How to use Hide.Me’s VPN to access restricted content such as Netflix (US), BBC iPlayer, Hulu Plus and more.
About Hide.Me
Hide.Me is a VPN provider that will set you up with an account and provide support to do so. It has a slick website, a blog full of tips on online security, and an affordable pricing scheme.The organization is based in Malaysia, where companies are not required by law to track subscriber activity. Due to this they can guarantee users a high level of security. Using a VPN service like hide.me is the easiest way to access restricted content, such as Netflix’s US content library (far bigger than Australia’s one). It’s also a way to protect yourself from hackers stealing sensitive information.
Is using a VPN to access geographically restricted content legal?
There are many legitimate uses for a VPN. However, the legality of using one to access geographically restricted content is a bit of a grey area. While you're not likely to attract the attention of the Australian Government, you do run the risk of having your VPN or streaming subscription cancelled. There is also the chance that a copyright holder may want to pursue legal action if you're found to be accessing that content in an unlicensed region. Keep in mind that the very nature of a VPN masks your IP and prevents your online activity, so it's not for us to say if and how the copyright holders would be able to identify you if you do choose to access their content without the proper licensing. Here at finder.com.au, we do not encourage internet browsing activity outside the law, we only aim to compare the services available to Australians
Want all the TV shows and movies? You can get a free trial with each of the streaming internet tv providers below:
Hide Me promo codes and discount vouchers July 2017
Free membership for 30 days
Try Hide Me for free, for 30 days
Free web proxy + 1 month subscription will be reduced to $9.99.
Receive a free web proxy to easily access blocked websites and surf the web anonymously.
What are Hide.Me's pricing and plans?
Choose from three different hide.me plans.
| Free | Premium | Plus |
|---|---|---|
| 0 per month | Starting from 11.67 USD per month | Starting from 5.42 USD per month |
| 2 locations | 26 locations | 26 locations |
| Best effort bandwidth | Unlimited bandwidth | Unlimited bandwidth |
| 2 GB data transfer | Unlimited data transfer | 75 GB data transfer |
| Limited protocol support | Full protocol support | Full protocol support |
| 1 simultaneous connection | 5 simultaneous connections | 1 simultaneous connection |
| No port forwarding | Port forwarding | No port forwarding |
What operating systems can you use Hide.Me on?
- Windows 8
- Windows 7
- Windows Vista
- Windows XP
- OS X
- iPad
- iPhone
- Android
- Windows Phone 8.1
- Ubuntu
- Router
- BlackBerry
How to set up Hide.Me on a Mac
- Go to ‘System Preferences’ and click on ‘Network’.
- Click on ‘Plus’ in the lower left hand corner.
- In the box that pops up, select ‘VPN’ as the interface, and ‘Cisco IPSec’ as the VPN type. Set the service name to ‘Canada VPM’.
- Set as ‘Server Address’: free-ca.hide.me, your username as ‘Account Name’, and tick ‘Show VPN status in menu bar’.
- Click on ‘Authentication Settings’
- Enter hide.io as ‘Shared Secret’. Click ‘Okay’ and ‘Advanced’.
- Click on ‘Apply’.
- To establish your VPN connection, click on ‘connect’.
- Congrats! You should be done. If your connection has been successfully established, the status will be shown in the menu bar.
Hide.Me VPN pros and cons
Pros
- Access to restricted content and resources. Get Netflix (US), Hulu, Amazon Plus, BBC iPlayer, and more.
- Guides and assistance available. Setting up a VPN isn’t easy for everyone. hide.me has plenty of guides and support available to get you through the process.
- Secure your Wi-Fi. Take the steps you need to protect from government surveillance and identity theft.
- Strong encryption. Secure important information like passwords and bank details that hackers often target.
- Discounts for up front payments. Pay for one year in advance, and receive discounts of up to 45%.
Cons
- Cost. If you plan to use your VPN frequently, you may need to consider one of the payment options.
- Complicated to set up. If you’re not tech savvy, setting up a VPN can be a complicated purpose.
Frequently asked questions
What locations are included?
Free – Netherlands and Canada.
Premium – Austria, Canada, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Iceland, Italy, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Morocco, Netherlands, Romania, Singapore, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, United Kingdom, USA.
Plus – Austria, Canada, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Iceland, Italy, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Morocco, Netherlands, Romania, Singapore, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, United Kingdom, USA.
Does that mean I can still use this service from Australia?
Absolutely. You can use Hide.Me from anywhere in the world, including Australia. However, if you want to access the Netflix US library, you’ll need to sign up to the Plus or Premium accounts that allow you access to the US.
What does “best effort bandwidth” mean?
Hide.Me’s paid customers have the highest priority in terms of bandwidth. From time to time, the company will have to limit the free user’s bandwidth. If you’re using hide.me to stream lots of content, you might want to consider a paid plan.
What does “simultaneous connections” refer to?
This number is how many devices you can have your VPN connected to. If you want to protect your phone, laptop, and tablet from hackers, for example, it would be cheaper to pay for the Premium plan (with five connections allowed at 11.69 USD per month), than to pay for three Plus plans, which only allows for one connection.
