Latest news with #Eugene
BBC News
3 hours ago
- Sport
- BBC News
Mills runs second fastest British 1500m in Paris
George Mills ran the second fastest time by a Briton in the men's 1500m as he finished third at the Diamond League in beating Sir Mo Farah's long-standing British 5,000m record in Oslo last week, Mills, 26, again bettered Farah to climb to second in the all-time UK list with a time of three minutes 28.36 Josh Kerr has run the distance faster for Great Britain - in 3:27.79 at the 2024 Paris Habz won the race in front of his home crowd by clocking 3:27.49 - a meet record and French national record - while Kenya's Phanuel Kipkosgei Koech set a world junior record in second in the non-Diamond League race. Great Britain's Amy Hunt took second in the women's 200m with a season best 22.45 to finish behind American Anavia Battle while former world champion Dina Asher-Smith had to settle for sixth despite a quick Hunter Bell, targeting her second Diamond League win of the season, also finished sixth in the women's 1500m as Ireland's Sarah Healy came second with a personal best 3:57.15, behind Kenya's Nelly Diamond League will move to Eugene and Monaco next before the series visits the UK for a sold-out London Athletics Meet on 19 finals will take place in Zurich on 27 and 28 August - just over a fortnight before the start of the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo, Japan.
Yahoo
10 hours ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
BREAKING: Oregon Ducks land commitment from 5-star S Jett Washington
The Oregon Ducks are officially on a recruiting hot streak. After landing 4-star wide receiver Messiah Hampton on Friday morning, Dan Lanning and his squad followed it up with a massive addition, getting a commitment from 5-star safety Jett Washington. Advertisement Standing at 6-foot-5, 200 pounds, Washington is rated by 247Sports as the No. 18 player and No. 2 safety in the 2026 class. Washington is Oregon's second safety committed in the 2026 class, joining 4-star Xavier Lherisse. Washington was in Eugene last weekend for his official visit, and he had rave reviews after leaving Eugene. He was one of six 5-star players in town during the first weekend of June, joining the likes of S Joey O'Brien, EDGE Ricahed Wesley, WR Calvin Russell, CB Brandon Arrington, and LB Tyler Atkinson. Oregon had the No. 33-ranked class in the 2026 cycle before the addition of Washington, but they jumped up to No. 22 after adding the second 5-star recruit to their class. Going forward, there is a feeling that this hot streak will continue for Oregon, with a number of high-profile recruits coming to town this month for their visits. The Ducks are in good standing for the likes of 5-stars Ryder Lyons, Immanue Iheanacho, Anthony Jones, Calvin Russell, and many others. Advertisement Contact/Follow @Ducks_Wire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Oregon Ducks news, notes, and opinions. This article originally appeared on Ducks Wire: 5-star S announces commitment between Oregon, Alabama, USC
Yahoo
10 hours ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
4-star Oregon commit Xavier Lherisse makes big recruiting decision official
The Oregon Ducks are in the middle of a busy time in the world of recruiting, with top-ranked players taking official visits and making their commitment announcements almost every day now. Earlier this week, one of Oregon's commits in the 2026 class, 4-star safety Xavier Lherisse, made a significant announcement on his social media, declaring that he was cancelling all of his future official visits that had been planned, and locking in with the Ducks. Advertisement Lherisse stands at 5-foot-10, 185 pounds, and is rated by the 247Sports Composite as the No. 362 player and No. 32 safety in the 2026 class. He was in Eugene earlier this month for an official visit, and obviously saw enough to shut down his recruitment and tell all other schools who were pursuing him not to waste their time. This is the second big announcement that Oregon got from a blue-chip safety this week, with the other coming on Thursday night when 5-star Jett Washington, the No. 18 player and No. 2 safety in the class, announced his commitment to the Ducks. Washington is the top-ranked safety to sign with the Ducks in Oregon history, and the 16th-ranked overall player to ever join the Ducks. Advertisement Later on Friday, 5-star safety Joey O'Brien is expected to announce his commitment between Oregon and the Notre Dame Fighting Irish, as well. Contact/Follow @Ducks_Wire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Oregon Ducks news, notes, and opinions. This article originally appeared on Ducks Wire: 4-star Oregon football commit delivers important update on recruitment
Tom's Guide
3 days ago
- Tom's Guide
Hotspot Shield Basic VPN Review
Hotspot Shield Basic is the free-tier offering from long-established VPN provider Hotspot Shield which is owned by Pango Inc., formerly known as AnchorFree Inc. Based in the US, with offices in California, Massachusetts, and Ukraine, the company has a history dating back to 2005, when it was founded by David Gorodyansky and his father Eugene. Unlike many free VPNs that impose tight data caps or limitations, Hotspot Shield Basic offers unlimited usage, decent speeds, and a sleek desktop interface – all without requiring a login. But that generosity comes with caveats. There are only four server locations to choose from – Los Angeles, New York, Singapore and the UK – mobile apps have ads, and key security features like kill switches and split tunneling are missing on some platforms. Not only that, but Hotspot Shield Basic does not offer streaming support, meaning major streaming services like Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, and Disney+ don't work when connected to Hotspot Shield Basic. At Tom's Guide, we put VPNs through rigorous, real-world testing across multiple platforms, focusing on security, speed, unblocking, privacy, and usability. This review draws not only from our benchmark testing, but also personal hands-on experience using Hotspot Shield Basic across desktop and mobile. We've looked at how easy it is to get started, how it performs day to day, and where it falls short compared to the best free and paid VPNs on the market. So, is Hotspot Shield Basic still worth a download in 2025, and more importantly, who is it really for? Let's break it down. Number of servers 4 Server countries 3 Supported platforms 4 Simultaneous connections 1 Protocols supported WireGuard (not on iOS or Windows), Hydra (OpenVPN based) Country of registration U.S. Support Articles, chatbot (24/7), live chat (24/7), email (24/7) Lowest monthly price Free For a quick explanation of any VPN-related terminology, check out our VPN glossary. Hotspot Shield Basic's Chrome browser extension was pulled in spring 2025 after failing to update to Manifest V3. At one point, the official website still incorrectly advertised it as still being available, raising concerns over site maintenance and transparency. Our most recent checks though, have shown that it is now clearly stated as being no longer available. The core VPN apps, however, remain supported and have seen no major feature changes recently. Hotspot Shield Basic is free, with no sign-up needed and unlimited data use – even after 100GB in speed testing, we saw no throttling or warnings. This is surprising, especially considering that many free VPNs deliberately slow your connection after using a certain amount of data. Its mobile apps are supported by ads, but the desktop version remains ad-free. Accessing the Basic tier can be tricky though – the free trial is pushed heavily on the official website and apps, and it's not immediately obvious how to simply use the Basic version without being funneled into a free trial. Still, the fact that you don't need to sign up and/or log in is a refreshing rarity, saving you the hassle of having to remember yet another username and password. Hotspot Shield Basic is free, with no sign-up needed and unlimited data use – even after 100GB in speed testing, we saw no throttling or warnings. For context, Hotspot Shield Premium is priced at $7.99 per month on the annual plan (or $12.99 if billed monthly). The upgrade adds access to 125 virtual locations, up to 10 simultaneous device connections, streaming and gaming-optimized servers, and broader protocol support including routers and smart TVs. It also unlocks features like a kill switch on all platforms, ad-free apps, live chat support, and advanced protections such as DNS filtering, Tor over VPN, and Smart VPN functionality. Rating: 10/10 Hotspot Shield Basic offers a limited feature set compared to both premium VPNs and some free competitors. While it includes unlimited data and supports multiple VPN protocols, the availability varies by platform. The Mac app supports Hydra, WireGuard, and IKEv2. Windows supports Hydra and IKEv2, and Android supports Hydra and WireGuard. iOS only offers Hydra. And if that all sounds like jargon, fear not – VPN protocols are the technologies that define how your connection is secured and routed. Hydra is Hotspot Shield's own protocol, built for speed and obfuscation, while WireGuard is a modern, open-source protocol known for its performance and efficiency. IKEv2 is another reliable option, often used on mobile due to its ability to quickly reconnect when switching networks. Ideally, a good VPN should offer multiple protocols – and let users choose the one that fits their needs. As for kill switches (which automatically cut off your internet if the VPN connection drops to protect your privacy), the feature is included on Windows and Android, but not Mac or iOS. However, there's a glaring issue on Windows in that the kill switch only works with Hydra. If you switch to WireGuard, the app silently disables the kill switch without warning. The same behaviour affects split tunneling (a feature which allows you to pick which sites and apps use the VPN connection), which only works with Hydra and is automatically disabled when switching protocols – again, without notifying the user. Hotspot Shield Basic offers a limited feature set compared to both premium VPNs and some free competitors. Hotspot Shield, meanwhile, claims its proprietary Hydra protocol uses obfuscation to help bypass VPN blocks, but it offers no technical details to explain how or why this is more effective than other approaches. So, there is no real way of knowing whether or not these claims are accurate. Its auto-connect functionality also varies. Android includes a full-featured Connection Center, letting you auto-connect at startup, on app launch, or when joining unsecured, secured, or cellular networks. Windows can auto-connect to the last location or on public Wi-Fi. Mac and iOS platforms get the short end of the stick again however, and lack any auto-connect options. As for more positive observations, we found the built-in speed test on desktop is a genuinely helpful inclusion, particularly for beginners. It quickly shows the difference in speed before and after connecting, allowing you to easily see if your connection is being throttled by your ISP, and is a super-easy-to-use one-button affair that VPN newcomers will appreciate. Rating: 4/10 Continent Countries Locations Europe 1 1 North America 1 2 South America 0 0 Asia Pacific 1 1 Africa 0 0 Hotspot Shield Basic has servers in four locations across three countries – Los Angeles, New York, the UK, and Singapore. That's a small footprint, even for a free VPN, especially when Windscribe and Proton VPN Free offer servers in up to 10 countries. Hotspot Shield doesn't disclose server numbers, but all listed locations appear physically hosted, not virtual. For context, virtual servers are when a VPN lists a location in one country, but the actual server is somewhere else – which can cause problems for websites and services that check your region. P2P (e.g. torrenting) is supported on all servers, but global coverage remains limited. Rating: 3/10 Here we arrive at what will be a major deal-breaker for many people – Hotspot Shield Basic performs very poorly in streaming tests. Unlike many free VPNs that simply don't prioritize unblocking, Hotspot Shield Basic actively prevents it. Attempting to open Netflix or Prime Video while connected, for example, immediately terminates the connection. Not only that, but with the failed Netflix tab left open in our browser, the VPN kept connecting and disconnecting in an infinite loop, confusing us until we realised it was due to the open Netflix browser tab. Unlike many free VPNs that simply don't prioritize unblocking, Hotspot Shield Basic actively prevents it. We had slightly better luck with Channel 4's All4, which did load during testing, but other services like iPlayer, and Disney+ were all inaccessible. In short, if you want a free VPN to unblock streaming content, Hotspot Shield Basic is not for you. Serious streamers will be much better served by a service like PrivadoVPN Free, which unblocked multiple platforms reliably. On the plus side, Hotspot Shield Basic allows P2P (peer-to-peer) traffic like torrenting on all servers, and file sharing worked without issue in our tests. So, those looking for one of the best torrenting VPNs but not wanting to pay for a subscription may find Hotspot Shield Basic suits their needs. Rating: 2/10 Hotspot Shield boldly claims to be the 'world's fastest VPN' on its website. It even cites a quote ostensibly from a TechRadar review (although this quote is no longer in the review): 'More than twice the top speed we've seen from many competitors.' In practice, our results were more mixed. Using the Hydra protocol, we recorded 108 Mbps when connecting from Dublin to the UK, but 163 Mbps when connecting to the US — an unusual result. This wasn't a one-off either – multiple tests showed the UK servers were overloaded (95% server load vs. 70–80% in the US). WireGuard connections fared better, delivering up to 385 Mbps locally and 315 Mbps to the US. Latency was noticeably higher on distant servers too, particularly Singapore, where we saw speeds drop by a factor of 10 – from over 300 Mbps to around 30 Mbps. These results place Hotspot Shield Basic among the faster free VPNs – comfortably ahead of rivals like Proton VPN Free (which peaked at 210 Mbps), and PrivadoVPN Free (172 Mbps), though still behind paid leaders like NordVPN, which consistently hits 950 Mbps on the same test rig. These results place Hotspot Shield Basic among the faster free VPNs Still, these speeds are more than usable, even for 4K video streaming, which requires around 25 Mbps for smooth performance. Connection times were fast enough in all apps we tested, and we had no trouble downloading large Steam games over the Hotspot Shield Basic connection. Disconnections were equally smooth too, with no errors or freezes. Overall, during basic web browsing or YouTube streaming sessions, speeds are solid – though competitive services like Windscribe and Proton VPN Free are faster and more reliable. Rating: 6/10 Hotspot Shield Basic offers solid core encryption, but comes with compromises that privacy-focused users should understand. Its Hydra protocol – available on all platforms – is based on OpenVPN and uses industry-standard security like HTTPS-style encryption and secure key exchanges that change with every session. It defaults to AES-128 encryption but also supports the more secure AES-256. On platforms where it's available, WireGuard offers similar protection using a newer encryption method called ChaCha20, which is designed to be both fast and secure. However, Hotspot Shield Basic lacks some of the advanced options that more privacy-focused users might expect. For one, it doesn't support post-quantum encryption – the next generation of encryption standards designed to withstand potential future attacks from quantum computers. This likely isn't a dealbreaker for most people today, but it's something that competing VPNs like Mullvad and IVPN are already starting to offer. In addition, you can't manually choose or customize encryption levels or protocol settings within the app. It only allows basic switching between its supported protocols – and even then, not on all platforms. So, those looking for a VPN they can completely configure to their tastes will be disappointed with these options. Lastly, while the Hydra protocol is based on OpenVPN, OpenVPN itself isn't directly supported. That means if you're hoping to use third-party VPN apps or configure Hotspot Shield on routers or advanced devices that rely on OpenVPN files, you're out of luck. As for logging, according to the VPN-specific privacy policy, Hotspot Shield does not log user activity or associate browsing with user identities. However, it does collect session metadata – connection durations, device hashes, bandwidth used, and domains accessed (not full URLs), anonymized but still retained. Because the free version is ad-supported, it also shares your device advertising ID and the name of the website serving the ad – theoretically allowing ad partners to profile device-level behavior. Hotspot Shield does not log user activity or associate browsing with user identities. However, it does collect session metadata One concern is that Hotspot Shield does not provide much technical transparency around its infrastructure. The Privacy Policy offers only a broad statement: it uses 'reasonable and appropriate methods… policies, training, technology, and oversight' to protect data. No unique security architecture (like RAM-only servers or zero-access models) is disclosed, which is a downside. RAM-only servers store all data temporarily in memory rather than on a hard drive – meaning everything is wiped every time the server is rebooted, leaving no trace behind. This setup, along with zero-access systems that prevent even the VPN provider from viewing user activity, is becoming increasingly standard among privacy-focused VPNs. Without these, Hotspot Shield processes data in a more traditional way, offering fewer built-in safeguards if something goes wrong. Tracking cookies aren't clearly detailed in the privacy policy either, and we couldn't confirm whether any load before user consent. That's an unknown users should be aware of, especially if they're prioritizing privacy above all else. On the audit front, the company passed an independent privacy audit by Aon in 2023, verifying that no identifiable browsing activity is retained. However, the audit was limited – no access to source code or backend systems was granted, unlike, for instance, TunnelBear's annual full-scope audits. Elsewhere, in real-world testing, the kill switch worked when using Hydra on Windows – instantly severing the connection during a connection drop. But switching to WireGuard silently disabled the kill switch, potentially exposing users and allowing them to browse the web without VPN protection without their knowledge. DNS leak protection, at least, passed all tests using meaning Hotspot Shield Basic is not actively leaking your data. In short, while Privacy basics are in place, the service lags behind providers like Proton VPN or Mullvad, which offer more transparency, control, and independent verification. Rating: 6/10 Hotspot Shield Basic is available on Windows, macOS, Android, and iOS. There's no support for Linux, routers, or smart TVs, and the Chrome browser extension was pulled in spring 2025 after failing to upgrade to Google's Manifest V3 standard. The desktop apps are clean and beginner-friendly, with a layout that resembles a mobile interface. In fact, it's one of the cleanest, clutter-free layouts we've used, with a gigantic, unmissable connection button that even a complete novice would be hard pressed to miss. However, disconnecting requires clicking a small stop button at the bottom of the app – not immediately obvious. Likewise, changing server location involves clicking a 'Virtual Location' tab that feels hidden, and the country selector sometimes failed to load flags during testing, making the app look broken. These niggles aren't an issue once you're used to them after the first experience, but it might put off casual users initially. The iOS app is particularly weak too, lacking WireGuard, IKEv2, a kill switch, or split tunneling. Meanwhile, macOS supports all protocols, but lacks a kill switch. Android and Windows fare better with kill switch and split tunneling support – though only with Hydra. Plus, the behaviour can be inconsistent. There's no installation method for smart TVs, streaming devices, or consoles like Roku or PlayStation either. Without router support, which allows you to encrypt the connection on devices that don't support VPN apps, there's no workaround – these devices simply can't be protected. The apps don't offer access to optimised or specialised servers, unlike its paid counterpart. While mobile apps display banner and full-screen ads, its desktop versions are ad-free. You also don't need to create an account to use Hotspot Shield Basic, which is a welcome rarity in a day and age where you have to register for everything from VPN services to Wi-Fi connected toasters. This also removes any risk of accidentally being charged for a premium subscription, as you don't have an account that can be charged. Rating: 5/10 Hotspot Shield Basic is easy to use once running – but actually getting started can be confusing. When we first tried the desktop version, it was seemingly impossible to get the Basic version. The website seems to only offer a seven-day Premium trial, which, for this Basic review, wasn't required. The prominent 'Products' button at the top of the homescreen brings you to a page where the only options are 'Get Premium' or 'Start Free Trial.' Eventually, we downloaded the app directly from the Windows Store, after which we installed it and used it in Basic mode without having to sign up. We've since discovered that Googling 'Hotspot Shield Basic' also leads you to a specific page where you can download the app without signing up for a trial. You can also access this page when you scroll right down to the very bottom of Hotspot Shield's site, and click 'Free VPN Download.' Overall, though, beginners likely wouldn't go through all this hoop jumping, and will end up signing up for a seven-day trial. That's no bad thing in itself, as it gives you a free taste of the premium version and can easily be cancelled, but we'd like to see a simple way of simply downloading the Basic version. Things, for us at least, were even worse on mobile. The Hotspot Shield app presents you with the free trial option immediately, with no immediately obvious way of simply ignoring it and opting for the Basic version. After asking the company's online support for help, I discovered that you can choose to press a small sign in button on the app's main screen, which you can use to sign in without opting for the free trial. On our main Android handset though, this sign in text refused to do anything, no matter how many times I desperately tapped it. Trying a spare Android handset did, however, work as expected. For the record, the handset that didn't work was the Nubia Z70 Ultra. I've also since discovered that there's also a small line of text at the bottom of the initial screen which says 'Proceed with ads and limits.' Pressing this lets you use Hotspot Shield Basic without signing in, but it's not at all obvious or even made to look like a button. We had assumed that it was simply a header, instructing us to use the sign in button below it to use the service without ads or limits. Clearly, the free trial option is being pushed very heavily. Once you're finally in, you're at least met with a mercifully clean and easy-to-use interface, just like the desktop version. There are some banner ads and the occasional full-screen video ad on disconnect. How annoyed you get by these is likely down to personal preference, but remembering that the service is free helps take the sting out of it. Rating: 6/10 Hotspot Shield is owned by Pango Inc., a US-based company with offices in California, Boston, and Ukraine. The US is part of both the Five Eyes and Fourteen Eyes intelligence-sharing alliances, and does not have strong personal data privacy laws. This means that VPN providers registered in the US can, under certain conditions, be compelled to hand over user data to government agencies. Naturally, this is a concern for privacy-conscious users – though Hotspot Shield does not log browsing history or associate VPN use with identifiable data. In 2023, independent auditor Aon verified that VPN browsing activity is not recorded in any way that can be tied to a unique user identity, and that no IP address, device ID, or other identifier is logged alongside browsing activity. However, as mentioned before, the audit did not include access to Hotspot Shield's source code or infrastructure – a limitation compared to full audits by providers like TunnelBear. Plus, it is now a couple of years out of date. Overall, I'd like to see Hotspot Shield undergo a more thorough audit as soon as possible. Hotspot Shield offers 24/7 support via chatbot, live chat, and email – but the experience varies depending on how and where you ask for help. For the chatbot, we asked 'How can I cancel my plan?' It failed to understand the question. 'How can I close my account?' triggered the same error – before finally offering to escalate. Live chat connected us to a human in around four minutes, who answered a simple setup query but couldn't help with more technical issues. Our second experience with the chatbot saw us asking how to use the Basic version on the Android app, following our previously described frustrations about seeing no obvious way to do so. Our initial question was met with a generic response about how to sign up for the app with screenshots. After this, we stated that this didn't answer our question. The chatbot then escalated our query, and informed us that we would receive a response via email, which arrived the next day. Live chat connected us to a human in around four minutes, who answered a simple setup query but couldn't help with more technical issues. The email response was friendly and informative, and the agent clearly explained about having to press the Sign in button on the app to use the Basic version. A satisfactory answer, although it arrived a day after asking the question, and made no mention of pressing the 'Proceed with ads and limits' text at the bottom. Note that the Premium version of Hotspot Shield Basic includes live chat in the desktop app. As for the Help Center, it's not great news. A DNS search returned six articles – two duplicates, two vague FAQs, one irrelevant, and one 11-year-old Mac guide referencing a discontinued version. Overall, support lags far behind competitors like ExpressVPN and NordVPN, which offer both helpful support pages as well as responsive chats with the option to escalate to a live agent. Rating: 4/10 Hotspot Shield Basic is a service with a long history and global reach – but one that hasn't always been free of controversy. Its founder, David Gorodyansky, claims on LinkedIn that the company pioneered the consumer VPN market, reached over 650 million users, raised $63 million in funding from investors including Goldman Sachs, and licensed its technology to 70% of the world's largest telcos. The VPN eventually sold in a $310 million acquisition deal, after growing to over 200 employees. More recently, the company's privacy practices were independently reviewed by audit firm Aon in 2023. The report confirmed that Hotspot Shield does not log browsing activity in any way that can be linked to a unique user, nor does it record IP addresses or device identifiers alongside VPN usage. While this offers some reassurance, the audit's scope was limited – it didn't include access to source code or infrastructure, and was based largely on documentation and staff interviews. By comparison, VPNs like TunnelBear undergo full-scope annual audits. Hotspot Shield has also faced scrutiny in the past. A 2017 complaint from the Center for Democracy & Technology highlighted discrepancies between its privacy promises and its ad-related practices, though it ultimately boiled down to language rather than actual misuse. In 2018, a vulnerability also exposed user locations via booby-trapped websites. This was responsibly disclosed and patched. Another bug in 2020 allowed local file access – less severe, but still a mark against software quality. While app ratings are generally solid – around 4.4 to 4.6 stars across Trustpilot, iOS and Android platforms – they reflect the broader Hotspot Shield brand, not necessarily the Basic tier alone. Overall, its track record doesn't quite match the transparency or consistency of leaders like Proton or Mullvad. Rating: 6/10 Hotspot Shield Basic: final verdict Hotspot Shield Basic's biggest strength is simple – unlimited data. That alone puts it ahead of many free VPNs, which typically impose strict monthly caps. Add in decent WireGuard performance and functionality that works without a required login, and there's genuine utility here – especially for users looking to secure public Wi-Fi or bypass region blocks now and then. However, it's a patchy, inconsistent product. Key protections like the kill switch and split tunneling only work with the Hydra protocol, and silently disable themselves if you change settings, which is a huge privacy risk. The iOS app is severely limited too, lacking WireGuard, IKEv2, split tunneling, or a kill switch. Onboarding is confusing, especially on mobile, and support ranges from mediocre to absent. While a 2023 audit confirmed the service doesn't log identifiable activity, the limited scope and Hotspot Shield's historical controversies hold it back from being a truly trustworthy choice. Final rating: 52/100 Subscribe if: ✅ You want unlimited data for free, without needing to sign up✅ You're mostly using a Windows or Android device and don't mind protocol limitations✅ You need basic privacy for casual browsing or streaming geo-blocked content Don't subscribe if: ❌ You need consistent privacy features like a kill switch and split tunneling across all devices❌ You want strong customer support or a fully transparent no-logs policy If Hotspot Shield Basic doesn't quite deliver what you need, there are several stronger free VPNs worth considering. Proton VPN Free is the standout choice. It's the only major free VPN that offers unlimited data with no ads, no logging, and top-tier privacy credentials. It's slower than Hotspot Shield in some locations, but far more trustworthy, with a fully open-source app and regular independent audits. Windscribe Free gives you 10GB of data per month, but in return you get more consistent feature support across platforms – including split tunneling, ad blocking, and access to more server locations. It also has one of the best-designed apps of any free VPN. PrivadoVPN Free is another solid pick if speed is your priority. You're limited to 10GB of data per month, but you get access to WireGuard, a kill switch, and decent streaming performance – making it a great short-term option for travel or occasional use. ExpressVPN: the best VPN for beginnersExpressVPN is arguably NordVPN's biggest rival, and if you're looking for VPN apps that are very simple and incredibly reliable, it's probably a better choice. It's great for streaming, its privacy credentials are all fully audited, and it's also a little better on mobile than Nord. However, with prices starting from $6.67 per month, it's also more expensive, and NordVPN offers a number of extra features that ExpressVPN doesn't. Surfshark: the best cheap VPNIf you're on a budget, Surfshark is a very worthy alternative to NordVPN. Owned by the same parent company, it offers similar protection in a simpler, cheaper package. Surfshark also offers a few features that NordVPN doesn't, like Alternative ID, and it's also the fastest VPN we've ever tested. Prices start at less than $2.50 per month, and there's a 30-day money-back guarantee. Private Internet Access: the best VPN for torrentingPIA is another cheap provider that punches well above its weight, and if you're looking for a VPN for the sole reason of staying safe when torrenting, it could be a better choice. With advanced features like port forwarding you can tailor your setup in much more detail, but this does come at the expense of ease of use, making PIA less user-friendly than Nord, Express, or Surfshark. Prices start from $2.03 per month, and there's a 30-day money-back guarantee here, too. To delete your Hotspot Shield Basic account, the steps vary by platform. On iOS, open the app, tap the person icon at the bottom, scroll down to 'Delete account,' and confirm the deletion when prompted – this removes all associated data. On Android, follow the same process, but the option is labeled 'Remove Account' instead. A gain, confirmation is required, and all data will be deleted. In testing, Hotspot Shield's 24/7 chatbot was unable to help when asked how to cancel or close an account, failing to provide useful instructions or escalation. No – Hotspot Shield Basic cannot be used as a VPN in China. The service only offers server locations in Los Angeles, New York, the UK, and Singapore, which limits its ability to bypass Chinese internet restrictions. Hotspot Shield is owned by Pango Inc. (formerly AnchorFree Inc.), a US-based company founded in 2005 by David Gorodyansky and his father Eugene. The company operates out of Redwood City, California, with additional offices in Boston, Massachusetts, and Ukraine. Feature Rating Design ⭐⭐⭐⭐ Ease of use ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Performance ⭐⭐⭐⭐ Unblocking ⭐ Security and privacy ⭐⭐⭐⭐ Customer support ⭐⭐⭐ Price ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ We have a full explainer on how we test VPNs, but, in short, it goes something like this. Firstly, we test the sign-up process. How easy is it to pay, and what options are there? From there, we install the VPN on a number of devices, make notes on the simplicity of the process, and whether there are any extra steps that introduce complexity. Then comes the fun part. We use all the features, running tests to detect any problems like DNS leaks or faulty kill switches. We'll dive into the code if it's available, and see if there are any anomalies we think you might be interested in reading about. We test the speed – 120 individual tests, daytime and evening – and connect to various servers to get a good idea of how robust the server network is, and what speeds you can expect to get in normal usage. Streaming comes next. We test a wide range of global and regional streaming services to see how well each VPN can unblock content. Customer support is also very important. So, if we have any queries along the way, we'll follow the avenues provided to see how well-prepared the support team is. This includes live chat, email, and ticketed systems. Once we've done all of this, we'll have a good feel for the apps and will have found out if there are any usability quirks, or unique features that we really like. We test and review VPN services in the context of legal recreational uses. For example: 1. Accessing a service from another country (subject to the terms and conditions of that service). 2. Protecting your online security and strengthening your online privacy when abroad. We do not support or condone the illegal or malicious use of VPN services. Consuming pirated content that is paid-for is neither endorsed nor approved by Future Publishing.
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Oregon Ducks Pull Off Recruiting Victory With Much-Needed Addition
Oregon Ducks Pull Off Recruiting Victory With Much-Needed Addition originally appeared on Athlon Sports. The Oregon Ducks have been struggling on the recruiting trail this year more than normal, but they got things going in the rigth direction on Friday with a big-time addition. Advertisement 4-star wide reciever Messiah Hampton announced his commitment to the Ducks, choosing Oregon over the likes of Syracuse, Penn State, Miami, and Ohio State. Hampton is rated by the 247Sports Composite as the No. 102 player in the 2026 class, and the No. 11 WR. He is also the No. 1 ranked player in New York. For Dan Lanning and his staff, this is a big addition. It is the first commitment they've gotten since landing 5-star EDGE Richard Wesley, who ended up decommitting just 17 days after jumping into a pool with the head coach to make his announcement. Oregon Ducks head coach Dan Lanning.© Kirby Lee-Imagn Images Before Hampton's commitment, Oregon had the No. 42 class in the 2026 cycle. With the addition of Hampton, they move up to No. 33 in the nation, which is still a far cry from the top-five classes that Lanning has landed in Eugene recently, but it's a step in the right direction. Advertisement Things could improve more on that front soon, too. Oregon hosted six 5-star players on official visits last weekend, and they have another long-list of blue-chip players in town this weekend, including 5-star QB Ryder Lyons. Hampton is the first WR to commit to Oregon in this cycle, but the Ducks are also in on guys like Calvin Russell, Chris Henry Jr., and Kayden Dixon-Wyatt, as well. While the latter two are committed to Ohio State, Oreogn is still pushing hard in their recruitment until signing day comes in December. Related: Oregon Ducks Looking to Flip Elite 11 QB From Regional Rival This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 13, 2025, where it first appeared.
