Hide My Ass! Now Supports Bitcoins

Exactly two months ago The Guardian and The Washington Post revealed details on a mass electronic surveillance data mining program operated by the United States National Security Agency. It was an eye-opener for many people who didn’t know the extent to which they were being surveilled and their data being collected. The NSA’s PRISM program proves that everyone’s fears about government surveillance of internet activity are entirely justified. Our response has stayed the same, to continue providing the best online privacy tools to our users.

For the past two months we have been supporting Bitcoin as a payment gateway for Hide My Ass!

Why Bitcoin? We believe the fundamentals of Bitcoin as a decentralised and anonymous currency is a perfect match for our goal to helping users anonymise their internet activity.
Bitcoin is available to all users, for 12 month and 6 month packages. Due to the nature of how Bitcoins works to ensure anonymity for it’s users, we understand that there is a slight learning curve involved. We have therefore written a useful tutorial on our HMA Wiki on how to get started with Bitcoins. Don’t worry if you get stuck, help is always at hand.
Use Bitcoins and Hide My Ass! today.

How safe is your video gaming data?

Video gaming website The Escapist has reported that the game developer Crytek, best known for its Crysis series, has taken a number of websites offline following a security breach. The incident is believed to have occurred on Saturday 3rd August, with the company alerting gamers via an email stating that, "We recently became aware of suspicious activity relating to some of Crytek's websites, and acted quickly to take those websites offline for security reasons." Account holders at crydev.net and mycrysis.com are being urged to change their password, as Crytek has acknowledged that user information may have been stolen.

 

This is the latest in a string of high profile hack attacks on game designers and developers. Just last month, Assassin’s Creed developer Ubisoft had its Uplay service violated. The company claimed that no user data, including passwords and payment information, was obtained, but still advised players to change their login details. Around the same time, Venture Beat confirmed with Metal Gear Solid publisher Konami that over 35,000 player accounts had been illegally accessed, with hackers apparently launching 4 million attempts at compromising data in the space of a month. Konami announced afterwards that the company had strengthened its security to ensure this will not happen again, but with so many instances of successful hacks on a number of different companies, questions are still being asked as to why information was so vulnerable in the first place. 

 

With digital sales of games soaring, more and more people are opting to pay directly on services like Valve’s Steam service, and at console stores like Xbox Live, PlayStation Network and Nintendo’s eShop. At the moment, it seems like these companies may have the advanced technology necessary to create high-quality games, but haven't paid nearly enough attention to protecting their customers' personal information online. 

 

If you have concerns about the defence systems in place on your computer, you can try using a VPN service. The VPN works as an additional layer of security that stands between the data stored on your devices and any individual or group trying to access it.

Summer Vacation Special from HMA!

HMA has offered amazing news; for the whole of August as the company is running a ‘Summer Vacation Special’ where all of their VPN packages will be discounted.

During the last holiday sale, 12 month package from HMA aka HideMyAss VPN had received tremendous responses from their users, and it has certainly inspired the marketing team of HMA to go with the Discount offer again for this summer! Being a regular VPN user, this will be a great opportunity, especially those who look for a long term usage of VPN service.               

Duration of summerspecial offer from HMA

This special offer will remain until 31^st august. So what are you waiting for? You must check all the suitable VPN packages until the sale finishes! It’s a great opportunity for sure as you can reduce the service charge in a big amount!

Summer VacationSale 2013 of HMA in Details

If you like to order for just 1 month, you can save up to 13% which is huge! If you look for a half yearly offer, you can save 42% which is staggering discount in any point of view. If you look for a yearly offer, you can save 56% from its original price! Detailed information is given below. Have a look! =>

Connect to our VPN service to anonymously encrypt your internet activity from prying eyes. All applications on your computer that utilize your internet connection will become anonymous with just a click of a button; no technical experience is required due to our easy to use VPNsoftware. Enjoy internet freedom and anonymity knowing that your sensitive web traffic is securely hidden behind 53'500+ IP addresses located in 110 locations in 61 countries.

The ‘five eyes’ governments don’t trust Lenovo – should you?

According to a report by the Australian Financial Review, governments from around the world including Australia, America, Great Britain, Canada, and New Zealand, a.k.a. the 'Five Eyes,' have banned their intelligence and defence departments from using computers designed by Chinese company Lenovo.

 

The report claims that the ban has been in place since 2005, the year that Lenovo acquired the PC arm of computer giant IBM. While the latter company continues to do business in servers and mainframes for governments, Lenovo has been dropped. It's been suggested that this is yet another aspect of the Prism revelations: since the five governments have been sharing information using the same classified networks, it's evidently essential that they all adopt the same security policies.

 

The justification for the ban is apparently as a result of intense security tests carried out on the computers which found vulnerabilities not only in the hardware, but also in the firmware. The study and subsequent ban pointed specifically to “malicious circuits” and firmware embedded in chipsets produced in Lenovo’s native China. The tests, carried out by MI5 and MI6, discovered the potential for backdoor access to the systems. This could effectively allow people with knowledge of the system to remotely access any device, without setting off any alarm bells. 

 

Reacting to the news, Lenovo dismissed the nearly decade-old ban by pointing out that the same governments still use their technology for unclassified networks. A spokesperson for Lenovo said that its products have "been found time and time again to be reliable and secure by our enterprise and public sector customers and we always welcome their engagement to ensure we are meeting their security needs”.

 

As reported in The Daily Telegraph, the UK Home Office has refused to divulge whether they make use of Lenovo products for the UK's secret networks. In a press statement, GCHQ said: “As a matter of policy we don’t routinely discuss the names or nature of suppliers to GCHQ on any aspect of our business”.

 

If you have concerns about computer security, you can help make your data more secure by using a VPN service. The VPN works as an additional layer of protection that stands between the data stored on your device and any external users attempting to access it.

The Best VPN Services for File Sharers, 2013

Private Encryption to Cloak Your Online Data Activity

If you are looking to privately download files, share files, and access streaming media, then these are the VPN providers you will want to consider. These services will cipher your downloads, uploads, emails, messages, and also manipulate your IP address so that you are effectively untraceable.

This list of VPN providers is in random order. This list is populated in part by About.com users who submit their suggestions and offer their personal reviews. If you wish to add to this list, you may submit a recommendation for a VPN service here.

Note on VPN speeds: expect your internet speed to be reduced by up to 75% while you are using your VPN. VPN speeds of 2 to 4 Mbps are common for cheaper VPN's. Speeds of 5 Mbps per second are good. VPN speeds over 15 Mbps are excellent.

Note on VPN encryption protocols: there are 3 common ciphering options for VPN's: OpenVPN, L2TP/IPsec, and PPTP. For most desktop users, OpenVPN is the strongest encryption and fastest data transfer. However, L2TP may be an even better option than OpenVPN in two special circumstances: you want to use multiple mobile devices on your VPN; or if you live in a country with oppressive government rules on internet use (e.g. China, Egypt). While not as fast as OpenVPN, L2TP is difficult for authorities to block, and it generally offers more support for mobile devices.

1. PureVPN

Cost: $10.00/month; $50/year. Supports OpenVPN, SSTP, L2TP/IPsec, and PPTP protocols. PureVPN also supports IKEvs2 protocol for BlackBerry. The servers are in 19 different countries, with no bandwidth limitations for premium subscribers. The price point is very compelling, and is much more affordable than most of its competitors.

PureVPN has won the affection of many users because of its very friendly software client and very economical price. You can split the tunneling, which is helpful for having encryption on specific parts of your web habits, while still using your regular network connection for others (gamers and downloaders will like this splitting feature). PureVPN does log bandwidth usage and your login durations, but deletes that information every 5 days. Speeds on Pure are in the 4 Mbps to 21 Mbps range, which averages faster than most other VPN's.

Visit their site: www.purevpn.com

2. Strong VPN

Cost: $20/month; $85/year. Good support for users in Asia. Offers L2TP and PPTP protocols.

Strong VPN is one of the more-expensive choices out there, but readers in Asia and the Pacific Rim say that Strong performs very well for them when compared to its competitors. The price point varies with your part of the world, but expect in the range of $20USD per month. The Strong VPN owners promise that there is no logging or scanning of their customers' data, and many readers recommend Strong. Try it for a month and let us know if Strong VPN works for you.

Visit their site: http://www.strongvpn.com

3. VyprVPN by Goldenfrog

Cost: $20/month; $240/year. Supports OpenVPN, L2TP/IPsec, and PPTP protocols. Good support for mobile devices like iPhones and Android tablets.

VyprVPN is a quality VPN service, recently grown by several new servers in Europe and Asia. Users with iPads and Android devices will definitely appreciate the Vypr mobile VPN apps. Additionally, being an offshore company incorporated in the Bahamas, there is less likelihood of the Vypr server logs being examined under the US PATRIOT Act.

Visit their site: http://www.goldenfrog.com/vyprvpn

 

4. IPVanish

Cost: $10/month; $78/year. Servers in 16 different countries make IPVanish an international presence. This service supports OpenVPN, PPTP, and L2TP (L2TP is harder for authorities to block, so it's a good protocol for people in countries where the government restricts internet use, like China and Egypt).

IPVanish is recommended by multiple readers at About.com. Not only does it have L2TP protocol for people in oppressive countries, the speeds for IPVanish are often over 10 Mbps. This service also supports simultaneous connections across multiple devices, so your Windows PC and your iPad can be encrypted at the same time.

While IPVanish does promise not to log any of its customers' data or online activity, the company does have offices in the USA. This makes them, unfortunately, open to PATRIOT Act investigation. Nonetheless, the service provides excellent speeds in a very user-friendly manner. Do consider evaluating IPVanish as you shop for a VPN service.

Visit their site: http://www.ipvanish.com

How To Set Up & Run a A VPN Client in Windows XP Pro

When you are working at your home office or in a remote location you may require resources that are available on your on-site computer or the corporate network such as printers. In Windows XP Pro edition, you can configure your computer to access your corporate network using VPN. This gives you the resources available from your corporate network from any location.

 

Difficulty: Average

Time Required: 10 Minutes

Here's How:

1. The host computer running Windows' 2003 server must be set up before you can set up the client computer.
2. Right-click on the Network Connections on your desktop.
3. Click on create a new connection.
4. You want to choose Connect to the network at my workplace and then click Next.
5. Choose Virtual Private Network connection and then Next.
6. You will now enter a name for your VPN connection. Use something like workoffice or officecomputer. Click Next.
7. Choose Do not dial the initial connection and click Next.
8. You will need to enter the IP address of the VPN server. Your company IT department will provide you with this information.
9. Choose My use only and then click Next.
10. You want to select the Add a shortcut to this connection to my desktop and then select Finish.
11. Double-click the VPN icon on your desktop and login. You will get your user information from your IT department. You can now print and use files on the corporate network.

Tips:

1. Do not click the box "Save this User Name and Password for the following users". This saves your information on the hard drive, and if your computer is stolen you have enabled anyone to connect to your corporate VPN.
2. Your company may require a proxy server to connect to the Web. You will have to change this setting in Internet Explorer. Check with your IT department first.

What You Need

• Company VPN set up first.
• IP address of server.
• User login information.

10 Reasons to Use a VPN for Private Web Browsing

Why Personal Encryption and IP Manipulation Are Extremely Useful?

A virtual private network connection achieves two technical results: 1) a VPN cloaks and encrypts your signal, making your online activity completely illegible to any eavesdroppers, and 2) a VPN manipulates your IP address, making you appear to come from a different machine/location/country. While your VPN will slow down your connection speed by 25% - 50%, there are many good reasons to cloak your activities and change your IP address.

1. Use Public or Hotel Wi-Fi in Confidence

Most people are unaware of this, but that Starbucks hotspot and that 10-dollar-a-day hotel wi-fi is not safe for confidential email and browsing. Public wi-fi offers no encryption security to its users, and your signals are broadcast for anyone savvy enough to eavesdrop. It's very easy for even a junior hacker to intercept your unencrypted wi-fi signal using an Evil Twin phony hotspot or a Firefox Tamper Data plugin. Public wi-fi is terribly insecure, and is perhaps the biggest reason why mobile users should consider spending the 15 dollars per month for the safety of a VPN connection.

If you log into a public wi-fi network, and then connect to a personal VPN, all of your hotspot web use will then be encrypted and hidden from prying eyes. If you are a traveler or a user who is regularly using public wireless, then a VPN is a very wise investment in privacy.

 

2. Access Full Netflix and Streaming Content from Outside the USA

Because of copyright agreements, Netflix and Hulu and Pandora and other streaming media providers cannot broadcast all content outside of the USA. This means: many movies and shows are blocked to users in the UK, Canada, South America, Australia, Asia, and Europe. This geographical enforcement is managed by reading your user login IP address, and tracing it to its country of origin.

By using a VPN service, you can manipulate your machine's IP address to be from within the USA, therein unlocking access to more Netflix and Pandora streams. You will need to configure your television movie player or mobile device to use the VPN connection, but if you are a streaming fan, then the effort and cost of a VPN is worth it.

3. Break Out of a Restrictive Network at Work/School

As an employee of a company, or a student at a school/university, you will be subject to an 'Acceptable Use' policy for browsing the Web. 'Acceptable Use' is often debatable, and many organizations will impose draconian restrictions, like blocking you from checking your Facebook page, visiting YouTube, reading Twitter, surfing Flickr, performing instant messaging, or even accessing your Gmail or Yahoo mail.

A VPN connection will allow you to 'tunnel out' of a restrictive network and connect to otherwise-restricted websites and webmail services. More importantly: your VPN browsing content is scrambled and indecipherable to the network administrator, so he cannot collect any recorded evidence about your specific web activities. About.com does not recommend violating Acceptable Use policies as a rule, but if you feel you have justifiable reasons for bypassing your specific network restrictions, then a VPN connection will help you.

4. Download and Upload P2P Files in Privacy

The MPAA and other cinema and music associations absolutely detest P2P file sharing. For reasons of both profit and legality, the MPAA and other authorities want to forbid users from sharing movies and music online. They nab offenders by masquerading as fellow file sharers, or by eavesdropping on your ISP signal.

A VPN can be a P2P user's best friend. While a VPN connection will slow your bandwidth by 25% - 50%, it will cipher your file downloads, uploads, and actual IP address so that you are unidentifiable by authorities. If you are a file sharer, and do not wish to risk copyright prosecution or civil lawsuits, definitely consider spending 15 dollars a month on a good VPN. The privacy and protection from surveillance is definitely worth it.

5. Bypass the Country's Web Censorship and Content Surveillance

In the same way 'Acceptable Use' policies are enforced at workplaces and schools, some nations choose to impose oppressive internet censoring on their entire countries. Egypt, Afghanistan, China, Cuba, Saudi Arabia, Syria, and Belarus are some examples of nations who surveil and limit access to the World Wide Web.

If you live in one of these restrictive countries, connecting to a VPN server will enable you to 'tunnel out' of the censorship restrictions and access the full World Wide Web. Simultaneously a VPN conceals your page-by-page activity from any government eavesdropping. As with all VPN connections, your bandwidth will be slower than uncloaked internet, but the freedom is absolutely worth it.

6. Cloak Your VOIP Phone Calls

Voice-over-IP (internet telephoning) is relatively easy to eavesdrop on. Even intermediate-level hackers can listen in to your VOIP calls. If you regularly use VOIP services like Skype, Lync, or online voice chatting, definitely consider implementing a VPN connection. The monthly cost will be higher, and the VOIP speed will be slower with a VPN, but personal privacy is invaluable.

7. Use Search Engines Without Having Your Searches Logged

Like it or not, Google, Bing, and other search engines will catalog every web search you perform. Your online search choices are then attached to your computer's IP address, and are subsequently used to customize advertising and future searches for your machine. This cataloging might seem unobtrusive and perhaps even useful, but it is also a risk for future public embarrassment and social faux pas.

Don't let Google store your searches for 'anti-depressants', 'love advice', 'divorce lawyers', and 'anger management'... consider getting a VPN and cloak your IP address so you can keep your private searches private.

8. Watch Home-Specific Broadcasts While You Are Traveling

Local network news can be rather dodgy in some countries, and access to your favorite streaming television, sports games, and video feeds can be locked out while you are away from your home country.

By employing a VPN tunnel connection, you can force your borrowed connection to access your home country as if you were physically there, therein enabling your favorite football feeds and TV and newscasts.

 

9. Avoid Reprisals and Traceback Because of Your Researching

Perhaps you are a celebrity, or you are an employee doing market research of your competition. Perhaps you are a reporter or writer who covers sensitive topics like war atrocities, violence against women, or human trafficking. Perhaps you are a law enforcement officer investigating cybercriminals. In any of these cases, it is in your best interests to make your computer untraceable to prevent reprisals.

A personal VPN connection is the best choice for manipulating your IP address and rendering you untraceable.

10. Because You Believe Privacy Is a Basic Right

All the above reasons notwithstanding, you are a firm believer in personal privacy and the right to broadcast and receive without being surveilled and catalogued by authorities. And that is perhaps the biggest philosophical reason you want to spend 15 dollars a month on a good VPN connection service.