STEP Configuring a VPN For Your Mancintosh Computer

Today, many Mac users are taking advantage of virtual private network (VPN) services. Mac users may want to add a layer of protection while surfing the Web or accessing online services. The perfect solution is a VPN.  Some people may think that VPN use requires technical savvy. On the contrary, setting up a VPN on a Mac is actually quite easy. By following these simple instructions, you can start using your VPN connection within minutes.

Selecting a VPN Provider
Before signing up with a VPN service, you should verify that the service is compatible with your operating system. Not all VPN providers are capable of working on an Apple platform. If you need a VPN that works on your Apple computer as well as your Windows PC, you should look for a provider that operates on multiple platforms and operating systems before signing up.

When subscribing to your VPN service, you will be asked to select an encryption protocol. Two commonly used protocols are PPTP (Point-to-Point Tunneling Protocol) and L2TP/IPsec (Layer 2 Tunneling Protocol with IP security). PPTP provides faster speeds while L2TP/IPsec provides greater data encryption.

Configuration
Setting up a VPN on a Mac is relatively simple. You need merely to follow the right steps to ensure that your connection works the first time around. Before beginning configuration, you will need to gather essential details. These should be provided to you by your VPN service when you sign up. They include:

The server address for the VPN provider
Account name and password (these are assigned by the provider)
They "Shared Key" (if you have elected to use the L2TP protocol).

Setup Steps

• Open the Apple menu and select "System Preferences."
• Click "Network."
• Click on the "+" sign on the lower left-hand side of the screen.
• Select the drop-down menu next to "Interface" and select "VPN."
• Select your VPN Type (PPTP or L2TP/IPsec) and name your VPN service, then click "Create."
• You will then be prompted to enter the server address and create an identification name for that server address. This name will not affect connectivity and is for your use only. Then click "Connect."
• On the next screen, you will be prompted to enter your login credentials, including user name and password. If you have chose the L2TP/IPsec protocol, you will also have to enter the IPsec key (or "shared secret") that was provided by the VPN. From there, click "OK."
• Next, you will enter the "Advanced" screen for setup. Click "Options" and then turn on "Send all traffic over VPN connection."
• Click "OK" to finalize.
• You will finish setup by clicking "Apply" at the bottom of the setup screen. Here, all information has been saved for you.

Once set-up is complete, you should test your connection to ensure it is working. If not, you may have to visit the troubleshooting guide provided by Apple or contact the VPN service to see where the connectivity issue is.