AnchorFree's Hotspot Shield Eclipses 1 Billion Monthly Page Views for First Time

SUNNYVALE, CA--(Marketwire - January 6, 2010) - Today, AnchorFree Inc., the creator of Hotspot Shield, the world's first and only free consumer virtual private network (VPN) that keeps users safe online, announced that it has surpassed more than one billion monthly page views, a milestone that demonstrates its continued rapid growth of users worldwide. The company reached the mark in November and then continued its explosive growth by serving more than 1.3 billion impressions in December.

AnchorFree also announced today that Rick Roth, a marketing communications veteran and former worldwide CEO of OgilvyAction, has joined its advisory board. Rick brings with him decades of marketing and brand development experience and will play an important role in the company's continued growth and global expansion. Roth joins a board that includes other seasoned executives such as Esther Dyson, board director of WPP, and former MCI CEO and chairman Bert Roberts.

First developed by AnchorFree in 2006, Hotspot Shield has seen its user base explode during the last two years as people struggle to protect their identities and privacy online, as well as bypass various levels of online censorship. The free tool keeps more than 7.5 million monthly users across the globe secure and anonymous on personal computers, iPhones and public and home Internet networks. By encrypting over one billion page views for its users each month, AnchorFree is proliferating online privacy, security and freedom.

Users around the world rely on Hotspot Shield to use the Internet safely at home, airports, hotels and coffee shops to secure personal information as they conduct financial transactions and shop online. Hotspot Shield also allows users to access Web content and democratizes information in regions where Internet access to certain websites is unavailable. As a result, no matter where users are in the world, they can access Twitter, YouTube, Google, Facebook and other online communities, as well as news sites including BBC, FOX and CNN.

This milestone announcement comes on the heels of two recent product releases that make Hotspot Shield more user-friendly and accessible, as well as enhance security, privacy and identity protection.

In October, AnchorFree announced the newest release of Hotspot Shield on Windows, which allows millions of users worldwide to access customized versions of the popular online security tool in seven supported languages, as well as an updated Macintosh version of Hotspot Shield. Last month, AnchorFree announced a new partnership with leading Internet security provider, Webroot, to provide the first ad-free version of Hotspot Shield, which integrates Webroot's antivirus and antispyware protection with AnchorFree's Internet encryption technology.

Additionally, brands utilize AnchorFree's global reach to access users both domestically and in emerging regions. As CEO, Rick Roth led the creation of OgilvyAction, a global marketing services network specializing in brand activation, shopper, digital and experiential marketing. He brings over 25 years of executive marketing experience to the AnchorFree board and will play a key role in building the AnchorFree brand. Prior to leading OgilvyAction, Roth was president of Ogilvy Los Angeles and served as worldwide managing director overseeing communications platforms across a broad range of global brands.

"With Rick's extensive branding and marketing experience and entrepreneurial passion for game-changing media ventures, he is the perfect fit to help AnchorFree continue on its aggressive growth path," said David Gorodyansky, founder and CEO, AnchorFree. "In the coming months, we're focused on expanding the reach of Hotspot Shield and ensuring universal online privacy and security for users worldwide."

"With dramatic growth over the past two years, it's clear that AnchorFree is leading the world in democratizing the Web and dramatically changing how people access the Internet," said Rick Roth, marketing and communications advisor, AnchorFree. "Hotspot Shield is one of those rare product initiatives that comes along truly for the benefit of people everywhere. It is poised to become a globally recognized brand that will give people all over the world the rights they deserve online."

About AnchorFree and Hotspot Shield

AnchorFree enables millions of users globally to surf the Web freely and securely through Hotspot Shield, the world's first and most popular ad-supported virtual private network. More than 7.5 million monthly users in 190 countries rely on Hotspot Shield to secure their Web browsing experience, proliferating freedom of information online and democratizing the Web. It is the only free way to ensure privacy and total anonymity online on desktop computers, laptops and iPhones. Hotspot Shield is powered by AnchorFree's proprietary communication platform that enables marketers to distribute ad campaigns, messaging and content to millions of users, totaling almost one billion page views every month. AnchorFree is a privately held company with more than $11 million in financing and is based in Sunnyvale, California. For more information or to download Hotspot Shield, please visit www.anchorfree.com.

Contact Information: Media Contacts Tessa Greenwood or Rachel Levine LaunchSquad (for AnchorFree) 415.625.8555 anchorfree(at)launchsquad(dot)com