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CNET Editors' review
Hotspot Shield - Maintain and protect your privacy - Download Video Previews
The bottom line: The Internet connection protector Hotspot Shield encrypts your traffic to protect you from all kinds of spying while your computer communicates with the rest of the world. It's a must-have utility for anybody who uses public Wi-Fi networks.
Review:
The Internet connection protector Hotspot Shield encrypts your traffic to protect you from all kinds of spying while your computer communicates with the rest of the world. It's a must-have utility for anybody who uses public Wi-Fi networks, but it's also an excellent tool for ensuring on any network connection that you can access sites and data according to your tastes, and nobody else's. Hotspot Shield's Virtual Private Network services are used by more than 10 million people at the time this review was written, according to the software publisher AnchorFree, making it the largest VPN in the world.
The browser-independent Hotspot Shield establishes an encrypted connection to the Hotspot Shield servers, and turns all HTTP traffic to the safer HTTPS. By rerouting Web traffic and providing you with a new IP address hosted by AnchorFree, the company is able to ensure that your data isn't plucked out of the open by man-in-the-middle attacks or wireless network spoofing.
Recent changes include automatic detection of Wi-Fi connections nearby, the ability to work on corporate networks, and no longer requiring administrative privileges to install.
In our tests, we noticed that sometimes the program would actually resolve pages faster than when connected without it. This occurs, most likely, because of the geographic location of the company's servers. During a day of hands-on testing on the notoriously pokey CNET public Wi-Fi network, we noticed that Hotspot Shield Elite was remarkably fast. There were no connection lags despite the rerouting, and the program admirably handled high-definition streaming videos from sites such as Vimeo, YouTube, and CNET TV. We'd recommend the program for improving the Wi-Fi speeds alone, nevermind the additional security benefits.
The free version of Hotspot Shield does come at a cost. The installation opts you into a toolbar, which redirects your default search and home page, and a desktop icon. Also, whenever you activate Hotspot Shield, it will open a new tab to AnchorFree.com and begin autoplaying a video. That's seriously annoying, even in a free product that offers such a valuable service. Still, the toolbars and redirects are optional.
Once installed, it appears as a red icon that turns to green when activated in both your system tray and in your browser. Clicking will toggle it on or off. Choosing the Properties option opens a window that tells you that you're connected. Hit the Details link to learn more about your connection, including the VPN IP address, amount of data sent in and out, and how long you've been connected. The data transfer rate makes for a useful, quick-and-dirty gauge for people with data caps.
Hotspot Shield's paid upgrade is called Elite, which runs ad-free and on faster servers. Elite costs $0.50 per 24-hour session, with a minimum $10 deposit, or $5 per month, or $29.99 per year. Payment options include credit card, PayPal, prepaid cash cards or mobile phone payments via premium SMS. Along with built-in site malware protection, Hotspot Shield Elite comes with tech support, preferential bandwidth priority (read: faster Internet speeds) and serves you no additional ads from AnchorFree.
The company has created multiple ways to circumvent download blockers in countries with strict censorship, too. If you can't access a Web page with the download, you can send an e-mail to win@anchorfree.com for the Windows version or mac@anchorfree.com for the Mac version, and the small installer file will be sent directly to you.
Note that although the Windows version number and the Mac version number don't match, AnchorFree says the features are the same.
Even with the installation shenanigans, we highly recommend Hotspot Shield for anybody concerned with privacy. In today's world, that ought to be anybody connecting a computer to the Internet.
Hotspot Shield - Maintain and protect your privacy - Download Video Previews:Publisher's Description
From AnchorFree:
With over 100 million downloads, Hotspot Shield is the world's most popular Virtual Private Network (VPN) that secures your browsing session, detects and blocks malicious websites, makes you private and anonymous online, and allows you to access any blocked content.
Hotspot Shield allows you to:
- Secure your Web session, data, online shopping, and personal information online with HTTPS encryption.
- Browse the Web anonymously and privately, without being tracked.
- Access any blocked content from school or office networks.
What's new in this version: Version 2.88 features Windows 8 performance improvements and maintenance.
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All versions:
3.0 starsout of 487 votes
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Current version:
3.1 starsout of 11 votes
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My rating:
Write review
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"Ruins your computer"
Version: Hotspot Shield 2.88
Pros
Does what it says but with a price, stupid software
Cons
Effectively has the potential to kill your computer, I've had to perform system recoverey TWICE on my laptop, don't download this!
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"Great Program.. Best one I've used.."
Version: Hotspot Shield 2.88
Pros
- Doesn't slow down the browser
- Quick download (No restart required, either!)
- Discreet icon, isn't always on the screen (Can minimize and it will still work)
- No registration required to use itCons
- The advertisement along the top. (However, it is alot better than popups..)
Summary
Honestly, I made an account just to state how impressed I am with this program.
For two days straight I have been attempting to find ways to watch american netflix in canada, and this is the ONLY ONE that has finally worked. I've watched countless youtube videos and read many forums.. all of which got me NOWHERE.. except a couple viruses (*cough* hola.exe *cough*) I found this program by searching a random google search and decided to give it a shot, what more could I lose... besides, I desperately wanted to finish that movie I started a couple days ago that quit in the middle when the IP address failed out on me.
I'm not computer savvy at all but this program is simple enough for me.
Sure, it isn't fun looking at an ad along the top of the page everytime I go to use the browser.. but I'd rather stare at an ad then pay $9.99 a month for some VPN program which has 2 star rating anyway.
ALL in ALL, I would recommend this program to anyone that wants to have their location as United States for any purpose.. Or anyone who just wants more privacy in general.
5/5 for me! :) -
"It's a scam!"
Version: Hotspot Shield 2.88
Pros
?????????????????
Cons
1. The darn thing installed on my box without my knowledge or consent.
2. You can't remove unless you allow connection to their site.
3. It installed four different services on the host
4. It prevented access to local app server, and instead re-directed to their site.Summary
No legit company would EVER use sneaky techniques like this one, and I really don't care if it provides any benefits - a scam is always a scam.
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"Does Not Fully Protect IP IDENTITY"
Version: Hotspot Shield 2.88
Pros
Hides your real IP on most IP checker sites.
Cons
DOES NOT HIDE YOUR REAL IP ON http://www.whatismyip.com/ Your REAL IP gets revealed by this IP CHECKER SITE, even while you have Hotspot Shield Protection turned on. So, if this site can capture your real IP then obviously OUR browsing session is not as private as we may have thought with Hotspot Shield. Don't just take my word for it. Browse to the IP checker site I mentioned above and see for your self. Your real IP address will be revealed, even with Hotspot Shield activated. Thats A BIG CONCERN!
Summary
If your REAL IP gets revealed by an IP checker site, instead of the anonymous IP issued under Hotspot Shield. Then your browsing session IS NOT private, and therefore your not fully protected. Once again, thats a BIG CONCERN!
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"nooooooooooooooooooooo"
Version: Hotspot Shield 2.88
Pros
???????????????
Cons
does not allow the mail to be sent
Summary
I don't understand all I know about this program, and how to see the claimed results, I can receive mails, but it will not let me send. I'm afraid I will scrap it.
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"Did not work"
Version: Hotspot Shield 2.88
Pros
I guess it was easy to install..
Cons
Did not do exactly what it says on the tin. I installed Hotspot Shield in the hope of being able to watch Hulu in the UK, but it didn't work.
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"It's been getting better"
Version: Hotspot Shield 2.88
Pros
I've been using Hotspot Shield for almost 2 years. They significantly improved the service recently. I feel like it's much faster now, I don't really feel the slow down. Also, the new IP selection feature has been gold for a die hard Top Gear fan like me.
Cons
I wish they could reduce the ads a little.
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"Love the new features on new version!"
Version: Hotspot Shield 2.88
Pros
I love how I can choose my IP's location. I can pick from either Australia, UK and USA. It's a pretty cool feature!
Cons
Haven't encountered any problems with the vpn!
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"New features definitely add value"
Version: Hotspot Shield 2.88
Pros
New "pause" feature is pretty nice and adds flexibility to the VPN service. UI, which I think they updated a couple of months back, is certainly a lot cleaner and user friendly and does good job of letting me know the software is at work protecting my browser connection.
Cons
Intrusive ads are definitely something you have to tolerate to use the free product. One of these days I may fork over the $$$ for pro version. Would like to have more feedback on what is happening on the malware protection end, more like what I get with my AV.
Summary
For a free app it certainly ads a lot of value to my browsing experience.
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"Works great"
Version: Hotspot Shield 2.88
Pros
Does the job. Gives me access to Facebook at work, which is normally blocked by our office IT.
Cons
It serves ads at the top part of the browser.
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