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Help for Belkin Router Users

October 7, 2014 by

Belkin users around the world are having trouble connecting to the Internet.  Belkin has since released a workaround that we’ll share in a moment.  The issue appears to be linked to Belkin routers and perhaps some Linksys routers.  If you’re having trouble connecting to the Internet with a Belkin rouoter then I suggest you try the workaround below.  You can try calling Belkin but their customer service is overwhelmingly busy at the moment.

Belkin router outage

Here’s the workaround provided for Belkin users (original source):

Update – We have identified a workaround that will enable some users to get back online. The workaround requires that you set a static DNS address on the device trying to access the internet. Below are some steps to do this on the most popular devices:

iOS
First, enable WiFi on your device and connect to the WiFi network you want to use. Then, tap the blue arrow button on the right side of the network name to tweak its settings. Now, select the DNS field and enter 8.8.8.8, 8.8.4.4. Separate different DNS addresses with commas

Android
Open the Settings on the device.
Select “Wi-Fi”.
Long press your current network, then select “Modify network”.
Mark “Show advanced options” check box.
Change “IP settings” to “Static”
Add the DNS servers 8.8.8.8 to the “DNS 1”, and 8.8.4.4 “DNS 2” fields.
Press “Save” button, disconnect from the network, and reconnect for changes to take effect.

Windows
Begin by clicking Windows Logo > Control Panel.
Click Network and Internet.
Click on Network & Sharing Center.
Click the name of the connection you wish the edit, to the right of Connections.
Click Properties.
Select Internet Protocol Version 4 (TCP/IPv4) and click Properties.
Click the radio button next to Use the following DNS server addresses:. This will allow you to enter the DNS server addresses.
The DNS addresses are as follows:
Preferred DNS server: 8.8.8.8
Alternate DNS server: 8.8.4.4
Click OK on each of the windows and close the Control Panel. Your computer is now configured to use statically assigned DNS server addresses.

Mac OSX
You’ll need to first head into the System Preferences…
Then click on the Network icon…
Then you’ll want to select your network card on the left—you’ll see in my example that I’ve got an AirPort card—and then select the Advanced button near the bottom right corner.
Once you’re there, switch over to the DNS tab, and you can start adding in DNS entries into the list. If you see entries that are grayed out, just ignore them, and click the + symbol at the bottom to add new ones.
You can add the following two items to the list:
8.8.8.8
8.8.4.4
Oct 7, 10:49 PDT

Investigating – We are aware of reports of an interruption to internet service when using some Belkin routers with several internet service providers. Our team is diligently working to root cause the issue. Our call centers are also experiencing a higher than normal call rate so hold times are longer than normal. Our call centers have no solution to this problem at this time. Please check this status page for further updates.
Oct 7, 09:31 PDT
Filed Under: Guides

Fixing Apple iOS 8 VPN Issues

September 19, 2014 by

Since Apple released iOS 8 a couple days ago we’ve heard from users who are having trouble connecting to their VPN provider.  More specifically they are being asked for their VPN password even though it was saved as part of the previous app install.  You may also notice some advanced features like TunnelBear’s auto-reconnect is no longer working.  Problems like these can happen.  Especially when a new version of iOS is first released.

VPN for iOS 8

For those being prompted to enter a password while using an iOS app provided by your VPN service I would suggest you reinstall the profile.  That’s how all the popular VPN apps we’ve reviewed work for iOS.  They let you choose a server location and the app in turn installs a profile on your device for the VPN connection.  The problem is that iOS 7 profiles don’t appear to be compatible with iOS 8.  Until or unless Apple puts out a fix the best workaround we’ve found so far is to go back into your VPN app and let it create the profile again.  You may want to delete the old profile first.  To do so simply tap on General, then Profiles, and then Delete Profile.

That should take care of your VPN log in issues with iOS 8.  Other advanced features like TunnelBear’s auto-connect will take some time to work out I’m sure.  It happens every time a vendor like Apple or Microsoft pushes a major release.  If you have questions then I’d suggest you contact tech support for your provider.  Please be patient with with them as the problems will likely be widespread across all the VPN providers until Apple releases an update or the VPN apps are updated for the new iOS 8.

You can visit vpnsp.com to learn more about VPN services.  Follow us @VPNSP for the latest news and deals.

Filed Under: Guides

Watch the Commonwealth Games Online

July 23, 2014 by

The opening ceremony of the 2014 Commonwealth Games is less than 3 hours away.  Don’t miss all the action as athletes from around the world compete for nearly 1,4000 medals in this years games.  If you’re a fan of the Olympics but haven’t seen the Commonwealth Games this is the time to start.  Watch every exciting moment of the 2014 Commonwealth Games and unblock sites with OverPlay’s SmartDNS service for just $4.95 a month.

OverPlay SmartDNS

Smart DNS may be new to you so let me explain how it works. When you use a SmartDNS service like OverPlay it routes your data so that websites like Netflix and BBC iPlayer (a great site to watch the Commonwealth Games) will think you’re in the right country to be eligible to access their content. I don’t want to confuse you. Some sites are free to use like BBC while you still need to be a member of services like Netflix and Hulu Plus. The advantage of SmartDNS is the ability to access sites and services around the world. Avoiding geo-restrictions along the way.

Now let’s take a closer look at OverPlay since they offer world class Smart DNS. I use them and would highly recommend both their SmartDNS and VPN services. The difference is encryption. A VPN service will change your IP address and encrypt your data. Adding a layer of privacy and anonymity at some cost to performance. While SmartDNS simply routes you around geo-restrictions without the speed loss. OverPlay will help unblock sites like Netflix, Amazon Instant Video, Vudu, BBC iPlayer, iTV Player, Pandora, Facebook, Twitter and more.

Hopefully I’ve given you some idea of just how useful a Smart DNS service is to watch live events like the Commonwealth Games along with all the other sites and services it opens up. You can read our OverPlay review to learn more about the service. For those looking to sign up and enjoy SmartDNS access right now OverPlay is offering a 15% off a year of access. Enjoy unblocked access to live events and content around the world.

Visit VPNSP.com to learn more about Smart DNS services. Follow us @VPNSP for the latest news and deals.

Filed Under: Guides

Watch the 2014 British Open Online

July 16, 2014 by

It’s time for the 2014 British Open.  The tournament will draw even more attention this year as Tiger Woods returns to Royal Liverpool for his first major of the season.  Watch and enjoy all the great British Open moments from anywhere in the world using a VPN or Smart DNS service.  Watch every exciting moment of the 2014 Open and unblock sites around the world with OverPlay’s SmartDNS service for just $4.95 a month.

OverPlay SmartDNS

For those new to Smart DNS let me quickly explain how it works.  When you use a SmartDNS service like OverPlay it reroutes your data so websites like Netflix and BBC iPlayer (a great site for the British Open) will think you’re eligible to access their content.  I don’t want to confuse you.  Some sites are free to use like BBC while you’ll still need a subscription to services like Netflix and Hulu Plus.  The real magic of SmartDNS is being able to access these sites and services from anywhere in the world.  Avoiding geo-restrictions along the way.

Now let’s specifically look at OverPlay as they are a leading provider of Smart DNS.  I use them and would highly recommend both their SmartDNS and VPN services.  The difference is encryption.  A VPN service will change your IP address and encrypt your data.  Adding a layer of privacy and anonymity at some cost to performance.  While SmartDNS simply routes you around geo-restrictions without the speed loss.  OverPlay will help unblock sites like Netflix, Amazon Instant Video, Vudu, BBC iPlayer, iTV Player, Pandora, Facebook, Twitter and more.

Hopefully I’ve given you some brief insight on the power of using a Smart DNS service to watch live events like the British Open along with all the other great content it opens up.  You can read our OverPlay review to learn more about their service.  For those looking to sign up and enjoy SmartDNS access right now OverPlay is offering a 15% off a year of access.  Enjoy unblocked access to live events and content around the world.

Visit VPNSP.com to learn more about Smart DNS.  Follow us @VPNSP for the latest news and deals.

Filed Under: Guides

Maximize Hide My Ass VPN Speeds

June 30, 2014 by

Hide My Ass is an excellent VPN service.  They provide access to over 620 servers in 75 countries.  The HMA Pro VPN client has a number of advanced features to further enhance the service.  a few settings in particular will help to maximize the speed of your connection.  In our testing they dramatically increased our download speeds on a number of server locations.  We’ll be sharing these and other tips to help you get the best performance.

Hide My Ass Speed

1. Enable Auto Path

I’m adding this tip first because it’s the one that dramatically increased our VPN speeds.  We had switched to using the OpenVPN open-source client to connect to HMA using UDP as you can see in out speed test results here.  Within a day of the post we received an email from an HMA customer mentioning an easier way to achieve the same result.  You guessed it, enable auto path.  The process is very simple and only takes a second.

Hide My Ass Auto Path

From the home screen of the HMA Pro VPN client for Windows you’ll want to click on the Settings tab.  It’s located to the top right of the screen.  From there you’ll notice a section titled “Auto Path”.  We highlighted it in the image above.  Check “Enabled” and then go back to the “Dashboard” tab.  That’s all there is to it.  Check out how much of a difference it made for us.  Here are some before and after speed test results.

Speed test results without “Auto Path” enabled:

Hide My Ass TCP speed test

Speed tests result with “Auto Path” enabled:

Hide My Ass UDP speed test

2. Enable Load Balancing

Load balancing is an advanced feature of the HMA VPN client that will help you maximize performance.  You can use it along with the auto path feature.  We’ll first look at how to enable load balancing and then show you how Hide My Ass uses it to steer you clear of busy servers.  You will start by enabling the load balancing feature.

HMA Load Balancing

From the home screen of the HMA Pro VPN client for Windows you’ll want to click on the Settings tab.  It’s located to the top right of the screen.  The same place you went to enable Auto Path.  From there you’ll notice a section titled “Load Balancing”.  We highlighted it in the image above.  Check “Enabled” and then go back to the “Dashboard” tab.  When you connect to a busy server the client will display a message like the one below.

HMA Load Balancing Warning

As you can see we were trying to connect to a server in Los Angeles, California.  The server we chose was loaded more than 30% of all other servers in the same city.  Since we had load balancing enable the client suggested that we connect to another HMA server in Los Angeles.  We clicked “Yes” to do so.  You can also check “Connect to the least-loaded server automatically next time” to let the client take care of load balancing automatically for future connections.  This will help you avoid busy servers and in turn improve performance.

3. Chose the Right Server Location

Now we’re down to some simple suggestions to make sure you get the best speeds while connected to HMA.  The same would be true of any VPN provider.  When you choose a server you’ll want to consider the purpose and how far it is from your location.  If you are sitting at a coffee shop and want to protect your privacy then I suggest you choose the closest server location.  Doing so will help maximize your performance.

Connecting to the nearest server location doesn’t always make sense.  It depends on what you’re trying to accomplish.  For example if you want to watch BBC iPlayer then you need to connect to a server in the United Kingdom.  If you want to watch Netflix then you’ll likely want to connect to a server in the United States.  Just realize that based on your current location these connections may be slower than your local connection.

Hide My Ass offers a tool inside their Windows client called speed guide.  You can access by clicking on the “Speed Guide” tab.  It’s just a few tabs down from “Dashboard” where you start when the client loads.  You can use the speed guide to test any server locations.  Hide My Ass will test the ping time, download speed and upload speed of multiple servers in that location.  Here’s an example with a two US server locations.

Speed Guide Test

The HMA speed guide test shows the results for multiple servers in Atlanta and Asheville.  When you use the speed guide you have the option to do a “ping test”, “express test” or “full test”.  We went with the full test which didn’t take long.  If you are testing several server locations then you might want to go with a different approach.  As you can see the test scored our results and the Atlanta LOC1 S4 server will give us with the best speed.

I hope our guide helps you maximize performance and enjoy Hide My Ass to its fullest.  If you are using a different VPN provider and looking for tips to improve performance I would start by using OpenVPN UDP connections.  From there you can contact support and work with them.  If that doesn’t work then I suggest you test a service like Hide My Ass.  The larger services have the teams and resources to manage fast networks.

Filed Under: Guides, VPN Services

Best VPN for the 2014 World Cup

May 12, 2014 by

The 2014 World Cup is just around the corner.  The excitement begins on Thursday, June 12th and will last though Saturday, July 13th.  It’s the world’s most widely viewed sporting event.  More than a billion people watched the World Cup Final in 2010.  As you can imagine having access to international coverage is a must.  That’s where VPN providers come in.  They can help you access coverage from around the world.

FIFA World Cup

When it comes to selecting a VPN service to use for the World Cup you’ll want to consider a few factors.  The first being reach.  You’ll want a company with VPN servers around the world so you can catch the latest matches, news and updates for all your favorite teams.  The second is performance.  You need a VPN that can deliver on speed.  Otherwise you’ll be frustrated with the results.  Here are some VPNs that can deliver a good experience.

1. IPVanish

IPVanish Coupon

IPVanish is all about speed.  They offer the fastest VPN network in the world.  Perfect for streaming sporting events like the World Cup.  You won’t find a service better suited for the occasion.  IPVanish manages their own network which gives them a distinct advantage in terms of performance.  They have servers located in 55 countries around the world.  Access IPVanish using their Windows or Mac clients.  Along with mobile apps for iOS and Android.  Enjoy unlimited VPN access from just $4.87 a month with our 25% off VPNSP discount.

2. PureVPN

PureVPN World cup Deal

The team at PureVPN are huge football fans and it shows.  For starters the PureVPN team reduced the price of their popular VPN service by up to 65% off.  In the months leading up to the World Cup PureVPN expanded their network to over 300 servers in 44 countries.  Giving members excellent coverage of all the matches.  To top it off PureVPN released a mobile app specifically for the World Cup.  You can enjoy every game using their service.  The app will let you choose which channel to watch each game.  Join from just $4.16 a month.

3. OverPlay

Overplay - Unblock

The team at OverPlay has created a top notch VPN service.  They also shine in another area that’s sure to draw a lot of World Cup fans.  OverPlay offers a service called SmartDNS.  It differs from VPN in that it doesn’t include encryption.  So in short it’s not a privacy service.  However, it does a great job of opening up geo-restricted content.  You can use OverPlay’s SmartDNS service to access sites in 48 countries.  Giving you local access to all the top World Cup teams for a great price.  Sign up for SmartDNS service from just $4.16 a month.

4. Hide My Ass

You’ll be hard pressed to find a VPN provider with a better coverage area that Hide My Ass.  They manage a network of VPN servers in 75 countries around the world.  There are 32 countries represented in the World Cup and HMA has servers located in 27 of them.  The only locations they lack are Honduras, Ecuador, Bosnia, Algeria and Iran.  Otherwise they have at least one server location in every country represented.  Connect to any of them using HMA’s client for Windows, Mac, iOS or Android.  Unlimited VPN starts at just $6.55 a month.

5. Private Internet Access

Private Internet Access is all about privacy and value.  The only area they fall behind some of the others in our list is server locations.  That could come into play for watching World Cup matches.  Private Internet Access hosts VPN servers in the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Netherlands, Romania, Sweden and Switzerland.  That means you’ll be able to unblock World Cup content hosted in those countries.  PIA VPN is fast and reliable.  Best of all you can enjoy the service from just $3.25 a month.

I’m confident that any of the VPN services listed above will serve you well.  If you’d like to do further research before deciding feel free to visit our main site at vpnsp.com for details on over 340 VPN providers.  You’ve still got some time before the excitement of the 2014 World Cup starts.  I suggest you sign up for a VPN ahead of time so you can test before the excitement begins.  Best of luck to your favorite team!

Please follow us on Twitter @vpnsp for the latest VPN news and special offers.  We welcome your feedback.

Filed Under: Guides, VPN Services

VPN Tips for iPad Users on iOS 7.1

May 2, 2014 by

iPad users started sharing their experience with VPN performance issues after upgrading to iOS 7.1 as you can see in this Apple support communities post.   Their problems continue into iOS 7.1.1.  The issue isn’t tied to any specific VPN service.  iPad users who previously were able to achieve speeds of over 10 Mbps are reporting speeds of under 1 Mbps after the iOS upgrade.  We’ll look at ways to help achieve better speeds.

iOS 7.1 VPN

I suggest you read through the Apple support communities thread to see the experiences being shared by several iOS users.  They are using a wide range of VPN providers and are frustrated by Apple’s lack of response to the issue.  Their attention to the problem and frustration with Apple’s lack of response helped draw our attention.  Hopefully we can help spread the word and share workarounds until a fix is released.

This post will continue to be updated with the latest news on the iOs 7.1 VPN issues.  Along with any workarounds and the latest on fixing the performance problem that some users are facing.  The team at VPN One Click is recommending that iOS users connect using L2TP.  The tip is for users of any VPN service.  My tip for iOS users who haven’t upgraded to 7.1 yet would be to wait.  VPN connections are working fine in iOS 7.0.

Visit VPNSP.com to learn more about VPN on iOS.  Follow us @VPNSP for the latest VPN news and deals.

Filed Under: Guides

Watch Wrestlemania 30 Live Online

April 6, 2014 by

I won’t claim to be a die hard wrestling fan.  I watched back in the day and my son watches enough for me to know what’s going on.  In the past we’ve order Wrestlemania and a couple other events on pay per view.  I didn’t think much of watching Wrestlemania 30 since the price on DirecTV is insane, $69.95 to order it today.  Then I checked out the new WWE Network.  For $9.99 a month you can enjoy all the PPV events and much more.

Wreestlemania Online

This is starting to sound like a plug for Wrestlemania or the WWE network.  I can assure you that I don’t have any ties with either one.  Instead I appreciate their creativity in going outside the major cable and satellite providers to offer the WWE network.  At first I wondered how we would watch events.  A computer monitor just doesn’t cut it in my house.  As I found out quickly this morning you have a lot more options including Roku, PS3, PS4, Xbox and Apple TV.  Along with free mobile apps for iOS, Android and Kindle Fire devices.

If you want to watch Wrestlemania and all the other live events and live in the US the process to sign up for the WWE network is very simple.  Just visit wwe.com and sign up.  You’ll gain access to all their live PPV events plus the weekly shows and additional WWE network exclusive content.  For those living outside the United States PureVPN provides the following tips to sign up for the WWE network:

Source : http://www.purevpn.com/blog/not-a-us-citizen-you-can-still-watch-wwe-network-outside-usa/

How Can I Subscribe To Wrestling Network Outside US?

Fans like me who are dying to watch Wrestling Network outside the USA know that it’s of no use, because you need a US IP address for subscription. If you also faced the same issue, then follow this simple trick to access some awesome ring-side content! Believe me, we used it and it worked.

First thing first, you need a PureVPN subscription to get US based IP. Get connected to PureVPN’s fastest US server, follow these easy steps and you will have your very own Wrestling Network subscription in no time.

Step 1: Open your browser and proceed to Wrestling official website.

Step 2: Scroll down to the footer of the website and click Wrestling Network link.

Step 3: Once you reach the Wrestling Network webpage, click on ‘Buy Now’ button on the right.

Step 4: Sign-up for a Wrestling account on the next page and DO NOT use social media (Facebook, twitter, etc.) to register for an account as it may record your location and will lock you out.

Step 5: Now enter the following details on the subscription form,

  • Enter Your real ‘First and Last Name’.
  • Fill out your real address in the address field.
  • Leave ‘ field blank.
  • Enter ‘Delaware City’ in ‘City’ field.
  • Select ‘Delaware’ in State and‘USA’ as the country.
  • Enter Zip Code 19706.
  • Enter your real ‘Phone Number’.

Step 6: Use ‘Pay Pal’ as your payment option. If you chose your credit card, it will expose your residential address, and your subscription to Wrestling Network will get cancelled. Even though Pay Pal does have your physical location, Wrestling Network only uses it for payment information and PayPal keeps the rest of your information confidential, just like eBay does.

You can also avail ‘Prepaid Debit Card’ like OPAS and USunlocked to get your Wrestling Network subscription while living outside of the USA. These prepaid debit cards are backed with US address and help users to shop US only products and services

Step 7: You are now registered on Wrestling Network.

Whether you decide to order the PPV for Wrestlemania or subscribe to the WWE network we hope you enjoy the show.  I won’t know all the backstory but my son and I will enjoy watching it this evening.  Tomorrow I’ll update the post and let you know how well the event performed on WWE network.  That’s the real question.  Can WWE handle the traffic?  I hope so.  We’ll find out in a few hours.

Filed Under: Guides

Unblock Netflix Outside the US

February 17, 2014 by

We’re huge fans of the Netflix streaming service.  Except when traveling outside the United States.  Then it got rather frustrating until we found a solution.  Luckily you can access Netflix worldwide by using a virtual private network.  A fast VPN service will let you connect to servers in the U.S. and get an IP address there.  Regardless of where you might be traveling at the time.  Giving you the ability to enjoy Netflix from anywhere in the world.

Unblock Netflix with VPN

How does a VPN help unblock Netflix?

Let’s look at how a VPN service can help you stream Netflix from outside the United States:

  • VPN allows you to acquire and use an IP address in the United States.
  • All traffic is routed through a secure tunnel to help ensure your privacy.
  • A fast connection is necessary for streaming.  VPN can help you achieve the best performance.

A good privacy service will allow you to tunnel to a server in the US and enjoy Netflix from anywhere in the world.  Allowing you to view movies and television shows as if you were sitting in the United States.

Connecting to Netflix using a VPN service

We’ll walk you through signing up with a reliable VPN provider and connecting to Netflix from outside the US.  You will want a fast connection for streaming HD content.  There are quite a few VPN companies that won’t meet your bandwidth needs.  Two of our favorites for fast, reliable access are IPVanish and Hide My Ass.

We’ll be using IPVanish since they have the fastest VPN connections in the United States.   The first thing you’ll want to do is sign up for access.  You can enjoy unlimited VPN from IPVanish for just $6.49 a month.

IPVanish $6.49 Special

After you sign up IPVanish will send a welcome email with your account information.  From there you’ll want to visit their site and download the free VPN software.  IPVanish offers VPN clients for Windows and Mac.  They also support iPhone, iPad and Android mobile devices.

Once you have the IPVanish client downloaded and installed go ahead and launch it.  You’ll see this screen:

IPVanish Client

From here you want to select the US server location that provides the best download speed.  The “Response” column is a good indicator of the best choice for performance.  When you first launch the client the “Response” column will be blank for a few seconds while it pings the server locations.  A low ping “Response” time means low latency between your system and the server.  Giving you the fastest possible connection.

We won’t make things too technical.  Connect to any IPVanish server and switch between them at will.  They offer locations throughout the United States.  If you ever want an IP from elsewhere they have VPN servers located in 41 different countries.  You can have up to two simultaneous connections which is great for mobile devices.

You’ll notice OpenVPN, PPTP and L2TP buttons at the bottom of the screen.  They allow you to select which protocol is used to access the VPN servers.  Test them out to see which one works best from your location.  For streaming services like Netflix we recommend OpenVPN (UDP) as we’ve seen the best performance using it.

That’s all there is to it.  An IP in the US also gives you access to Hulu, Pandora, Skype, Facebook and many more sites.  Follow us on Twitter @VPNSP for more how-to guides along with VPN reviews and promotions.

Filed Under: Guides Tagged With:

Fast Connection for Online Games

October 10, 2013 by

Online gamers know just how important a fast connection can be.  The last thing you want to do is give your opponent the edge.  Even though you might have high-speed Internet access that doesn’t mean your connection to the game servers is all that good.  If your experiencing issues then we suggest you you look at a game accelerator service like IPVanish.  With fast connections around the world they can help speed up your games.

Game Accelerator

Improve Gaming Performance and Reduce Lag

A fast connection is key for online gaming.  You don’t want to wait forever for scenes to load.  Nor do you want to miss out on an exciting moment due to lag.  Having played Final Fantasy for years I can remember all too well the frustration of too much lag and even disconnecting in the middle of an important battle.  Leaving my friends in a bind and missing out on the experience.  A fast, reliable VPN provider can help you fix that problem.  We recommend IPVanish.  They have a very fast network of VPN servers in North America and throughout Europe.

IPVanish Client

As you can see the response “ping” times in the IPVanish client are very low.  Giving you great performance.

Additional Tip for Console Gamers

If you want to play games with friends around the world on your Xbox 360, PS3, Wii or any other console then you might have an additional challenge.  Most gaming consoles do not natively support VPN.  There’s an easy way around that limitation though.  You can use a custom DD-WRT or Tomato router to send all your network traffic through the encrypted VPN connection.  While you can flash your own router we only recommend that for tech savvy users.  Otherwise companies like FlashRouters and Sabai Technology can take care of it all for you.

Visit VPNSP.com for more recommendations to speed up your gameplay and secure your connection.

Filed Under: Guides
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