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Hide My Ass! (HMA!) Is a firm, with Its claim to fame has been its number of subscribers — it has over 400 million, now. This supplier has witnessed its share of controversy with regards to user privacy. It recently made updates in the hopes of redeeming itself and winning back the loyalty of its subscribers service to it. Hidemyass Panic Button Keyboard Shortcuts Not Working
We took it For a test run to see how much it’s improved and whether it’s well worth the money.
Click here to sign up for Hide My Ass! Today!
What’s a VPN?
It creates an encrypted tunnel to, when you activate a VPN Guard your data as it passes from the computer to a server controlled by the VPN. From there, your info exits onto the net. It’s a simple idea, but one with enormous consequences to safety and your privacy.
It prevents anyone lurking Network from monitoring or intercepting your action. While the airport or coffee shop Wi-Fi network appears safe (it may even be password-protected) it is not reallysecure unless you’re using a VPN. For another thing, a VPN can prevent your Internet Service Provider (ISP) from gathering information about your online activities so that it could sell anonymized user information to the highest bidder.
A VPN also makes it more difficult to correlate your Online activities with your identity. Since your visitors is exiting from the VPN company’s server, you seem to have its own IP address, effectively concealing your true site. It also compels even the most determined attacker to test and sort through all of the visitors from different users on the same VPN server to find what they are after. For these reasons, and much more, you want a VPN on your lifetime.
Note that your visitors is only encrypted by a VPN till it exits through the VPN server. Provided the website your information should be protected all the way. Also, while VPNs can provide a modicum of anonymity, a tool such as the Tor system is much better at concealing your identity.
VPNs have long been used by journalists and activists To bypass censorship in countries with repressive net policies. They are also useful if you are searching to circumvent geographical constraints on streaming content. A VPN can spoof your current place, providing you with access to geographically restricted content like BBC streaming or MLB TV. Some VPNs do not appreciate these actions (which might be in violation of terms of support or even local legislation ) and content providers like Netflix are also cracking down on users who snore their location and the VPN services they utilize to perform it.
There’s a good chance That you may have never laid hands on a VPN before. Don’t worry, if that is the case! We have got a whole feature about the best way best to prepare and use a VPN. Hidemyass Panic Button Keyboard Shortcuts Not Working
VPN Protocols
There are several techniques to create a VPN connection. My Preferred method employs the OpenVPN protocol, which is known for its speed and reliability. It’s also open minded, and therefore has been chosen over for possible vulnerabilities by anyone with the interest to do so.
Hide My Ass utilizes OpenVPN on Windows, using an older version That supports L2TP, and PPTP, also. Additionally, there are two different versions of this macOS app that, taken together, support IPSec (IKEv1 and v2), L2TP, and PPTP. Note that these old versions of the app have been phased out from the developer. The iOS version uses only IPSec, along with the Android app 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. Nevertheless, some of this issue is with the programs. Apple requires developers to jump through additional hoops if they wish to include OpenVPN within an app, but many are starting to move in this direction. I’d like to view Hide My Ass do the same, across the board.
Your Privacy With Hide My Ass
With any security item, you want to be sure that the Business behind it will be operating in your best interests. This is especially true for VPNs, which are intended to increase privacy and security. If a VPN company is simply as nosey as your ISP, there is not much point in using it.
When I review VPNs, ” I read the company’s privacy policy And speak with agents in order to better understand how your information is used and stored. In the case of Hide My Ass, the corporation should be praised on its clear privacy policy. It states that Hide My personal logs your username, the timestamp of connection and disconnection, the number of data transmitted, your real IP address, and the IP address of the host you connected to. This is not radically different from what’s provided by other services. In fact, it’s very similar to Golden Frog VyprVPN’s policy.
What is notable 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 eliminate it immediately. Hide My Ass states it keeps this data for this time period so as to improve performance, prevent fraud, and stop bad guys from using the VPN to send spam. The organization, notably, also lists document sharing among the illegal actions it requires this information to stop, regardless of the company being fine with the use of BitTorrent on certain servers.
It might be possible that this information could be used To correlate a user’s identity to specific activity on the internet, but it would probably be very hard. In spite of this information, an observer would need to know which VPN server to watch and then compare this action from Hide My Ass’s logs, and have the ability to parse out the target’s visitors from everyone else using the same server.
The Hide My Ass privacy policy also clearly says that it Does not track or store the actual content of your online activity. So, the support isn’t looking at your sites or the files that you’re downloading. That’s great, and just what you wish to hear from a VPN company.
Before, some VPN companies monetized users by Injecting ads in their web traffic. Hide My Ass says it does not do that, and goes much farther. A business representative explained to me the firm doesn’t gain from consumer data at all.
The actual location of a VPN company also issues, as it Can notify what protections are given to customers. Hide My Ass gets its own company headquarters in London, and works under the legal jurisdiction of England and Wales. The UK at large does have data retention legislation. That is not ideal. Many other VPN providers operate in countries without data retention legislation, or in ones which have privacy protections for customers. Hidemyass Panic Button Keyboard Shortcuts Not Working
I do not believe It’s likely to make a decision About the advantages of a company based solely on its own location. However, it is important to comprehend policies and that the laws at work in a business with such intimate access to some own information. I encourage visitors to consider this information, and choose a VPN service.
Programs and Server Places
A key differentiator between VPN services is the amount of Servers and their distribution. Lots of servers means you’re more likely to locate. For its own part, Hide My Ass has a very respectable servers at its disposal. Nevertheless, Private online accessibility NordVPN, and TorGuard VPN have well over 3,000 servers apiece. Those are my benchmarks for robustness from the VPN server category.
Geographic distribution of those servers is also very important. A great deal of places means more to pick from for spoofing functions, but also ensures that no matter will likely always be a nearby server for the performance. Hide My Ass has an extremely impressive server places across some 220 countries. It’s easily.
The list of server places offered by Hide My Ass is particularly noteworthy since regions often ignored by VPN businesses are covered by it. It’s, for example, numerous server places . Additionally, it maintains servers in China, Russia, and Turkey, which have internet policies that are particularly repressive.
Some customers might be concerned about a company’s Usage of servers. These are servers which produce a single physical server effectively function as servers that are several. Virtual servers may also be configured to act as though they are in 1 state when they’re really in another, which is an issue if you’re worried about where your data is traveling.
I was told by A company representative this a full 225 of the 286 server places provided by Hide My Ass are all servers. Only 61 of the server places are hardware, and 450 of Hide My Ass’s 876 servers are all virtual. That is far beyond other providers. NordVPN TunnelBear, IPVanish, and TorGuard only utilize infrastructure.
A business representative explained that majority of the Company’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 website. I’d like to see future versions of Hide My Ass be clearer about when you are linked to a virtual host.
Installation and interface
Getting Began with Hide My Ass! Is super simple and the updated programs are very user-friendly. You’ll be given a license key, once you sign up for your account. You can use this or your credentials (username and password) to log into almost any program. For the purpose of this inspection, we have tested the Windows client as well as the iOS app. Hidemyass Panic Button Keyboard Shortcuts Not Working
Desktop
Once you’ve Logged in and Established the client, you will be greeted with the Success! screen. Simply click Got It! To get the app’s screen. Here you have Freedom Mode: Immediate Mode and three choices for modes.
In Immediate Mode, you can click the arrow And you’ll be connected to the server for your site.
In Location manner, that can be chosen by you Server you link to. Click Change Location to see your alternatives. There is a drop-down list which allows you to select servers based on various criteria. We all will show you an alphabetized state listing. Clicking the arrow will show you special locations within that nation.
Speedy Access shows you a list Recently connected to, in addition to some recommended options. Streaming will provide you a choice of two servers suitable for unblocking popular streaming services like Netflix, one at the united states and one in the UK.
Peer to Peer shows You all that allow P2P filesharing. There’s the Favorites choice; to mark a server as a favorite, you can click on the center .
Going back To the main screen, the one other option here is Freedom Mode, which is targeted at users that wish to bypass censorship. This mode will link you to a host in the nearest state that is regarded as free of censorship.
You can Get into the Settings by clicking the menu icon at the top left corner of the main display and choosing Preferences. Here, you’ll see three tabs: General and Kill Change. In the Generalscreen, you can change your startup options, like starting when you turn on your pc or if the app starts.
You also Possess. If you want to hide your recent history, then you can uncheck the box.
Next, We have the Network Security screen in which you may select settings for wifi protection. It is also possible to turn on the IP shuffle feature which makes it more difficult for someone to detect where you are by periodically changing your IP address. An additional option in this display allows you to use TCP with OpenVPN. This is only recommended if UDP is blocked or throttled. TCP is more stable, but UDP is typically faster.
The Tab will be the Kill Switch tab, so that it works for many programs where you are able to toggle on this feature. You can add software and decide whether or not to use it.
This Is a program that is robust and it is definitely both aesthetically pleasing and searchable.
Mobile
Many Suppliers will have a mobile app that’s unrecognizable compared to the desktop version. However, HMA! Has streamlined its product, and the iOS app looks almost like the Windows version.
Once you’re You’ll get to the screen, which is essentially the same as the primary display in the background app. Here you can Pick from Freedom Mode, Location Mode, or Instant Mode.
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The Only real difference is that if you pick Location Mode, your choices are presented in another manner. You’ve got three tabs: Nations, Cities, and Favorites, but lacking are speedy Access, and the extra options found from the client, such as Streaming, Peer to Peer.
To Get into the streaming servers from the app, you will need to visit the Cities listing and locate the Liberty Island server under US, New York. The UK Town server can also be located on this listing for access to UK Netflix and BBC iPlayer.
Moving on, The settings to the app can be retrieved by clicking on the menu icon at the upper corner of the display and select Settings. There you have two options: Personal privacy and Link Rules.
In The Link Rules segment, you can adjust wifi security settings and decide whether to auto reconnect when wifi or mobile connections are disrupted.
The Personal solitude section has 1 alternative: Share usage data with third parties for analytics, which will be your consent to”enable app and apparatus use information to be shared with third parties for analytics.” Bear in mind this is enabled by default so that it might be among the first things that you want to flip off.
In General, This is a sleek and intuitive program, but some users might be missing additional features such as a kill button and the option to switch protocols.
Servers and performance
The Hide My Ass! Network comprises more than 850 servers covering over 190 countries. Some of these are virtual servers, but a consumer service representative was not able to tell us how many. Hidemyass Panic Button Keyboard Shortcuts Not Working
As we Discussed earlier, HMA offers many options for selecting the ideal server, such as distinct modes and the ability to mark servers as favorites. Are indicated using a symbol that was P2P.
We tested Numerous servers in the US and also the UK for functionality in terms of streaming browsing, and downloading. Besides there being a noticeable lag in page loading times when attached to a UK server In general, when surfing, there were no problems. This isn’t unusual for distant remote servers (the tests were completed in Toronto, Canada), but might be bothersome, particularly for users with already slow net rates.
We didn’t See any lag or streaming whilst streaming 1080p using any of the test servers and were able to play online games with no issues.
HideMyAss! and Netflix
Hide My Ass! unblocks Netflix! But do not expect to simply link to some Waiter and proceed. When we analyzed random servers using US Netflix using the client, we had no luck whatsoever. However, if you choose the Streaming choice in the dropdown within Location Mode, then you will see two options: a US host (USA, New York, Liberty Island) and a UK server (UK, Donkey Town). Be aware that in the app, you will need to find these within the Cities list in Location Mode.
Connecting To the US server gave us access to Netflix without issue. Linking to the UK one allowed entry to UK Netflix in Addition to BBC iPlayer. Many providers only concentrate on supplying US Netflix accessibility, so it is refreshing to see one that strives to provide entry to the UK library also. What’s more, BBC iPlayer is seriously cracking down on VPN use, so the capability to unblock this service is a wonderful perk.
If you are On the lookout for Amazon Prime Video, you might have to go elsewhere. HMA! Is having trouble unblocking this support at this time and a customer care representative informed us that there is no estimated timeframe for when it may be working.
HideMyAss! in China?
Hide My Ass! Doesn’t operate reliably in China. It used to, but recent HMA! Responses in support forums have suggested that the service will no longer function for a few users. You can try your fortune, but you’d best look elsewhere if you need a reliable China VPN.
HideMyAss! Speed test performance
For any VPN That is compatible with our evaluation procedures, we conduct ongoing speed tests that have been designed to be as empirical as possible. We use a test server to connect to VPN servers in the United Kingdom, the Usa, Australia, Hong Kong, and Germany. For each and every location, we download an evaluation file (50MB in size) in the US server. This is done four times per day in six-hour intervals. The typical rate for each test is listed along with the aggregate information is displayed.
You can see From the Simple chart below how HMA! Compares to the other VPN services we have been testing. It’s near the front of the pack when it comes to download speeds, while it does not have the fastest speeds.
You can see that the spread in results isn’t as tight as a number of the test VPNs, by clicking the Detailed tab. This usually means when it comes to speeds you might observe some inconsistency.
It is Important to be aware that these tests aren’t definitive and may only function as an overall indication of the performance you may see. The inherent volatility of the internet adds a substantial variable of randomness. What’s more, you see more wait times with a slow link, and smaller or discrepancies. Hidemyass Panic Button Keyboard Shortcuts Not Working
Customer service
For those who need Any help whilst setting up or using the service, HMA! Has a couple of alternatives for you. Clicking the Help tab on the Site, you’ll find a Getting Started section and also a Knowledge Base. These each house articles related to setting up questions. There is some crossover so before seeking other options you may choose to research both.
In addition, You’ll locate a Community button which leads to a forum section. This can be segregated into different topics; some seem to be out of date, while some are active. Under that, there are some FAQs.
If you don’t Discover what you’re searching for, or you just want a response, you can click the live chat button in the base right-hand corner of this screen. The service is knowledgeable and prompt, and representatives were able to swiftly solve. At one stage, there was a representative not able to answer some security questions and advised he’d escalate the problem as an email request. This was responded to in under 2 weeks that’s very quick for an email response.
Safety and privacy
Hide My Ass! Is based. The UK is also a Five Eyes (and Fourteen Eyes) country, which means it’s part of an alliance which enables tracking by outside governments. Plus, it’s home to the Charter which imposes regulations of the Snooper.
For many VPNs, data retention laws in their home country are not really a problem. This is because they function with a real policy that is no-logs where no traffic or connection logs are kept by them. They can’t be tied to an individual user if connection logs are kept by them.
Unfortunately, HMA! Is not among these VPNs and has a privacy policy which most users will discover off-putting. For one, while using the support, you can expect your IP address will be logged, along with timestamps and the number of data used. This is a for VPNs generally. The truth is that information can and has been used to track the action of people although an IP address is not universally considered to be information. IP addresses are used in countless cases to help find and convict offenders. While we certainly do not condone activities that are criminal, we’re pro-privacy, also this coverage doesn’t cut it. Hidemyass Panic Button Keyboard Shortcuts Not Working
Moreover, Hide My Ass! Logs the VPN IP address Attached into a session. This is the IP address when it is visited by you that a website operator can see and record. Considering both the real and VPN IP addresses are logged, involving the VPN and finish site logs, it would be possible to piece together each of a user’s internet activity. You might have seen news of a 2011 FBI situation involving HMA! In which it handed over logs that were used to track down a hacker. This is a black mark for privacy.
One way to Make this less of a problem and to perhaps confuse things a bit is to make the most of the IP address shuffle feature. When enabled in the Network Security screen of the desktop app, this transforms out your IP address to get a different one. It would not make you untraceable but may add a layer of obfuscation.
Privacy Issues aside, on the safety front, Hide My Ass! Fares well. It utilizes. This is in combination with RSA keys and perfect forward secrecy. It uses exactly the protocol UDP by default, however you can change to TCP within the desktop client. PPTP, L2TP, IPSec are also available, depending on what app you are using.
The versions boast an Integrated kill switch which can be tailored To work for programs. The internet connection will be killed by A kill switch if the VPN connection drop for some reason. This attribute is not available in the mobile apps
A live chat Customer service representative advised us that there’s not any DNS leak security. But a different company representative promised us that there is in fact DNS and IPv6 leak security, but no WebRTC leak protection. When we analyzed the support for leaks, we didn’t observe any DNS leak issues other than leaks that are WebRTC. HMA! Whereas personal ones will be preferable from a privacy standpoint does use DNS servers.
One handy Feature that Hide My Ass! Provides is wifi security, which is customized at the in the Network Security section of the desktop or the mobile app’s Connection Rules tab settings.
Characteristics and pricing
Hide My Ass! Offers one product with prices varying depending on the amount of term you sign up for. It’s definitely not among the services available, which could be an immediate turnoff for some users. A 12-month planwill put you back $6.99 per month, which is greater than the normal price for a similar duration. What is more, a lot of VPN suppliers will supply an plan; for instance, a two- or three-year term with discounts. Hidemyass Panic Button Keyboard Shortcuts Not Working
If You are not ready to sign up for a one-year term yet, HMA! Does provide a six-month plan for $7.99 a month or you could pay on a monthly basis for $11.99 per month. These prices are a little above average when you compare to competitors.
Payment Choices include UnionPay, PayPal, and credit cards. Unfortunately bitcoin along with other cryptocurrencies are payment procedures. There’s a generous 30-day money-back guarantee, so you can have your payment deducted if you’re not satisfied with the service.
So what do You get for your money? Hide My Ass! Has a network of over 850 servers in over 180 nations. Some are dedicated to accessing streaming sites and certain servers permit P2P filesharing (read: torrenting). All plans come with unlimited bandwidth and you can join up to five devices. Programs are available for Windows, MacOS, iOS, and Android. The VPN can be manually configured with Linux and some routers. Routers are available as an alternative.
From a Security perspective, HMA! Offers perfect forward secrecy strong encryption , automatic wifi security, along with the programs come with a kill switch. However, the logging policy problems which plagued the service from the past stay, so privacy remains a problem.
Wrap-up
For the most part, HMA! Offers a support that is great. It has unlimited bandwidth fast speeds, and a decent network of servers. It is able to unblock streaming services such as Netflix US, Netflix UK, and BBC iPlayer. Plus, it offers customer support , powerful security, and apps.
On the Surface, it feels like HMA! Would be a good alternative for torrenters, without a data Caps and some servers suitable for P2P. However, the issues with the solitude Coverage are any other, as well as a concern for those seeking to torrent privacy-conscious users. Indeed, this is the important turn-off for this Provider, but it’s a large one. Other issues include the inability to operate Reliably in China along with the price tag. Hidemyass Panic Button Keyboard Shortcuts Not Working
Click here to sign up for Hide My Ass! Today!