All these options route your web connections through a different server (sometimes generically called the proxy server).
VPNs route all your Internet traffic. SOCKS routes your web traffic, and sometimes other traffic over certain ports. HTTP Proxy routes only your web traffic.
VPN is the best choice when security is a primary concern.
SOCKS and HTTP Proxy are good choices when IP shifting is the main objective, and security is not a concern.
Use VPN when security is important, i.e. if you are on a
public Wi-Fi hotspot or accessing sensitive information. VPN is a fully
encrypted protocol which handles traffic on all ports. It is more a more comprehensive
proxying solution than SOCKS or HTTP proxy, but it is also more resource-intensive and
can sometimes be slower.
Use Proxy or SOCKS when encryption is not important, but you need to access
web content anonymously. Proxies are also useful for accessing content which is available
only in other regions of the world.
NetShade proxy servers run two VPN protocols: OpenVPN and IPSec. The Mac
version of NetShade uses OpenVPN and the iOS version uses IPSec. Our servers also run two
proxying services: a SOCKS5 proxy and an HTTP/HTTPS proxy.
Users can purchase full access to our servers, or proxy/SOCKS-only access, which is less
expensive and a good choice if VPN isn't needed.
Any purchase made through our website may be returned within 30 days
for a full refund. Please contact us via the
Support page
to request a refund.
Purchases made through Apple's App Store must be refunded through Apple.
Subscription & Registration
A NetShade license with one year of proxy access costs $29. A NetShade
license with one year of Proxy+VPN access costs $59. Subscriptions to either service
can be renewed for a lower rate, if longer time periods are selected.
For Mac:
For iOS:
Yes, one code is good for Macs within the same household, up to 5 systems. An iOS enabled code may also be used on up to five iOS devices, provided the devices have the same owner.
Starting in NetShade 8, the NetShade app can now be used as a client for non-NetShade VPN and proxy services. The redesigned Proxy Manager (under the Window menu) now allows you to add custom HTTP, SOCKS, and OpenVPN server settings.
Troubleshooting
All modern browsers will work with NetShade.
NetShade's servers can be blocked just like any other servers. Therefore, certain
countries with filtered Internet block NetShade's services. Presently we're aware of blocking
in parts of China, Iran, Bahrain, the UAE, Singapore, Oman and other countries. The best
choice is to download the free trial and see if the app will work in your location.
If you were once able to use your code and it has stopped, your code may have
expried. You can check the status of your code via this link: Account Status
Technical
NetShade routes your web connection through a web proxy server. It achieves this by
altering your system's network settings. Browsers which adhere to Apple's system
configuration protocol will pick up on these changes, and automatically send your
connection through a proxy as opposed to connecting to the target site directly.
A. Your computer’s web connections are managed by the NetShade application.
B. Every time you launch NetShade, it connects to the NetShade server to obtain an up-to-date list of public proxy servers. The proxies on this list are then tested by your computer to ensure connectivity.
C. Direct: By clicking the “Direct” button in NetShade, your web connections are routed directly to the Internet with no proxy protection.
D. Public Proxy: By clicking the “Public Proxy” button in NetShade, your connections are routed through one of the public proxy servers in NetShade’s list. These proxies are not run by NetShade, and their reliability cannot be guaranteed. They do, however, do a good job of performing NetShade's primary function, which is to hide your IP address from the sites you visit.
E. NetShade Proxy: By clicking the “NetShade Proxy” button (available only to registered users,) your connections are routed through one of NetShade’s private proxy servers. At present, you can switch between a US-based proxy and one located in the UK. These are high-bandwidth fully anonymous proxy servers, maintained by NetShade. They support HTTP and HTTPS. Public proxies on the other hand are HTTP only. HTTPS through a public proxy would be generally inadvisable anyway, as the admins of these servers may have varying practices as to the use of their logs and the security of their systems.
Every time you quit NetShade it sets your system back to a direct, un-proxied
Internet connection. However, if NetShade crashes, is force-quit, or if your computer
loses power while NetShade is running, it can leave your system behind a proxy server.
To correct this, simply launch NetShade, select a server, and then select Direct again.
Your connection should now be un-proxied.
The NetShade Uninstall function is available under the Tools menu in the app.
macOS and iOS.
Corporate
NetShade is run by Rayner Software, LLC incorporated in California, USA.
Rayner Software is a completely independent and unaffiliated company, started and
developed without any outside investment. The company was founded in 2002 by Tyler Rayner,
and is devoted to the principles of privacy protection and of long-term reputability
above short-term profits. We will never attempt to monetize user information nor
data-mine it for any marketing-driven end.
We detail our logging and data retention practices in the Policies and Transparency sections. In short, we do not collect data on our users beyond a basic customer information record.
