[T*]

If you’re using Hola, a free virtual private network (VPN) that lets you stream things like Netflix abroad, you need to stop immediately. The company behind Hola is turning your computer into a node on a botnet, and selling your network to anyone who is willing to pay.

Security researchers discovered multiple security flaws in Hola and published their findings on a site called “Adios Hola.”

“Hola is harmful to the internet as a whole, and to its users in particular,” researchers wrote.

So what’s the big deal? By using Hola as a VPN, you can view any content that might otherwise be blocked in your location by routing your traffic through the U.S. or whatever country you want your content to be in. But Hola turns your computer into an exit node without your permission, essentially letting anyone browse the Web through your network. Any malicious activity could then be traced back to you.

As the researchers note, it’s the same problem people have on the Tor browser—but on Tor, you can opt out.

Hola is going even further, by selling access to the network through a site called Luminati from $1.45 to $20 per GB. On Adios Hola, researchers published chat logs between them and the company explaining that they don’t enforce rules that say people shouldn’t be engaging in illegal activity because the company has “no idea what you are doing on our platform.”

Additionally, Hola can let someone take over programs on your computer. The researchers explain:

And on some systems, it gets worse; Hola will happily run whatever you feed it as the 'SYSTEM' user. What this means in simple terms, is that somebody can completely compromise your system, beyond any repair. It allows for installing things like a rootkit, for example.

This problem is not just an 'oversight'. It's not a thing where you say 'well, bugs can happen'. This kind of security issue can only happen if a developer is either grossly incompetent, or simply doesn't care about the security of their users. It's negligence, plain and simple, and there's no excuse for it.
If you haven’t already, uninstall Hola right now. And if you’re not sure whether or not you’re vulnerable thanks to Hola, you can visit the site to find out.

Source
The other site it talks about

I uninstalled it straight way

[LukeB]

mine hasn't been working for weeks so i turned it off

[T*]

apparently a node on a botnet is

Your pc is being used to route other people's internet traffic. For example I want to access a site in another country which so happens to be your country. My traffic is send to you and you send it to that site making it seem that you are accessing the site. You later pass all the information from the site back to me. You are a middleman for other people. If those people conduct any malicious moves you are the first one to be responsible because you are the one sending the information. Don't worry about PC performance, it will rarely get to the point that you can understand that something is going on. The issue is what traffic is being distributed through you and the security vulnerabilities of the Hola VPN. People with enough knowledge might take over or root your PC with other **** too.

you need to uninstall it because apparently it doesn't matter if its off or on omg

[T*]

Originally Posted by LukeB

mine hasn't been working for weeks so i turned it off

you need to uninstall it

[Ross.]

Oh

[Jay.]

omg i removed it

[AProducer'sWetDream]

Just removed it

[Loukas]

Adiós Hola

[T*]

apparently theres some alternatives
- zenmate
or
-get a paid one as they're less/not dodgy

[Smithy]

Zenmate is what I use it slays

[T*]

Originally Posted by Smithy

Zenmate is what I use it slays

i had it installed for a while but always used hola
guess im using zenmate now lmao

[Firewire]

is this tinypic all over again?

[Firewire]

I uninstalled it anyway

[reece(:]

ZenMate is much better!

[Mokka]

Uninstalled Hola weeks ago... When I noticed it turning on on it's own and causing issues.

Haven't needed it since as well

[T*]

Originally Posted by Firewire

is this tinypic all over again?

no **** off bitch

[Fetch The Bolt Cutters]

Originally Posted by Firewire

is this tinypic all over again?

[Calderyon]

After uninstalling it, you should use Glary Utilities/Ccleaner to remove any registry traces of the program and then run a virus/rootkit scan too, just to be sure that nothing is left behind by the program.

[armand.kay]

Access to my HD American show VS protecting my computer I think we all know what I'm choosing

[Liam-]

I've always used Zenmate, it's so much better

[T*]

Originally Posted by armand.kay

Access to my HD American show VS protecting my computer I think we all know what I'm choosing

even though there's alternatives? :S

[armand.kay]

oh i thought this problem was occurring with all software like it.

[armand.kay]

I was gonna stop anyways apparently Netflix are gonna start terminating accounts that are caught using these programs.

[T*]

Originally Posted by armand.kay

I was gonna stop anyways apparently Netflix are gonna start terminating accounts that are caught using these programs.

i doubt they will, they still get money from it so i dont get the problem

[Jay.]

Originally Posted by Firewire

is this tinypic all over again?