- Quick specs
- Price: Free
- Operating system: Windows 2000/XP/Vista/7
- Date added: September 16, 2009
- Total Downloads: 2,395,857
- Downloads last week: 29,522
- 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 Web sites. 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 1.3
- Average user rating: 3.0 stars out of 204 votes
- My rating: 0 stars Write review
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Showing 5 of 6 user reviewsSee all 6 user reviews
This software version | All versions -
Version: Hotspot Shield 1.3
"Makes one fell secure when on."
Pros: It keeps me private when on open WIFI sites.
Cons: Does not always start up, will connect but not complete connection.
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Version: Hotspot Shield 1.3
"1111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111"
Pros: 1111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111
Cons: 1111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111
Summary: 111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111... read more >>
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Version: Hotspot Shield 1.3
"I can listen to live USA radio in Peru."
Pros: Many USA radio stations do not stream out of the USA. Now I can listen to my favorite stations and, most importantly, listen to the Chargers.
Cons: No cons it is works for me
Summary: It does exactly what I want it to do, listen to US radio stations. As far as affording more safety on wifi I do not know if I would expect that.
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Version: Hotspot Shield 1.3
Pros: It allowed me to watch whole episodes from Comedy Central in Europe.
Cons: I downloaded it to watch American TV in Europe. Most whole episodes will not show, e.g. ABC. Sometimes it doesn't even let you connect to the website, e.g. CBS.
Summary: At first, this software got around Hulu; then Hulu caught on. Now the other sites are preventing HSS from working on them. This renders the product worthless, if this is what you want it for.
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Version: Hotspot Shield 1.3
"Can't complain; it does the job and it's free!"
Pros: Hotspot Shield is fast enough, free and does not require registration.
Cons: Ads pop up every now and then (not very often) but redirects your pages.
- See all 6 user reviews Write review
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