Viscosity v1.7.9 Multilingual macOS

Viscosity makes it easy for users new to VPNs to get started. Its clear and intuitive interface makes creating, configuring, or importing connections a snap. A VPN (Virtual Private Network) provides a secure way of connecting through a public network (such as the Internet) to a remote network/location. A VPN can be thought to create a "tunnel" through the public network to your private network at the other end. All network traffic through this tunnel is encrypted to ensure it is kept secure and private.

What Does A VPN Let Me Do?
A VPN allows you to do a number of things you wouldn't otherwise be able to do connected to a standard network. This includes:

• Network Security & Privacy: All network traffic through your VPN connection is kept secure. This allows you to use public networks (such as at hotels, conferences, coffee shops, etc.) and wireless networks knowing your network traffic is kept safe and secure. Otherwise it is relatively easy for other people to view your network traffic, such as see what you are viewing, steal your information and login details, etc.
• Access Your Workplace Remotely: You can connect to your workplace's VPN and have access as if you were physically in the office. You can then do things like access file servers, computers, databases, email, internal webpages, and other services you might not have access to outside of your work network.
• Access Your Home Network: Connecting back home using a VPN allows you to access your computers remotely. Access files on your computer, view iTunes shares, take remote control of your computer, and access other services.
• Access Location Restricted Content: By connecting to a VPN server in another location you can make it appear to websites using geolocation that you are physically in the correct location for access. So when you're travelling overseas you can still view websites you would normally use at home, such as television, movie and music streaming websites.
• Bypass Restrictive Networks: Some networks may restrict access to the web services that can be accessed, meaning that many applications like VOIP, instant messenging, video chat, and games will not work. However using a VPN you can tunnel through such restrictions and allow all of your network applications to work. Viscosity even allows you to tunnel through a HTTP or SOCKS proxies to establish your VPN connection.
• Escape Censorship: VPNs allow you to bypass restrictive censorship and access websites and services that would otherwise be blocked. Some countries impose censorship on Internet access while in that country, and a VPN provides a way to still maintain access to the services you would normally use.

Why Should I Use A VPN?
Even if you have no desire to be able to access a private network remotely, a VPN is vital to ensure the security and privacy of your network traffic.

Public networks, and in particular public wireless networks, provide an easy way for hackers and malicious users to listen in ("sniff") on your network usage. This may allow them to see what web pages you are viewing, steal username and passwords, steal session information to be able to log into sites as you, and extract other private data. In addition, skilled hackers may perform a "man in the middle" attack. This allows them to not only monitor in depth your network traffic, but also alter your traffic or inject their own in an attempt to fool a user into revealing important data.

Using a VPN protects you from such attacks, as your network traffic is authenticated and encrypted, making it secure and private.

How Does A VPN Work?
A typical VPN consists of two components: the VPN client and the VPN server.

A VPN client is the software that allows a user to connect their computer to the VPN server and establish the VPN connection. It is installed on the user's computer and communicates with the VPN server to create a secure link for the user's network traffic. The VPN Client is what the end user uses to control their VPN connection. Viscosity performs the duties of a VPN client.

A VPN server is setup at the location users want to connect to, such as at a workplace or at home. A VPN Server usually configured and maintained by IT staff, however home users often set up their own VPN personal VPN server at home or at a remote location as well. End users rarely have to interact with the VPN Server. A VPN server will also perform authentication to ensure only registered users can connect to the VPN.

All network traffic through the tunnel created between the VPN client and the VPN server is encrypted to keep it private and secure.

What Is Viscosity?
Viscosity is a VPN client for Mac OS X and Windows. As discussed above, it allows a user to connect to a VPN server and establish a VPN connection. Viscosity provides a clear and intuitive user interface for creating, editing, and controlling VPN connections, and makes it easy for users new to VPN to get started.

Viscosity supports the OpenVPN protocol (see below). Viscosity can connect to any VPN server supporting OpenVPN, including almost all popular free and commercial VPN providers. Viscosity allows connections to be completely configured through a GUI, without any need to know how to use the command-line or OpenVPN's configuration file syntax. Advanced users still have full manual control over configuration options if desired.

With Viscosity and OpenVPN you can securely connect to your home or company network from a remote location, protect your network traffic when using public or wireless networks, access websites with country restrictions, and tunnel through restrictive firewalls and proxy servers to give your computer full Internet access.

Why Should I Use Viscosity?
Viscosity is no ordinary VPN client. It has been designed to be simple and intuitive for new users, however customizable and powerful for VPN experts. We encourage you to visit Viscosity's Features page for a full overview. However, some notable features for new users include:

• Viscosity allows connections to be fully created and edited through a graphical user interface, without any need to manually edit configuration files or use the command line.
• Viscosity can easily import connection configuration files supplied by your VPN provider, giving you a ready-to-use VPN connection in a snap.
• Viscosity has been designed to keep you secure in almost any network environment. It will automatically adjust to varying network conditions to keep your VPN connection active, warn you about changes, and automatically reconnect when network dropouts occur.
• Viscosity makes it simple to monitor your VPN connection and network. Its global menu gives quick access to connections, and its attractive Details window allows you view traffic graphs and view other connection information.

What Is OpenVPN?
OpenVPN is a popular VPN protocol that is based on SSL/TLS encryption. Like IPSec and PPTP, OpenVPN handles the connection between the VPN client and server. OpenVPN is rapidly gaining in popularity thanks to its high level of security, customizability, and compatibility with most network environments.

Viscosity supports the OpenVPN protocol. Viscosity can connect to any VPN server that supports OpenVPN connections.