SparkLabs Blog.

The latest news and releases.


Viscosity For Mac & Windows: Version 1.8

Viscosity 1.8 is now available for both macOS and Windows! This is a big update, with significant performance improvements for VPN connections. Both macOS and Windows users should immediately notice their OpenVPN connections connecting faster, with slightly lowered CPU usage. Windows users should also notice significantly improved maximum throughput on high-speed network connections.

A traffic graph has also been added to the main menu, providing a quick overview of how your VPN connection is being utilised without needing to open the Details menu. The style of this graph can also be customised from the Appearance section, or turned off for those who prefer to keep things simple.

By popular demand we've also overhauled Viscosity's menu icon system. Not only has this allowed us to include some snappy new icon designs to choose from, all icons now feel much more at home on both macOS and Windows. In particular, on macOS icons with coloured components will now look great in both light and dark mode, behave correctly when selected, and on secondary monitors as well.

On Windows Viscosity now also supports Network Location Awareness for routed/TUN connections. This will resolve an issue that caused some applications, including Microsoft Office and many UWP based apps, from failing to detect that a network connection is available when a VPN connection is connected.

Finally, version 1.8 also brings offical support for macOS 10.15 (Catalina), which is expected to be released next month.


Version 1.8 Mac Release Notes:

added
Main menu traffic graph for active VPN connections
added
Appearance customisation options for the menu traffic graph
added
New menu icons are available in the Appearance section
improved
Improved support for macOS 10.15 (Catalina)
improved
VPN connections will now establish faster
improved
Reduces CPU usage when using higher log verbosity levels
improved
Complete Dark Mode support for menu items with color
updated
OpenSSL updated to version 1.0.2t
fixed
Resolves a potential crash when rapidly connecting and disconnecting connections
fixed
Resolves a potential crash if ifconfig cannot be run
fixed
Resolves a potential hang when using Reset network interfaces on disconnect
fixed
Resolves flickering of the menu icon animation when changing states
fixed
Various bug fixes and enhancements


Version 1.8 Windows Release Notes:

added
Main menu traffic graph for active VPN connections
added
Appearance customisation options for the menu traffic graph
added
New menu icons are available in the Appearance section
improved
VPN connections will now establish faster
improved
Faster maximum throughput of VPN connections
improved
Network Interfaces can now be created without disconnecting other connections
improved
Windows Network Location Awareness will now take place for TUN connections
updated
Updates OpenSSL to version 1.0.2t
fixed
Various bug fixes and enhancements

The 1.8 update can be automatically installed from inside Viscosity, or downloaded and manually installed. For support with this version please visit our support section.