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McAfee Secure VPN is included with McAfee consumer security subscriptions, not sold as a separate physical device. McAfee lists it in its US Basic, Essential, and Advanced plans. Its usefulness depends on your device, the controls available in its app, and whether the subscription terms in your region suit you.
What McAfee Secure VPN does
A virtual private network (VPN) creates an encrypted connection between your device and a VPN service. McAfee says Secure VPN encrypts data when you connect from a remote or public location, helping hide your IP address and online activity. The company recommends using it on untrusted public Wi-Fi, such as at an airport, cafe, or hotel, particularly when shopping or handling financial transactions. These are McAfee’s descriptions and recommendations, not independent test findings. A VPN is not a complete defense against phishing, malware, unsafe downloads, tracking, or every form of surveillance.
McAfee says Secure VPN uses AES 256-bit encryption and offers connections in almost 50 countries. Its page names Australia, Brazil, Canada, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Mexico, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Romania, Singapore, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, the United Kingdom, and the United States. That country list is not necessarily a complete server inventory, and the coverage description does not establish connection speed. McAfee Secure VPN product page
Devices and system requirements
McAfee lists Windows, macOS, Android, iOS, and ChromeOS as supported platforms on its US product page. Its system requirements for McAfee+ and Total Protection specify these minimum operating-system versions:
#1 Best Overall
- 【Five Gigabit Ports】1 Gigabit WAN Port plus 2 Gigabit WAN/LAN Ports plus 2 Gigabit LAN Port. Up to 3 WAN ports optimize bandwidth usage through one device.
- 【One USB WAN Port】Mobile broadband via 4G/3G modem is supported for WAN backup by connecting to the USB port. For complete list of compatible 4G/3G modems, please visit TP-Link website.
- 【Abundant Security Features】Advanced firewall policies, DoS defense, IP/MAC/URL filtering, speed test and more security functions protect your network and data.
- 【Highly Secure VPN】Supports up to 20× LAN-to-LAN IPsec, 16× OpenVPN, 16× L2TP, and 16× PPTP VPN connections.
- Security - SPI Firewall, VPN Pass through, FTP/H.323/PPTP/SIP/IPsec ALG, DoS Defence, Ping of Death and Local Management. Standards and Protocols IEEE 802.3, 802.3u, 802.3ab, IEEE 802.3x, IEEE 802.1q
- Windows 10 RS5 or newer on x64
- Windows 11 or newer on ARM64
- macOS 13 or newer
- Android 10 or newer
- iOS 16 or later
- ChromeOS 102 or higher
These requirements are listed for McAfee+ and Total Protection; confirm the requirements for your particular product and region before subscribing or troubleshooting. McAfee system requirements
How to turn on McAfee Secure VPN on Windows
- Open the McAfee app.
- Select the Secure VPN tile.
- Toggle the VPN on.
- To view additional VPN settings, select Settings beside Connection Settings.
McAfee says Secure VPN turns on automatically when a device joins an “unsecure” network and that users may also choose to leave the VPN on. This describes McAfee’s feature claim; it is not an independently tested behavior. For Android and iOS, follow the current in-app directions because the controls and protocol options vary by platform. McAfee Secure VPN product page
Rank #2
- 【AC1200 Dual-band Wireless Router】Simultaneous dual-band with wireless speed up to 300 Mbps (2.4GHz) + 867 Mbps (5GHz). 2.4GHz band can handles some simple tasks like emails or web browsing while bandwidth intensive tasks such as gaming or 4K video streaming can be handled by the 5GHz band.*Speed tests are conducted on a local network. Real-world speeds may differ depending on your network configuration.*
- 【Easy Setup】Please refer to the User Manual and the Unboxing & Setup video guide on Amazon for detailed setup instructions and methods for connecting to the Internet.
- 【Pocket-friendly】Lightweight design(145g) which designed for your next trip or adventure. Alongside its portable, compact design makes it easy to take with you on the go.
- 【Full Gigabit Ports】Gigabit Wireless Internet Router with 2 Gigabit LAN ports and 1 Gigabit WAN ports, ideal for lots of internet plan and allow you to connect your wired devices directly.
- 【Keep your Internet Safe】IPv6 supported. OpenVPN & WireGuard pre-installed, compatible with 30+ VPN service providers. Cloudflare encryption supported to protect the privacy.
VPN protocols and platform controls
McAfee documents WireGuard and OpenVPN, but availability and user controls differ across operating systems and products. Its support article says WireGuard is available in McAfee Security on Android and iOS and in LiveSafe and Total Protection on Windows; its macOS VPN apps do not support WireGuard. Android and iOS users can manually select a protocol, while Windows and macOS users cannot. McAfee recommends leaving the protocol setting at Auto where available. Check the current support article and your app, as its instructions may change. McAfee VPN protocol support
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McAfee’s US plan page lists Secure VPN in Basic, Essential, and Advanced. The device limits shown are one device for Basic, up to five for Essential, and unlimited devices for one user on Advanced. Plan availability and supported-device terms can change, so check the current regional plan listing before buying. McAfee US Secure VPN and plans
Rank #3
- New-Gen WiFi Standard – WiFi 6(802.11ax) standard supporting MU-MIMO and OFDMA technology for better efficiency and throughput.Antenna : External antenna x 4. Processor : Dual-core (4 VPE). Power Supply : AC Input : 110V~240V(50~60Hz), DC Output : 12 V with max. 1.5A current.
- Ultra-fast WiFi Speed – RT-AX1800S supports 1024-QAM for dramatically faster wireless connections
- Increase Capacity and Efficiency – Supporting not only MU-MIMO but also OFDMA technique to efficiently allocate channels, communicate with multiple devices simultaneously
- 5 Gigabit ports – One Gigabit WAN port and four Gigabit LAN ports, 10X faster than 100–Base T Ethernet.
- Commercial-grade Security Anywhere – Protect your home network with AiProtection Classic, powered by Trend Micro. And when away from home, ASUS Instant Guard gives you a one-click secure VPN.
The US page marks its displayed first-term prices as introductory offers for new customers and shows a 30-day money-back guarantee. Confirm the applicable offer, eligibility, and refund terms for your country and purchase type; the first-term price should not be assumed to be the renewal price.
McAfee’s Ireland page says subscriptions renew automatically for another term unless cancelled, renewal prices may change, and a full refund request may be made within 30 days of initial purchase or within 60 days of automatic renewal. Those are Ireland-specific terms, not a guarantee for customers elsewhere. Check the terms for your region and your account’s renewal settings. McAfee Ireland Secure VPN terms
Rank #4
- 【DUAL BAND WIFI 7 TRAVEL ROUTER】Products with US, UK, EU, AU Plug; Dual band network with wireless speed 688Mbps (2.4G)+2882Mbps (5G); Dual 2.5G Ethernet Ports (1x WAN and 1x LAN Port); USB 3.0 port.
- 【NETWORK CONTROL WITH TOUCHSCREEN SIMPLICITY】Slate 7’s touchscreen interface lets you scan QR codes for quick Wi-Fi, monitor speed in real time, toggle VPN on/off, and switch providers directly on the display. Color-coded indicators provide instant network status updates for Ethernet, Tethering, Repeater, and Cellular modes, offering a seamless, user-friendly experience.
- 【OpenWrt 23.05 FIRMWARE】The Slate 7 (GL-BE3600) is a high-performance Wi-Fi 7 travel router, built with OpenWrt 23.05 (Kernel 5.4.213) for maximum customization and advanced networking capabilities. With 512MB storage, total customization with open-source freedom and flexible installation of OpenWrt plugins.
- 【VPN CLIENT & SERVER】OpenVPN and WireGuard are pre-installed, compatible with 30+ VPN service providers (active subscription required). Simply log in to your existing VPN account with our portable wifi device, and Slate 7 automatically encrypts all network traffic within the connected network. Max. VPN speed of 100 Mbps (OpenVPN); 540 Mbps (WireGuard). *Speed tests are conducted on a local network. Real-world speeds may differ depending on your network configuration.*
- 【PERFECT PORTABLE WIFI ROUTER FOR TRAVEL】The Slate 7 is an ideal portable internet device perfect for international travel. With its mini size and travel-friendly features, the pocket Wi-Fi router is the perfect companion for travelers in need of a secure internet connectivity on the go in which includes hotels or cruise ships.
What McAfee says about privacy—and what the claim establishes
McAfee’s US product page says it does not log or track what users do online. The page also says its VPN technology has been independently reviewed and audited and links to TunnelBear. These are McAfee’s claims. The product information cited here does not provide the audit report or establish its date, scope, or applicability to every McAfee Secure VPN implementation, so it is not enough to independently confirm current logging practices. McAfee’s privacy and audit statements
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Best Value
- Next-Gen Gigabit Wi-Fi 6 Speeds: 2402 Mbps on 5 GHz and 574 Mbps on 2.4 GHz bands ensure smoother streaming and faster downloads; support VPN server and VPN client¹
- A More Responsive Experience: Enjoy smooth gaming, video streaming, and live feeds simultaneously. OFDMA makes your Wi-Fi stronger by allowing multiple clients to share one band at the same time, cutting latency and jitter.²
- Expanded Wi-Fi Coverage: 4 high-gain external antennas and Beamforming technology combine to extend strong, reliable, Wi-Fi throughout your home.
- Improved Battery Life: Target Wake Time helps your devices to communicate efficiently while consuming less power.
- Improved Cooling Design: No heat ups, no throttles. A larger heat sink and redefined case design cools the WiFi 6 system and enables your network to stay at top speeds in more versatile environments.
What to check before choosing it
- Confirm that your operating system meets the requirements for your specific McAfee product.
- Check which subscription tier includes the VPN and how many devices its current terms cover.
- Verify which protocol options and controls your device actually offers.
- Review current prices, auto-renewal settings, cancellation steps, and refund terms for your region.
- Consider the limits of the available privacy and audit information; the product claims do not substitute for independent performance or privacy testing.
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
