Hotspot Shield is a popular VPN service with over 650 million users and multiple servers in 80+ countries. In fact, the website claims it is the #1 grossing app for productivity in the US App Store. Hotspot Shield is a VPN solution for Windows that provides a secure connection, hides your IP address and allows you unfettered access to a wide range of U.S.-based Web services. When you run Hotspot Shield on your computer, it creates a virtual private network or VPN between you and Anchorfree, which is the company that develops the software.
Learn what Hotspot Shield and how to remove it and other malicious threats including adware, spyware, and malware from your computer.
What is the Hotspot Shield?
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Hotspot Shield (Hotspot Shield Toolbar) is recognized as a potentially unwanted program (PUP) and malware that is known to cause problems for computer and internet users once installed. When Hotspot Shield is installed it will modify your existing internet browser settings and cause the searches you perform to redirect to various sites including search.anchorfree.com, search.anchorfree.net, anchorfree.us, hotspotshield.com, shieldedsearch.com, search.ask.com,search.conduit.com, and others.
Aside from unwanted browser redirects, this particular potentially unwanted program can has a reputation to install without user consent and knowledge as well as attach the Hotspot Shield Toolbar to default web browsers on the machine. It also serves advertisements and displays unwanted pop-up ads, drop-down coupons ,and pop-under advertisements.
Hotspot Shield is promoted as a free VPN service or security tool that can keep you protected against online threats and allow you to secure your WIFI, among other features. This can be seen as misleading because most internet users do not want to experience symptoms of malware that Hotspot Shield and Anchorfree.net (.com, .us) introduce.
To make matters worse, Hotspot Shield often bundles with other unwanted programs, adware, spyware, and malware that can cause additional issues. Cooperating threats that the program bundles with can establish a connection to remote sites in order to track your data, display advertisements while you browse the web or on Windows desktop, and modify your browser and computer settings to show you sponsored search results.
Another concern with Hotspot Shield is that it is advertised on websites that usually display malicious advertisements and host malware. If you found Hotspot Shield installed on your computer or notice advertisements for the program while you browse the web it is likely that your computer was introduced to other threats such as SMPlayer or Zen PC. Other threats should be eliminated immediately before they put your personal information and computer functionality at risk.
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How is Hotspot Shield distributed?
Hotspot Shield and the Hotspot Shield Toolbar can be contracted via downloadable content such as freeware, shareware, codecs, and even torrents. In fact, when installing such software as the utorrent p2p client, users are prompted with the opportunity to accept or decline an offer to install Hotspot Shield. To some this tactic may be seen as confusing and unethical as Hotspot Shield may disguise itself in the installers of third-party software and simply clicking a “next” button may introduce the unwanted program.
Furthermore, Hotspot Shield and Hotspot Shield Toolbar can be installed from unethical websites such as download.com and multiple AnchorFree and Hotspot Shield domains.
A large concern about accidentally, manually, or being tricked into installing HotspotShield is that the installment process does not allow you to cancel installing the unwanted software even though a Cancel button is clearly presented (represented in the video above).How to remove Hotspot Shield
Scan your computer for malware
1. Download Malwarebytes Anti-Malware software to scan your computer and remove malicious files and potentially unwanted programs.
2. To install the program, click the file you just downloaded. It can usually be located in the Download folder.
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3. A window that says “Welcome to the Malwarebytes Setup Wizard” will appear. Click Agree and Install to begin the installation. Once complete, click Finish.
4. Now the Malwarebytes is installed, open the program and click the Scan Now button – or go to the Scan tab and click the Start Scan button.
5. When the scan is complete click the Quarantine Selected button.
6. If Malwarebytes says “All selected items have been removed successfully. A log file has been saved to the logs folder. Your computer needs to be restarted to complete the removal process. Would you like to restart now?” click the Yes button to restart your computer.
The adblock feature can also be enabled or disabled from the Easy setup menu or directly in your Settings. Opera features adblock plus tracker blocking functionalities, making the web faster, safer, and easier to browse. You can start blocking ads with one click when you download Opera's popular browser. Allow ads for individual pages. 
Adblock Plus is the world’s most popular browser extension, and is used by millions of users worldwide. It is a community-driven open source project, and hundreds of volunteers are contributing to the success of Adblock Plus to make sure that all annoying ads are automatically blocked.
7. Next, Download HitmanPro to perform a second-opinion scan and remove any remaining malicious trace files.
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8. Once installed, open HitmanPro and click Next to start scanning your computer. *If you are using the free version you may chose to create a copy or perform a one-time scan.
9. When the HitmanPro scan is complete click the Next button.
10. To activate the free version of HitmanPro: enter your email address twice and click the Activate button.
11. Click the Reboot button.
Uninstall Hotspot Shield from your computer
1. On most versions of the Windows Operating System, right click the start menu (bottom left corner of the task bar) and go to Apps and Features.
2. Find Hotspot Shield in the list of installed programs, click it with your mouse, and click the Uninstall button that appears to uninstall Hotspot Shield.
How to stay protected against future infections
Real-time protection
Security software like Malwarebytes and Norton Security have real-time potection features that can block malicious files before they get onto your computer. The two programs bundled together can establish a wall between your computer and cyber criminals in real-time; disallowing threats and hackers from getting onto your machine.
Guidelines
The guidelines listed below are a great way to help you maintain a safe environment and ensure that the files on your computer are intact.
- Backup your computer and personal files to an external drive or online backup service
- Create a restore point on your computer in case you need to restore your computer to a date before infection
- Avoid downloading and installing apps, browser extensions, and programs you are not familiar with
- Avoid downloading and installing apps, browser extensions, and programs from websites you are not familiar with – some websites use their own download manager to bundle additional programs with the initial download
- Avoid visiting fake “spyware removal” blogs and websites that promote “spyware removal software.” These are usually malicious websites designed to phish your personal information, infect your computer with a rogue program and trick you into paying for rogue “spyware removal software.”
- If you plan to download and install freeware, open source software, or shareware make sure to be alert when you install the object and read all the instructions presented by the download manager
- Avoid torrents and P2P clients
- Do not open email messages from senders you do not know
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Hotspot Shield Premium includes:
Military-grade encryption
Optimized for Netflix, Hulu, YouTube, Disney+ and more
115+ virtual locations in 80+ countries, 35+ cities
HD streaming with unlimited data
Security suite with a password manager and a spam call blocker
24/7 live support
Secure up to 5 devices