Popular Chrome extension Hola sold users' bandwidth for botnets

Hola is able to act as a botnet for the same reason that its service is free: it doesn't provide its own bandwidth or servers, but simply redirects that of its users'. Most virtual private networks (VPNs) have their own servers spread around the world, channeling a users' internet connection through these so that it appears to be coming from a different country. This allows a user in France, for example, to watch geoblocked TV shows from the US. Hola, however, operates as a peer-to-peer VPN, routing users' connections through each other's devices like a giant telephone exchange. Hola makes money by selling idle bandwidth from its free users under the Luminati brand. Users who don't want to contribute their bandwidth have to pay $5 a month explains the site's FAQ.

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