Since mobile devices connected to public domains are where you’re the most vulnerable to hackers and snoops, (Image credit: Hotspot Shield) Android and iOS apps While your data is encrypted and we detected no DNS leaks during our testing, overall there are better free options that give you a lot more protection, including the all-important kill switch. There is a sidebar with a few tasks, but most will redirect you to the Hotspot Shield homepage where you learn more about the feature and which paid programs give you access to them. This includes the IP address assigned to your device for that session, how long you have been connected, and the data you have transferred while using the VPN. Once connected, Hotspot will show you some helpful information. This is a condition of the unlimited data usage that comes with Hotspot Shield Basic. There are also no ads displayed on the desktop, but one will play when you hit the Connect or Disconnect buttons. There aren’t a lot of protocol settings to mess with, and since there is only one location you don’t have to worry about scrolling through numerous countries to find an available one. That’s because it’s stripped of advanced features, and even basic functions found in other free apps. Hotspot Shield Basic is one of the simpler applications to use. (Image credit: Hotspot Shield) Windows and Mac apps But it would be nice to have a third-party audit to strengthen these findings and provide even more transparency on what Hotspot is up to. We’ve conducted intensive in-house testing of all of Hotspot’s programs, so we know how well it performs. However, Hotspot Shield is located in California, USA, so it is subject to some information logging base on locale policies but doesn’t need to keep it for longer than 30 days.Īnother thing we’d like to see from Hotspot is an independent audit of its services. It does keep track of how long you’re connected to the VPN and the bandwidth you use during these sessions. This includes your devices’ IP addresses or other identifiers. It's committed to keeping personal information to a minimum, won’t share your information with other companies or agencies, and won’t keep anything that connects your online history to you. Hotspot Shield’s anti-logging policy is promising. The vast majority of other free options include this important feature, so it’s rather disappointing that Hotspot doesn’t, even if this is only a free service.
This mechanism protects your privacy if the VPN ever drops, and Hotspot itself has mentioned the importance of having this feature in a VPN service in articles posted on its website. This program doesn’t include a kill switch. We tested Hotspot and didn’t find any need to worry in these areas.
It uses AES 256-bit encryption, which is industry-standard, and it also protects from DNS leaks. Hotspot Shield is an decent solution for keeping your information private and safely secured. Support: online articles Privacy and logging Platforms supported: Windows, Mac, iOS, Android 1 month plan - $0 per month ($0 total cost) (opens in new tab).Hotspot Shield Free subscription options:
(Image credit: Hotspot Shield) Hotspot Shield Basic on Paper
For paying customers, server access increases to over 3,200 in 70 countries. Despite this restriction, connection speeds are good and you shouldn’t experience any lag or buffering issues. Hotspot Shield Basic only has one server location for its users and it’s located in the United States. This ensures every device that is connected to the router is protected while also clearing up valuable storage space on the device itself. In fact, several top-rated routers come with Hotspot Shield preinstalled, though many that don’t can still have it installed after purchase. If you choose to purchase a full plan, Hotspot Shield also works on smart TVs, browsers, and routers. Its free service works on the most common devices - Windows, Mac, and Linux computers, and Android and iOS mobile devices. Hotspot Shield Basic offers a very generous unlimited data cap, meaning you can use the VPN as much as you like, although you will be restricted to only a single device connected at a time. Based in the US, it’s a fairly trusted provider and has been on the scene for some time. Whenever we add awesome new features, we’ll let you know!įor more information on downloading Hotspot Shield Free to your phone, check out our guide: how to install APK files.Hotspot Shield Basic is a simple free VPN from big-name best VPN contender Hotspot Shield. We’re always working to improve Hotspot Shield Basic with bug fixes and optimizations.
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