McAfee Safe Connect is a Virtual Private Network (VPN) product that allows you to:

• Protect your privacy and identity
• Access blocked websites
• Browse the internet anonymously

Safe Connect connects you to the internet through a VPN to enable these security features on your Windows, Android, and iOS devices.

All network data that travels through a VPN is encrypted, and Safe Connect uses Advanced Encryption Standard​ (AES) 256-bit encryption by default. This encryption protects your data by preventing anyone else from reading it.

To learn how you can download and install Safe Connect, see TS100342 - How to download and install McAfee products.

Click to expand each of these frequently asked questions about Safe Connect:

Is Safe Connect an antivirus product?

No. Safe Connect isn’t an antivirus product, and doesn’t scan and protect your devices from viruses and malware. For antivirus protection, consider installing one of our other products, such as LiveSafe or Total Protection.

What benefits do VPNs provide?

VPNs, such as Safe Connect, don’t make you anonymous on the internet, but they can greatly increase your privacy. VPNs are commonly used by businesses to protect sensitive data. It also allows their employees to securely connect to their work networks, from home or from the road. Personal VPNs, such as Safe Connect, are becoming increasingly popular with home customers.

You can use a VPN when you need privacy and security, while connecting to the internet:

• Privacy: The VPN can replace the IP address of your device with a different IP address, effectively hiding your location.
• Security: The VPN can encrypt your data as it is sent over the internet. This encryption makes sure that third parties are unable to read your communications.

Safe Connect changes the IP address of your device so that you appear to be accessing the internet from somewhere other than your physical location. For example, even though you’re using your device in the U.S. state of Texas, Safe Connect can make it look as though you’re connecting from somewhere else, such as London in the U.K.

Does Safe Connect keep logs or track my browsing?

No. Safe Connect doesn’t keep logs. McAfee doesn’t collect any information regarding what you browse while connected to our secure and private VPN.

Does Safe Connect stop my browser or other apps from logging what I do?

No. A VPN doesn’t stop other applications from working as they’re designed. For example:

• Your internet browser still tracks your browsing history and stores cached data when the Safe Connect is enabled.
  NOTE: You can prevent your browser from capturing this type of data by switching to a private or 'incognito' mode.
   
• File sharing applications continue to log connections as files are uploaded or downloaded.

Why do I need to install Safe Connect?

If you use public Wi-Fi in places such as coffee shops and airports, you’re vulnerable to many threats such as password 'sniffing' and 'man-in-the-middle' attacks. Hackers use these attacks to 'listen in' to the connections made to the Wi-Fi network, and could try to steal your private data. Private data can include passwords, bank details, and credit card details.

To stop such theft, Safe Connect encrypts your data to make it more secure. This security measure means that cybercriminals can't see what you are doing online, or capture your private information.

What type of encryption does Safe Connect use?

Safe Connect uses strong AES 256-bit encryption by default. Weaker encryption isn't an option. To put it simply, this type of encryption would take a supercomputer many years to crack. AES 256-bit encryption makes sure that your data traveling through the Safe Connect VPN is safe and secure.

What devices are supported with Safe Connect?

• Android
  • Devices running Android 4.4 and later
  • Device must not be rooted
     
• iOS
  • Devices running iOS 9.0 and later
  • Device must not be jailbroken
     
• Windows
  • Windows 8.x, 10.x

Here’s some additional information about Safe Connect that you might find useful: