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Use Hotspot Shield

April 14th, 2009 by David Bradley >> 15 Comments

Hotspot shield logoI used to think Anchorfree’s Hotspot Shield was a very useful tool. Then, they started integrating toolbars and ad services into their virtual private network (VPN) tool. I recently wrote about how the latest version also seemed to incorporate spyware, the installation of which apparently couldn’t be avoided if you wanted to continue to use the program to spoof your IP address and encrypt your internet connection.

Now, Sciencetext reader Paul emails to say that there’s perhaps yet another reason to ditch Hotspot Shield:

In addition to the badness that you note (cookies, forced installation of other programs, etc.), I’ve discovered that Hotspot hijacks URLs of popular sites that provide money for referrals, he alleges.

He goes on to explain how he believes simply having Hotspot installed on your system, but NOT necessarily even running, redirects amazon affiliate URLs (in IE7 at least) through mrt.afnca.com. The resulting URL then includes an Amazon Associates tag afncaie-20, instead of the original for the website you are visiting. A similar thing happens with GoDaddy.com, Paul says.

It’s fine that Anchorfree should want to monetize their free service. However, if they are no longer being upfront about such activities then unwary users may succumb without even realizing that their web browser has been compromised in some way.

Since first drafting this post, I’ve done additional checking on HotSpot Shield including a reinstallation. It seems that AnchorFree may have bowed to pressure and at least limited some of the problems discussed.


Leave a comment ↓

  • M. // May 6, 2009 at 4:47 am

    Their latest version (HSS-1.15-install-anchorfree-76-conduit.exe) installs a program called hsssrv.exe (full name: Hotspot Shield Helper Service) that auto-loads at Windows start-up and attempts to make outgoing connections every few minutes, even if you have not started Hotspot Shield.

    My firewall’s “Block and Terminate” function as well as Windows Task Manger’s “End Process” is useless at shutting this process down even if you have not yet started Hotspot Shield.

    No listing for this process under the Windows System Configuration Utility’s Startup tab or in the usual …Windows\CurrentVersion\Run registry folders.

    Installing an undocumented full-time service which auto-loads on Windows start-up, is that persistent, and that well hidden is too for much for my taste.

    On the plus side, it does seem to uninstall with no problems or leftover effects.

  • David Bradley // May 6, 2009 at 8:39 am

    That’s very worrying. Thanks for the alert M!

  • Tom Wellnick // May 11, 2009 at 12:36 am

    Thanks for the information. I was having trouble navagating with Ebay and Amazon because of the Hotspot Shield spyware. mrt.afnca.com kept on popping up. It was really a pain to deal with . After uninstalling Hotspot Shield the problem went away with both Ebay & Amazon. I can navagate freely again.

  • David Bradley // May 11, 2009 at 8:02 am

    Glad you got it fixed Tom

  • Frances // May 11, 2009 at 6:53 pm

    I’m having the same issue. Does this mean that AFNCA.COM is spying on Hotspot Shield entries? Firefox seems to be immune (or rather the blink through the AFNCA site isn’t evident). Does anyone know a better VPN that Hotspot?
    Frances

  • chris // Jul 14, 2009 at 2:46 pm

    Hi guys,
    I’m experiencing my first issues with Hotsport Shield. When it’s ON, it works great but when I don’t need it (set to OFF) it redirects some url to ask.com or it’s search engine and it’s impossible to access the websites. E.g. TVUnetworks

    Really annoying hsssrv.exe in background that cannot be killed. Only solution: uninstall Hotspot Shield :(

  • heiko // Jul 25, 2009 at 11:16 pm

    This non-transparency of sucks – and if you want strong privacy protection you better should use software/services based in countries with strong privacy laws.

    I will remove Hotspot Shield and as for privacy when browsing using JAP (developed by a German university) and when I need full privacy protection I go for RELAKKS (swedish) or SWISSVPN. The latter 2 are paid services.

  • Robin // Aug 30, 2009 at 2:07 pm

    I had the same hijacking problems after installing Hotspot Shield, and indeed it seems that things are back to normal after unistall.

    In any case, I think it is best to not install it in the first place!

  • Mark // Oct 13, 2009 at 2:50 pm

    Just figured out how to avoid the redirect to hotspot shield sites…

    Apparently HSS also installs an “add-on” in Internet Explorer. All you need to do is disable the add-on

    in IE 8, click “Tools” -> “Internet Options”, select the “Programs” tab and click the “Manage add-ons” button.

    Select the “Toolbars and Extensions” Add-on Type on the left of the window, and look for “AnchorFree Inc” in the list in the right pane. Click on “Hotspot Shield Class”, then click the “Disable” button in the bottom pane. Click close, and you’re done.

    No more hijacking!!!

    There is probably a highly similar procedure for IE 7… if you’re still using IE 6, upgrade already!!! You’re incredibly insecure with IE 6!

    BTW… I also set the HSS services to “Manual”, so they’re not always running… they’re necessary for the VPN to work, but don’t need to be running all the time…

    yet one more thing… AnchorFree Inc is providing what amounts to a VPN service for free. (I have no pecuniary interest in AnchorFree, btw…) This services is not overtly ad supported, but you should be aware that while using it, AnchorFree is tracking your usage and using your data to serve targeted advertising to you on pages that have ads on them…

    AF is able to provide this service by selling ad space to other companies and putting their ads out in a targeted fashion. So, if you don’t want to pay for a VPN service, HSS is a good one as long as you are aware that HSS is not doing this out of the goodness of their hearts. It’s a money making proposition for AnchorFree.

    Forewarned is forearmed…

    I use it when necessary, and am comfortable with a little occasional targeted advertising for the convenience, but I would never use it for sensitive communications…

    Mark

  • David Bradley // Oct 13, 2009 at 3:49 pm

    @Mark Thanks for your thoughts on HotSpot Shield.

  • Eric // Oct 28, 2009 at 12:36 am

    Thanks Mark! Surfing ebay has been terrible and your solution worked beautifully! Thanks for helping people out

  • abuyi // Nov 6, 2009 at 11:04 am

    zone alarm pro kills hssrv.exe the real problem is openvpnas.exe. if i kill it hotspot dosnt work.. and after killing it if i undo it.. then also hotspot dosn work. .. and it starts automatically
    i installed the latest version of hotspot shield.. It has a new control panel.. well only the display is lil different. it becomes more presistent.. when you use it for the first time dont use opera.. it adds updates and then you get annoying adds in opera or else opera works fine with out any ads.

    I dont use hotspot for anything personal.. just to view blocked content of my country.

  • Me // Apr 19, 2010 at 3:18 pm

    I didn’t install it and I still got those adds, it’s really frustrating, because MegaVideo has this limit, but now I only can watch 10min max. And I can’t get to sites until I reload it again. So if any one has any ideas, i’m really grateful

  • Me // Apr 19, 2010 at 3:26 pm

    @t Mark Btw I cant find ‘AnchorFree Inc’ in the list

  • Duy // May 31, 2010 at 7:33 am

    @Mark: How can I set the HSS service to Manual? or any1 else please answer? It would be really helpful. Now I can’t surf web even if I uninstall it.