HMA VPN, originally called HideMyAss, is a paid VPN owned by Gen Digital, the group behind Avast and Norton. For years HMA also offered a free Chrome extension, HMA VPN Proxy Unblocker, and older guides still link to it. That extension is no longer available on the Chrome Web Store. This page explains what has changed, what HMA offers today and which free options you can use instead.
What happened to the HMA Chrome extension?
The free HMA proxy extension, which let you pick a location in the UK, US, Netherlands, Germany or France, has been removed from the Chrome Web Store, so links to it now lead nowhere. It was always a separate service from HMA’s VPN apps: a web proxy that changed your location in the browser without the full encryption of a VPN, and one that, according to HMA’s own policy at the time, logged connection details such as your IP address, the domains you visited and timestamps.
What HMA VPN offers today
- Apps for Windows, macOS, Android and iOS that encrypt all of your device’s traffic.
- A paid subscription covering several devices, with a money-back period for new customers.
- The same corporate owner as Avast SecureLine VPN and Norton VPN.
Proxy extension or VPN: what is the difference?
| Browser proxy extension | VPN app | |
|---|---|---|
| Covers | One browser | The whole device |
| Encryption | Often limited | Full tunnel |
| Good for | Viewing a site as if from another country | Public Wi-Fi, privacy, every app |
Why free proxy extensions keep logs
A free proxy still costs money to run, and it attracts abuse: spam, fraud and attacks can all be routed through it. Providers keep connection logs partly to deal with that abuse and partly because they are not selling privacy as the product. That is why the privacy policy of a free proxy is worth reading before you install it, and why a proxy is the wrong tool when you want to stay private rather than just appear to be somewhere else.
Is the paid HMA VPN worth it?
It is a working VPN from a large security company, but it has fewer independent checks behind it than the audited leaders, and it is not the cheapest. If you are choosing a paid VPN today, compare it with our reviews of NordVPN and ExpressVPN first.
Free alternatives to the HMA extension
- Proton VPN: free plan with no data cap and a browser extension. See our Proton VPN review.
- Windscribe: up to 10 GB a month free with a confirmed email.
- Browsec: four free locations with no account; read our Browsec review.
Our full comparison of free VPN extensions covers seven more.
How to remove an old HMA extension
- Open chrome://extensions.
- Find the HMA proxy extension and click Remove.
- Check Settings > System > Open your computer’s proxy settings to make sure no proxy is left switched on.
Frequently asked questions
Is HMA VPN free?
No. It is a paid service. Check HMA’s website for current trial and refund terms.
Can I still install the old extension from another site?
It is not a good idea. Extensions downloaded outside the official store get no updates, cannot be checked by the store’s review, and Chrome may switch them off on its own.
Who owns HMA today?
Gen Digital. HMA became part of Avast in 2016, when Avast bought AVG, which had acquired HMA the year before. Avast later merged with NortonLifeLock to form Gen Digital.
If you came looking for the free HMA VPN extension, it is gone. HMA’s paid apps still exist, and several free, better-documented browser VPNs are available instead.