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CNET Editors' review
CyberGhost VPN is a personal VPN client and online service that lets users browse the Internet anonymously by acting as a firewall and server between your PC and your ISP. It lets you surf the Web normally while hiding your IP address and displaying a dead-end address. It's available in free and premium versions; the free version can only be installed on one PC and only one account can be activated on each computer, whereas the premium account offers more options and features.
CyberGhost installs and sets up easily, including creating a username and password, though we had to reboot our system to finish the process. The program's main screen resembles many antivirus and firewall programs, with a left-hand list of the program's functions, a toolbar, and bar graphs indicating both free and premium traffic while logged on to the VPN. A prominent message warned us that we were not anonymous online and also displayed our current IP address. We clicked Connect to VPN, and a pop-up gave us several options: Connect to Free service, Create Premium connection, and Create Premium Connection with a specified server on a drop-down list. We could also display a list of available Premium servers. We tried both the Free and Premium services, which are similar. We quickly logged on to the CyberGhost VPN service and reopened our browser, which functioned normally, with the exception that our Google search page was now Google.de instead of Google.com, a small matter we quickly rectified. Every site we visited loaded normally.
While CyberGhost boasts that its compression technology loads some sites up to 30 percent faster, our broadband connection seemed slightly slower, and bandwidth tests confirmed our suspicions. However, the delay wasn't dramatic, and CyberGhost offers many server choices to help users maximize their bandwidth, though the Premium service offers more choices than the free one. The program gives copious assistance. We also found the extra features easy to set up and use. The online Data Safe offers both password and key file protection, and an extensive anti-spy tool can block many different processes. Whether you opt for the free basic service or premium features, CyberGhost VPN is well worth trying; you have nothing to lose but online snoops!
Editors' note:This is a review of the full version of CyberGhost VPN 4.7.16. The trial version has limited features and functionality.
Publisher's Description
From CyberGhost:
Internet and anonymity don't fit anymore. Not nowadays. Once online, every step you make and every website you visit will fill your most personal own sphere full of information about your interests, your relationships, and even you intimate matters, ready to be analyzed and feeded into huge data bases. Thanks to a unique IP address, that's given to you as soon as you log-in, you can clearly be identified at every corner on the Internet and even be blocked from certain content, if you have the 'wrong' country ID. This number is like a license plate nailed on your back and it helps to keep you out of video platforms as well from as to document which websites you visit and therefore which kind of person you are. For how long the information about you will be kept officially depends on the country you live in and on the provider you're bound to. Some (very few) don't have any interest in your privacy, others (most) will not only store your data for a long time but also for retrieve by companies or authorities, e.g. for data retention purposes. CyberGhost VPN helps you to reboot the Internet and bring back the time, the Net had been a promise for more freedom, more privacy and more information for all people. CyberGhost anonymizes you by changing your IP address and therefore protects and safeguards your privacy. It lets you surf, where others won't want you to and unlocks blocked content. Better, though, it connects you encrypted by AES and keeps important data like credit card numbers safe in insecure environments like public hotspots and Wireless LANs. In short: CyberGhost VPN gives you back the freedom to roam, wherever you want to, to express your opinions and to feel comfortable again while surfing, sharing files, using WLAN and managing your online banking account. And it does it with ease, its operation is straightforward, simple and, of course, secure.
What's new in this version: Version 4.7.19 includes more Servers and faster connection.
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All versions:
3.2 starsout of 76 votes
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Current version:
4.0 starsout of 6 votes
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My rating:
Write review
Results 1-6 of 6
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"Excellent vpn service provider"
Version: CyberGhost VPN 4.7.19
Pros
Fast
Reliable
Eeasy to setup on my laptop (windows 7)Cons
Maybe the support could reply within 12 hours ?
Summary
I have been using cyberghost for many months. The service shown to be fast and my connection to their server always reliable.
There is a detailed review of their service here : http://www.thevpnreviewer.com/reviews/cyberghost-vpn-review/
You can see how the software works and the speed their service runs. -
"Expensive as far as VPNs go"
Version: CyberGhost VPN 4.7.19
Pros
The most basic opeion is free.
Cons
Its quite expensive compared to some others where you get more.
Summary
I thought its an ok vpn but I ended up opting for hushtunnel ( http://www.hushtunnel.com ) instead. It offers a cheaper package for more - uses SSH which is more secure and throws in a bunch of other things such as VNC.
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"My new favorite security program."
Version: CyberGhost VPN 4.7.19
Pros
It's fast, it's good, it's a critical addition to my protection; the paid version costs only $20 and is a MUST HAVE.
Cons
The free version is not so good.
Summary
I gave this program an very through test. I took a friend's Windows 7 computer with known issues (he's a novice). I scanned his computer with programs I trust. Those programs did boot scans and cumulatively took over 3 hours. I even found a malware that I had to remove myself by going into DOS. I noted what my scans found. Next I hit system restore and returned his computer to the buggy state I found it in. Then I ran Hitman.
My e-mail from C-net said Hitman. I don't know why it posted here.
Hitman took 5 minutes and found everything my programs found, plus a little. Hitman even found partial files of malware, and it was able to remove everything, even what I had to go into DOS for.
Now Hitman is part of my team. It automatically scans my computer every time I turn it on. The other programs keep malware out; Hitman makes sure of it.
Updated on Aug 12, 2012 -
"Works great for me so far."
Version: CyberGhost VPN 4.7.19
Pros
The basic version is free.
Cons
None so far really since the latest version update.
Summary
The remark " Cant select servers from list without purchasing, so much for free! " made by one reviewer didn't make any sense. You don't have to purchase anything. I have been using cyberghost free version for a while now along with a few others. Several months ago it was slow to log on to any servers but in recent weeks after it did an update it has been working extremely well. As far as servers go, the free version has several different servers it automatically selects at random when you sign on. With the premium pay version you can select a particular server if you want, but I've never had any need to do that myself, there may be some reason for it though, I'm just not aware of any. Unless you have some specific reason to choose a particular server, then there's no problem. If you just want to get online and have a secure connection at a public wifi service then it fills that need. If they were expecting more than that then you'll have to pay for a premium service. Beggars can't be choosers as they say, and they shouldn't expect that. I'm glad there are free services out there for people who can't afford it at certain times in their life. My concern is, no matter what vpn service your using, how can you tell it's actually protecting your data that is sent out over your wireless connection. One reviewer said they show you proof. Well it shows that your IP address is hidden, but the act of changing your IP address doesn't protect your data. How can you be sure your data is actually encrypted and protected? If anyone knows how to verify something like that I'd love to hear about it.
There is a usage limit of 1GB per month with Cyberghost which has been fine for occasional use. If you need more you'd have to pay for their premium service or try Hotspot Shield. I tried Hotspot shield about a yr ago and it would hardly ever connect, then when it did it kept disconnecting every minute or so. A few weeks ago I tried it again and it updated the software and has actually been working for an hour or so, big improvement. It does have pop up ads and stuff though, but there doesn't seem to be a limit to usage, so it's a fair trade off for people that can't afford to pay for a monthly service. I myself prefer Cyberghost overall but if you use more than the 1GB limit then I have to switch over to Hotspot Shield and the ads. I'm using these on windows XP, not sure how they work on other OS's yet. -
"have to purchase to get any servers"
Version: CyberGhost VPN 4.7.19
Pros
the uninstall portion
Cons
Cant select servers from list without purchasing, so much for free!
Summary
Uninstalled immediately
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"the product is easy to use and keeps you anonymous"
Version: CyberGhost VPN 4.7.19
Pros
keeps you safe and shows prove. it is also free
Cons
the internet speed is not that fast but you can still torrent
Summary
this product should be used to keep you safe
Results 1-6 of 6
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