Background Hidemyass Exit Nodes
Hide My Ass! (HMA!) Is a UK-based firm, with Its claim to fame being its number of subscribers — it has more than 400 million, today. This supplier has witnessed its fair share of controversy with regards. It made updates to it support in the hopes of winning back the loyalty of its readers and redeeming itself. Hidemyass Exit Nodes
We took it To get a test run to find out whether it’s worth and how much it has improved the money.
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What Is a VPN?
It creates an encrypted tunnel to when you activate a VPN Protect your information as it passes from the computer to a server. From there, your info exits onto the net. It is a simple idea, but one with tremendous impacts to your privacy and safety.
It prevents anyone in your neighborhood Community from observation or intercepting your action. Though the airport or coffee shop Wi-Fi network looks safe (it might even be password-protected) it is not actually secure unless you’re using a VPN. For another thing, a VPN may stop your Internet Service Provider (ISP) from gathering information about your online activities so that it can sell anonymized user information to the highest bidder.
A VPN makes it more difficult to correlate your Online activities together with your identity. Since your visitors is exiting from the VPN firm’s server, you seem to have its own IP address, effectively hiding your true location. Additionally, it forces even the most determined attacker to try and sort through all the visitors from different users on the exact same VPN server to find what they’re after. For all these reasons, and much more, you need a VPN on your lifetime.
Be aware that a VPN encrypts your visitors till it exits through the VPN server. Provided the site you’re accessing uses HTTPS, your information must be protected all the way. Additionally, while VPNs can offer a modicum of anonymity, a tool such as the Tor network is much better at hiding your identity.
VPNs have long been used by journalists and political activists To circumvent censorship in countries with repressive net policies. They’re also useful if you are looking to circumvent geographic restrictions on streaming content. A VPN can spoof your existing place, giving you access to restricted content such as BBC streaming or MLB TV. Some VPNs do not appreciate these actions (which might be in violation of terms of support or even local laws) and content providers such as Netflix are breaking down on users that snore their location and the VPN providers they utilize to perform it.
There is a good opportunity That you may have never laid hands on a VPN before. If that’s the case, don’t worry! We have got an entire feature about the best way best to set up and use a VPN. Hidemyass Exit Nodes
VPN Protocols
There are several ways to make a VPN connection. My Preferred method uses the OpenVPN protocol, which is famous for its speed and reliability. Additionally, it is open minded, and therefore has been chosen over for potential vulnerabilities by anyone with the interest to do so.
Hide My Ass uses OpenVPN on Windows, using an older version That supports L2TP, and PPTP, too. There are also two different versions of this macOS app that, taken collectively, support IPSec (IKEv1 and v2), L2TP, and PPTP. Be aware that these old versions of this app have been phased out from the developer. The iOS variant uses only IPSec, and the Android program uses just OpenVPN.
That’s a bit of a hodgepodge, and I am frustrated that Hide My Ass does not offer OpenVPN on all platforms. That said, a number of this matter is with the programs. Apple requires developers to jump through additional hoops if they wish to include OpenVPN in an app, but many are beginning to move in this way. I would love to see Hide My Ass do the same, across the board.
Your Privacy With Hide My Ass
With any security item, you want to Be Certain that the Business behind it’s going to be operating on your best interests. This is particularly true for VPNs, which are supposed to improve privacy and security. If a VPN business is just as nosey as your ISP, there’s not much point in using it.
While I examine VPNs, I browse the Organization’s privacy policy And speak with agents in order to better understand how your information is stored and used. In the instance of Hide My Ass, the company ought to be praised on its clear privacy policy. It says Hide My Ass logs your own username, the timestamp of connection and disconnection, the amount of data transmitted, your real IP address, and the IP address of the host you linked to. This is not radically different from what’s provided by other services. In fact, it’s quite like Golden Frog VyprVPN’s policy.
What is noteworthy is that Hide My Ass Will store this data for two to three months, while VyprVPN stores it for only 30 days. Other services hold less information, or else they dispose of it immediately. Hide My Ass states it keeps this data for this particular period of time in order to enhance performance, prevent fraud, and stop bad guys from using the VPN to send spam. The organization, notably, also lists file sharing among the illicit activities it takes this information to stop, regardless of the firm being fine by means of BitTorrent on some servers.
It might be possible that this information could be used To correlate a user’s identity to particular activity online, but it will likely be very difficult. In spite of this information, an audience would have to know which VPN host to watch and then compare that action against Hide My Ass’s logs, and have the ability to parse out the target’s visitors from everybody else using the same server.
The Hide My Ass privacy policy also clearly states that it Doesn’t monitor or store the actual content of your internet activity. So, the support is not looking at your sites or the files that you are downloading. That’s great, and just what you wish to hear by a VPN company.
Before, some VPN companies monetized consumers by Injecting ads into their web traffic. Hide My Ass states it doesn’t do that, and goes much further. A company representative explained to me that the firm doesn’t profit from user data in any way.
The actual place of a VPN company also matters, as it Can inform what protections are given to clients. Hide My Ass works under the legal jurisdiction of England and Wales, and has its business headquarters in London. Especially, the UK at large does have data retention legislation. That’s not ideal. Many other VPN services function in countries without compulsory data retention legislation, or in ones which have privacy protections for customers. Hidemyass Exit Nodes
I do not believe It’s likely to make a determination About the advantages of a company based on its place. However, it is very important to understand the policies and laws at work in a business with such access. I encourage visitors pick a VPN service by which they can feel comfortable, and to think about this advice.
Programs and Server Locations
A key differentiator between VPN services is the amount of Servers and their distribution. A great deal of servers means you are more likely to locate a server that’s not bogged down with other users. For its own part, Hide My Ass has an extremely commendable 876 servers in its disposal. Nevertheless, Private online accessibility NordVPN, and TorGuard VPN have over 3,000 servers apiece. Those are my benchmarks for robustness in the VPN server class.
Geographic distribution of these servers can be very important. A great deal of locations means more to choose from for functions that are spoofing, but also ensures that no matter will always be a server for your performance. Hide My Ass has a very impressive 286 server places across some 220 nations. It is easily.
The list of server places that were accessible offered by Hide My Ass is noteworthy because it covers regions ignored by other VPN businesses. It’s, for example, server locations that are numerous . It maintains servers in China, Russia, and Turkey, which have internet policies that are particularly repressive.
Some customers May Be concerned about a VPN company’s Usage of virtual servers. All these are servers that produce a single server operate as many servers. Virtual servers can also be configured to act as though they are in 1 state when they are in another, which is a problem if you are concerned about where your information is traveling.
A company representative told me that a 225 of the 286 server places are virtual servers. Only 61 of the host places are hardware, and 450 of Hide My Ass’s 876 servers are all virtual. That is far beyond services. NordVPN, Private Internet Access, TunnelBear, IPVanish, and TorGuard use infrastructure to get their server locations.
A company representative explained to me that bulk of the Firm’s physical server infrastructure is located in Amsterdam, Frankfurt, London, Miami, New York, Prague, Seattle, and Singapore. This doesn’t really jibe with what Hide My Ass lists on its site. I’d love to see future versions of Hide My Ass be clearer about when you’re linked to a virtual host.
Installation and interface
Getting Started with Hide My Ass! Is super easy and the updated programs are very user-friendly. You’ll be given a license key once you register for your own account. You can use this or your credentials (username and password) to log into any app. For the purpose of this inspection, we’ve tested the Windows client and the iOS app. Hidemyass Exit Nodes
Desktop
As Soon as You’ve Logged in and launched the desktop client, you will be greeted with the Success! screen. Simply click Got It! To access the screen of the program. Here you have three options for modes: Location Mode, Instant Mode, and Freedom Mode.
In Instant Mode, you can click the arrow And you’ll be linked to the server for your current location.
In Location manner, you can choose that Server you link to. Click on Change Location to see your options. There is a drop-down list which enables you to choose servers based on various criteria. We all will show you an alphabetized state list. Clicking the arrow will show you special locations within this nation.
Quick Access shows you a list Recently connected to, as well as some recommended choices. Streaming will provide you a choice of two servers suitable for unblocking popular streaming services like Netflix, one in the united states and one in the UK.
Peer to Peer shows You all that permit P2P filesharing. Ultimately, there’s the Favorites option; to indicate a server as a favorite, you can click on the heart to the right of this server name.
Going back To the main display, the one alternative here is Freedom Mode, which is aimed at users who wish to bypass censorship. This mode will connect you to a server in the nearest state that is deemed to be free from censorship.
You can Access the Settings by clicking on the menu icon in the upper left-hand corner of the main display and selecting Preferences. Here, you will see three tabs: General, Network Security, and Kill Change. From the Generalscreen, you can change your startup options, such as beginning when you turn your computer on or if the app starts.
You also Possess. You can uncheck the box, if you want to hide your history.
Next, We’ve got the Network Security screen in which you may choose settings for automatic wifi protection. You can also turn on the IP shuffle feature making it more difficult for someone to detect your location by periodically changing your IP address. One option in this screen allows you to utilize TCP using OpenVPN. This is only recommended if UDP is blocked or throttled. TCP is more secure, but UDP is typically faster.
The Last tab is the Kill tab, where you are able to toggle on this attribute so that it works for many programs. You decide whether or not to use it to those and could add software.
This Is a app that is robust and it is definitely both aesthetically pleasing and easy-to-use.
Mobile
Many Providers will have a mobile app that is unrecognizable compared to the desktop version. However, HMA! Has streamlined its product, and the iOS app looks nearly like the Windows version.
Once you’re You’ll get to the main display, which is basically the same as the display in the background program. Here you can choose from Location Mode Immediate Mode, or Freedom Mode.
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The Only real difference is that if you pick Location Mode, your options are presented in another method. You’ve got three tabs: Nations, Cities, and Favorites, but missing are the extra options found in the desktop such as Streaming, Peer to Peer, and speedy Access.
To Access the streaming servers in the program, you will have to visit the Cities list and locate the Liberty Island server under US, New York. Even the UK, Donkey Town server may also be located on this list for access to BBC iPlayer and UK Netflix.
Moving on, The settings for the app can be accessed by clicking on the menu icon at the top corner of this display and select Settings. There you have two choices: privacy and Link Rules.
In The Connection Rules section, you can adjust wifi security settings and decide whether to auto reconnect when wifi or mobile connections are interrupted.
The Personal solitude department has 1 alternative: Share utilization data with third parties for analytics, which will be your consent to”enable app and device usage information to be shared with third parties for analytics.” Keep in mind this is permitted by default so that it might be among the things that you want to flip off.
In General, This is a slick and intuitive app, but some users may be missing additional features like a kill switch and the choice to switch protocols.
Servers and functionality
The Hide My Ass! Network comprises more than 850 servers covering over 190 countries. Some of these are virtual servers, but a customer support representative was unable to tell us how many. Hidemyass Exit Nodes
As we Discussed earlier, HMA presents several options for choosing the ideal server, such as different styles and the ability to mark servers as favorites. Servers that allow P2P are indicated using a P2P emblem.
We analyzed Various servers for performance in the US and the UK in terms of surfing browsing, and downloading. Aside from there being an obvious slowdown in page loading times when attached with a UK server, overall, when surfing, there were no substantial issues. This is not uncommon for geographically distant servers (the tests were completed in Toronto, Canada), but might be frustrating, especially for users who have slow internet speeds.
We didn’t See any lag or buffering while streaming 1080p with any of the test servers and could play online games with no issues.
HideMyAss! and Netflix
Hide My Ass! unblocks Netflix! But don’t expect to link to some Waiter and go. When we analyzed servers using US Netflix using the desktop client, we had no chance. But if you select the Streaming option from the dropdown inside Location Mode, you’ll see two choices: a US host (USA, New York, Liberty Island) and a UK server (UK, Donkey Town). Be aware that in the app that is cell, you will have to obtain these within the Cities list in Location Mode.
Connecting To Netflix server gave us access Into the US with no difficulty. Connecting to the UK one enabled access to BBC iPlayer in Addition to UK Netflix. Many suppliers only concentrate on providing US Netflix access, so it’s refreshing to see one which strives to provide access to the UK library too. What is more, BBC iPlayer is seriously cracking down on VPN usage, so the ability to unblock this support is a wonderful perk.
If you’re You may have to go everywhere. HMA! Is having difficulty unblocking this support at a customer care representative and this time informed us that there is no estimated time for when it might be functioning.
HideMyAss! in China?
Hide My Ass! Doesn’t work reliably in China. It used to, but HMA! Answers in support forums have suggested that the support will function for some users. You could try your luck, but you’d best look elsewhere if you want a China VPN.
HideMyAss! Speed test performance
For any VPN That can be used with our test procedures, ongoing speed tests which have been designed to be as empirical as possible are run by us. We utilize a test server to connect to VPN servers in Australia, the United Kingdom, the Usa, Hong Kong, and Germany. For each and every place, we download an evaluation file (50MB in size) in the US server. This can be done four times per day at six-hour intervals. The typical download rate for every test is listed along with the aggregate information is displayed.
You can see From the Simple chart below how HMA! Compares to the VPN services we’ve been analyzing. While it doesn’t have the fastest speeds, it is close to the front of the package in regards to median download rates.
By clicking on the Detailed tab, you can see that the spread in outcomes isn’t as tight as a number of the evaluation VPNs. This means in regards to speeds you may see some inconsistency.
It is Important to be aware that these tests are not definitive and may only serve as a general indication of the functionality you may see. The inherent volatility of the internet adds a variable of randomness. What’s more, you see smaller or larger disagreements, and longer wait times with a slow connection. Hidemyass Exit Nodes
Customer Services
For those who Want Any help while setting up or using the support, HMA! Includes a couple of alternatives for you. Clicking the Help tab on the website, you’ll find a Knowledge Base and a Getting Started section. These each home articles related to setting up questions. So before seeking other alternatives that you might choose to research both there’s a crossover.
In addition, You’ll locate a Community button which contributes to a forum section. This is segregated into different topics; some seem to be out of date, while others are active. Below that, there are some FAQs.
If you do not Find what you’re looking for, or you simply want a reply, you can click the live chat button. The service is prompt and educated, and representatives were able to quickly resolve most problems we encountered. At one stage, a representative was not able to answer some safety questions and advised he’d escalate the problem because an email request. This has been responded to in under 2 hours that’s very quick for an email response.
Security and privacy
Hide My Ass! Is based. The UK is also a Five Eyes (and Fourteen Eyes) country, which means it is part of an alliance that enables monitoring by outside authorities. Additionally, it is home to the Snooper’s Charter which imposes regulations British ISPs that affect user privacy.
For many Data retention laws in their home country are not really an issue. That is because they operate with a real no-logs policy where no connection or visitors logs are kept by them. They can not be tied to a single user if connection logs are kept by them.
Unfortunately, HMA! Isn’t one of those VPNs and has a privacy policy that users will discover off-putting. For one, while you can expect your IP address will be logged, along with timestamps and the amount of data used. This is a big no-no for VPNs generally. Although an IP address is regarded as information that is personally identifiable, the fact is that information can and has been used to track the action of individuals. IP addresses are used to help find and convict criminals. We’re pro-privacy while we don’t condone actions that are criminal, and it doesn’t cut. Hidemyass Exit Nodes
Additionally, Hide My Ass! Logs the VPN IP address Connected into a session. Here is the IP address when you visit it, that a site operator can see and document. It might be possible to piece together all of an individual’s internet activity since the real and VPN IP addresses are logged, between the end and VPN website logs. You may have seen news of a 2011 FBI case involving HMA! Where it handed over logs that were used to track a hacker that is LulzSec down. Certainly, this can be a black mark for privacy.
One way to Make this less of a problem and to possibly confuse things a bit would be to make the most of this IP address shuffle feature. When enabled in the Network Security screen of the app, this transforms your IP address outside for another one. It would not make you untraceable but could add a layer of obfuscation.
Privacy Issues aside, on the safety front, Hide My Ass! Fares pretty well. It uses. This perfect forward secrecy and is in conjunction with RSA keys. It employs the protocol UDP by default, however you can change to TCP inside the desktop client. PPTP, L2TP, IPSec are available, depending on which program you are using.
The versions boast To work for apps that are specific. A kill button will kill the connection if the VPN link drop for a certain reason. This attribute isn’t available in the mobile programs
A live chat Customer service representative informed us that there is no DNS leak security. However, another company representative assured us that there is in fact DNS and IPv6 leak protection, but no WebRTC escape protection. Indeed, when the support was analyzed by us for escapes, we did not see any DNS leak problems other than leaks. HMA! Does use DNS servers whereas personal ones would be preferable from a privacy standpoint.
One handy Feature that Hide My Ass! Provides is wifi security, which can be customized at the in the Network Security section of the or the app’s Connection Rules tab configurations.
Features and pricing
Hide My Ass! Provides one merchandise with prices you register for. It is definitely not among the least expensive providers available. A 12-month planwill set you back $6.99 a month, which can be greater than the average cost for a similar duration. What’s more, a great deal of top VPN providers will supply an extended plan; for example, a two- or three-year term with even steeper discounts. Hidemyass Exit Nodes
If You’re not prepared to sign up only yet, HMA! Does provide a six-month plan for $7.99 a month or you can pay on a monthly basis for $11.99 a month. These rates are a bit above average if you compare to competitors.
Payment Options include PayPal credit cards, and UnionPay. Unfortunately, for much more privacy-conscious consumers, bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies are not viable payment procedures. There’s a money-back guarantee, so you’ll have your payment deducted if you are not satisfied with the support.
So what do You get for your money? Hide My Ass! Has a network of over 850 servers in over 180 countries. Some are devoted to accessing streaming sites and certain servers allow P2P filesharing (read: torrenting). All plans come with unlimited bandwidth and you can join up to five devices concurrently. Apps are available for Windows, MacOS, iOS, and Android. The VPN can be manually configured with Linux and a few routers. Pre-configured routers are available as an alternative.
From a Security standpoint, HMA! Provides perfect forward secrecy strong encryption wifi security, along with the desktop programs come with a kill switch. However, the coverage problems which plagued the ceremony stay, so privacy is still an issue.
Wrap-up
For the most part, HMA! Provides a fantastic service. It has infinite bandwidth, fast speeds, and a community of servers. It is in a position to unblock popular services like BBC iPlayer, Netflix UK, and Netflix US. Additionally, it offers strong security, apps, and customer care.
On the Surface, it seems like HMA! Would be a fantastic option for torrenters, without a data Caps and a few servers acceptable for P2P. The problems with the privacy Policy are a concern in addition to any other privacy-conscious users. This is the only major turn-off for this Provider, but it is a large one. Other concerns include the inability to work Reliably in also the somewhat hefty price tag and China. Hidemyass Exit Nodes
Click here to sign up for Hide My Ass! Today!