I Want To Use a VPN?
The most obvious reason is to keep third parties — both benevolent and malicious — from gaining more information about you. VPNs are easy to use and keep your data from being harvested for reasons ranging from the mundane (advertising) to the frightening (identity theft).
VPNs are also the best way to protect yourself while using public, open Wi-Fi networks. A growing number of people use VPNs to access video content that’s not available in their country, or even find bargains on travel.
In most countries where free speech and privacy are respected, VPNs are perfectly legal to use. These countries include the US, Canada, Mexico, the UK and the European Union countries. For those in other countries, check your laws before signing up.
What Makes Surfshark A Great VPN Provider?
If you’ve decided that it’s finally time to use a VPN to provide a more secure Internet experience, Surfshark is one of the best available. Here are the reasons why so many people trust Surfshark:
CleanWeb™ – Part of the Surfshark apps, CleanWeb protects you from intrusive ads and pop-ups, only allows you to surf safe and malware-free websites, prevents phishing attacks, and blocks malware. By doing so, CleanWeb reduce the amount of mobile data you use by not downloading advertisements and trackers.
Unlimited Devices – Families can have a lot of devices, all of which might be running different operating systems or browsers. Some VPNs take advantage of this by charging by device. Not Surfshark — you can protect all of the devices you want, all at once.
Whitelister™ – Some VPN software blocks important apps and websites while trying to protect you. If you find that’s the case, you can add an app or website (for example, your bank) to a whitelist to bypass the VPN.
No Logs, EVER – Surfshark is headquartered in the British Virgin Islands, where your privacy is held sacred. None of your online activity is ever monitored, tracked or stored, and there are no logs of your connections or activity on the VPN.
Kill Switch – If you’re on a public network and your VPN connection drops, your sensitive data can be exposed. Not so with Surfshark’s Kill Switch, which keeps your data protected even if the VPN disconnects.
Powerful Encryption and Secure Protocols – A VPN is only as secure as the encryption and network protocols it uses. Surfshark uses industry-leading AES-256-GCM encryption and IKEv2/IPSEC for all of its apps. If you wish to use OpenVPN instead, you can.
Camouflage Mode – Some ISPs take issue with their customers using a VPN. Camouflage Mode ensures that your ISP will never know you’re using a VPN.
MultiHop™ – Want to protect your identity at all cost? MultiHop connects via multiple countries to mask your digital footprint.
NoBorders Mode™ – Surfshark unblocks blocked websites and bypasses geo restrictions. You can enjoy global content without restrictions, access any website (even from restricted countries), have access to your favorite social media wherever you are, and use VoIP apps like Telegram or WhatsApp anywhere.
Hide Your IP – Surfshark hides your real IP address that can connected to your digital identity, ensuring your online activity isn’t tied to your IP address and keeping your torrenting history private.
How Do I Get Started With Surfshark?
It’s easy to start protecting your digital life with Surfshark. Download the Mac VPN app or Surfshark VPN for iPhone and iPad, or follow the easy instructions to set up Surfshark for Apple TV..
Choose one of the plans:
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Billed Monthly – US$11.95
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24-Month Plan – Use coupon sharkstart to get the best possible deal paying just US$1.99 per month, billed every two years. This plan is fully refundable for 30 days.
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12-Month Plan – US$5.99 per month, billed annually.
Next, create an account with the email address you’ll use to log in. Surfshark does not share your email address with third parties, period.
Payment can be made through just about every possible method, including major credit cards, PayPal, Pay, Google Pay, Cryptocurrency, or Alipay.
