Now is some kind soul would set one up for accessing UK only sites, I'd be a happy, happy man.

Jim (The Canuck One)

Hotspot Shield is really a great service, but the bandwidth is very limited, so if you're using it for stuff like Pandora and hulu,it will probably block you after a few uses.

You can get a personal VPN from sites like Witopia (39$ for 1 year) and stop worrying about blocked sites (also UK based). Indeed, there's a fee for that, but it was the best $39 I've ever spent :) You can get Witopia here - [tinyurl.com]

digg this!

I'm definitely not on a PC, but I'm using Hotspot Shield on my Mac.
It even says:
Hotspot Shield runs on:
Windows Vista
Windows XP
Windows 2000
Mac OS X (10.5 Leopard)
Mac OS X (10.4 Tiger)

[anchorfree.com]

ipodrulz

There is a Mac Version aswell. I use the Mac Version for Hulu.

TetraUK

Wouldn't using a proxy have the same effect?

hippytyre

Yeah, I'd love to have something like that for Pandora...

Richaod

Is there something like this for UK only website?, I would love to see some online videos @ BBC. Please let us know.

ggvrsn

Nice one, I'll definately give this a go. (Also, who actually uses the toolbars that software like this installs?)

cbiggins

Its limited to 10gb per month... which won't get you much on video download services (the ones that are always region locked to encourage piracy). (isn't it?)

Also, i'd imagine that if the whole of lifehacker piles on they'll quickly reduce that further.

soul_grind

I have tried to use a proxy to access us-only sites with no luck!

Lifehacker: here's a trusted reader waiting for a how-to!!

broomstick

lol @ toolbar and ads

rand0mCreep

agreed w/hippytyre...

just use a proxy that is in the country specific to the site you are trying to access.

raintheory

@broomstick : using a proxy server based in the US works fine however some proxies are setup to disclose that they are proxies and they will forward your real ip. You may want to use a proxy test (for example : [www.lagado.com]) to know what info is disclosed.

My work-around was to setup my own proxy (squid) on one of the servers we have hosted in the US...

alainp

I haven't tried it myself, but someone sent me to this page as an alternative:
[www.ghacks.net]

digital_man

@kspray--dad: All you have to do is find yourself a proxy on one of the many sites listing them such as [www.freshproxy.org]
Then configure your browser to use the proxy. In firefox 3 for example you'd go to tools/options/advanced then the network tab and then click advanced under connection then select manual proxy settings and input your proxy ip:port

The hard part is finding a good proxy in the first place.

hippytyre

You could set squid up on a cheap shell account pretty easily but it's against most shell company's terms of service.

hippytyre

Everyone saying 'use a proxy'

How about a simple way to do that for complete noobs...

kspray--dad

Hotspot Shield is great, but not if you want to use it for watching videos or listening to music. The bandwidth is now limited to 3GB, which is eaten up pretty fast. A tool that I've been using that doesn't limit bandwidth is Ultra Surf. Google it - it should be the first result. So far so good for sites like Hulu!

medialush

PeerGuardian blocks connections to this application's mothership server. Says they are the Big Brother.

MuhammadSchwarz

I'm wondering how legal this is?

NikP

@hippytyre: That seems random that you'd get a good connection.

kspray--dad

The ultrasurf seems to work, peerguardian lets it through...anyone have thoughts on safety of that one since it is an executable (yes...I ran it and am NOW asking =:O )

kspray--dad

@kspray--dad: yeah it is a little bit hit or miss but you can find good reliable proxys.

hippytyre

Can't we already do most of this by checking the domain extensions - ie, www.site.co.uk, www.site.com.mx, etc.?

tgebauer

@digg this!: Second that. I use Witopia at my apartment. our building's internet is an open WiFi AP with no security. WiTopia gives you a secure tunnel and is fairly fast, too. You get an IP usually in D.C.

Xerloq

We use anonymizer for the US sites....you have to pay but it does the job.

Haven't found one yet for UK sites...but we watch Sky so that's not really an issue.

As to legality, I'm sure it has way more to do with ad revenue/other media (DVD) purchases than anything else.

If I really like something I'll buy it anyway. In fact, I'm more likely to buy it if I've seen it so I can preview it.

karlawithak

I have a server in the US and I use the SSH tunneling with Ubuntu as you explained a few months ago .... :)

hombrelobo

The main issue I have is trying to watch BBC or Sky from US. BBC America is really not watch-able. I tried subscribing to Real's online channels, but since I live in US, I get only the US channels and not the European ones - no cricket, no soccer just baseball. If anyone knows about UK proxy servers, please let me know. Thanks.

ggvrsn

Buy a cheap VPS in that area and setup a VPN server on it. Its quick easy and hassle free :D

MarvelaLeda

I have tried alot of those proxy sites to view hulu and none seemed to work or are very slow.
After abit of research I came across a program called Ultrasurf, it works fine for hulu. I have not tested it with pandora, but I believe it should work for any webpage anywhere (though using it for these purposes was probably not what the creators had in mind).

Only catch is that it uses IE.

neit

For the more motivated and/or technically savvy lifehacker, you can build your own VPN on a hosted Linux virtual machine. I recommend OpenVPN - it's much less painful to deal with than the various IPSec options. I use [www.quantact.com] and [www.vpsland.com] for hosting. Just google Linux VPS to find many more choices.

It's more expensive than the other options mentioned, but it will definitely work, and you will have complete control of the configuration. For extra credit, throw in a squid proxy setup :)

miks2u

There is a working and even better Mac version. I'm on Mac with BootCamp installed for windows. On Mac it seems faster and it's an official version. If you go to their site with a Mac OSX you will be given the OSX version.

Also, I have to mention. Hotspot limits you to 3gb a month bandwidth then asks you for a paid subscription to be given 10gb bandwidth.

Cheers :)

TheTurk

Use a US proxy. Free, multiplatform and there is no need for some unnecessary toolbar! The codeen network is an educational proxy with many US nodes that works well for me and is fast because it is based in US universities.

Codeen proxies normally use ports between 3124 and 3128

rehcahefil

Works perfectly for me on my Mac. You just run an application instead of clicking on a toolbar.

VincentioAmphilochus

I use a piad service called Witopia. It also does the job and no ads. Compared to hotspot shield, its much faster.
@hombrelobo: Can you pls tell me from where did u buy your server. I too an looking to buy a us server and set up a ssh tunnel

sreenadh