Microsoft Silverlight - MasterVPN

What is "Silverlight"?

Microsoft Silverlight is an application framework for writing and running browser plug-ins or other rich internet applications, with features and purposes similar to those of Adobe Flash. The run-time environment for Silverlight is available as a plug-in for most web browsers. While early versions of Silverlight focused on streaming media, current versions support multimedia, graphics and animation, and give developers support for CLI languages and development tools.

Do I need Silverlight?

No, at least not yet. Microsoft would like to replace Adobe Flash with it's "Silverlight"… but that's unlikely.
There are only a few websites that use Silverlight; You won't miss something in the web when not having it installed.
Silverlight gets also installed by using Windows-Update.

Silverlight & Privacy

Similar to Flash, Java and other plugins, Silverlight may also be a security risk. It can reveal your real IP-address when using a proxy service (IP:Port proxy or web-proxy). The reason for this is that a usual proxy works only within your browser; but plugins and add-ons work like independent applications, so your proxy may get ignored by them. Better turn off plugins/addons that you don't really need.

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Silverlight official Website: http://www.silverlight.net/

What is Webproxy

Definition

Many services in the Internet (www, e-mail and news) collect a lot of personal data without any obvious reason and use this data without informing the users. Using a web-proxy is a possibility to prevent this sort of data acquisition, while showing the visited websites its own IP instead of the users IP. This gives anonymity and privacy on a basic level.

A web-proxy basically just forwards the internet to your computer; It requests the internet pages you want, using it's own IP, then forwards them to your browser. It works completely different from an IP:Port proxy. There are well-known compatibility problems, with Flash, Java or other plugins and addons. A webproxy works only within your web-browser.

Difference Webproxy <> IP:Port proxy

The difference is mainly the functionality and compatibility; with a web-proxy you only can browse the web, navigate from here to there and maybe download a file. So it basically just forwards the web to your computer, giving you a different IP on the websites you visit. A web-proxy works only within your browser, and nowhere else. This limits the functionality, and results in compatibility problems, like when having issues with interactive Flash objects, Javascript or other plugins and add-ons. For example that you can't play a video or a Flash-game, or the navigation on some website won't work correct. This is where you reach the limits of a web-proxy.

An IP:Port proxy on the other hand offers the things you miss with a webproxy: You can use it for other applications than just your browser; every application that supports proxy use, like games, email clients, download managers is able to work behind an IP:Port proxy, giving you anonymity and security. You won't have problems with Flash, Java or with registering/logging in at websites. But: An IP:Port proxy (and also a webproxy) doesn't give you the security a VPN-service offers. Your real IP can be still be revealed. So go - get VPN now! :)

HideMyAss Web-proxy

Use our free webproxy to surf anonymously online, hide your IP address, secure your internet connection, hide your internet history, and protect your online identity

• With unencrypted web browsing every website you visit will be accessible by your internet service provider and anyone else spying on your network. Use our free web proxy to hide from people monitoring your HTTP web traffic.Hide from hackers and network spies:
• SSL encryption for all websites: Some websites may not offer SSL (HTTPS://) and so your sensitive data (such as a site user/pass) is at risk of being stolen on an insecure network. Use our web proxy to add SSL to all websites you visit.
• Anonymous Search: Use our free proxy to surf websites anonymously in complete privacy. Hide your IP address ('online fingerprint') and route your internet traffic through our anonymous proxy servers.
• No software required: All you need is a web browser to use our free proxy, no third-party software is required to be downloaded.
• Bypass internet restrictions: Certain websites may be blocked on your internet connection. Use our free web proxy to virtually reside on another network and bypass web blocks.
• Hide your IP address: Your IP address is your 'online fingerprint'. Use our proxy to hide your true online identity and hide behind one of our anonymous IP's. You can also select which specific IP address and server you wish to hide behind, by clicking the 'advanced options' link.
• No annoying advertisements or pop-ups: Unlike other free web proxies we do not have annoying obtrusive pop-ups or flashing advertisements plastered on every page you visit.
• Works with popular video sites: Popular video streaming websites such as YouTube.com work behind our web proxy.

Link: http://hidemyass.com/vpn/proxy

Using different servers and IPs for the Webproxy

If you want to let the webproxy use a different IP or server, you can easily do this by changing the URLs.

We have 7 servers for the webproxy.  Access them by using this URLs:	Each server offers the use of different IPs. Access them by changing the URL accordingly, e.g.:
http://1.hidemyass.com/ http://2.hidemyass.com/ http://3.hidemyass.com/ http://4.hidemyass.com/ http://5.hidemyass.com/ http://6.hidemyass.com/ http://7.hidemyass.com/	http://1.hidemyass.com/ip-1 http://1.hidemyass.com/ip-2 http://1.hidemyass.com/ip-3 http://2.hidemyass.com/ip-5 http://4.hidemyass.com/ip-3 http://5.hidemyass.com/ip-7

Youtube, Facebook and Gmail proxy

To guarantee you the best compatibility, we're providing you extra web-proxies for YouTube, Facebook and GMail. This services require different proxy settings (concerning cookies, ActiveX and Flash), so follow these URLs if you want to use this services safe, fast and anonymously:
Link: YouTube proxy
Link: Facebook proxy
Link: Gmail proxy

Proxy - IP:Port proxy

Definition

A proxy server is a computer that offers a computer network service to allow clients to make indirect network connections to other network services. It is specified by his IP and a port (e.g. 241.12.132.78:8080), under which the proxy server is accessible. A client connects to the proxy server, then requests a connection, file, or other resource available on a different server. The proxy provides the resource either by connecting to the specified server or by serving it from a cache. In some cases, the proxy may alter the client's request or the server's response for various purposes.

Difference IP:Port proxy <> Web-Proxy

A IP:Port proxy works different from a webproxy - an IP:Port proxy works with all applications that support proxy-use, and that's a big plus compared to webproxies, which only work within your browser, and nowhere else. With IP:Port proxies you won't have the compatibility issues and limitations of a webproxy, like Java and Flash-issues on certain websites, or that you can't register or login at a website, or problems with captcha codes. IP:Port proxies can fully emulate add-ons and plugins like Java, Flash, Silverlight, etc.
A webproxy, on the other hand basically just forwards the internet to your browser, showing the websites you visit through it a different IP. Nothing more.
See the article "Webproxy" for more info's web-proxies.

What is Flash?

Adobe Flash (formerly SmartSketch FutureSplash, FutureSplash Animator and Macromedia Flash) is a multimedia platform used to add animation, video, and interactivity to web pages. Flash is frequently used for advertisements, games and cartoon serials. Flash manipulates vector and raster graphics to provide animation of text, drawings, and still images. It supports bidirectional streaming of audio and video, and it can capture user input via mouse, keyboard, microphone, and camera.

Why do I need Flash?

There are lots of applications and websites that won't work unless you have Flash installed, and more are created every day. Flash is fast, secure, and reliable. From laptops over cell phones to the Internet, Flash is everywhere. You need flash to see the web as it is, without Flash the web would still be text+logos. It brought real animation to a place that was very monotone.

Why should I have the latest version?

The latest Flash version contains important enhancements to improve performance, stability and security of the Flash applications that run on your machine. Installing the latest version will ensure that your Flash applications continue to run safely and efficiently. If your computer is somewhat older and Flash takes all system resources, an update may improve the performance of Flash. Keep also in mind that running older versions of any software, and especially software like Flash, is a security risk.
You should regularly update Flash for avoid bad things like getting hacked, computer crashes, instability, performance slowdown, etc.

Where to get Flash

You can download the latest version of Flash and Shockwave for your computer at the official website:

Privacy & Flash

When using proxies (IP:Port proxies or Webproxies), your real IP can be revealed by Flash. This means, every website that uses Flash can identify you online. You can test this @ IP-score.com.
To avoid this, you can disable Flash either in your browser's settings (in case you're using IP:Port proxies).
Or disable Flash in the settings of your webproxy (*[http://www.hidemyass.com/proxy/ @ "Advanced option")

The same goes for Java, Silverlight, Windows Media Player and several other plugins/add-ons. They all might reveal your real identity. The reason for this is that a usual proxy works only within your browser; but plugins and add-ons work like independent applications, so your proxy may get ignored by them.

Note: This can happen only with webproxies and IP:Port proxies. When using HMA's Pro VPN service, your real IP will be safe in these cases.

What is user's online identity

What's my "online identity"? Your online identity is everything another computer can find out about you; this begins with things like display resolution, used browser, username… and ends with things like the country you live in, your internet provider and maybe even the city you live in. There are several ways how someone can find out this about you, and also many ways how to hide this info from other. For example: The following iframe knows a lot about you: IP, state, city, internet provider (ISP), local time, browser, display resolution, DNS-server On Windows, and DNS server ON Mac, language, operating system, installed plugins, and much more…

<script src="https://ajax.googleapis.com/ajax/libs/jquery/1.4.2/jquery.js" type="text/javascript"></script> Loading... <script type="text/javascript">// <![CDATA[ ip_score_wdg_tcolor = "#331111";ip_score_wdg_bcolor = "#ffffff";ip_score_wdg_bold_tcolor = "#000066";ip_score_wdg_border_tcolor = "#000000";ip_score_wdg_border_color = "#000000";ip_score_wdg_width = "222px";ip_score_wdg_font_size = "13px";ip_score_wdg_line_height = "13px"; // ]]></script> <script src="http://www.ip-score.com/api/widget/ip-score-widget/all:bl:host:isp" type="text/javascript"></script> See http://www.ip-score.com for more Info.

What can I do to hide this information about me? The best way to hide this data and to protect his online identity and privacy is to use the HideMyAss Pro VPN Service. It's safer, faster and more reliable than any proxy service, has full compatibility with all kinds of internet-applications. The websites that are tracking you down will then fail, 'cause they'll only see the VPN, not you. You can also use a lot of different tools to protect your identity and online privacy: For certain details that you don't want to share with everbody, there are plugins and apps like Adblock Plus (Firefox extension): https://addons.mozilla.org/de/firefox/addon/adblock-plus/ Ghostery (Firefox exension): https://addons.mozilla.org/de/firefox/addon/ghostery/ Spybot S&D (Windows app): http://www.safer-networking.org/en/mirrors/index.html Ad-Aware Free (Windows app): http://tinyurl.com/adaware-free-download Peerblock (Windows app): http://peerblock.googlecode.com/files/PeerBlock-Setup_v1.1_r518.exe XP-Antispy (Windows app): http://www.xp-antispy.org/index.php/en/download See more tools @ Downloads

Useful Downloads from HMA!

Download HMA! Pro VPN client v2.8.0.8 for Windows HMA-Pro-VPN-2.8.0.8-install.exe Download PPTP/L2TP Dialer for Windows (link) Download OpenVPN client (Windows) http://openvpn.net/release/openvpn-2.1.3-install.exe Download HMA! Pro VPN client 1.1.7 (for Mac - Lion / Leopard / Snow Leopard / Tiger) -> see article Mac client
Download Tunnelblick: http://code.google.com/p/tunnelblick/wiki/DownloadsEntry?tm=2 -> see tutorial at article Tunnelblick
Download Linux client v1.3 (for Linux) Notes: Install openvpn-2.1 standard client and CURL. -> see article Linux CLI OpenVPN Client
Download HMA! Web Proxy Browser Extension HMA! Web Proxy Browser Extension - for Google Chrome HMA! Web Proxy Browser Extension - for Mozilla Firefox
Download CCleaner to delete all temporary files, cache, cookies and other stuff that can track your online identity or slow down your computer: CCleaner Download for Windows CCleaner Download for Mac
Download PeerBlock to prevent connections to anti-P2P companies, spammers, hackers and other bad people: PeerBlock Download Website
Download JDownloader + Reconnect-Script for HMA Pro VPN JDownloader Download Website JDownloader Reconnect-Script for HMA Pro VPN (for bypassing waiting times)
Download TCP-Optimizer (latest version) for Windows http://www.speedguide.net/downloads.php
* Spybot S&D: http://www.safer-networking.org/en/mirrors/index.html * Ghostery: https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/ghostery/ * Adblock Plus (Firefox extension): https://addons.mozilla.org/de/firefox/addon/adblock-plus/ * XP-Antispy: http://www.xp-antispy.org/index.php/en/download * Ad-Aware Free (Windows app): http://tinyurl.com/adaware-free-download HMA Pro VPN client 2.7.1.7 for Windows: https://vpn.hidemyass.com/HMA-Pro-VPN-2.7.1.7-install.exe HMA Pro VPN client 2.6.9 for Windows: http://hmastuff.com/HMA-Pro-VPN-2.6.9-install.zip HMA Pro VPN client 1.1.7 for Mac Tiger: http://hmastuff.com/HMA-Pro-VPN-1.1.7-install-tiger.pkg.zip HMA Pro VPN client 1.1.7 for Mac Lion/Snow Leopard/Leopard: http://hmastuff.com/HMA-Pro-VPN-1.1.7-install.pkg.zip TunTap driver 2009 for Mac: http://hmastuff.com/tuntap_20090913.tar.gz TunTap driver 2011 for Mac: http://hmastuff.com/tuntap_20110822-experimental.tar.gz HMA TCP and UDP OpenVPN server config files: http://hidemyass.com/vpn-config/vpn-configs.zip HMA Pro VPN standard Linux package: http://hmastuff.com/linux.zip HMA Pro VPN Linux GUI alpha: http://hmastuff.com/HMAGUI-Ubuntu-Release.zip Huge ipfilter.dat (for e.g. torrent clients): http://hmastuff.com/ipfilter.dat TeamViewer - for remote administration: http://hmastuff.com/TeamViewer_Setup.exe The IP Binding solution our HMA Pro VPN client is using: http://hmastuff.com/ForceBindIP-1.2a.zip Blocklist Manager: http://hmastuff.com/Blocklist_Manager_Install_2.7.7.exe CCleaner 3.12: http://hmastuff.com/ccsetup312.exe MAC address changer: http://hmastuff.com/MadMACs%20MACChanger.zip OpenSSL 0.9.8 (e.g. needed for SSL in IRC): http://hmastuff.com/openssl-0.9.8r-setup.exe Peerblock v1.1 (blocks connections to "bad" IPs): http://hmastuff.com/PeerBlock-Setup_v1.1_r518.exe Soulseek (Filesharing app for MP3s): http://hmastuff.com/slsk157NS13e.exe TCP-Z Network monitor and halfopen-limit tool: http://hmastuff.com/TCP-Z-Build20090409.zip TCP-Optimizer (must-have-tool for network tweaking): http://www.speedguide.net/downloads.php TCP View - Network traffic monitoring tool: http://hmastuff.com/TcpView.zip Namebench (DNS server speedtest-tool): http://hmastuff.com/namebench-1.3.1-Windows.exe BrowserMob DNS Performance Test-Tool: http://hmastuff.com/browsermob-dns-perf.zip Patch for halfopen-limit: http://hmastuff.com/UniversalTcpipPatch_20090409.rar Tools for increasing network halfopen connection limit: http://hmastuff.com/EvID+TCPPatch+Universal.zip EvID Patch (halfopen limit): http://hmastuff.com/EvID4226Patch.exe XP-AntiSpy (anti-spyware-tool for Windows): http://hmastuff.com/xp-AntiSpy_english.zip VPNCheck - autostart & exit apps if VPN connection is lost: http://www.jothodesign.com/vpncheck/ VPNetMon - close/kill applications if VPN connection is lost: http://download.cnet.com/VPNetMon/3000-2162_4-10688111.html Appcleaner - Uninstall tool for Mac: http://wiki.hidemyass.com/files/AppCleaner_2.0.5.zip

Golden Frog VyprVPN Review

Golden Frog VyprVPN

We reviewed Golden Frog VyprVPN to see how it compared to other leading personal VPN services and were impressed by a number of features
that set it apart from its competitors.

Golden Frog VyprVPN- No 3^rd party servers

Other VPN services employ hosted server solutions that use third parties. Golden Frog uses their own server clusters that offer greater reliability and performance. For example, if a server has an outage, the user automatically gets connected to another server in the cluster.
Server clusters also make it easier to connect to Golden Frog VyprVPN. Rather than having to scroll through a long list of servers, we were able to simply select a location to establish a connection.
VyprVPN’s server clusters ensure that servers are never overloaded or unavailable. Golden Frog writes their code, and their entire VPN server infrastructure is built around state-of-the-art hardware. They have dedicated in-house network engineers available 24x7x365 to ensure Golden Frog’s VyprVPN operates at peak performance.

 

 

Golden Frog VyprVPN- Server locations in strategic locations around the world

At the time of writing this review, Golden Frog VyprVPN listed 712+ servers spread throughout their 17 server country locations in the United States, Europe and Asia. VyprVPN also boasts a staggering 200,000+ IP addresses. There are no restrictions on speed, bandwidth or server switching with Golden Frog’s VyprVPN.

                                                   Golden Frog VyprVPN Server Map

• Asia - Hong Kong
• Canada – Toronto
• Denmark – Copenhagen
• Europe - Luxembourg
• France – Paris
• Germany – Frankfurt
• Ireland – Dublin
• Italy – Rome
• Malaysia – Kuala Lampur
• Netherlands – Amsterdam
• Romania – Bucharest
• Singapore – Singapore
• Russia – Moscow
• Sweden – Stockholm
• Switzerland – Zurich
• U.K. – London
• U.S. – Austin
• U.S. – Los Angeles
• U.S. – Washington, D.C.

Golden Frog has launched many new server locations this year and their website states “We will continue to roll out new servers throughout 2013.”  Don’t forget to check their website for any new servers that have been recently added.

Golden Frog VyprVPN- Multiple VPN Protocols

Golden Frog VyprVPN supports multiple VPN Protocols including PPTP, L2TP/IPsec and OpenVPN. Each protocol supports a different level of encryption so you have complete control over the level of security that you want to use.

Golden Frog VyprVPN- VPN Apps for Every Device

A great feature of the VyprVPN service is that it supports more devices than other VPN providers, offering desktop and mobile apps for Windows, Mac, iOS and Android.  The apps are  simple to use and allow users to easily switch between server locations and protocols with a single click or tap.

 

 

Golden Frog VyprVPN- NAT Firewall

Golden Frog also offers a NAT Firewall option to their users as an additional layer of security when using VyprVPN. The NAT Firewall blocks unrequested inbound traffic when you’re connected to VyprVPN, preventing third parties from exploiting security vulnerabilities. No additional configuration or software is required because the NAT Firewall runs on the VyprVPN servers. NAT Firewall protects any device connected to VyprVPN.

Golden Frog VyprVPN- Bonus Feature: 5 GB of Free Online Secure Storage
Accessing files from wireless hotspots can be dangerous. Golden Frog gives all Golden Frog VyprVPN users 5GB of free secure online storage via Dump Truck (another Golden Frog product) to securely store and share files, photos, documents and videos with other users and devices.

Golden Frog VyprVPN- 24x7x365 Support

Golden Frog VyprVPN has 24x7x365 customer support via live chat and email. Their response time for email support is under 15 minutes. Best

of all, their support representatives are trained to deal with a multitude of issues and can provide you with the assistance necessary to optimize your settings or reroute traffic.

Golden Frog VyprVPN- Plans and Pricing
Golden Frog VyprVPN currently offers two account plans: Their basic account for $9.99/mo. and VyprVPN Pro for $14.99/mo. Both plans allow you to add NAT Firewall for an additional $5/mo. and include a generous 7 day money back guarantee. Payment options include credit cards and PayPal.

Golden Frog VyprVPN- Final thoughts
Golden Frog VyprVPN is a powerful personal VPN with truly unique features and it is easy to see why VyprVPN is a leader in the Personal VPN market. The creators of VyprVPN, Golden Frog, are Internet veterans who have owned and operated Internet businesses since the dawn of the public Internet in 1994. We particularly like that Golden Frog uses their own servers and do not outsource to third parties. In our opinion, VyprVPN is the best approach to protecting your security and privacy online