Not all of our favorite VPN providers have launched updates this month. Most providers are busy keeping us all updated on a whole lot of privacy and security news. But there are some interesting ones to check out nonetheless.
VyprVPN HTTPS and New Servers
Golden Frog has introduced an HTTPS version of their website so that users in China can access VyprVPN and other resources. China started blocking VPNs in January as part of their most recent Great Firewall update. By using the new site, subscribers should be able to get past the Deep Packet Inspection (DPI) that Chinese censors are using to block Golden Frog website requests. The Golden Frog user control panels and signup systems are already on HTTPS for user security, and now all the marketing content is included as well.
The new Great Firewall system is better than just blocking network traffic or using DNS blocks. DPI looks at the content to see what it is about, so anything relating to VyprVPN or Golden Frog can be blocked, even if it is place on a different server or a different network. The content can then be traced and blocked. Now, with HTTPS, none of the content can be identified and flagged by the content filtering system. This is not a permanent solution, but at least users will be able to get and manage VyprVPN subscriptions.
VyprVPN has also added two new server locations, giving subscribers 3 South America locations. The first new location is in Bogotá, Colombia, and the second is in Argentina. VyprVPN users can connect to these and any of the other 51 available servers around Asia, Europe, Oceania, North America and South America. They can switch servers without limits, and there are still also no data transfer restrictions. Users have more than 200,000 IPs to provide readily available connections for everyone. On desktop, the servers are automatically available on the server location selection list. On mobile, the servers will show up on the list after logging out and logging in again.
IAPS Security New Residential VPN Member
IAPS Security has been very busy with their Residential VPN program for the past few months, and they are very proud of their progress. This month they have gotten RCN Cable to sign on for the program. RCN Cable is one of the many smaller residential cable ISPs in the United States. They are the most recent addition to the IAPS Residential VPN Service Program. IAPS is going to keep developing and expanding the network, and not only in the US. This is a great program and VPN users should try it out.
ibVPN Android App for Lollipop Plus VPN and ibDNS Updates
Just this week, ibVPN announced that they have a new Android app, version 1.5. This client promises to please all ibVPN users since it now supports Android Lollipop. There are also good changes to the User Interface plus more interesting features for a generally better user experience. Version 1.5 of the Android app uses the newest version of OpenVPN and OpenSSL library as well. To get ibVPN on a new or newly updated Android device, users will need to first uninstall their current version of ibVPN and restart the device. They can then download version 1.5 from the Google Play Store and proceed with the installation.
ibVPN also has four new server up and running smoothly this month. The servers are in Vina Del Mar, Chile; Tel Aviv, Israel; Milan, Italy; and Madrid, Spain. All these servers offer PPTP, L2TP, and OpenVPN protocols. The Vina Del Mar server, cl1.ibvpn.com, and the Tel Aviv server, il1.ibvpn.com, can be used by Total VPN, Ultimate VPN, and Multi VPN subscribers. The Madrid server, es2.ibvpn.com, and the Milan server, it2.ibvpn.com, are open to subscribers of the above packages plus the EU VPN package.
ibDNS users will be happy with the newly unblocked streaming channels. They can now access US NBA Game Time, Amazon Prime UK, UK Absolute Radio, India Star Sports, and Ditto TV also from India. All users of the Ultimate and Total VPN packages can also use ibDNS. And they can start enjoying online streaming to their smart TVs with a quick setup. There is no speed loss with ibDNS, and there are about 160 channels available from Australia, Brazil, Canada, Egypt, Finland, France, Germany, India, Latin America, the Netherlands, Switzerland, the United Kingdom and the United States
New HMA Servers Plus Updated iOS and Windows Clients
HideMyAss! is always adding servers, and this month they have 6 new locations. Additional servers in 2 locations and 1 virtual location expansion plus the 6 new locations gives HMA users access to 779 servers with more than 103,000 IP addresses spread over 151 countries. Here are the new locations:
Cyprus, Nicosia – 122 IPs
France, Toulouse – Servers 1-2 – 244 IPs
Greece, Patras – 64 IPs
Netherlands, Spijkenisse – 124 IPs
Netherlands, Hague – Servers 1-2 – 248 IPs
Switzerland, Jona – Servers 1-2- 249 IPs
And here are the server additions for existing locations:
Netherlands, Amsterdam Virtual USA – Servers 9 -10 – 249 IPs
USA, California, Los Angeles – Servers 22-24 – 372 IPs
USA, Alaska, Anchorage – Server 2 – 124 IPs
HMA also has new app versions for their iOS and Windows users. HMA! Pro VPN for iOS v1.7 has been redesigned and solves a screen rotation issue that has been annoying iPad users. HMA! Pro VPN for Windows v2.8.19.0 rolled out the default Auto-path feature for OpenVPN user so they can get faster and more stable connections. This version also runs the new OpenSSL v1.0.1i and OpenVPN v2.3.4 to give users the best security to date. Users can also get new HMA accounts right from the app.
IPVanish Launches New Servers and New Android Lollipop and Windows Clients
IPVanish launched 9 new temporary or surge servers during the first week of this month to help users get better connections to watch the NFL Championship a.k.a. the Big Game. When these were taken down after the game, IPVanish began the complete upgrade of their 6 Phoenix servers. Then they added 8 new permanent servers, 2 of which are also in Phoenix. The other 6 are in Dublin, Ireland; Helsinki, Finland; Holešov, Czech Republic; Milan, Italy; New York, United States; and Nottingham, United Kingdom.
Android Lollipop is very popular, and IPVanish has upgraded their app or Android devices so there will not be any compatibility issues. The update also includes the latest OpenSSL library for better security. Users can now get the IPVanish Android app version 1.0.15 from the Play Store. The Windows client also has a new version, this one solving some performance problems, specifically crashes and installation issues. To upgrade, users will need to uninstall the client and download the new one from IPVanish. Display and support issues plus automatic OpenVPN connection are also fixed, among other reported bugs in the client.
