Features
-
License:
Free
- Editor's Rating:
- Average User Rating:
-
Downloads:
151,471
- Operating Systems:
Mac OS X 10.4
- Additional Requirements:
Mac OS X 10.4
- Limitations:
No limitations
- Date Added:
February 19, 2008
Publisher's description of Hotspot Shield
From AnchorFree:Most public wi-fi hotspots are not secure and make your computer and communications vulnerable to hackers and security breaches. Hotspot Shield gives you a simple solution to maintain your anonymity and protect your privacy when accessing free wi-fi hotspots. This version is the first release on CNET Download.com.
- See more CNET content tagged:
- AnchorFree Inc.,
- HotSpot,
- Wi-Fi,
- Wi-Fi hotspot,
- control panel
Editor's review of Hotspot Shield
stars
- "Shield your wi-fi"
- Reviewed on: February 18, 2009
- Version reviewed: Hotspot Shield 0.942
This freeware program promises to encrypt all your Internet connections, but since most public wi-fi access points in the U.S. are open, it's a bit hard to gauge Hotspot Shield's effectiveness. However, the connection itself is a bit wonky.
Once the program is installed, it creates an HTML link on your desktop. Double-clicking on it will open the application in your Web browser, and you'll be taken to a page detailing your Connection Status, IP Address, Server Address, Bytes sent and received, and the duration of the connection. Hotspot Shield is ad supported, so you'll get a big banner ad that lives at the top of every Web page, too. Closing the tab with the app's control panel doesn't disconnect the shield, though: for that, or to reload the control panel, you have to go through the green shield icon that gets loaded into your system tray. Also, there's a 5 GB transfer limit.
Overall, we can't give Hotspot Shield a strong recommendation, but as a last resort it might be worth trying out.
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User reviews
- Average user rating: 3.2 stars out of 12 votes
- My rating: 0 stars Write review
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Showing 5 of 12 user reviewsSee all 12 user reviews
This software version | All versions -
3 out of 12 people found this review helpful
Version: Hotspot Shield 0.942
"hfgdfj djgdfjk kldlkf dkjgfdkl dfk;dskjg dlkfgjdkl gfk;dlkf"
Pros: kfkjfckjd fj kdlkfn ldkfgk;d dfkljgdkld kldklf gl dlfkgldk' dlflkgd' dlfkgsd'lfg ldfgkkdfg
Cons: hfklkj kcvmbklf mmvbkfdklhjfgh
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10 out of 10 people found this review helpful
Version: Hotspot Shield 0.942
"Marketing garbage disguised as an application"
Pros: The idea of this is valid, to provide protection when at a public hotspot.
Cons: But this is not even an application; no preferences, tool bar, help file, nada. just marketing spyware installed into your browser. Avoid this like the plague.
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1 out of 9 people found this review helpful
Version: Hotspot Shield 0.942
"it is the best program for internet"
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8 out of 8 people found this review helpful
Version: Hotspot Shield 0.942
Pros: I dont like anything about this software
Cons: As soon as you download it you will start getting there stupid pop ups telling you to invite your friends to download this software. Even if you do it it will still there in order to get rid of that dam popup you need to download another software from them... It pop ups in every page/ half of the page very very stupid!!!! Dont waste your time getting this
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Version: Hotspot Shield 0.942
"Non USA browsers need, however, it has drawbacks..."
Pros: Allowed my family to access hulu for months from Canada, until Hulu blocked the service's IP banks as well. Still provides an invaluable service for many other webpages
Cons: The ads are beyond annoying, and show a decade-old approach to web marketing. Basically, everything looks like your computer is infected with pop-up generators
Summary: If you are in the USA, you don't need it. Everyone else should install, and keep in the toolkit, just in case they have a website that is blocked by country of viewing
- See all 12 user reviews Write review
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