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Domain Due Diligence

Report for Hotspotshield.com

Report Date
November 23, 2025
Recommendation
Caution
Overall Summary
Suspicious
  Why we think so? 

Hotspot Shield is a VPN service with about 695,000 monthly visitors, mostly from the US and other countries. The domain is well-established since 2006 and uses reputable technical services like Cloudflare and Amazon. The official website lists valid contact emails and social media profiles. However, there have been persistent user complaints about billing issues, refund difficulties, and customer support. Historical accusations of privacy concerns and a 2017 FTC complaint alleging data mishandling were denied by the company, with no public penalties known. Mainstream reviews call Hotspot Shield a legitimate but criticized VPN provider, not a clear scam.

Confidence Score
65%

Risk Insights

🕒

Established Domain

  • Domain active since 2006
  • Registered to AnchorFree Inc. in the US
  • Valid SSL certificate in place
⚠️

User Complaints Present

  • Reports of refund and billing difficulties
  • Some users feel misled or poorly supported
  • Privacy complaint in 2017 with no public resolution

Contradictory Signals

While the business appears real and stable, these issues hint at potential customer service and privacy flaws.

Signal A: Long-established domain and professional infrastructure

Signal B: Multiple user grievances and legal privacy complaints

Category Scores

Red Flags & Warnings

  • Numerous user complaints of unexpected billing, refund hurdles, and poor customer service suggest reliability issues.
  • Historical 2017 FTC complaint alleging undisclosed data sharing and privacy violations.
  • Reports of past malware detection labels by some security products, though not confirmed in recent reviews.

🔎 Detailed Checks & Analysis

Domain Age and Registration

Score: 85/100
Passed

"Stable ownership and technical setup reduce suspicion."

Reason: Domain registered in 2006 with consistent WHOIS details and valid SSL, indicating long-term legitimacy.

Site Traffic and Tech Stack

Score: 75/100
Passed

"Normal traffic and professional technology support a legitimate business."

Reason: Traffic over 690,000 monthly visits from various countries and use of reputable CDN and analytics tools.

Blacklist and Scam Reports

Score: 90/100
Passed

"Absence on these lists is a positive trust signal."

Reason: No active listings on major scam blacklists or Google Safe Browsing alerts.

User Complaints and Legal Issues

Score: 40/100
Failed

"These issues create caution about customer experience and data privacy."

Reason: User reports of billing problems and a privacy complaint filed with the FTC reduce trustworthiness.

Transparency and Contact Information

Score: 80/100
Passed

"This supports accountability."

Reason: Clear contact emails and active social media profiles indicate transparency and accessibility.

Your Next Steps

  • 1

    Exercise caution before subscribing; read refund policies closely.

  • 2

    Verify charges on your billing statements and contact your payment provider if you notice unauthorized payments.

  • 3

    Review user feedback and professional VPN reviews for alternative services.

  • 4

    Monitor official updates from Hotspot Shield regarding privacy and customer service improvements.

  • 5

    Report suspicious or unauthorized charges promptly to your bank or card issuer.

Evidence & Citations

🕵🏻 Keep investigating

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