Upfront summary: Is Hotspot Shield worth it?
Hotspot Shield is a legit VPN service provider that helps users maintain anonymity on the internet. With over 115 virtual locations worldwide, Hotspot shield helps mask users’ real IP addresses, allowing them access content in various locations around the world – even where they aren’t permitted initially.
It helps to bypass Netflix’s restrictions and enables users to watch from anywhere around the world. This feature remains applicable to many popular streaming services like YouTube, Hulu, HBO, Disney+, BBC iPlayer, and others at a remarkable speed. This high speed is attributed to its unique VPN propriety protocol (Hydra). Furthermore, hotspot shield also openly supports P2P torrenting and downloading, despite being frowned upon by other players in the anonymity industry – primarily due to copyright infringement.
So, Hotspot Shield seems to solve the problem of internet anonymity and security; but the real question is, are you really safe? Can you be really sure that your data and activities won’t leave trails and digital footprints? To give a plausible answer to this question, we have compiled and analyzed some facts to let you know how secure you are using Hotspot Shield.
Hotspot Shield Company Info
| Official Website: | https://www.hotspotshield.com/ |
| Launched: | 2008 |
| Owner: | Aura |
| Home Location: | Massachusetts, United States. |
| Customer Service Contact: | https://support.hotspotshield.com/hc/en-us |
| Social Media: | Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, Instagram |
What Is a VPN Service?
A Virtual Private Network (VPN) provides a route to go anonymous on the internet; this anonymity is provided when you connect your home network or wi-fi via a public connection. The private connection from the VPN shields your IP information from the home server, giving you the room to access webpages or streaming services without restriction. In essence, the VPN connects your device to another internet server in a location different from your home location, making it seem as though you are from the other location.
For example, suppose I was in New York, and I wanted to see content specifically restricted to the U.K. In that case, all I need to do is connect my VPN to a U.K. server in order to get access to that content.
People also use VPN to secure themselves and sensitive information from data leaks on the internet, especially when using public wi-fi. Also, people use VPN to stay anonymous when torrenting. It could be a criminal activity; staying visible on public networks will expose such a person.
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Is HotSpot Shield really safe and legit or a scam?
Hotspot Shield VPN completely conceals your IP address with what they refer to as a military-grade encryption. It uses the AES-128-CBC cipher, which boasts of uncrackable security. This “cipher” is used to transmit highly classified information by the military and top Government officials. Hence, this is why Hotspot Shield boasts of a perfectly safe environment in terms of IP leaks and DNS leaks.
However, while your IP information is safe from leaks, Hotspot Shield retains your IP information during your browsing session. Although, according to their privacy policy, if law enforcement demands helpful information to combat criminal activities, they will comply and share saved data.
So why keep the data at all?
In other words, your IP information is at risk of being obtained by the government.
Since the Takeover of Hotspot Shield by Aura in 2019, the headquarters have been moved to Massachusetts from Switzerland. When considered, the United States isn’t particularly a location to be trusted on services that require privacy – especially given the vague nature of Hotspot Shield’s Privacy Policy.
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How To Use The Hotspot Shield VPN
Hotspot Shield requires you to sign up before use, so they collect personal data like your name, email address, and even Social Security Number (SSN). All these are a huge turn-off for anybody seeking utmost privacy on the internet.
Hotspot Shield also requires you to purchase their services with a card, and you have to submit your billing information like a full name and address. It gives no option to pay with Bitcoin or other cryptocurrencies that could link directly to you.
Hotspot shield also retrieves your internet and device information, such as your device identifiers (IMEI, IP address, and other device information), approximate location, device type, operating system, network information, and the addresses that you visit.
However, they claim that they collect this information to provide a better service, and they don’t keep logs that could expose your anonymity. However, this claim is quite contradictory, as they also mentioned that they are obliged to provide law enforcement with the necessary information if required. Hence, we can agree that Hotspot shield’s privacy policy is vague despite the high level of encryption it offers.
The VPN service is available on Mobile, browser extension, or as a desktop app. It has a free version which is accompanied by ads, and it also has a premium version, with a 7-day trial period.
Users on the free mobile version also face the risk of having their personal information leaked by google ads and other third-party ad networks. Hotspot shield claims that these third-party ad networks already have users’ personal information, but that’s not all. Hotspot Shield admits to sharing device identifiers, internet information, and approximate geolocation with these third-party apps. Hence, a free session with Hotspot Shield exposes you to a huge data breach possibility from third parties.
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Hotspot Shield’s Speed
Hotspot Shield VPN uses the Catapult Hydra as its proprietary VPN protocol, which makes it very fast. It functions within the VPN to increase the speed of data transfer. This is why Hotspot Shield VPN has a very remarkable speed among its competitors. However, with proprietary technology, there are underlying privacy worries. Hydra VPN protocol is closed-source, and it cannot be reviewed by just anybody, unlike other open-source protocols; therefore, there is no way to know for sure if the VPN protocol is genuinely keeping you anonymous.
Network Protocols
Hotspot Shield VPN supports only IPv4 traffic, not IPv6. Hence, you may be prone to a data breach if your Internet Service Provider (ISP) provides you with an IPv6 network. So, people who aren’t aware of this may suffer data loss.
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Hotspot Shield and Privacy Scandals
In 2016, under the old parent company of Hotspot Shield, they were accused of logging sensitive user data such as IP addresses, device identifiers, user devices, and internet information and selling to advertisers. The Center for Democracy and Technology (CDT) complained to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to investigate the data sharing policies of Hotspot Shield. While the CDTs complaint is probably valid, it is vaguely stated in Hotspot Shield’s Privacy Policy that they will collect these data.
Upon reviewing all the information above, you may want to ask yourself again, is Hotspot Shield Safe? Unfortunately, we won’t give a direct answer to that. However, from the analysis of the above information, we will draw a conclusion.
The vague nature of the Hotspot Shield Privacy Policy is a massive deterrent to trusting them. This argument is further bolstered because they are based in the United States, and their propriety protocol cannot be audited. In truth, Hotspot Shield will not leak your IP and DNS information, but they could be logged, meaning that Law enforcement could have access at some point. Their history with a formal complaint issued clearly shows that their privacy policy is very unclear. If you seek true anonymity on the internet, then Hotspot Shield VPN is not for you.
Although Hotspot Shield VPN publicly endorses it, torrenting may be a bad idea due to the possibility that it logs information. Suppose you want to engage in P2P torrenting. In that case, it may be more beneficial to use a VPN service that you are assured of their logging policies so that you do not face the wrath of law enforcement. Furthermore, as said earlier, torrenting frequently involves copyright infringement, making it imperative that you torrent anonymously. Therefore, using Hotspot Shield may keep your logs, removing that anonymity you desire. Eventually, you may be arrested for criminal activities if records can prove that you unlawfully accessed a product.
However, if you aren’t very big on data privacy; you only want the freedom to access several contents from anywhere around the world without restrictions, then Hotspot Shield is ideal due to its speed and strong IP encryption. The Windows version of the VPN also has a Kill-switch, which is not peculiar to all VPN service providers. Without a Kill switch, if your VPN is interrupted, your internet session reverts to being public, and you are at the risk of a data breach. However, the kill-switch feature in the Hotspot Shield VPN immediately cuts out your internet session until the VPN connection is available again.
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Best Hotspot Shield Alternatives
For the purpose of absolute Internet anonymity, safety, and security, here are some VPN services you should consider:
Most of these VPN services above work reasonably well in China, and they keep no logs, keeping you safe and free of data breaches. Also, you can make your payments via cryptocurrencies.
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FAQs
Can a free VPN service offer me anonymity?
It is possible to browse the internet freely and safely on a free VPN network; however, it is improbable that your information will remain private. For the best experience, use a paid, secured application.
Should I just use the browser extension since I only want to use my browser?
It is highly recommended that you install the application on your computer as browser extensions have a higher rate of failure and privacy leaks.
Is it true that hotspot shield sells data?
We don’t know for sure, but we recommend trying other alternatives if you intend to browse through sensitive information.