Expat Shield

CNET Editors' review

The freewheeling early days of the Internet are over, and it's no longer possible to rely on passive security measures. Today you need to take active steps to protect your identity, privacy, and personal security from an ever-changing array of threats. AnchorFree's ExpatShield protects your identity and personal data such as addresses and credit card numbers, lets you browse safely and anonymously, and even allows access to some of your favorite U.K. Web sites like BBC iPlayer. It shields you by establishing a proxy connection and assigning your PC a temporary U.K.-based IP address. ExpatShield is ad-supported freeware, which is standard for Web-based tools these days.

ExpatShield's installer automatically sets up your proxy IP address, displaying your connection status in a browser page and a system tray icon as well as an ad banner that opens with each new page. Clicking the icon opened a menu that offered a Disconnect/Off button, language options, and other basic entries, including a Properties sheet displaying connection details. Except for the ad banner and the ever-so-slight lag, using ExpatShield is just like browsing normally. Our favorite sites loaded quickly, but with a slight yet perceptible lag, especially when we accessed locally hosted news media. However, it's nowhere near slow enough to outweigh ExpatShield's much greater privacy and security. Each site loaded with a prominent connection status/ad link toolbar that we could close. With plenty of online IP locators and identifiers available, we quickly verified that our PC displayed an anonymous U.K.-based IP address instead of our actual (and static) IP address.

Proxy connections used to be difficult and slow, but ExpatShield addresses both of those issues. The ad bar is a minor distraction, considering it keeps ExpatShield free. One ad linked to BBC iPlayer, which is currently limited to U.K. IP addresses. The BBC is developing an international version to allow viewers everywhere to enjoy the finest television content in the world (radio is already available). But ExpatShield's proxy IP address enabled us to watch BBC series like "Doctor Who" and "Eastenders," U.K. and continental sports, and all the Beeb's channels, including the best HD quality we've yet seen.

Publisher's Description

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All User Reviews
  • All versions:

    3.1 stars

    out of 77 votes

    • 5 star: 24
    • 4 star: 16
    • 3 star: 5
    • 2 star: 8
    • 1 star: 24
  • Current version:

    3.1 stars

    out of 15 votes

    • 5 star: 7
    • 4 star: 0
    • 3 star: 1
    • 2 star: 2
    • 1 star: 5
  • My rating:

    0 stars

    Write review

Results 1-10 of 15

  • 5.0 stars

    "For FREE allows me to stream uk tv abroad"

    April 11, 2013  |   By jim_m123

    Version: Expat Shield 2.25

    Pros

    Free
    Allows me to stream uk television whilst abroad
    Gives the same picture and audio as a paid for VPN

    Cons

    there's ads. a banner ad at the top of the current page and everyonce in a while a new full page ad pops up. it's free though so i can deal with it

    Summary

    Excellent product. yes there's ADS, which are annoying, but it's a free product so there has to be some cost.
    i recommend this product. fully deserving of 4.5 stars as it does what it says it does and....ITS FREE!!!

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  • 3.0 stars

    "Used to be great, until I upgraded to Windows 8..."

    April 3, 2013  |   By 16bitmick

    Version: Expat Shield 2.25

    Pros

    Lets you watch BBC iPlayer
    Free
    Does what it says it does.

    Cons

    Ads
    OMG, ADS
    It will not go away until you make it (still worth it)
    Not compatible with Windows 8 :(

    Summary

    I am super bummed that I can't use this anymore with Windows 8. I guess I will just have to find another proxy server that gives me a UK IP... You guys dropped the ball and lost someone. Windows 8 isn't BRAND NEW. You have had time.

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  • 1.0 stars

    "Gone downhill"

    March 30, 2013  |   By nazzam91

    Version: Expat Shield 2.25

    Pros

    When I first got this it was reliable and never disconnected, currently the pros stand as NONE

    Cons

    As soon as try to access a blocked website it disconnects which is pointless, thats the whole reason I downloaded it. The ads are annoying at the top but I don't want to pay out on a vpn blocker if i'm not using it often.

    Summary

    In total do not download this product unless you want to be throughly frustrated and constantly reconnecting it.

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  • 5.0 stars

    "Robust and free. I like it."

    January 10, 2013  |   By breplum

    Version: Expat Shield 2.25

    Pros

    Makes watching overseas "blocked" streams a breeze.

    Cons

    None that I know of.

    Summary

    Many thanks go to the developers for offering such a great app.

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  • 5.0 stars

    "Awesome product! SPECTACULAR!"

    December 25, 2012  |   By MyNameIsVi

    Version: Expat Shield 2.25

    Pros

    Does what it says: assigns a UK IP address to you, and does all the work. I love using it to watch BBC iPlayer, and with a quick turn-on/turn-off, I get to use all my favorite websites still! I'm only using the free version, of course. No buying necessary!

    Cons

    Not any cons I can think of. Connects quickly and easily, and I didn't receive any ads or pop-ups (but I am using AdBlock on Google Chrome). Just make sure, before downloading, to NOT INSTALL THE TOOLBAR.

    Summary

    With a little waiting for installation, you can easily and quickly assign yourself a UK IP address to access sites available in Britain only! Perfect for watching BBC iPlayer!

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  • 2.0 stars

    "Very, very, very slow"

    December 5, 2012  |   By ____________-----___

    Version: Expat Shield 2.25

    Pros

    High speed downloading

    Cons

    First time of using it and it is still taking time to connect to the server. It keeps on saying waiting for server.

    Summary

    Superbly slow

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  • 1.0 stars

    "WAS excellent ONCE"

    October 21, 2012  |   By farshores

    Version: Expat Shield 2.25

    Pros

    Easy install, I had no problems with pop-ups etc., although maybe that's because my blocker is efficient.

    Cons

    Used to be extremely reliable and accessing Brit TV was never an issue. Now it takes forever to connect and be assigned an IP. So slow in fact the program is not worth using if you wish to stream live or even archived British television.

    Summary

    Is virtually useless for the purpose of streaming UK TV, which is primarily why people download and use this software. My guess is Expat Shield's servers cannot match demand and until that is achieved, don't bother with a download.

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  • 2.0 stars

    "installed some financial site security not accessible"

    September 25, 2012  |   By meadrealty

    Version: Expat Shield 2.25

    Pros

    BBC TV WAS great

    Cons

    messed-up my secure sites access, had to uninstall !

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  • 1.0 stars

    "Worst download in 20 years"

    September 6, 2012  |   By cnetallbefore

    Version: Expat Shield 2.25

    Pros

    Can "watch" iplayer with constant advert interruptions, but not relaxing.

    Cons

    Constant pop-up adds even with AdblockPlus.
    Expat Shield hijacks homepage in all new tabs, even after uninstall.
    Unwanted toolbar, even after uninstall.
    Installs it's own search engine.
    Never found out how to turn it off.
    Expat Shield comes from the producers of Hotspot Shield, so clicking pop-up advert to upgrade to Hotspot Shield Elite gives US IP address,not UK, as reviewer above found to his cost.

    Summary

    If you're a masochist, go for it.

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  • 5.0 stars

    "Impressed so far"

    September 2, 2012  |   By feline_charm

    Version: Expat Shield 2.25

    Pros

    Does what it promises

    Cons

    Not had any so far

    Summary

    I am still using Windows XP on this laptop. Used this software for the first time today - very impressed with it so far. No problems with the PC hanging. Very good quality.

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Results 1-10 of 15

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