Hotspot Shield has long offered VPN services to Windows and Mac users alike, but the company has set their sights on a more secure mobile space with the release of their eponymous iOS app.
As Ron Popeil would say, Hotspot Shield for iOS is a “set-it-and-forget-it” solution. Once the app is launched, the secure connection it creates persists unless you specifically turn it off. Until then, Hotspot Shield encrypts all the data moving between your iDevice of choice and the internet, including data coming from apps running in the background.
Hotspot Shield also packs a data optimization feature that should help stretch your monthly data allotment. The app spots three different levels of data compression, with the most spartan settings stripping out cruft like extraneous photos and ads.
The new app works on any iPhone, iPod Touch, or iPad that runs iOS 4.0 or later but the extra peace of mind will cost you. The app itself is free, but the service will run users $.99/month or $9.99/year for those who like thinking long term. The paranoid penny-pinchers among you will be glad to know that one subscription carries over to multiple iOS devices, so you’ll never be caught without a secure connection again.