Hulu is a website offering streaming video of TV shows and movies from US networks like NBC, Fox, ABC and many others. However, Hulu currently only offers this service to the United States.

If you live outside the United States and want to watch American TV shows like The Jay Leno Show, Grey's Anatomy or Private Practice, this guide will show you how to access Hulu from outside the US.

This guide will show you how to download and set up a program called HotSpot Shield, and how to use it to access Hulu.

In this step, you will download and install HotSpot Shield. This program is not only handy for accessing Hulu, but will also protect your privacy when surfing the Internet, by masking your IP number, and assigning you a virtual IP number, which is hosted in the United States.

1. First, you need to download the software. Go to http://www.hotspotshield.com/, and click on the ‘Download latest version’ button.
2. Store the downloaded file, and remember where it is stored.
3. Install HotSpot Shield by starting the program file you just downloaded. The file will be named “HSS-1.37-install-anchorfree-76-conduit.exe” or similar (depending on the latest version number)
4. Choose your preferred language, and click ‘Next’ , ‘Next’, ‘I Agree’, ‘Next’.
5. The installation asks whether you want to install the HotSpot Shield Community Toolbar. Deselect the flagged checkbox if you don’t want this, and press ‘Next’.
6. The installation offers four options. Deselect all four (unless there is something you like), and click ‘Next’.
7. Select the Destination Folder. You can leave that as it is, and select ‘Next’. The program is now being installed.
8. Select ‘Next’, and ‘Finish’.

HotSpot Shield is now installed, and will automatically launch.

As HotSpot Shield starts up, two things happen:

1. An Internet browser screen will open, showing the status of the program,
2. A small icon appears on the right-hand side of your toolbar.

The icon will first be yellow-colored, but will turn green within seconds. Once the icon is green, HotSpot Shield is started up and working correctly. You can verify this by visiting www.cmyip.com.

This site which will display your current IP address, which will now be located in the United States.

You are now all ready and set to go. Visit Hulu and select your favorite series or channel, and watch it on your home Computer.http://www.hulu.com

You will notice a banner on the top of the Internet browser screen. This is only visible while using the HotSpot Shield program. Once you’re finished watching videos on Hulu, right-click on the HotSpot Shield icon, and select ‘Disconnect/Off’, and the banners will disappear.

HotSpot Shield is also useful for obtaining access to other products similar to Hulu (e.g. Pandora).

Other benefits of having HotSpot Shield implemented are:

1. An implementation provides HTTPS encryption, this is a secure session whichever websites you visit
2. An implementation will help protect you from identity theft online.
3. Your IP address is hidden, guaranteeing your privacy online.
4. You can protect yourself from snoopers/intruders at Wi-Fi hotspots, airports, hotels and corporate offices.