HidemyAss Review

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Hide My Ass (HMA) VPN is one of the oldest products in the history of VPNs. Based in the UK and developed by a group of internet security experts, it is also one of the most popular VPNs in the world often rated 5/5 for performance and features. HMA was primarily created to allow users to browse the internet safely and privately.

The HMA product reviewed here is the 2015 Update – the HMA Pro 2015. Here is what you need to know about it;

Pricing and plans

Well, Hide My Ass is a reasonably priced VPN. It has 3 payment plans; 1 month, 6 months, and 12 months. The one month payment plan costs $11.52 billed every 30 days. The 6-month plan costs $49.98 billed every 6 months which translates to $8.33 per month. The 12-month plan which is also the longest costs $78.60 billed every 12 months which translates to $6.55 per month.

Privacy and security

Privacy and security are a real concern for VPN users. HMA affectively addresses these concerns by changing your IP at random intervals throughout your connection time so that anyone tracking you cannot pinpoint your location, also known as location bouncing. For increased anonymity, set the software to change your IP every few minutes. The only problem with location bouncing comes when you want to watch BBC iPlayer, for example. In this case, you MUST only bounce within accepted countries.

For enhanced security, HMA carries a unique feature called “Secure Bind.” You realize that as you switch from one IP to another you may be temporarily disconnected from your current server which could expose your real IP. The “Secure Bind” feature is designed to forbid any application from connecting to the internet when your VPN is inactive. So, even when you’re momentarily disconnected, your IP can never be exposed. Remember that currently Secure Bind only works in Windows therefore Mac users have to manually configure their firewalls to achieve the same results.

Features

Hide My Ass currently has 940 servers in 190 countries across the globe (as of April 27, 2015). It also has 77,340+ IP addresses with more than 312 servers in the US alone, providing 43,680 IP addresses with more servers and IP addresses being added regularly. This means you can now easily watch the likes of Hulu, Amazon Prime, and Netflix without breaking a sweat.

HMA works on just about any device; from computers and smartphones to routers, game consoles, and even TV boxes (Apple, Amazon Fire, Roku, etc). Moreover, you can use your subscription on two devices at the same time.

Regarding software, the HMA pro supports all the major Operating Systems including; Windows 7, Mac OSX, Mac, and Linux. Even windows 2000 and iOS as well as Android are supported.
Ease of use

HMA is very easy to download, set up, and use. After you download and install the software, you can connect from the interface immediately. Once connected, choose a VPN protocol of your choice. OpenVPN is the most secure protocol since it utilizes the robust OpenSSL for encryption and authentication. To use OpenVPN on mobile, you’ll have to download and install the OpenVPN for mobile app. For windows, just download the official “OpenVPN” client; however, if you’re using Mac, download “Tunnelblick.”

Regarding speed, HideMYAssVPN is very fast though sometimes the speeds can drop depending on the data transport method selected and the DNS server you choose. If you’re streaming video and need faster speeds, you can use the “Load Balancing” feature in HMA Pro to automatically switch connections to faster servers.

User support

Hide My Ass offers very good customer support. If after purchasing the software you encounter a challenge completing the set up, just chat with the support desk and they’ll respond promptly. Of course they attend to so many people but if you can’t chat with a representative, try sending an email and they will respond within an hour at most. You will love the “Live Chat” feature as it allows you get to speak one-on-one with a professional. Unfortunately, it’s is only available 12 hours a day.

There is also lots of information on the forum section where users go to discuss their experiences. Post your question on the forum and in a short while someone will respond to it. However, for technical or billing issues, it’s best to use email since email conversations are easier to track.

Conclusion

In general, HideMyAssVPN is a very good VPN. You can easily select a server using the “Map Overview” feature and the overall user experience is satisfying. The only area where the VPN could do better is customer support. Although the current email, live chat, and forum support options are okay, adding phone support would make life a lot easier.

Verdict: 8.5/10