Hotspot Shield VPN

About this release

Hotspot Shield routes the machine's traffic through an encrypted tunnel to a server elsewhere, which hides the connection from whatever network the machine is sitting on and presents a different exit address to everything it connects to. On hotel, cafe and airport networks that is the practical difference between a private session and one that anyone on the same access point can watch.

Its transport is the reason it stands out. Rather than using one of the standard protocols unchanged, it uses its own, tuned for throughput over long distances and unreliable links. In practice a connection to a distant server keeps far more of its original speed than the usual options manage, which matters when the tunnel has to carry video or a large transfer rather than a mail client.

The client itself is short. A connect button, a server list grouped by country and city, a favourites section and a settings panel. A kill switch cuts the network entirely if the tunnel drops so nothing leaks in the gap, split tunnelling lets chosen applications bypass the tunnel where a local service demands it, and automatic connection triggers on any network the machine does not already trust.

The server list is broad enough to be useful for the two real reasons people use one of these: privacy on a network they do not control, and reaching a service as though from somewhere else. Multiple locations per country keep load spread, and the list reports latency so a sensible choice is obvious rather than guessed.

What it does

Proprietary transport

A protocol tuned for throughput that holds speed over long distances better than the standard options.

Kill switch

Cuts the network the moment the tunnel drops so nothing travels outside it.

Split tunnelling

Chosen applications bypass the tunnel where a local service or a printer needs the real route.

Automatic connection

Connects by itself on any network the machine has not been told to trust.

Broad server list

Multiple locations per country with latency shown so the choice is informed.

Short interface

A connect button, a list and a settings panel, with nothing to configure before it works.

Changed in this version

• Transport updated with better recovery on unstable connections.
• Kill switch reworked to engage faster on an abrupt drop.
• Server list adds locations and reports latency more accurately.
• Lower memory use for the background service.
• Fixed a reconnection loop that occurred after waking from sleep.

System requirements

Install order

1. Unpack the archive.
2. Run the installer and allow the virtual network adapter to install.
3. Restart if prompted so the adapter registers properly.
4. Connect once and confirm the exit address has changed before relying on it.

Worth knowing before you start

File details