VPNHQ service offers Android and iOS users secure public Wi-Fi access

Hosting firm UK2 has introduced a VPN service for mobile users worried about security when accessing Wi-Fi hotspots, providing an encrypted tunnel to the internet from smartphones, tablets and laptop PCs.

Available now, VPNHQ utilises the built-in VPN functionality already present in the majority of platforms, so users just need to configure their device to connect to UK2's VPN gateway in their country.

VPNs are most commonly used by businesses to form a safely encrypted 'tunnel' over the public internet for remote users to connect up to the corporate network.

This creates a secure link, whether the user is connecting via their home broadband, a cellular network, or a public Wi-Fi hotspot.

However, UK2's service is available to either professional or consumer users willing to pay a monthly fee for secure access to the internet.

"It's aimed at anyone connecting to the internet who is concerned about the security of Wi-Fi hotspots," UK2 cloud product manager, Russell Foster, told V3.

Public Wi-Fi presents a particular danger as criminals can set up a spoof hotspot nearby and intercept internet traffic from anyone connecting to it, potentially exposing login details or bank account information.

UK2's VPN gateway supports Point-to-Point Tunneling Protocol (PPTP), IPsec and OpenVPN protocols, which enables a wide range of devices to access VPNHQ, including Android, iOS and Windows and Mac laptops.

Foster said that UK2 is aiming to offer other VPN services in future, including one offering traffic segregation for businesses concerned about users bringing consumer devices into the workplace.

The company is also looking at offering a pay-as-you-go model, where users pay only for the volume of data they send rather than a flat monthly fee.

The VPNHQ service costs £4 per month, but customers do not have to sign up for an annual service contract, Foster said. A month's free trial is also available.