- Quick specs
- Price: Free
- Operating system: Windows 2000/XP/Vista
- Date added: April 22, 2009
- Total Downloads: 1,582,892
- Downloads last week: 32,721
- 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 204 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 :Hotspot Shield is a freeware which ensures anonymous and censor-free internet usage. With Hotspot Shield you can even access blocked websites. For example: Skype is blocked in certain parts of the world. With Hotspot Shield, anyone can access Skype (and any other site they choose). The free software ensures censor-free internet usage by encrypting all communications to and from your computer to protect you from online spying. While advertising supported, HotSpot Shield is is not an invasive adware or pervasive spyware application.
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User reviews of Hotspot Shield 1.15
- Average user rating: 3.0 stars out of 204 votes
- My rating: 0 stars Write review
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Showing 5 of 8 user reviewsSee all 8 user reviews
This software version | All versions -
Version: Hotspot Shield 1.15
Pros: It gives a certain level of confidence when you have to protect yourself in wifi hotspots which unsecure.
Cons: They are constantly looking for ways to have it pay for itself. Today I spent hours trying to undue what one of their updates did to my modem setup...I'm still fighting it...the battle is touch and go!!!
Summary: If you can purchase a program 20 to 40 bucks, you're money ahead.
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Version: Hotspot Shield 1.15
"Many uses with many problems"
Pros: - Great proxy
- Reasonably fast
- Easy to connect
- Great for VPS
- Good to test programmed apps which use socket functionalityCons: - Does not work in 64-bit Os's or Windows 7
- Disconnects randomly
- Always errors
- Does not work on many pc's
- Redirects browser randomly
- Obvious spywareSummary: It's a nice piece of software to get around many obstacles.
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1 out of 1 people found this review helpful
Version: Hotspot Shield 1.15
"SPYWARE IN DISGUISE !!! DONT INSTALL"
Pros: I URGE EVERYONE WHO HAS DOWNLOADED THIS SOFTWARE TO REPORT IT TO THE BETTER BUSINESS BUREAU!!! IT CONTAINS INSTALLERS IN THE UNINSTALLER AND IT ALSO MONITORS WHAT YOU ARE WATCHING WITH TWO SEPERATE
Cons: PROGRAMS ONE BEING A REALLY NICE KEY LOGGER THE OTHER TAKES SNAP SHOTS AND SAVE THEM TO THE LOG FILE WHICH IT SENDS TO A REMOTE IP ADDRESS WHILE YOU ARE CONNECTED. THIS ONE IS VERY NICELY HIDDEN BUT EASILY SPOTTED RUNNING A DECENT FIREWALL.
Summary: DONT FREAKING DOWNLOAD IM STILL TRYING TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO UNINSTALL IT
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Version: Hotspot Shield 1.15
"Great way to get a virtual network for free"
Pros: Works excellent for me,with no problems out of the box. Allows me to access tv shows in USA from the UK with no hassle.
Cons: Has a tendency to slow down my connection but other than that - great
Summary: Is a easy way to get round security on a network as it changes your ip address.
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Version: Hotspot Shield 1.15
Pros: i like everything
Cons: i don't find anything don't like it
Summary: bcz i can't enter on facebook except here
- See all 8 user reviews Write review
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