HideMyAss VPN Overview
Having spent almost a decade in the industry, Hidemyass VPN is quite popular among the masses across the globe. The brainchild of Jack Cator, which hatched out in 2005 as a free HideMyAss proxy creator in its maiden avatar slowly transformed into world’s most popular VPN provider with the largest international server network at present. In May 2016, it joined forces with AVG Technologies, the popular company in the field of Anti Virus. HMA assists the people in bypassing the online censorship at a blazing fast speed, without comprising on their identity. By 2014, the ambitious company had already raked in over £11m (above $15m). At present, HMA boasts of above a monthly 10 million website visitors, and 150,000+ active paid subscribers. No wonder, it is considered as the undisputed King of the VPN world.
The brainchild of Jack Cator, which hatched out in 2005 as a free HideMyAss proxy creator in its maiden avatar slowly transformed into world’s most popular VPN provider with the largest international server network at present. In May 2016, it joined forces with AVG Technologies, the popular company in the field of Anti Virus. HMA assists the people in bypassing the online censorship at a blazing fast speed, without comprising on their identity. By 2014, the ambitious company had already raked in over £11m (above $15m). At present, HMA boasts of above a monthly 10 million website visitors, and 150,000+ active paid subscribers. No wonder, it is considered as the undisputed King of the VPN world.
HideMyAss VPN Features
Created as a free proxy by 16-year old Jack Cator, Hidemyass has now evolved as an expert VPN service after almost a decade. Currently, it is the foremost choice of internet geeks who give online censorship, thumbs down. Headquartered in London, it employs around 80 nerds that altogether serve the anonymous browsing requirement of more than 10 million people across 210+ countries worldwide through around 900 servers and above 1.2 million IP addresses. Additionally, it offers unlimited bandwidth usage, and support for multiple devices. This Hidemyass review focuses primarily on its features and the manner in which they compete with the others in the industry. Here is a detailed inspection on the same:
Scheduled IP changes
HideMyAss Pro VPN allows you to change your IP address with a new IP from a pool consisting of more than 121,000 IP addresses. To activate the feature, you simply need to set an interval and the VPN software will do the rest. It keeps you anonymous throughout your browsing session except for the ephemeral time when your IP address changes. Hence, it is quite effective in protecting your identity from censoring authorities and cyber criminals.
Secure IP Bind
This feature allows you to bind certain applications with the VPN. This means that they will work only when you connect to internet through VPN. As you get disconnected, these apps will also become inactive hence making up for high degree of anonymity. As a downside, this feature is only available with Windows OS. However, you can configure your firewall to use this feature on Mac as well.
Connection log
You might have noticed only the status of VPN connection on the dashboard of various providers. The case however differs with HMA since it provides you with the connection log. With this, it becomes easier for you to keep a check on the ongoing connection processes and progresses.
Multiple server locations
HideMyAss boasts of its excessive server locations that are easily much more than any other competitor. As per the current statistics given on the HMA website, it currently provides the assistance of its VPN services through 934 servers and 126,231 IP addresses, located in 354 locations across more than 190 countries. None of its rivals are even distant close to these stats hence giving it a settle edge in the VPN industry. Moreover, selecting server is also the easiest and quickest through HMA.
Concurrent connection
With HidemyAss, you get two simultaneous connections immaterial of the plan you purchase. This lets you to access VPN on two different devices at the same time, at a fast speed.
Load balancing
HMA Pro plan switches your connection to server with lesser load if you are observing a retarded speed due to a heavily loaded server. This load balancing feature is a welcome introduction and lets you access the internet through the fastest connection available in that particular region.
Speed guide
The VPN client provides you with a speed guide, which lets you to search for the fastest VPN servers available for you. For this, the client tracks your geolocations, and finds the server that is in closest proximity to your location.
Unlimited bandwidth
With HMA, you can enjoy high speed and unlimited bandwidth to enable you access internet in anonymity from any location irrespective of time.
Customer support
You can connect with HMA through email and chat support. The email support is the most secure way to send error logs, and responds within 1-3 hours to 12 hours, depending on the severity of the problem. In weekends, it may extend up to 14 hours. IRC Chat is another mode to talk to HMA staff and is active for 9 hours a day (11 AM – 7 PM). You can also post your queries in the HMA web forum.
How Secure, Private and Accessible is HMA VPN?
VPN HMA holds the distinction of providing tightest security in the industry till date. It secures your browsing sessions through a capable 256-bit encryption. In addition, it also offers the support for OpenVPN, L2TP and PPTP protocols, along with the facility to switch between them beyond limitations.
HideMyAss Protocols
- PPTP: The Point-to-Point Tunneling Protocol leverages MPPE 128bit cipher for encryption, along with MS-CHAPv2 authentication and compression. It uses a control channel over a GRE and TCP tunnel for PPP packet encapsulation.
- L2TP: The Layer 2 Tunneling Protocol supports VPN HMA and depends on an encryption protocol to provide privacy. It leverages 3DES/AES algorithm, and IPSec for encryption along with 256-bit key encryption.
- OpenVPN: HMA VPN offers OpenVPN encryption protocol for both UDP and TCP.
- OpenVPN-TCP: For encryption, the cipher acquires the CBC mode of Blowfish with, 160bit SHA1 hash algorithm is, 128bit encryption strength and TLSv1/SSLv3 DHE-RSA-AES256-SHA, 1024 bit RSA control channel.
- OpenVPN-UDP: This protocol also uses the same security and encryption as in OpenVPN-TCP, with the difference that it works via UDP protocol. In terms of speed and bypassing restrictions, it scores better its TCP counterpart. For added security, HMA leverages OpenSSL encryption library and SSLv3/TLSv1 protocol along with several other control and security features.
HideMyAss VPN Compatibility
You can install HMA VPN on any device and perform manual configuration to connect to the internet securely. The devices however need to have in built VPN setting. As of now, it is compatible with Windows, MAC OS X, Linux CLI, IOS & Android Apps, and Router Settings. It also provides Manual VPN setup guide for manual configuration.
Media streaming with HMA VPN
While doing a Hidemyass review for streaming speed, we found the service to be pretty fast in connecting with the sites and streaming online videos. We checked BBC iPlayer by choosing a UK based server, Netflix through a US server and several other sites on the respective country specific servers. In each case, we were able to enjoy uninterrupted videos on demand (VoD) online at an appreciable speed.
HideMyAss Plans and Pricing
Hidemyass VPN offers three distinct plans for its customers. The details are as follows:
- Kick-ass: 1 month package for $11.52 per month.
- Smart-ass: 12 months package for $6.55 per month.
- Half-ass: 6 Months package for $8.33 per month
Money Back Guarantee
HMA VPN gives you a 30 day money back guarantee. Within this time, you can cancel your order online at any time and your entire amount will be refunded.
HideMyAss VPN Price comparison
Considering the prices offered by other VPN providers, HMA stands somewhere in the mid to costly range, but its services are worth it. The pricing plans of HMA are devised according to the continuous advancements introduced in its services and features. Owing to the range of features it offers, a thick of small and big businesses as well as individuals prefer it to others.
| Features |
 |
 |
 |
| Plans | Personal / Business / Professinal | Personal / Business / Professinal | Personal / Business / Professinal |
| Number of Sites | 1 / 10 / 25 | 1 / 10 / 25 | 1 / 10 / 25 |
| Monthly Visits | 25K / 100K / 400K | 25K / 100K / 400K | 25K / 100K / 400K |
| Trial | 7 Days | 7 Days | 7 Days |
| Monthly Price | $9.49 Visit Provider |
$9.49 Visit Provider |
$9.49 |
HideMyAss VPN Software & Client
VPN HMA offers VPN clients for multiple Operating systems spanning desktops and smartphone. It is suitable for can use on Windows and Mac platforms. However, it is still to develop a client for Linux. Those wishing to configure it on Linux platform can request for the interface based HMA client for Linux OS. As for smartphones, Hidemyass allows you to bypass online censorships on your Apple and Android devices through iOS and Android apps, respectively. In addition, you can also configure HMA on a router. Though, the configuration process for the same is a bit complicated. The official website of the VPN provider gives a roaster of recommended routers that you can use.
HMA VPN Client for Windows
Installing and configuring the VPN HMA software on windows is easy for your preferred operating system. After completing the payment formalities for the selected plan, you would hardly require five minutes to setup the VPN on Windows 7, Windows 8 and Windows vista. You will be given the link to download the client after registering with the service.
VPN HMA Client for Mac OS
HideMyAss offers for its Mac users, the latest HMA! Pro VPN Mac OSX client version 2.2.7.0 that combines feature of Secure IP binding. To install it, you require at least Mac OS X 10.7 (“Lion”) or newer versions. The installer accompanies the TunTap package, you don’t need to install it separately. Moreover, the new Mac client has similar functionalities to that of Windows client and uses a 1-click installer for quick installation. Compared to its earlier versions is has got a complete overhaul. It is now more stable, and runs smoother.
VPN HMA Client for Android OS
HideMyAss! Pro VPN for Android helps you remain anonymous while browsing internet through your android smartphone. The app is compatible with all your android devices having Android 4.0 and above versions. It is free to download but to use it, you need to have an active Hide My Ass! Subscription. It is a multi-language VPN app with multi-language help section. It works fine on any device of your choice in including internet enabled TV and games consoles. The best thing – you can use it on two devices simultaneously.
VPN HMA Client for iOS
Hide My Ass! Pro VPN for iPhone and iPad offers you complete Wi-Fi security & private browsing. The app helps you to configure PPTP, L2TP and OpenVPN setups on your iOS devices in few simple and quick steps. Like its Windows and other versions, the VPN for iOS also allows you gain access to the biggest VPN server network in the world, along with the fastest VPN connection. It is Multi device compatible and offers a built in help function.
HMA VPN Download Links
The list of software and client that you can download include as below:
- HMA! Pro VPN Windows client (WINDOWS VISTA, 7, 8.1, 10)
- PPTP and L2TP Dialer for Windows
- OpenVPN GUI Setup Windows
- Mac OSX client 2.2.7.0
- Mac 10.5 & 10.6 version 1.1.7
- Linux CLI OpenVPN Client
- VPN HMA!: Hide My Ass! Pro VPN for iPhone
- HideMyAss! Pro VPN for Android
Besides, you can also download respective HMA! Web Proxy Browser Extension like:
- HMA! Web Proxy Browser Extension – for Google Chrome
- HMA! Web Proxy Browser Extension – for Mozilla Firefox
HMA also gives you a list of VPN routers along with their features and price as below that you can use to configure VPN.
ReviewsDir Recommendation
Hidemyass is a tall name in the field of Virtual Private Network. It has been helping millions of users the world over in bypassing the censored websites since almost a decade. Initiated as a HMA Proxy, it has now come a long way to provide quality VPN services to the masses. Considering its impressive introduction, its services ought to be flawless, and it indeed lives up to our expectations.
The Good about HideMyAss VPN
The VPN comprises a whole lot of lucrative features that are good enough to entice the users, immaterial of whether they are net savvy or have little technical knowhow. If they aspire to remain hidden while web browsing, Hide My Ass is a befitting reply to their requirement. It has great speed, is available for multiple OS and devices, provides the facility to schedule IP changes, secure IP bind, simultaneous connections, etc. You can connect to almost any of its 890+ servers and go anonymous at your will. It provides quality 256 bit encryption and secures your identity online like none.
The Bad about HideMyAss VPN
Besides so many advantages, it does accompany several drawbacks as well. It does not provide any free trial offer. However, Hidemyass does provide a 30 day money back guarantee to suffice this demerit. It also has the policy to log the user connection data. Though, it is for internal processes but those not willing to compromise on their details may repel from this VPN due to this policy. The VPN client for Linux is yet to come and its Secure IP bind is currently available for Windows OS only. The customer support lags behind slightly.
Bottomline
Despite these demerits, HMA still scores way better than its competitors in terms of pricing plan, facilities, etc. Hence, you can confide on this service provider and go anonymous without hassles. All you need is to browse through its website, register, and choose and pay for the plan and get started.
HideMyAss VPN Alternatives
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