US-based AnchorFree, a leading IT security company, has launched an enhanced version of its private browsing app Hotspot Shield VPN, which will provide browsing freedom and security for all iOS devices.

The application will also cover iPads for the first time, a statement said.

Among the standout features are upgraded malware protection (with additional measures to repel “bot” threats), the potential to achieve up to 20 per cent additional increase in data savings, and the ability to switch between UK and US IP addresses.

The update also comes with iCloud support, allowing users to connect as many as five devices per Hotspot Shield subscription, and a new user interface making it easier than ever to view bandwidth savings and manage features.

“Sharing content privately and securely is an issue of increasing concern in the Middle East,” said David Gorodyansky, founder and CEO of AnchorFree, the maker of Hotspot Shield.

“The Internet provides unprecedented access to information and essential communication tools, yet it also presents enormous hidden risks. We want to help protect everyone from the risks to their digital privacy, particularly on mobile devices, which can be more prone as they are often used to connect with unprotected public Wi-Fi networks.”

“Using a VPN like Hotspot Shield can protect the privacy of your browsing in the same way that apps like Snap Chat protect the privacy of photos and messages being shared,” added Gorodyanksy.

“The critical issue is that users not lose control of media or sensitive data, whatever device they may be using.”

Hotspot Shield has been downloaded more than 120 million times on PCs, Macs, iOS and Android platforms. The company experienced explosive growth in 2012 and, according to Quantcast, is among the top 35 online destinations based on total Internet traffic.

Beyond its robust safety and privacy credentials, Gorodyansky believes that much of AnchorFree’s popularity stems from an ability to compress mobile data. Hotspot Shield enables users to reduce their bandwidth by up to 50 per cent, which saved global users 60 million MB in 2012 alone.
The news that AnchorFree is being extended to iPads for the first time is set to be welcomed in Middle East and Africa (MEA), which is one of the world’s fastest growing tablet markets. Last year, it experienced a 90 per cent year-on-year growth according to the International Data Corporation (IDC).

The UAE is particularly enthused by tablet technology, with Google’s 2012 Mobile, Tablet and Internet Usage report noting 24 per cent usage figures, the highest in Southern and Eastern Europe, the Middle East and Africa. Its closest rival is Saudi Arabia with 16 per cent.

A recent survey by leading mobility retailers Axiom Telecom and YouGov revealed that 39 per cent of respondents purchased a tablet in the past year to complement smartphone use.

IDC believes that global tablet shipments are expected to reach 190.9 million in 2013, and increase about 11 per cent a year until 2016. In 2017, IDC expects worldwide tablet shipments to hit 350 million.

A new PC shipment forecast by NPD DisplaySearch predicts that tablets will outship notebooks for the first time this year. – TradeArabia News Service