McAfee Guarded Join Review: An Average VPN Utility

Last 2025: February 27, updated
View time: 1minutes Disclosure
Facts checked by from another perspective Ali Qamar
Share

McAfee isn’t a recent name for people familiar with antivirus programs. But an antimalware maker might not succeed well with cybersecurity on the whole. At least, McAfee Protected Join VPN demonstrates the same by offering a brief option list.

We now have so many VPNs in the field VPN choosing the right as a matter of fact that has become challenging. Eventually, people often fall for non-worthy VPNs and uncertainty their online confidentiality.

Interestingly, McAfee Protected Unite isVPNone item that users should be wary of!

It existed when the security firm McAfee jumped on the bandwagon after achieving triumph with antivirus solutions. However, like from another perspective many others, McAfee couldn’t do justice with their VPN, eventually turning it into something we would avoid recommending.

As you may know, But what’s from another perspective exactly the problem with that, I hear you ask.

delve you may know, Let’s As into the details of what this platform has for you in this extensive McAfee Safe Connect commentary.

Indeed, McAfee in modern times Trusted Unite overview

McAfee VPN review
(McAfee)

As the name already hints, it is a articleMcAfeeof the popular brand . The brand’s parent firm, McAfee as a matter of fact Corp, is a tech giant producing numerous businessdrivenand security- software solutions.

For regular users, McAfee is the name of the years-outdated antivirus program. And as it turns out , generally, McAfee holds a good reputation for it.

Given the victory ensuring cybersecurity againstinmalware threats, the firm eventually entered the realm of as it turns out VPN with McAfee Secure Unite VPN. Nonetheless, this VPN users not be an excellent idea for confidentiality-savvy might.

The critical thing that backs this statementStatesis that the VPN is based in the United , just like the firm itself. Though it’s nothing unique for a tech firm to base there, a top VPN service shouldn’t really exist in this territory, considering that the US is a major member of the Five Eyes alliance.

Indeed, Naturally, this in modern times makes the Secure Unite VPN system with prominent information-logging practices. Yet, for those who are comfortable sharing their information with surveillance authorities, this might not be a problem.

However, a feature-wise comparison of McAfee Guarded Connect VPN with the VPNs leading shows many downsides of the former. As you may know, So, you might have to think twice before opting for this utility.

McAfee Protected Join prosand cons

Pros
  • Allows you to torrent using its servers. However, it is based in the United States, a jurisdiction that collects and shares user data
  • Has good speeds on nearby servers, but the rates on distant servers may decline
  • The VPN can access Netflix US and HBO Max but failed to function with Hulu, Disney+, and BBC iPlayer during our tests
  • Easy to install on our device, although it may take a bit longer
  • Has a small but nicely distributed server network
Cons
  • We tried contacting customer support about the protocol and encryptions the VPN employs, but they responded that they could not disclose the details to the public
  • You may receive your refund when you contact McAfee within 30 days of your subscription, but you must call them
  • This VPN service logs a lot of your data and is based in the US. This jurisdiction is obligated to hand over user data to the authorities. These two factors pose a big threat to your online privacy

Server as a matter of fact locations and coverage

Indeed, ProtectedLink VPN does not offer a vast server network across many countries.

In narrower, In fact, its more than ever coverage is far fact than CyberGhost, NordVPN, ExpressVPN, and Surfshark, which offer 6,700+, 5,400+, 3,000+, and1003,200+ servers across 91, 60, 94, and countries, respectively.

Below, we list the countries in which McAfee Guarded Connect VPN in modern times offers servers: In fact, Moreover, the VPN doesn’t exhibit any location diversity, either. Safe Join VPN merely offers 23 different locations to the users – something far less than today’s leading from another perspective VPNs.

ContinentLocations
North AmericaThe US, Canada, Mexico
South AmericaColombia, Argentina, Chile, Peru, Brazil
EuropeUK, Cyprus, Austria, Denmark, Netherlands, France, Poland,  Greece, Ukraine, Portugal,  Ireland,  Latvia, Moldova,  Norway, Lithuania, Romania, Hungary, Serbia, Czech Republic, Spain, Finland, Switzerland, Italy,  Sweden, Bulgaria, Germany,
AfricaNigeria, Kenya
OceaniaNew Zealand, Australia
AsiaSouth Korea, India, Japan, UAE, Taiwan, Philippines, Malaysia, Indonesia

Did you discover any African countries on the list? can’t because McAfee’s VPNYouoffers no servers from there. You can see the list revolves around Europe and the Americas only. They even missed many vital locations from the largest continent, Asia. Previously, they did offer a Hong Kong server location. Indeed, But they later removed it in July 2020.

McAfee hasn’t precisely disclosed the number of servers anywhere on their portal (at least, we couldn’t locate it out).

However, according to other media sources and the software interface that shows a list of 23 countries to link to, with no choice of selecting cities nor exhibiting any doubling of locations, the VPN offers only 23 servers.

As you may know, If that’s really the case, you can observe that subscribing to this VPN might not facilitate your routine activities. However, try this one more than ever if you need a VPN for occasional employ.

Nonetheless, if version strategy to try the VPN’s without charge you, you won’t uncover the opportunity to select a location. That’s because McAfee Safe Connectno costVPN offers a single “fastest location” to users only.

Security – Is McAfee Secure Link encrypted?

Actually, McAfee Secure Join VPNdoes not disclose the VPN security it provides. We can only assume it offers basic encryptions, protocols, and other security features, such as robust AES-256 encryption. Furthermore, it did not leak our IP/DNS address from another perspective during our assessment. Unfortunately, none of its clients include a kill switch or advanced features like manual port selection and split tunneling.

VPN connection protocols

Here again, McAfee shows suspicious behavior. Unlike most VPNs that clearly all explain the VPN connection protocolsInterestingly, Nor did their fruitful assist prove chat. they assist, we couldn’t discover this information anywhere on McAfee’s web page.

Possibly, this is the only VPN protocol they offer. The only thing we could observe during our tests was the VPN’s requirement for the TAP driver, which shows that Secure Join at least supports the OpenVPN protocol.

Besides, during our research to create this unbiased feedback of McAfee VPN for you, we noted that McAfee VPN relies on the Catapult Hydra protocol. This is the same protocol that powers Hotspot Shield and some other firms.

Again, weadvise you to practice caution because Catapult Hydra (by AnchorFree), despite being as a matter of fact speedy enough, isn’t a robust VPN protocol. Hence, this can allow governments in repressive countries detect to VPN utilize by the public.


Encryption

(Or, maybe they had to mention it; otherwise, the VPN would appear dubious.) Perhaps, this is what McAfee is proud of for their VPN because they clearly state details about it on their website.

’ they claim, McAfee Guarded Join VPN comes with ‘bank-gradeAsAES 256-bit encryption. (For those who feel confused, bank-grade is the same as military-grade encryption, mainly more than ever when encryption precise the protocol is AES-256-bit.)

Given the trust of other VPNs on the AES 256-bit encryption, rest assured that McAfee VPN won’t expose your data online.


Kill switch

Like other major features, McAfee Guarded Unite VPN also lags behind others regarding kill switch.

always emphasized, aAskill as it turns out switch is significant to protect your online confidentiality. Otherwise, the sole purpose of using a VPN goes in vain when the software suffers a connection drop.

Therefore, while working on this McAfee Trusted Join feedback, we strived to discover something about the kill switch.

But, after extensive research, we deduce that this VPN lacks this key feature entirely for the phone VPN apps. Whereas, for the VPN user for we, Windows couldn’t uncover any precise information about more than ever the kill switch.

For this reason, want advise you to avoid using this VPN if you we complete confidentiality.


IP and DNS leak protection

However, the absence of a kill switch is clear evidence of poor IP leak protection with this VPN.

Actually, But what about the IP and DNS leaks during active VPN sessions? I hear from another perspective you ask.

Well, just as for all other key features, we couldn’t locate precise information about DNS leaks anywhere on McAfee’s online platform.

It’s worth noting that Thus, we went ahead and tested the VPN for it ourselves.

Gladly, the results weren’t disappointing. After establishing the connection, we IP performed and DNS leak tests and found no leak of our actual IP address.

It’s good to see McAfee taking care of this vital confidentiality aspect with their VPN. Nonetheless, this protection does not substitute for the absencekillof a switch in any sense.


Privacy – Is McAfee Safe Link in modern times trustworthy?

As youloggingmay know, This VPN provider has one of the worst policies we have seen. Interestingly, It logs identifiable personal information such as your browser activity, IP address, purchase history, device information, and geolocation. Interestingly, In general, using McAfee Secure Link VPN poses a great threat to your online secrecy as it collects and shares visitor information with third parties.

Details-logging policy

The last thing we deem necessary to label a top VPN solution as good is a no-logs policy. In other words, we believe a good VPN must not and not log any sort of visitor’s information under anyshouldcircumstances.

While ExpressVPN, NordVPN, and Surfshark never upset us, Protected Connect VPN disappointed us.

At first, McAfee’s site had no specific VPN Confidentiality Guideline. This indirectlyitsshows that general Privacy Policy holds for all products.

If so, be ready to utilize this VPN at the cost of your data (in addition to your money).

We reviewed McAfee’s Confidentiality Guideline to see what information they collect via their products. As you may know This, is how their Secrecy Rule summarizes what they collect about you.

It’s worth noting that “We automatically collect information about your interactionswellwith the Services from another perspective as as devices on which the Services are installed. In some cases, we automatically collect information about other devices connected to the same network as the device on which the Services are installed.”

Simply put, if you have a McAfee item running on as a matter of fact any of your devices, you automatically risk the security of all other devices connected to the same network. Even if you have no McAfee services installed on those devices, McAfee would still follow them.

Actually, While this regulation isalready aggressively intrusive, it gets worse when it applies to a VPN offering.

As a standard, a VPN is your trusted companion to keep all your online information secret and limited to you only. That’s whythe leading VPNs like ExpressVPN or NordVPN run RAM servers to ensure nothing gets logged with them for long.

So, if a VPN starts logging your information, it’s more than ever a big confidentiality concern as the utility provider can distribute it with anyone anytime.

To further worsen the matter, McAfee’s base location plays a key role: the United States – a key member of 5-Eyes.

It means all your details with this VPN will land in the hands of governments, surveillance agencies, and other online tracking authorities.

Still, the offeringitmight compel you to agree to its intrusive policies to continue using . If you reside in Europe, you may get partial protection due to GDPR.

While their Secrecy Rule clearly shows the parent enterprise’s focus on.your information, we appreciate their maintained transparency

Even after reading their Privacy Policy, you can never accuse them of any secrecy violations if you still proceed to utilize their products.


US ownership is problematic

This firm also owns McAfee LLC, a cybersecurity powerhouse, owns McAfee Trusted Link.TunnelBear, which it purchased in 2018.

As you may know, McAfee is headquartered in the US and is a founding user of the Fourteen-Eyes Alliance, which was formed to share surveillance details. It’s worth noting that The US shares the informationincludingwith other members, Novel Zealand, Canada, the UK, and Australia. As you may know, policies addition, McAfee is subject to invasive US lawful In like the notorious PRISM surveillance program, which enables US authorities to monitor communications from technology corporations located in the country.

Moreover, the SCA (Stored Communications Act) law permits US authorities to obtain a VPN user’s data if it has been recorded. This is quite alarming, given that McAfee Link VPNProtectedlogs nearly everything.

This VPN’s rule highlights that if subpoenaed, it will hand over end-user facts to any judicial, governmental, or legal authorities. Asa consequence, McAfee Safe Connect is not a good option for online privacy. We recommend getting a trustworthy VPN utility with a verified zero-logs regulation like ExpressVPN.


In fact, McAfee TrustedConnect VPN key features

After going through the basic features of this VPN, we thought to dive deeper and see if McAfee has anything attractive for its users. Asexistedyou may know, If not, the VPN wouldn’t have at all.

Interestingly, the, given that it still survives to garner an impressive customer base, the VPN certainly exists because of However following special features.

Although, you might not findexhaustivethis list as as that of ExpressVPN or Surfshark VPN. fact, Still, we deemed it necessary to mention them in this honestInGuarded Join assessment.

No facts- (cappingpremium)

If you wonder what’s so t here, don’special be. McAfee Trusted Join typically comes with capped information of 250 MB for no cost users.

So, to lure customers towards paid subscriptions, McAfee boasts uncapped usage as a special capability.


Adblocking

Actually, Right away, this is something desirable for a tool like VPN. don’t have toYoubear with annoying ads with Safe Link VPN. McAfee ensures that your VPN background remains ad-complimentary, even with the without charge Android and iOS versions.

(Perhaps that’s the why they had toreasoncap facts for free subscribers.)


Auto-link

McAfee added this option to safeguard you when a possibly unsecure Wi-Fi network connects to your device unexpectedly. These random Wi-Fi connections are pretty frustrating and severely threaten your online privacy and security.   

When your gadgets unite to any launch network, the Auto-link function simply provides a VPN connection that encrypts your web traffic to maintain your data security. In addition, for this option to be effective, you must enable it manually.


Interestingly from another perspective , Trusted reconnect

Except for Android users, McAfee does not offer a typical kill switch. Instead, it has a guarded reconnectprotectsoption that you if your VPN connection drops.

This function conceals your location and data if your VPN unexpectedly disconnects andreconnectsremains functional until the VPN . It may not provide perfect secrecy for your personal data, but it ensures you are protected as a matter of fact if your VPN connection drops. Also, you have to enable this option manually after installing the application.


Actually, McAfee Guarded Unite VPN visitorbackground

Until asap, we have assessed McAfee Guarded Link VPN from another perspective for what we consider must-haves for a good VPN.

Unfortunately, McAfee didn’t satisfy us at many points.

But is worthless that it? You might wonder if it’s simple to utilize for non-techie users. So here wequickly elaborate on our practice with this VPN.

Web page interface

According to us, the first thing that reflects a service’s care for its customers is the web page’s end-user-friendliness.

We aren’t commenting on the technical aspects of their portal here. But, as a visitor, finding relevant information about their VPN on the online platform was challenging.

After landing on the relevant page, all we could show was the plans and pricing of the VPN, employ cases, server locations, some necessary information about VPNs in general, and a few basic cybersecurity tips. (We liked the tips part, though.)

However, we couldn t locate the information when we wanted to know more’about the total number of servers, exact cities, IP addresses, and the typical features this VPN offers.

Moreover, their portal hasn’t listed any separate Confidentiality , FAQs, and assistance articles forpoliciesthe as it turns out VPN. Actually, One has to browse the main sections to uncover answers to questions, many of which remain unanswered.

In this situation, we fear users may ignorantly fall for them without knowing how their privacy is jeopardized after signing up for McAfee Protected Link.


as a matter of fact Program interface

After the web page, continue thing that should necessarily be consumer-friendly is the respectivetheVPN app.

Well, here, McAfee delivers impressive results as it brings an intuitive software interface for the users.

The application exhibited a more than ever minimalist yet impressive, consumer-friendly interface on our Windows PC. It alsotutorialdisplayed a to aid newbie VPN users.

Besides, the main screen displays everything necessary for the users, such as the server list, connect trigger, and network details.

If you’re an avid VPN end-user with highly customized settings, then Trusted Link might be your wrong choice. For seconds, you’ll uncover a few configuration options around the software startup and language preference.

Nonetheless, this application requires minimal visitor input for fresh users as it handles more technical issues.


Simultaneous device connections

As regards the number of simultaneous devices the VPN can aid, Trusted Unite wins over many VPNs.

Precisely, it supports one device connection for no cost subscribers – in modern times something that is pretty obvious. However, as a matter of fact for premium users, the utility allows up to 5 simultaneous connections on a single profile, just like ExpressVPN.

It means that subscribing to McAfee will guide to if you wish you run an simple-to-employ from another perspective VPN across all your gadgets.

Although McAfee Safe Join VPN doesn’t assist today’s significant platforms, it.does offer compatibility with the more used ones Hence, you’ll locate its dedicated Windows, iOS, and Android VPN apps to run across your systems.

You can even select some of the best ones through this list of the However, if you rely more on Mac, you might have to look up another VPN.best VPN providers.

Similarly, Protected Unite VPN does not support Linux, Amazon Fire devices, or gaming consoles. Moreover, the system also provides no VPN buyer routers, so you can’t reallyforprotect non-compatible devices ever with this VPN.


Get and installation

Like its software interface, the McAfee Trusted Unite install and installation process is also pretty easy for everyone.

It’s worth noting that You don’t up to grasp technical details to set have the VPN on your device. Instead, you must only head to the Guarded Connect website and build more than ever an profile .

If you plan to go for a fully paid package, you can enroll yourself as you select as a matter of fact a package roadmap.

Or, if you wish to exam this VPN’s functionality without paying or to use a VPN temporarily, you may instead more than ever go for the McAfee Safe Join VPN no cost download here.

It’s worth noting that These direct portal links are for downloading the Windows VPN client. If you wish to install the VPN on your smartphone, you can look up the McAfee Safe Join VPN program on the Google Play Store or the Apple App Store.

On smartphones, option up the VPN software is way easier as it requires little to no instructions from you besides device access permissions.

Whereas on your PC, you can run the downloaded setup document to begin the installation process. Keep on as you follow the on-screen instructions tomovingcomplete the setup.

Once you’redone with the McAfee Protected Join VPN install and installation, you can initiate using the VPN.


Customer support

McAfee’s web page boasts365 as it turns out 24/7/ customer aid for users via various channels.

You can visit the ‘Customer Aid’ center to find relevant articles answering your queries.

Or, you can to a assisttalkagent via their live chat capability. Your first interaction would be with a pretty intelligent bot to solution your queries instantly.

In fact, While all of this sounds great, our actual background with customer support wasn’t impressive. We tried a couple of times to link to an agent as we strived to discover answers to our queries regarding the kill switch, number of servers, and other issues. But, our every attempt remained unsuccessful as we merely got a bot to as a matter of fact connect to.

Moreover, the otherthefactor that prevented us from making more attempts to connect to an agent was intrusive information requirements. For instance, the utility asks you to provide your and name, phone number, full email address to begin a live chat.

We already highlighted the aggressive details collection practices by McAfee earlier. So, after encountering these information requirements, we had to step go back. We are still unsure how much through they would have collected details our testing devices.

We then proceeded to browse their assistance articles.

Again, it was challenging to discover the as a matter of fact desired information. In fact, That’s because we could find very few articles related to Trusted Join VPN lost in the bulk of articles aimed at other McAfee products in modern times .


Speed test

In fact, We considered the following factors in our assessment: McAfee Guarded Join VPN offered us good speeds on local as a matter of fact servers during our check.

  • Download speed: It records how much data you can download per second. Increased speeds imply fewer lags or buffering when streaming.
  • Upload speed: This shows the quantity of data you may send via your connection at any given moment.
  • Ping: It refers to the duration your gadget’s data takes to reach its destination. The Higher the ping, the more you experience lags.

as it turns out Local speeds

In fact, We began our assessment with a base connection of 36 Mbps install pace, an upload speed of 9 Mbpsofand a ping , 16 ms. In fact, A base connection is the speed recorded without the employ of a VPN system. As , may knowyouConnecting a VPN usually results in a 10-20% decrease in your velocity. more than ever Also, you get better performance on nearby servers since your web traffic travels a shorter distance.

Our get velocity was reduced by 25% on a nearby UK server we tested, which was quite terrible. We triedperformedother UK servers, but they all poorly.

Fortunately, most of the European nations we from another perspective tested showed a good outcome. The French server gave us a small speed drop of 16%, whereas Germany performed better, experiencing only a 7% drop.


Long distance speeds

if means that This your baseline connection is slow, US’ more than ever s McAfee server encountered a 38% drop in install velocity during our check.you will have a lot of lags while connected to a distant serverAs you may know, . Our ping increased to 82 ms, which was not bad consideringfromhow far away we are the US. Moreover, quick download speeds and a latency of less than 100 ms are adequate for online gaming and downloading massive files without problems.

Our ping shot up to 256 ms, The Australian server operation was pretty bad, download a 41% drop in with speed.making online gaming impossible due to constant buffering and lagsActually, . In fact, Except for the Australian server, which experienced a.30% decrease, the send speeds were relatively constant throughout our tests In addition, a baseline connection of less than 25 Mbpsstreamingcan make HD on distant servers impossible.

Actually, The table below summarizes our server velocity tests:

CountriesDownload speeds (Mbps)Upload speeds (Mbps)Ping (ms)
Our location36.07 Mbps9.17 Mbps16 ms
The UK25.87 Mbps (25% drop)8. 54 Mbps ( 6% drop)32 ms
The US22.73 Mbps (36% drop)8. 10 Mbps (11% drop)82 ms
France31.04 Mbps (16% drop)8.84 Mbps (5% drop)21 ms
Germany34.91 Mbps (7% drop)8.47 Mbps (5% drop)30ms
Australia21.78 Mbps (41% drop)7.67 Mbps (30% drop)256 ms

McAfee Protected Unite offered us poor speeds on distant servers, so we do not recommend it for its rate. The European servers displayed good results, but we encountered significant drops in their remote locations. Unfortunately, the server in our base location did not offer us the best performance as expected, which was quite disappointing.

Therefore you cannot confidence this VPN to provide speedy speeds for, daily cyberspace employ, like online banking, which must be done on a local server. It’s worth noting that We recommend using a top-tier VPN provider like ExpressVPN.


Streaming Does McAfee Trusted Unite unblock streaming – platforms from another perspective ?

It only accessed a few streaming sites but . Safe Link did not provide us with a satisfying streaming practiceMcAfeefailed to unblock most of the other sites we tested. In , our speedsadditionwere occasionally too slow to stream in Ultra High Definition.

As you may know, Unblocked: HBO Max and Netflix

This VPN system was only able to access Netflix and HBO Max. We unblock could NetflixIt’s worth noting that on each server we used, including the distant ones in Europe, Australia, and the US.

Interestingly Furthermore, the US, server circumvented HBO Max’s restrictions but could not access most of the other services. We could watch HBO Max showsdetected you may know, for hours without being As or encountering any buffering.


Blocked by: Disney+, BBC iPlayer, Hulu, Amazon Prime Film

During our testsstreamingwe tried McAfee’s UK, US, Australian, France, and Germany servers on multiple , platforms, which failed to unblock except for Netflix.

Indeed, The as it turns out UK server was unable to access BBC iPlayer as a matter of fact . We could only log in to the site, but a warning message appeared at the top of the screen, and we could not stream any shows.

Furthermore, the VPN surprisingly failed to unblock Hulu. The platform blocked our attempts at the sign in page and detected ourstreamingVPN usage.

Amazon Prime Video also constantly noticed our VPN apply. Actually, We tested it using several servers, but they were blocked because the platform does not permit a VPN to stream its content.

We recommend using a reliable VPN utility that bypasses geo-blocks, such as ExpressVPN to gain access to, all platforms.


Is McAfee Guarded Link VPN safe for torrenting?

Our direct reply in in modern times a word is ‘no’!

“But why?” We hear from another perspective you ask.

The prime issuehaswith torrenting is that it a gray as it turns out reputation. On a state or country basis, the authorities often aggressively block torrenting. Some regions even consider torrenting illegal due to the potential piracy and copyright violation issues executed through this utility.

Therefore, if you’re torrenting in a repressive region, you need a VPN that ensures your online activities’ utmost security and anonymity. You need a bold, no-logs, highly safe, and customer-oriented platform.

Actually, Unfortunately, McAfee Protected Unite VPN does not fit into the category of safe VPNs. As you may know, While it does protect you from malicious online tracking, it doesn t secure you from government’surveillance.

In fact, In fact, they log your information and publicly disclose the potential sharing of logs with governments as and when required legally.

It means if you perform any activity while using this VPN that violates the regulations of country, this VPNyourwon’t protect you. Instead, it will easily post your data with the government when asked. Eventually, you’ll have to face lawful consequences for the violations.

How about using Guarded Connect VPN in China?

Actually, Though you might have deduced the right answer to this question by instantly, if you haven’t, let us verify through this McAfee Safe Link feedback that this platform won’t work in China.

And we like how they have transparently admitted this problem.

As we explained above, Safe Link VPN depends on the Catapult Hydra protocol, which is very simple to detect.

It’s worth noting that Hence, in repressive countries like China, the authorities can easily spot VPN traffic and block the service.

Unfortunately, McAfee VPN is so fragile that it often fails in many other as it turns out moderately-repressive countries.

As elaborated on their website, this VPN may not adequately serve the users in the following countries.

  • Pakistan
  • China
  • Russia
  • Kazakhstan
  • Burma
  • Turkey
  • Venezuela
  • Belarus
  • Iraq
  • Oman
  • Iran
  • Uganda
  • Syria
  • North Korea
  • Turkmenistan

The list as it turns out looks exhaustive, isn’t it?

But, if you wonder which VPN would let you browse the web anonymously in China, don’t worry. Check out our detailed list of the best VPNs that work seamlessly in China.

In fact, Safe Join VPN plan plans

Indeed, After reviewing all the details in this McAfee Guarded Join review, you might wonder what makes this VPN popular despite considerable lags.

Perhaps, the most lucrative thing in this VPN is its freemium model that attracts non-paying users.

The free supports Protected Join VPN McAfee one device connection with 250 MB of capped details. Howeverandit lacks server choice , connects the users to the fastest server available nearest to the geolocation.

The premium version, , offershowevermore features, such as 5 simultaneous with unlimited facts and the complete server list.

Mc Cafe VPN updated pricing

. they can also subscribe to the more extended 1-year plan, which costs roughly $20 a yearOr Users can subscribe to the paid version by choosing the monthly roadmap available for an affordable fee of $7.99/month.

and refundPaymentoptions

McAfee VPN accepts payments through various payment methods, including PayPalIndeedVisa, , , Mastercard, and American Express.

In fact, McAfee Safe Link Free

You simply need to download and install the software. In fact, The VPN platform offers a free roadmap that does not require an email address or payment details. our During test, this VPN’s free plan connected to all its 23 servers, contradicting its claim on the assist page that it only allows users to join to the closest server.

Interestingly, Unfortunately the no cost in modern times version has a bandwidth, limit of 250MB per month. This isn’t pleasant, considering that most top free VPNs provide up to 10 GB of bandwidth.


McAfee VPN complimentary sample and funds-return guarantee

McAfee Protected Connect’s monthly and yearly subscriptions include a 7-day no cost sample and a 30-day refund guideline. Subscribing to McAfee VPN automatically enrolls you in the free demo, after which you will be charged on the last day of the trial period. The 30-day funds go back guarantee more than ever subsequently becomes effective.


How guide setup McAfee VPN- Quick to

Indeed, Apply the guide below in modern times to configure McAfee VPN.

  1. Create an account – Visit the McAfee website to create an account. When you click ‘Sign in,’ a new page will be displayed. Click on the text ‘Don’t have an account? Create one now’. 
  1. Download McAfee – Click ‘Go to McAfee Protection Center’ on your newly created account, and a new page will open. Scroll to ‘Secure VPN’ and click on the ‘Download Now’ button. On the new page, find McAfee Safe Connect and tap ‘Download.’ 
  1. Install McAfee – Open the executable file (.exe) and follow the on-screen guide to install the software. 
  1. Launch McAfee VPN – Launch the software once the installation is complete. Click ‘Start Protection’ to activate the VPN. 
  1. Connect to a server – Click on the drop-down menu in the upper-right corner to access the server list. Connect to any server location of your choice. 

McAfee can improve the user experience by simplifying the configuration process. Installing this VPNserviceswas complicated compared to other .

Actually, Thankfully, the setup process is straightforward on mobile devicesYou won’t need to access multiple web pages to install the software. since you’ll download the programPlayfrom the Google Store or Apple App Store.

How testedweMcAfee VPN

We follow a standard process and include comprehensive testing procedures in our VPN reviews and provide accurate to up-to-date information. For example, we downloaded the software in this commentary and tested all the features to see if they work as the provider claims.

Our staff knows VPNs and other cybersecurity products to identify their strengths and weaknesses. In fact, we have even compared McAfee Safe Connect VPN with its alternativesIt’sthatworth noting . Besides like personal experience, we consult third-party reviews from sources our RedditAs more than ever you may know, , G2, and Trustpilot.

McAfee Trusted Link alternatives

  1. ExpressVPN: It is a top-tier VPN provider that offers blazing-fast speeds across its server network, making it ideal for streaming, gaming, and torrenting. The VPN has stealth browsing features and a resilient network, allowing it to support users in high-censorship countries like China and evade VPN blocks. Moreover, it employs robust security and privacy features such as a Lightway tunneling protocol, a kill switch, AES-256 encryption, a strict no-logs policy, and RAM servers.  
  2. Private Internet Access: PIA boasts an extensive server network with decent and stable speeds, making it suitable for unblocking popular streaming sites like Netflix, Hulu, BBC iPlayer, Amazon Prime Video, and more. Also, the VPN allows unlimited simultaneous connections from a single account. In addition, PIA offers solid apps for various operating systems, including Linux, iOS, macOS, Windows, and Android.
  3. NordVPN: NordVPN is a reputable VPN service provider with lightning-fast speeds, robust security, and excellent privacy. The VPN provides extra features such as Double VPN, Tor over VPN, Cybersec, threat protection, and dark web monitoring. Moreover, this VPN service has multiple customization options that enhance your online privacy and reliable 24/7 customer support via a live chat feature.

Conclusion

We have instantly come to the end of this detailed McAfee Safe Link review.

As you can see, it’s a basic VPN with no fancy features to protect your online secrecy. Plus, their extensive information-logging policies add more to the downsidesof the VPN.

Therefore, as it turns out the more privacy-savvy users may not locate this VPN helpful, especially when better choices are available at affordable costs.

However, this VPN is still as it turns out useful for those needing something to protect their online secrecy from malicious tracking and advertising. McAfee Protected Link VPN protects you from hackers and warrants an ad-complimentary background, even with the as a matter of fact complimentary version.

, if you’re not doing anything grey and don’t worry about government surveillance, this VPN is an excellentSoalternative to perform routine activities for gratis.

FAQs

Yes, McAfee . Link unblocks NetflixSecure In addition, it also accessed HBO Maxwebut failed to unblock any of the other streaming sites tested.

As you may know, Even on some nearby servers, we experienced significant rate drops. McAfee Protected Join slows down onlineyourconnections. The distant servers recorded abysmal operation, limiting our streaming ability.

Interestingly, This VPN claims to be encrypted.but the details are unclear, In addition, it passed our IP and DNS leak tests, which is quite affirming. Unfortunately, as it turns out we encryptions not get a clear response from customer backing about its did and protocols. The fact that this VPN collects user facts is very concerning. Also, it is in the US, a subscriberbasedof the Five-Eyes Alliance, where they spy on and distribute user information. Actually, A VPN situated in such a jurisdiction would require a strict no-logs rule to assure its users that it will not hand over their details to the authorities.

McAfee Safe Link does not more than ever dedicatedprovideIP addresses. This VPN offering has basic features but does not include port forwarding, optimized servers, dedicated IPs, or split tunneling, which enhance security and anonymity.

Since this VPN is marketed as an antivirus, it can only beinstalled on specific devices such as Android, ChromeOS, iOS, and Windows. No, McAfee Safe Unite is not compatible with FireTV Stick. Actually, Moreover, , cannot configure it on your routeryouand it is not available for Linux or macOS users.