While there are lots of different VPN options, this is quickly becoming one of the most popular as it protects information from being tracked or accessed by third parties.
There are several different benefits of using this software such as the ability to use websites that are blocked by regular servers. Users can also enjoy private web browsing and enhanced security, which provides extra peace of mind for people who use the internet for banking and want to keep their passwords safe. A free version of the software is available and offers users a large number of very useful features. However, the free version is supported by adverts and people who opt for this version will find an ad banner at the top of the screen as well as a button encouraging them to sign up for the Elite version.
This is the full version and comes complete with all of the useful features, although it is necessary to pay a small fee. Users can choose to pay by month, every six months, yearly or go for a onetime payment to unlock special features such as unlimited bandwidth, unlimited access, no adverts and dedicated support.
Hotspot Shield Download. Windows Android macOS Chrome. Last updated:. November 7, User rating:. Protect yourself from identity theft online. Hide your IP address for your privacy online. That option isn't available nearly as often as we'd like, especially on Windows, and it's good to see it here.
The 'Smart VPN' feature enables choosing domains that won't be routed through the VPN, handy for websites which don't work as usual when you appear to be in another location.
Support for keyboard shortcuts is a small usability plus. This all worked well for us, but if you run into difficulties, a Support page includes links to open the FAQ, Live Chat and 'Leave a message' pages on the Hotspot Shield website.
The location list is very similar, for instance, still with no Favorites system. Connection times are quick, and although the post-connect screen doesn't display the map, it's still crammed with status information: server status, load, ping time and IP address, the amount of data uploaded and downloaded in the past 24 hours, and your peak speed in the current session.
Most of the action is in the Settings dialog, which includes some interesting options and tweaks. For example, the Connection Center enables setting up the app to automatically connect when you access insecure or untrusted networks, when your device starts, or even when you launch a particular app.
Some apps have one or two of these capabilities, but very few include the full set, and present them in a single integrated panel. A Smart VPN feature is Hotspot Shield's version of split tunneling, and allows you to direct some app traffic through the VPN, while others connect to the internet directly. Elsewhere, an integrated kill switch protects your identity by blocking your internet connection if the VPN drops, and there's a battery-saving extra in the ability to turn off the VPN when your device is sleeping.
The app doesn't support IKEv2, unlike the Windows client, and it doesn't have quite as many low-level technical features as some no DNS control, for instance. Still, the app is easy to use, with more than enough functionality for most users, and overall, it's a capable addition to the range.
Hotspot Shield's iOS app is a close interface match for the company's Android offering, with little more than a connect button, a world map and list of locations, and a very few settings. What you don't get is much in the way of functionality. There are no auto-start or auto-connect options, and no kill switch. The only option you get is an 'Insecure connections' setting which warns you if you're connecting to an insecure network, perhaps prompting you to connect manually and even that is turned off by default.
Overall, the iOS app looks good and is straightforward to operate, but it's hard to see why it doesn't have an option to connect to the best server for your location. Still, as an iPhone VPN it's simple, very fast and unblocks almost everything, and that's going to be more than enough for most users.
Many VPNs offer browser extensions, but they're usually very basic, stripped-back tools with little more functionality than a Location list and a Connect button. That's not the case with Hotspot Shield, though — its Chrome extension is stuffed with features, and more powerful in some ways than the desktop and mobile apps. The opening interface gives no indication of this, as it looks much like the other clients: a mostly empty dark panel with a Connect button in the middle, and barely anything else.
Point, click, and you're connected. It's a near-instant connection, too, because the browser extension is a simple proxy system which protects your browser traffic only.
That won't work in every situation, but if you're mostly interested in unblocking websites, it could serve you very well. It comes with a wide range of features, including a centralized hub, admin access, cross-platform synchronization, etc. However, the program is meant for experts and requires a steep learning curve. While all these options are good for Windows PCs, Hotspot Shield remains a popular choice among individuals looking to surf the internet anonymously.
In fact, a single account can be used with multiple devices and allows you to surf the internet anonymously on laptops, tablets, and smartphones. Moreover, the program is free , and even the premium version comes with a free trial period. We don't have any change log information yet for version Sometimes publishers take a little while to make this information available, so please check back in a few days to see if it has been updated.
If you have any changelog info you can share with us, we'd love to hear from you! Head over to our Contact page and let us know. It can be downloaded on the desktop or as an app on the smartphone. How it works is that it co. Spotflux is a great way to protect and enhance your internet connection as it performs millions of cloud-based real-time calculations and encrypts and compresses your internet traffic. Adele convinces Spotify to remove shuffle from all albums. PS5 restock updates.
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