- Quick specs
- Price: Free
- Operating system: Mac OS X 10.4 PPC/Intel/10.5 PPC/Intel
- Date added: February 19, 2008
- Total Downloads: 212,833
- Downloads last week: 1,299
- See full specifications
A newer version of Hotspot Shield is available.
(Download doesn't provide access to previous versions of this program.)
- CNET editors' rating: stars
- Average user rating: stars out of 14 votes
See all user reviews
CNET editors' review
Reviewed by: Seth Rosenblatt on February 18, 2009
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.
Publisher's description
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.
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User reviews of Hotspot Shield 0.942-2
- Average user rating: 2.8 stars out of 14 votes
- My rating: 0 stars Write review
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Showing 5 of 13 user reviewsSee all 13 user reviews
This software version | All versions -
10 out of 10 people found this review helpful
Version: Hotspot Shield 0.942-2
"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 0.942-2
"it is the best program for internet"
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8 out of 8 people found this review helpful
Version: Hotspot Shield 0.942-2
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 0.942-2
Pros: It works Very well!
Cons: At Install it makes you install Rouge pc cleanup programs,Free Screensavers And Trojans And Spyware... It is Better if you install on a mac.
Ask Toolbar
Slows Down Browsing Sessions
Takes Over your Search engine.Summary: It would be good if all it did was just block the IP Tracing you Get it over and done with.
Instead it does that but other things you don't want. -
Version: Hotspot Shield 0.942-2
"From China - it works, but only for a time"
Pros: Worked great to get through the Great Firewall
Cons: Does not work at this moment, blocked again. Maybe need to download it again to get it working again.
Summary: good temporary solution to connect...
- See all 13 user reviews Write review
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