A fast consumer virtual private network client with the premium tier unlocked, covering the full server list, split tunnelling and the kill switch.
Hotspot Shield is a consumer virtual private network client whose selling point has always been throughput. The tunnel is built on a protocol designed around speed rather than being a generic implementation, and in practice that means the connection loses less of the underlying line rate than most alternatives, which matters if you are pushing video through it rather than reading text.
The premium tier removes the restrictions the free version applies. Every location in the server list rather than a single default, no bandwidth cap, no session timer, and multiple simultaneous device connections on one configuration. The location list covers a large number of countries with several cities in the larger ones, and the client sorts by measured latency so picking a fast one is a matter of taking the top entry.
Practical features are the ones that decide whether a client is usable day to day. The kill switch drops all traffic if the tunnel fails rather than quietly leaking to the open connection. Split tunnelling lets you name applications or destinations that bypass the tunnel, which is how you keep a local printer or a banking site working normally while everything else routes through. Auto connect rules can trigger on joining an untrusted wireless network. There is also DNS handling inside the tunnel so lookups do not escape to the local resolver.
The interface is deliberately simple: one large connect control, a location list, and a settings page. Underneath there is protocol selection, a per application rule list, connection logging that you can clear, and a diagnostics page. It installs a network adapter and a service, both of which are removed cleanly on uninstall, and it stays out of the way once configured.
Read the whole list before you start. Most of the reports that come into the desk about this title turn out to be a step taken out of order.
| Processor | Any Intel or AMD processor, 1 GHz or faster |
|---|---|
| Memory | 2 GB minimum, 4 GB recommended |
| Graphics | No specific requirement |
| Storage | 300 MB free |
| Display | 1024 by 768 or higher |
Add your local printer and any local network range to the split tunnelling bypass list, otherwise they disappear while connected.
If a connection refuses to establish on a restricted network, change the protocol in settings before assuming the server is down.
| Title | Hotspot Shield VPN |
|---|---|
| Developer | Pango |
| Version | 12.15.1 |
| Category | Security & Privacy |
| Release type | Premium (full) |
| Operating system | Windows 11, Windows 10, Windows 8.1 |
| Architecture | x86 / x64 |
| Interface language | Multilingual |
| Archive size | 62.4 MB |
| File name | hotspot_shield_vpn_12.15.1_premium_full.rar |
| Shelf updated | 3 days ago |
| Total downloads | 221,747 |
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