If you are looking for the best VPN for PC then you have arrived at the right place. Basically, Hola VPN is a peer-to-peer-based software program that unlocks websites that aren’t available in your country. It also helps to speed up your internet connection. It has an extensive list of countries from which you can choose to connect to. However, the app lacks the advanced features of other competing programs.
Table of Contents
Features
Hola works as a peer-to-peer VPN, meaning its service routes your web traffic through other participants. This is how it can work on so many devices without having its own servers, though it also means your data could be used by strangers. This was the case in 2015 when a cyber attack took advantage of free Hola users’ computers to take over e-commerce sites and online TV channels.
The Windows program is lightweight and fast, but its interface doesn’t offer a lot of functionality. There is a button on the top right corner of the window that lets you pick locations, but that’s about it. There is a huge list of countries available, but connecting to a server takes around 15 seconds. That isn’t a great experience for real-time services like music streaming. In terms of support, the company’s email support replies infrequently and its guides are mostly poorly written. There is no live chat or phone support.
Pricing
With a free tier and massive user base, Hola VPN has made a name for itself as an affordable alternative to paid VPNs. However, it’s important to note that the free version of this program doesn’t come with any data security features.
The free version uses a full peer-to-peer model that requires users to share their idle bandwidth with other Hola VPN customers in exchange for unblocking websites and services. This can cause transfer speeds to be slow and response times to sites to be inconsistent.
Hola VPN is a free virtual private network (VPN) service that allows you to browse the internet securely and access content that may be restricted in your region. While Hola VPN offers a browser extension for popular browsers like Chrome and Firefox, it does not have a dedicated desktop application for Windows or Mac.
Download the VPN from official
- Open your preferred web browser (e.g., Chrome, Firefox) on your PC.
- Visit the Hola VPN website (https://hola.org/) and download the browser extension for your browser. Make sure to choose the correct extension for your browser.
- Once the extension is downloaded, click on it to install it in your browser.
- After installation, the Hola VPN icon should appear in your browser’s toolbar.
- Click on the Hola VPN icon to open the extension. You may need to sign up for a free account if you haven’t already done so.
- Choose a country from the list of available locations that you want to connect through. This will change your virtual location and allow you to access content as if you were browsing from that country.
- Click on the “Start” button to activate the VPN connection.
- You can now browse the internet using Hola VPN on your PC. The extension will encrypt your traffic and route it through the chosen country’s servers, providing you with a secure and private browsing experience.
Remember to use VPN services responsibly and adhere to the terms and conditions of Hola VPN. Additionally, keep in mind that free VPNs may have limitations and potential privacy concerns, so it’s important to do your research and consider using a paid VPN service if you require more advanced features and greater security.
Premium subscriptions offer a more stable connection and include the option to use modern VPN protocols that protect your traffic from internet snoopers. The service also offers a kill switch to prevent any data from accidentally leaking in the event of an unexpected VPN disconnection. The company provides email support and a troubleshooting guide on its website. However, we found that their replies were infrequent and often unhelpful. Moreover, the FAQs on its website were poorly written and confusing.
Reliability
Hola VPN is one of the most popular virtual private networks on the internet. It claims to have over 200 million users worldwide and offers a free version with impressive speed and unblocking capabilities. Unfortunately, it’s also extremely risky to use.
Unlike most VPNs that operate their own servers, Hola’s free service uses a community-powered P2P network. This means you’re sharing your device with millions of other users who could potentially install malware on your computer.
In addition to this, Hola collects and stores data from apps that are installed on your device. This includes information like your name, email address, phone number, and location. It also logs your browsing history and the websites you visit. This is a serious breach of privacy, and most people are looking for a VPN that provides security and data encryption. Unfortunately, Hola does not do this. In fact, the company got caught three years ago selling this user data to its paid Luminati service for $20 per gigabyte.
Security
Hola VPN comes with high-quality features. Hola VPN for PC requires less than 30 MB of free space on your computer and can be installed in seconds through its Chrome Web Store listing. Once installed the software will run in your system tray and can be accessed by clicking on its icon.
Once you click on the icon to use the service you’ll be able to select a country from a list of available countries to appear as though you are connecting from that location. The service can be used to unlock websites blocked by IP addresses as well as to improve internet connection speeds.
The way the service works is by becoming part of a P2P network and using idle computers to provide services to other users. This means that your data is being routed through a stranger’s device and could be vulnerable to hackers. The company has made some changes since a hacker used its network to target subscription streaming sites and the website of a fashion brand.