Should Apple offer a built in VPN in macOS?

[tresmith]

I would love to see them offer this as a feature. Especially since every other sentence from them has the words, privacy and security in it. It seems like a no brainer.

I use the web browser Opera and it has a free built in VPN. I feel that if a small company like that can offer a free vpn then Apple should be able to offer this feature to everyone.

 

[teidon]

There is already VPN built in. You can set it up in Network settings.

 

[BrianBaughn]

There is already VPN built in. You can set it up in Network settings.

The OP is referencing connecting to a free VPN service. The Opera browser provides this option...connecting to a VPN that is specific to their browser. Opera browser traffic is the only thing that passes through the VPN. It doesn't shield other services connecting to the internet so it's not much good for things like coffee shop wifi anonymity.

I don't know how "secure" that Opera VPN actually is but I suppose it does hide your Opera activity from your ISP.

 

[imasterus]

Apple doesn't have to do it, otherwise everyone will start asking for more things from Apple, as if they are obliged to it. Those who are interested in VPN find and do easily set up free and paid VPN services on their Macs. I use ProtonVPN via Tunnelblick, as an example.

 

[tresmith]

The OP is referencing connecting to a free VPN service. The Opera browser provides this option...connecting to a VPN that is specific to their browser. Opera browser traffic is the only thing that passes through the VPN. It doesn't shield other services connecting to the internet so it's not much good for things like coffee shop wifi anonymity.

I don't know how "secure" that Opera VPN actually is but I suppose it does hide your Opera activity from your ISP.

Someone in another thread said that opera is owned by a Chinese consortium so that kinda raises red flags.

 

[cwanja]

I am in the same boat with imasterus. Apple should not offer it because people will start wanting them to deliver other features. They offer the network connectivity option in System Preferences if you need to setup a VPN, but there are plenty of vendors out there. https://thatoneprivacysite.net/ does a damn good job staying up to date and allowing you to filter vendors based off certain criteria.

Someone in another thread said that opera is owned by a Chinese consortium so that kinda raises red flags.

That thread is here: https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/best-vpn-for-privacy-on-mac-june-2018.2123191/

And I would agree, unlikely that the VPN is "free" - something has to be sold to make it free, likely your data.

 

[purgatori_sakkara]

I'm not really convinced that VPN's offer security and privacy benefits over and above HTTPS+blocking trackers+blocking malvertising.