Installation
The Anonymizer Universal installation is a simple process regardless of client (Mac, Windows, iPhone or iPad). First you purchase and activate your license key then choose a username and password. Once you have created a username and password, you then download the Anonymizer Universal client for your device. You are able to use your license for one iOS device and either a Mac or Windows machine.
There are clients for Windows XP, Vista, Windows 7, Mac Leopard and Snow Leopard and an iOS L2TP VPN configuration that can be used on an iPhone 3G, 3GS, iPod touch and the iPad. I’ve tested Anonymizer Universal on Windows XP, Mac OS X Snow Leopard, iPhone 4 and an iPad.
Usage
Considering a VPN connection is being created so all traffic is being proxied through the Anonymizer Universal service, I wanted to check out speed degradation while using the service. I used speedtest.net to test speeds between my unproxied traffic and traffic flowing through the service.
First I baselined my connection through speedtest.net using an iMac. The recommended server to test with was in Atlanta and gave me a 10ms ping response time with a 35.23MB/s download speed and a 9.61MB/s upload speed, meaning an 5MB MP3 file would only take 2 seconds to download, a 35MB video clip takes 8 seconds to download and a 800MB movie takes 3 minutes. The Netflix streaming service also works fine with no pauses.
I then tested Anonymizer Universal with the Mac client. Even though my physical location is around Atlanta, speedtest.net chose London as the appropriate server to test with. This time, the ping test came back at 522ms, download speed at .85MB/s and upload speed at .33MB/s. This means that going through the service, a 5MB MP3 file would take 48 seconds to download, a 35MB video clip would take 6 minutes to download and a movie would take 125 minutes for a 800MB movie. Additionally, while viewing streaming Netflix, the Netflix service slowed then stopped altogether.
I performed the same tests with an iPad as well with very similar results.
As suspected, utilizing the Anonymizer Universal service, will slow down your connection if you have high speed DSL or Cable. This makes technical sense as all traffic is pushed through the Anonymizer Universal network via a VPN connection which proxies all of your Internet traffic.
Additionally I verified through services like IP Chicken that my real home IP Address was hidden (it was).
Privacy and Identity Protection
As with any similar service, I am concerned about how the company (Anonymizer in this case) can guarantee against performing analytics to determine traffic patterns for specific users. I was pointed to the EULA which states:
When you use the Software and Services, due to the configuration of Anonymizer’s systems, except as hereinafter provided, Anonymizer cannot correlate other than in real time any individual user with a visit of any individual website. Anonymizer may from time to time, in real time, observe and monitor usage of its Services such as traffic flow and pattern, in order to monitor the proper functioning of its systems, and to enforce Anonymizer’s Terms of Use. Anonymizer keeps no record of Internet Protocol addresses visited attributable to your account, except as provided in the following sentence. For troubleshooting purposes from time to time it may become necessary for Anonymizer, during limited and usually brief periods of time, to maintain usage data to assist Anonymizer in debugging its system, investigating fraud, illegal use, abuse or other violations of the license terms, or addressing other problems in its products or services. This usage data may include such information as the Web request, and the date and time of your login. This information is not retained once the troubleshooting is resolved.
To really dig down into the weeds of the service regarding how user’s privacy and identity are protected though the Anonymizer Universal service, I asked how the service prevents against non-IP Address methods of tracking including browser and Flash cookies. Typically when I mention Flash cookies, I will get a few blank stares but instead I received an intelligent and well-informed answer:
The product is best used in combination with a browser (sic) that is in private mode. Flash presents a larger privacy problem, as there is no easy way to manage the cookies used for tracking. In order to manage Flash cookies; a user has to go to http://www.macromedia.com/support/documentation/en/flashplayer/help/settings_manager07.html.
This is neither convenient nor obvious. Using extensions like click2flash (http://clicktoflash.com/) or disabling Flash is the best way to prevent getting Flash tracking cookies. Anonymizer is looking into ways of protecting users from these types of tracking easier.
Continue to the next page for the verdict…
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BEWARE! I had an ongoing subscription to Anonymizer Universal for multi years (79.99 first yr followed by 29.99/yr after that). My computer crashed and I waited 2 weeks to have a replacement delivered followed by 2 weeks of program re-installations. When I re-installed Anonymizer Universal I found that it had expired (less than one month). I contacted them and explained my situation. I asked them to continue my subscription. Guess what? Despite being a repeat years customer in good standing and explaining my delima, they REFUSED to continue my subscription and said pay another intitial year of 79.99 or forget using it. How about that for customer support? How about that for taking care of customers that have a problem? HOW ABOUT THAT FOR MONEY GRABBING FROM LONG TERM CUSTOMERS?? Steer away from this company, they will rip you off at any opportunity regardless of the situation. I highly recommend going with GhostSurf, they really care about their customers.
Anonymizer Universal is a useless product with useless customer support. you will get disconnected from their virtual server on a regular hourly basis. They are a complete ripoff . Stay away from these fuckers.
Their supposed "Total Network Security" doesn't actually secure all of your network activity. Be advised, if you do any kind of file sharing -wherein you'd most need and expect privacy – you're right out in the open. Anonymizer Universal is an utter ripoff. They are complete scam artists.
This Product has no shelf life… It works for awhile and then COMPLETELY STOPS WORKING and customer service mutters around inside your PC and changes a few simple things that does not help…
boom a few hours or next day… the internet stops working if you connect to Anonymizer Universal… or slows down like you are in wet cement… ON ANY AND ALL BROSWERS… !
And this is the key tell… IT STOPS WORKING ON FIREFOX, IE, CHROME AND OPERA !!
I think they have too many customers and too few servers or there code is FUBAR…
Everyone… Stay Away from ANONYMIZER UNIVERSAL