Why You Can Trust CNET Get a lifetime Hotspot Shield Elite VPN subscription for $39.99
From the Cheapskate: This is one of the top-rated VPN services on the market, and your license covers up to five devices.
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Cheeps, I'm excited about this one. Well, as excited as it's possible to be about something as mundane as mobile security.
See, just as antivirus software is crucial for protecting yourself against malware, so is a virtual private network (VPN) crucial for keeping hackers away when you connect to public hotspots.
The Android version of Hotspot Shield Elite features a handy app-lock feature for an added layer of security.
In the past I've shared various VPN deals, but nearly all of them were from little-known developers. Today, I bring you a deal for one of the best-known, top-rated products in its class.
For a limited time, StackSocial has an AnchorFree Hotspot Shield Elite VPN lifetime subscription for $39.99. Regular price for a single year of the service: $29.95.
Let me pause right here to note that AnchorFree offers a free version of Hotspot Shield, which may prove more than sufficient. But it's ad-supported, which can get annoying, and limited to just one server.
With Elite, you get freedom from ads and access to 20 servers (aka virtual locations) in Australia, China, India, Mexico and many more locales. That's particularly helpful if you want to access, say, Hulu or Netflix in other countries, though you may run into issues with the latter.
Anyway, this subscription allows for up to five devices, all of which can use Elite simultaneously. The software is available for Android, iOS, Kindle, Mac and Windows.
Although CNET hasn't reviewed HotSpot Shield in several years, PCMag recently covered Elite. Bottom line: "Using a VPN means extra security at the price of a slower experience browsing the Web, but AnchorFree HotSpot Shield shows less of a performance impact than others. It's easy to use, affordable, and will secure all the traffic from your computer."
And for a very reasonable $40, you're covered for the foreseeable future. If you haven't yet deployed a VPN, this seems like the opportune time.
Bonus deal: In my many years writing the Cheapskate blog, I don't think I've ever shared a deal on a laser pointer. So let's cross that gadget off the list! For a limited time, and while supplies last, Adorama has the Clever Professional Presenter C850 for $34.99 shipped. It lists for $79, costs $59 on Amazon (where it has largely positive reviews) and apparently has everything in common with the Logitech R800 ($54, also very popular). It's not just a powerful green-laser pointer, but also a slide-deck controller, timer and so on. If you regularly give presentations, this may be the ultimate accessory.