NetShade Help

NetShade website

Getting Started

When you first launch NetShade, you'll be presented with a registration screen. If you've purchased a registration code this is where you'll enter it, otherwise you can start a free 10-day trial. Trial codes are sent out via e-mail.

NetShade Operation

NetShade works by modifying your system's proxy configuration. When the app is quit, it always puts your connection back to a direct, un-proxied state. If your computer crashes, or NetShade crashes (unexpectedly quits,) your connection may be left in a proxy state. To correct this, simply launch and quit NetShade.

NetShade Window

Collapse/Expand
The green button at the top-left will switch between large and small window modes. The window can also be changed to a simple, non-graphical window via Preferences.

Master Switch
The large Off/On switch at the top of the window shows the current state of the connection, illuminated in blue. You can turn NetShade on and off by clicking this switch. The switch will also change to "On" when a VPN/proxy is selected via the menus in the window, or NetShade's status bar item on the menubar.

VPN Menu
This menu lists the available NetShade VPN servers. VPN servers provide the highest level of security and anonymity, thanks to full encryption.

Proxy Menu
This menu lists all available proxy servers. Selecting a server in the menu will activate it. The servers are grouped by their category: NetShade, Public, or User. The NetShade proxy servers are generally the fastest and most reliable, as they are available only to NetShade users. The public proxies come from a user-sourced list of servers. User proxies are ones you've added yourself.

Gear Menu
Contains advanced options for NetShade.

Connection Busy
These arrows light up when NetShade is communicating with its servers. This happens when NetShade needs to download server lists, synchronize your account, check registration data, etc.

IPv6 Support
When this box is lit, your current connection provides an IPv4 + IPv6 dual-stack proxied connection. This happens when you connect to a VPN or proxy server that has the IPv6 badge.

Test
This button starts a connection test. A connection test consists of four subtests:

  1. Connect to www.raynersw.com server via IPv4
  2. Connect to www.raynersw.com server via IPv4, ignoring proxy settings
  3. Connect to www.raynersw.com server via IPv6
  4. Connect to www.raynersw.com server via IPv6, ignoring proxy settings
After the test completes, the ping time is updated to show the round-trip time of the connection (the fastest time of the four subtests is used.) The four IP addresses at the bottom of NetShade's window are also updated.

Check IP
This button opens http://www.raynersw.com/my_ip6.php in your web browser. This is a simple page displaying your connection information, and it can be used to verify that your connection is going through the expected proxy server. The IP addresses shown should be different from your own computer's if a proxy is currently selected.

Current IP Addresses
These are your effective IP addresses, which NetShade can change. They are determined during the "Test" sequence explained above. The central NetShade server responds to tests with the client's IP address, as it appears to the server. These IP values are displayed here. The Web IP address is the IP address you'll show when you visit web sites. The Network IP address reflects the IP address you'll show when you connect to non-web content on the Internet. This includes FTP servers, some video streaming, many background and custom services, and more.

Current Proxy/VPN
The currently enabled proxy connection is shown on the globe.

Security
The security level of your current connection: Low, Medium or High.

Anonymity
The anonymity level of your current connection.

Ping Time
The time required to access a test page on www.raynersw.com via the current VPN/Proxy settings.

Protocols
The protocols protected by the current VPN/Proxy settings.


Next: VPN servers vs. Proxy servers
Prev: Overview