With 269 servers in 19 countries around the globe-a total of 9649 IPs, 24×7 Live support, friendly staff and over 2950 customer reviews, Strong VPN is one of the most popular VPN providers.

Why Strong VPN?

For anyone who is in the market for a VPN account, Strong VPN is definitely worthwhile for you to check out. Strong VPN, a U.S. VPN service is based in San Francisco and has been providing VPN services since 1995. What really makes Strong VPN stand out from other VPN services is their understanding of what it takes to provide a customer a quality product. When you need help, you can easily reach them by Skype, on-site Live Help, or by phone (24x7x365). Plus, their $7/month and $55/year offer is irresistible and extremely affordable for customers in countries like China who need VPN to access websites like Facebook and Twitter.

• Great Customer Support

  In our evaluation of Strong VPN, we have noted that Strong VPN provides the best customer satisfaction. Customers are happy with the connection speed, price and the support. Here is one customer’s feedback out of the nearly 3000 Five Stars reviews.

  “When I first approached VPN I was skeptical, because I thought it would be slow like all those free ones online and at the same time not very helpful. But through StrongVPN’s customer service, I learned I could cancel anytime, hassle free, within 7 days. I have to say I am still quite surprised with the quality of StrongVPN’s service. I’m a lazy guy and I asked them to set it up for me, virtually, on every computer I have. Even though I know it must be a pain for them, they still did it. Also, the speeds are surprisingly fast and allow me to download at close to normal speeds, even though I’m in China. Thank you, StrongVPN!“

• Irresistible Prices and Packages

  

  Unlike other VPN services like Hide My Ass, which offers limited plans and choices, Strong VPN offers a variety of packages and a wider selection of services to suit the needs of different types of customers. This could look a little bit confusing for customers aren’t familiar with VPNs. The key is to understand the differences between PPTP VPN vs. Open VPN. Once you know the difference, you will start enjoying the different packages Strong VPN provides. So, which package should you choose? If you are new to VPNs, we would recommend you start with the “Standard” package. The good news is that no matter what plan you choose, you can always  upgrade or downgrade later with no additional cost,  or  penalty. First, get your VPN service up and running. Second,  test to make sure you can access your favorite websites, such as BBC, Facebook, etc.  If you are planning to use the VPN service in China, make sure any blocked websites  are accessible when Strong VPN is turned on.

• Fastest Speed?

  Strong VPN customers are usually very satisfied with the connection speed they get. Many VPN service providers oversell their services; so, if the server is overloaded, your connection speed will drop dramatically. At Strong VPN however, the servers have a set (limited) number of accounts and the servers are monitored to make sure they are never overloaded.

  “You guys are the best! Your speeds are great, I get my netflix in full HD all the time. Great selection of servers! I had a little bit of trouble setting up, but the customer support was incredible and helpful.”

We have tested the Strong VPN service and our experience with it is very positive. Here are some of the top features Strong VPN offers, which we think you should be aware of before purchasing any VPN service:

1. 24×7 Live Technical Help/Support by phone, Skype, email, and live chat.
2. Unblock websites overseas (Surfing Youtube, Facebook, Twitter and many other prohibited sites in China).
3. Supports a wide range of devices and operating systems: Windows, Mac OS X, Linux, iPhone, Android.
4. Gbit Network Connectivity with a superb high speed Connection and no bandwidth charges.
5. Fully refundable. Try Strong VPN for 7 days, without risk.

To learn more about Strong VPN service, click here to read Strong VPN reviews by customers. If you want to give the Strong VPN service a try, check out the different packages Strong VPN offers. We hope this review is helpful for anyone who is in the market for a VPN service. If you need help on deciding which VPN service to choose, please feel free to contact us. Ciao!

VPN Service Review

Wi-Fi scamming has risen in the last few years, with 12.4 million in 2010 – a 12 percent increase from year 2009. VPN has become increasingly needed as Wi-Fi scams increase.

The Concern

Over 80 million Americans are using smartphones. As of July 2011, 7 out of 10 of these smartphone users have accessed social networking web site using their smartphones. This is in addition to the millions of others that access these networks using a laptop or tablet. That’s a whole lot of people at risk with these Wi-Fi connections, especially considering the fact that the majority of them have never been aware of the danger of WI-FI scams and have no way to determine the legitimacy of the Wi-FI spots they are connecting to.

Free Wi-Fi Scam

The Wi-Fi scam, or host-spot scam, happens when a user is connected to a fake Wi-Fi hot-spot which hackers set up, usually with catchy names like “Free Wi-Fi”, or “Free city Wi-Fi”. Once connected, everything you do online will be captured by the hackers, including any usernames and passwords you entered to gain access to your email, bank accounts, and other websites. There is no easy way to know when, where and how you were attacked, because most of the time you would assume you’re connected to a legitimate hot-spot and would not be expecting a security or privacy threat.

The Solution

These days, everyone is “on-the-go”. We need Internet access almost anywhere, especially in places like airports, hotels coffee shops. The easiest and probably the best way to secure your Internet connection at public places is by using a Virtual Private Network(VPN) connection.

A virtual private network (VPN) is a network that uses primarily public telecommunication infrastructure, such as the Internet, to provide remote offices or traveling users access to a central organizational network.
-Wikipedia

Many companies provide VPN accounts for employees who are travelling and need to access files at their office. For regular Internet users, installing VPN on their computers or mobile devices is easy and straight forward. First, you will need a VPN account. You can get one from our recommended VPN service providers below. Second, download the client software from the VPN provider you choose and install it on your device. (Note: this is optional since most devices come with native support for VPN).

Recommendation

At present, there are two VPN services recommended to you: HMA (Hide My Ass Pro VPN) and Strong VPN. We have evaluated and tested both from the aspect of speed, price and customer support. We can responsibly say, both HMA and Strong VPN provide excellent support, great connection speed and reasonable prices. Both services allow you to try their products risk free; All HMA VPN plans include a 30 day money back guarantee, while Strong VPN include a 7 days money back guarantee. Read our posts Maximize Your Online Security With Strong VPN and Hide my ass VPN Review – HMA Review for detailed reviews about HMA and Strong VPN

As we are getting more review requests from alternative VPN service providers, we will be conducting tests and reviews of different VPN service providers. If you’d like to get the latest of our reviews, please subscribe to our feed on the right sidebar.

If you have any options and recommendations, please share with us. We’d like to hear from you.

VPN Service Review

Hide My Ass Pro VPN Hide My Ass (HMA) is famous for anonymous surfing and their Pro VPN service is yet another step up. It lets you use many apps while hiding your location and real identity. If you are concerned about internet privacy and want to protect your data from eavesdroppers and hackers, this is a great way to go. It’s got PPTP, L2TP, and OpenVPN protocols. It’s very simple: just one click and your online identity changes. The software and service work seamlessly and conceal your online identity and allow you to select an IP country to surf anonymously. Using a VPN prevents identity theft and is a safeguard against hacking. When you use HMA Pro VPN, you can change between your real and other IP addresses. When you stop using the Pro VPN, everything is back to normal. You can change your IP address automatically every few minutes if you want. It works with all major browsers and all wireless networks, home networks, firewalls and router types. Here are some key features I found in this product:

Ease of use

It is pretty simple to set up, just install the software and you are ready to go. You will be given access to your dashboard. Just enter your username and password and select any VPN server of your preference. Now click on connect. Your connection will be instantly encrypted and your identity will be changed. Your dashboard will be updated and it will confirm the new IP address that you have assumed along with your virtual location.

Fast server selection

When I launched this software, a VPN server list was also downloaded with it. The software goes through this list and selects the server that would be best for a connection. Apart from that, there are new servers that are being added to their network, so the software keeps updating itself.

Load balancing

HMA usually offers multiple servers at one location and will try to balance the load and advise you where to connect to get better bandwidth. Thus helping you to get the fastest connection possible.

Global coverage

HMA has servers in 42 countries worldwide to make sure that you get fast connection speed. And it completely changes your online identity. For the internet world, you are living in some other country. I used it and was able to access many location restricted websites.

Easy plans

I opted for the 1 month plan in the beginning that was just for $11.52. Later I found more savings in the 1 year plan so I upgraded. These plans are really simple with no hidden charges. And there are no usage limits either. When I shifted to the 1 year plan, it averaged to $6.55 for a month just what they promised.

Infinite IP Addresses

Ok so infinite is a large term, but seriously, there are over 26,000 IP addresses from many countries. Chose any IP address and begin browsing. You can assume any identity and can visit any blocked website.

Helpful support team

One of the best feature of HMA is that their awesome support. If you purchase a product and there is no one to help that really sucks, not so with HMA. These guys provided me full support and also gave a 30 day money back guarantee (which I didn’t use). Though the HMA VPN is made in such a way that laymen can use it easily and there is hardly any need to call support, yet whenever I did need any technical help, the support team was always there. I contacted them through email (though other options were also available), and got a fast response. I’ve been using this software for over 1 year, and I had to contact the support only once; and that too over some minor issue.

Customer Feedback

That’s a very important element and everyone should read feedbacks before investing money in anything. Most customer feedbacks of HMA Pro VPN were excellent. I actually scrolled to the very last pages to see what all customers were saying. Here are some reviews I found: Mohammad N. from Pakistan says, “Over my lengthy test of HideMyAss the VPN performed extremely well. There was one hiccup along the way where I was disconnected from HideMyAss but I reconnected with no problem and got back in business. Your Internet connection isn’t quite as fast when connected to the VPN but it still gets the job done. It really depends on the server you are connected to and how much bandwidth you are trying to push. HideMyAss recommends that you connect to the server closest to your geographic location so the information has to travel the shortest distance possible. It’s really crazy when you connect to a foreign server and do a quick Google search. You will see wildly different results come up in the language of the location.” Peter W. from Canada writes, “So far so good, I had a problem setting up on day 1, and got an answer from your support people who suggested a DNS change. Clearly the support people understood the common issues rather than following a script.” Even I have posted a review on their website about my experience. I am still using their services, and I gave them 5 stars in all categories.

Supported operating systems

It supports Windows, Mac, Linux, Android, and Apple. Or you can also configure the VPN directly to your router and use it with any platform. This way, you can hide your IP address even when you play on your Playstation or Xbox. Configure it on your Wireless router and all your devices will work on the IP of your choice.

Protocols

The HMA Pro VPN works on many protocols like PPTP, L2TP, and OpenVPN. This means that you can switch between many protocols without having to install other software packages.

Security

HMA Pro VPN has secure IP bind that forces specified apps to get connected only through secure VPN. This makes sure that the given applications will work behind secure connections only. Though the connection level is very strong, but in any rare case even if there is a disconnection, the selected apps will not go back to the unencrypted default internet connection. The best thing is that the secure VPN knows that humans are forgetful. If you forget to connect to your VPN and use the apps unencrypted, the secure IP Bind will stop those apps until they are connected to secure VPN.

Pricing

The pricing structure is really attractive. I would suggest a beginner to try a monthly pack and then move to a yearly package only when he is satisfied with the monthly service. They also give a 30 day money back guarantee which is pretty attractive. They’ll charge you $11.52 for 1 month, $50.66 for 6 months and $78.66 for 1 year.

FAQ

Q: How does HMA Pro VPN work? A: When you connect to Pro VPN, all your connections are encrypted and your surfing becomes anonymous. If anyone tries to hack your connection, they will not be able to do so. Your IP address or online identity will be hidden. You don’t need any technical knowledge to work on it either. Q: Is there a difference between VPN and Web proxy? A: In a web proxy, you need to configure your connections manually and they have weak encryption. In contrast, VPNs have stronger encryption and they encrypt your connections automatically. VPNs are more secure than web proxies. Q: Can movies and TV shows be viewed via VPN? A: Yes, there are many customers who subscribe to VPN services because it lets them watch TV shows of other countries.

Pros

• Completely secure
• Inexpensive
• Simple to use
• Fast services
• Works on many protocols
• Works on many platforms
• Best support services
• Rapid services
• Servers across many countries

Cons

In some cases, the initial speed of the connection might be slow or there is a bit of a lag which is usually short-lived. I couldn’t find any other flaws with the system.

The Bottom Line

After using HMA Pro VPN for many months, I’d say it is an excellent product. I can watch all my favorite TV shows from and in any country, I can browse websites anonymously with different IP addresses, and I can be sure my connection is safe and secure even on public wifi. This is very helpful in my line of work where I travel a lot and I don’t want my users to know my exact location. I have come to love HMA Pro VPN and would not leave home without it, definitely recommended!

Try HideMyAss Now, Click Here!

VPN Service Review

SonicWall, a private company headquartered in San Jose, CA. that provides intelligent network security and data protection solutions launched the “SonicWALL Mobile Connect” App for iOS.

SonicWALL Mobile Connect App provides users “VPN on Demand” and encrypts traffic whenever users attempt to access protected internal resources. Mobile Connect users communicate through a SonicWALL firewall. Network administrators can enable Clean VPN (SonicWALL Gateway Anti-Virus, Anti-Spyware and Intrusions Prevention scanning over VPN connections) to afford iOS users the same level of protection as if they were on the internal network, and ensure that communications relayed through the iOS devices are clean of malware.

Read more: SonicWALL Launches Mobile Connect App for iOS

VPN Service Review

A dedicated VPN for Occupy protesters worldwide.

Though there are free and dedicated WI-FI networks at occupy sites like Zuccotti Park world worldwide, people on these networks are exposed to surveillance by law enforcement, intelligence services, and private parties. Even the private networks of the Occupy demonstrators, unless they have ironclad protection, are easy pickings for Deep Packet Inspection.The Free Network Foundation’s project is built around the thought of constructing autonomous systems to protesters which can either get connected to the Internet or even be used just for internal communication. These independent systems usually are meant to give increased safeness than conventional Wi-Fi networks, while also promoting the notion of a cooperatively owned, non-profit Internet. While the FNF’s goals for the Occupy Wall Street protesters have specific ideological aims, the actual technology supporting it is absolutely fascinating.

The FNF project

The infrastructure for the FNF project is based around the creation of 3 standalone products for the networks. Mini, low-powered computers called FreedomNodes would enable individual groups of users at protests to own their files and connect to a larger system, while larger FreedomTowers would be set up that connect the individual nodes into a larger network. Meanwhile, the towers would connect with each other by a product known as FreedomLink which in turn would distribute bandwidth to various users and let them communicate with the bigger Internet.

Activists connected with FNF have already installed FreedomTowers at Occupy Wall Street, Occupy Austin, and Occupy Los Angeles. Based on the FNF’s Isaac Wilder, a $75,000 fundraising drive is going to enable the organization to cover the building of the first 3 FreedomLinks and to provide support for DIY FreedomTower people.

VPN Service Review