84,488,480 programs installed

Should I remove Hotspot Shield?

What percent of users and experts removed it?
61% remove it39% keep it
Overall Sentiment
Bad
What do people think about it?
(click star to rate)
How common is it?
Global Rank #47,837
Reach 0.0016%
Lifespan of installation (until removal)
< 89.53 days
1034.00 days >
Average installed length: 543.29 days

Versions

VersionDistribution
2.61 100.00%

Hotspot Shield 2.61

What is Hotspot Shield?

If you are using the free Service, AnchorFree may deliver third-party Advertisements within the content of any web page accessed. Advertisements may be injected into the top of the page, inserted directly into the page content, or even displayed to overlay the page. A “hotspot” is a Wi-Fi connection access point. Usually this type of connection is public; therefore, it is completely insecure. Hotspot Shield allows you to create a VPN, or virtual private network, so you can transfer your data securely. When you access the Internet through such connections, you risk having your computer or mobile infected by a virus or even an intruder to enter your system. Moreover, the dangers exist that a malicious person can intercept your information and use it for unfriendly reasons. Hotspot Shield bundles a branded version of the Conduit Toolbar, which delivers search based advertising and results. During installation the user is presented in some cases with the option to install the toolbar (on by default). Once accepted, the packaged executable, ConduitInstaller.exe, will download and install the necessary components for the Conduit Toolbar.

About  (from AnchorFree Inc)

Hotspot Shield creates a virtual private network (VPN) between your laptop or iPhone and our Internet gateway. This impenetrable tunnel prevents snoopers, hackers, ISP‘s, from viewing your web browsing activities, instant messages, downloads, credit card information or anything else you send over the network. Hotspot S...  Read more
Overview
  • Loads into the web browser
  • Installs a Windows Service
  • Known to include offers within the setup
Hotspot Shield has been seen bundling various 3rd party software during the installation process. Make sure to check for and remove unused programs.

Program detailsProgram details

Displayed publisher: AnchorFree
URL: www.hotspotshield.com/en
Installation folder: C:\Program Files\Hotspot Shield
Uninstaller: C:\Program Files\Hotspot Shield\Uninstall.exe
Estimated size: 14.46 MB

Program filesFiles installed by Hotspot Shield 2.61

Program executable:HssSrv.exe
Path:C:\Program Files\Hotspot Shield\HssWPR\HssSrv.exe
MD5:4e59e65a27ebf0a5250bd608c03811dc
Hotspot Shield allows you to create a VPN, or virtual private network, so you can transfer your data securely. When you access the Internet through such connections, you risk having your computer or mobile infected by a virus or even an...
Additional files:
  • af_proxy_cmd.exe - AnchorFree Helper Proxy
  • HssIE.dll
  • HssIE_64.dll
  • HssInstaller.exe
  • HssInstaller64.exe
  • HssSrv.exe
  • Uninstall.exe
  • tapinstall.exe (by Windows (R) Codename Longhorn DDK provider) - Windows (R) Codename Longhorn DDK driver (Windows Setup API)
  • af_proxy.dll
  • ConduitUninstaller.exe (by Conduit)
  • fbw.exe - FBW Application
  • ffinst.exe
  • gui-ara.dll
  • gui-bur.dll
  • gui-chi.dll
  • gui-eng.dll
  • gui-fre.dll
  • gui-ger.dll
  • gui-jpn.dll
  • gui-per.dll
  • gui-rus.dll
  • gui-spa.dll
  • gui-tur.dll
  • gui-vie.dll
  • hssfixme.exe
  • hssinst32.dll
  • hssinst64.dll
  • HSSTrayService.exe
  • hsswd.exe
  • libcurl.dll (by The cURL library, http://curl.haxx.se/) - The cURL library (libcurl Shared Library)
  • libeay32.dll
  • libidn-11.dll
  • libpkcs11-helper-1.dll (by OpenSC Project) - pkcs11-helper (pkcs11-helper - An easy way to access PKCS#11 modules)
  • libssl32.dll
  • openvpn.exe
  • openvpnas.exe
  • openvpntray.exe
  • vistahlp.dll
  • wddll.dll
  • winhlp.dll
  • zlib1.dll (by Zlib) - Zlib (Zlib: general purpose data compression / decompression library)

Program behaviorsBehaviors exhibited

2 Internet Explorer BHOs
  • HssIE_64.dll is installed in Internet Explorer as a BHO (Browser Helper Object) under the name 'Hotspot Shield Class' with the class of {F9E4A054-E9B1-4BC3-83A3-76A1AE736170}.
  • HssIE.dll is installed in Internet Explorer as a BHO (Browser Helper Object) under the name 'Hotspot Shield Class' with the class of {F9E4A054-E9B1-4BC3-83A3-76A1AE736170}.
4 Services
  • HssSrv.exe runs as a service named 'Hotspot Shield Routing Service' (HssSrv).
  • openvpnas.exe runs as a service named 'Hotspot Shield Service' (hshld).
  • hsswd.exe runs as a service named 'Hotspot Shield Monitoring Service' (HssWd).
  • HSSTrayService.exe runs as a service named 'Hotspot Shield Tray Service' (HssTrayService).

Program resource utilizationResource utilization averages

HssSrv.exe
Memory:2.16 MB
21.09 MB average
Total CPU:0.0006948805%
0.031193% average
Kernel CPU:0.00017157%
0.016088% average
User CPU:0.00052332%
0.015104% average
CPU cycles/sec:101,405
8,062,084 average
I/O reads/min:5 Bytes
435.61 KB average
hsswd.exe
Memory:1.47 MB
Total CPU:0.0001883727%
Kernel CPU:0.00012806%
User CPU:0.00006032%
CPU cycles/sec:962,767
I/O reads/min:20.47 KB

How do I remove Hotspot Shield?

You can uninstall Hotspot Shield from your computer by using the Add/Remove Program feature in the Window's Control Panel.
  1. On the Start menu (for Windows 8, right-click the screen's bottom-left corner), click Control Panel, and then, under Programs, do one of the following:
    • Windows Vista/7/8/10: Click Uninstall a Program.
    • Windows XP: Click Add or Remove Programs.
  2. When you find the program Hotspot Shield 2.61, click it, and then do one of the following:
    • Windows Vista/7/8/10: Click Uninstall.
    • Windows XP: Click the Remove or Change/Remove tab (to the right of the program).
  3. Follow the prompts. A progress bar shows you how long it will take to remove Hotspot Shield.
  4. If for some reason uninstallation fails, please install Microsoft's uninstall fixer utility which will help fix problems with programs that can't be uninstalled at support.microsoft.com.

How do I reset my web browser?

If your web browser homepage and search settings have been modfied by Hotspot Shield 2.61 you can restore them to their previous default settings.
Microsoft Internet Explorer
Mozilla Firefox
Google Chrome

OS VERSIONS
Win 7 (SP1) 63%
Win Server 2003 3%
 
HOW IT RUNS
Windows Service? Yes
(Installs a service)
 
USER ACTIONS
Uninstall it 61%
Keep it 39%

Windows OS versionsWindows

Which Windows OS versions does it run on?
Windows 7 84.38%
Windows XP 9.38%
Windows Vista 3.13%
Windows Server 2003 3.13%
Which OS releases does it run on?
Windows 7 Ultimate 43.75%
Windows 7 Home Premium 31.25%
Microsoft Windows XP 12.50%
Windows 7 Starter 6.25%
Windows 7 Home Basic 3.13%
Windows Vista Home Premiu... 3.13%

Distribution by countryGeography

31.71% of installs come from the United States
Which countries install it?
  United States 31.71%
  Iran 12.20%
  Germany 7.32%
  Colombia 4.88%
  DZ 4.88%
  Australia 2.44%
  Brazil 2.44%
  France 2.44%
  Ireland 2.44%
  Mexico 2.44%
  Pakistan 2.44%
  PR 2.44%
  Romania 2.44%
  Russia 2.44%

OEM distributionPC manufacturers

What PC manufacturers (OEMs) have it installed?
Hewlett-Packard 30.77%
Toshiba 19.23%
Acer 15.38%
Sony 7.69%
Lenovo 7.69%
ASUS 7.69%
GIGABYTE 3.85%
MSI 3.85%
Dell 3.85%
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TOSHIBA Satellite L675D 3.57%
TOSHIBA Satellite C855 3.57%
Sony VPCEH2H1E 3.57%
MSI MS-7380 3.57%

About AnchorFree Inc

AnchorFree provides online privacy and security solutions for Web users, advertisers, and publishers.
Publisher URL: www.anchorfree.com

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