Got an Android TV? Now you can get HMA VPN on it

Abtract representation of a VPN network.
(Image credit: TierneyMJ/Shutterstock)

If you're into streaming forbidden television from overseas using a VPN, but don't want to tether an HDMI cable from your PC to your TV, HMA (formerly known as HideMyAss!) may have a solution.

The formerly naughty VPN service provider, now a respectable subsidiary of antivirus maker Avast, today (March 3) announced support for smart TV sets and over-the-top streaming boxes running Android TV. 

You can install the Android app directly from Google Play and pay through the app, or go through the HMA website, pay there and then install the app.

HMA isn't the first VPN provider to offer direct Android TV support. CyberGhost, ExpressVPN, NordVPN,  VyprVPN and a few others already do. 

HMA costs $12 per month or $83.88 per year. There's a 7-day free trial, and if you really like it, you can sign up for a 3-year plans that costs $143.64. HMA says it has "over 1,000 servers in 290+ locations across 190 countries, the largest selection of server locations in the VPN market." (It's possible that some of those servers may just be virtual instances.)

But who's kidding -- if you want a VPN on your smart TV, it's because you want to watch Netflix from Lithuania or wherever. Not that we condone that, being law-abiding citizens over here Tom's Guide. We're just saying you could.

Paul Wagenseil

Paul Wagenseil is a senior editor at Tom's Guide focused on security and privacy. He has also been a dishwasher, fry cook, long-haul driver, code monkey and video editor. He's been rooting around in the information-security space for more than 15 years at FoxNews.com, SecurityNewsDaily, TechNewsDaily and Tom's Guide, has presented talks at the ShmooCon, DerbyCon and BSides Las Vegas hacker conferences, shown up in random TV news spots and even moderated a panel discussion at the CEDIA home-technology conference. You can follow his rants on Twitter at @snd_wagenseil.