An encrypted virtual private network is one of the best ways to keep your online activities completely private. Plus, a VPN also can open up access to restricted content all over the world.

Black Friday deal on Private Internet Access VPN

The Black Friday deal for Cult of Mac readers costs just $2.03 per month for PIA’s two-year plan, with four months free. That’s 83% off the regular price.

And that’s a small price to pay for an array of great benefits for Mac, iPhone and iPad users that we’ll get into below.

Stellar privacy protection for Mac users

PIA for Mac is a privacy-first VPN that boosts your computer’s security. With PIA’s intuitive macOS and iOS apps, you get fast, reliable access to streaming content. (PIA also works on Windows, Android, Linux and more.)

When you use PIA, it reroutes your internet traffic through an encrypted tunnel, giving you a new IP address and hiding browsing data from internet service providers, network administrators and government censors.

That means you’re anonymous online, avoiding trackers. And it’s a huge help in keeping you safe from scammers, too.

New feature: IP addresses in all 50 states

PIA now operates U.S. servers in all 50 states (in addition to 83 countries). Why is that important? In brief, it’s about local access to things that may be restricted across state lines or across national borders, like access to sports broadcasts or government websites.

With IP addresses available in all 50 states, you can avoid sporting event blackouts that can ruin your night if local networks opt out of televising the game, for instance. PIA also lets you access local websites that may be blocked beyond state borders, including local news stations and online banking details. And you can watch television premieres before they show up in your time zone.

Smooth streaming, no usage logs

PIA’s apps work with all major streaming services, so you can access more content than ever before — anywhere in the world. In addition, PIA is one of the few VPNs that supports P2P file sharing on all servers.

The service never records or stores any usage data, either. PIA even invited an independent audit by Deloitte to verify that its entire system fully complies with its own No Logs policy.

“It’s one of the many reasons we’re the most transparent VPN on the market,” PIA said. “You can rest assured that our commitment to protect your privacy is absolutely bulletproof.”

Best encryption available

PIA offers a smooth user experience and tight security because it maintains excellent infrastructure and relies on the best encryption standards, 128-bit and 256-bit AES. It also utilizes as top VPN protocols, OpenVPN and WireGuard.

And it’s popular with users, too. PIA is rated “Excellent” based on 8,600-plus reviews on Trustpilot.

Open-source apps and token-based dedicated IPs

Being proud of its transparency, PIA makes sure its apps are 100% open source. “This way, you can always take a look under the hood and see how everything works,” the company said.

PIA gives you a unique, personal IP address, so you won’t have to sacrifice privacy or security. You can use a dedicated IP address to work remotely, see fewer CAPTCHA challenges and protect your devices.

Easy setup and customization

It’s easy to start protecting your digital life using PIA. Here’s all you have to do:

1. Choose a plan.
2. Download PIA.
3. Tap the Connect button. That’s it.

And PIA also made sure users retain control by offering customization. Its apps give you complete command over all your connection, network and configuration settings. Plus, split tunneling is included.

Risk-free trial period

Choosing PIA is always risk-free, because the company offers a 30-day money-back guarantee (along with 24/7 customer support).

Price: The two-year plan costs $2.03 per month with four months free (83% off)

Where to download: PIA