No matter where you live in this world, sometimes you have to come across blocked sites and restricted internet connection. Governments, internet providers, institutions, or companies sometimes leverage software to prevent users from accessing certain sites or services that are otherwise available on the web. This is termed internet filtering or internet censorship.
Luckily, there is an effective and safe way to bypass online censorship and access restricted data; that is Virtual Private Network (VPN). It provides you with an IP address and can easily get around blocked sites and services. Today, you will learn how internet censorship works and how a VPN can help you bypass internet censorship.
Does VPN Bypassses Censorship?
VPN routes your device’s interconnection to a secure server in a remote location by passing through an encrypted tunnel. When you connect to VPN, your IP address is masked with a different address. In most cases, this IP address is from a different country, so the restrictions in your country do not apply to your connection.
This way, your online activity is fully anonymous and secured. You can access any website, any content, or use any service that has been termed inappropriate for whatever reason. Most censorships are regional, so you have to change your IP address and domain name system to access the restricted content. Just select the country whose IP address you want to use, and voila!
How VPN Access Blocked Websites?
When you connect to a VPN and use a unique IP address, the service providers can never know you are using a different IP. They grant you access to any social media platform, website, app, or server that is available in that country. This online anonymity lets you pass through the restricted content and unlock blocked sites and services. For instance, you can access the Netflix library of any other country or use YouTube even if it’s blocked in your region.
In some cases, you may find that your local network administrator or government is blocking your access to specific sites and applications. In such cases, VPN will enable you to find a connection that is not blocked. Additionally, a VPN takes care of your security by encrypting your data so that malicious actors can never use or intercept your data. Though your personal information is secured, you need to choose a reliable VPN provider that focuses on committing to your security and defense from cyber attacks. There are also tons of special features available, such as obfuscation, that hides you are using a VPN.
Benefits of Using a VPN to Circumvent Censorship
A VPN connection lets you pass through geographical restrictions and access blocked websites and applications without revealing your real IP address. Here are a few benefits of using a VPN to unblock websites.
- Your internet activity can’t be dictated by your local government or any institution. You can access any content at any time without any hassle.
- Your data traffic is encrypted before leaving your network, thus ensuring the security and privacy of your personal data.
- You can have the fastest internet speed as VPN connects you to the nearest and fastest server for accessing blocked content.
- You can use multiple servers to access information from different parts of the world.
How to Choose the Right VPN Provider to Get Around Internet Censorship?
VPN is quite efficient in bypassing internet restrictions, but the problem is that blocked sites have become more sophisticated than ever. Governments use strong firewalls that are trained to detect and kick out VPNs or other tools that can bypass traditional firewall filters. Due to this reason, many VPNs fail to surpass robust government firewalls such as the Great Firewall of China.
It means not every VPN will work, so opting for the first VPN you stumble across might not be a good idea. From bypassing capabilities and security to user experience, many things factor into finding the right VPN for your bypassing needs.
If you are searching for a VPN that securely lets you go through geographical restrictions, you should wisely make your decision. Here are five qualities your chosen VPN must-have.
An Expansive Network
Look for a VPN that offers a large number of servers in different countries. This will give you a wide range of access to the platform, giving you seamless access to blocked sites.
In high-traffic areas, a few servers can lead to high traffic that can slow down your connection. So your VPN must have a lot of servers in such areas to avoid traffic congestion.
Fast and Reliable
If a VPN is bypassing censorship but delivers extremely slow results, there is no point in opting for one. Your VPN must use those tunneling protocols that have the immense capability of bypassing geographical restrictions while providing a fast connection. TLS VPN type is known to securely transfer your data to remote servers with high-level encryption.
Versatility
Your VPN must be able to unblock popular streaming and torrenting sites, such as Netflix, Hotstar, Hulu, and more. If your VPN works well for Netflix while it can’t crack Hulu, then you have to use multiple servers. So check the versatility of a VPN and choose one with diverse use cases.
Powerful Security
Security is non-negotiable while using a VPN. opt for a VPN with 256-bit encryption, a kill switch, leak protection, and a no-log policy, so you can safely browse through the web without putting your data or network at risk. Additionally, your VPN must leverage obfuscation technology to hide the fact that you are employing VPN to bypass censorship.
Seamless User Experience
A VPN that really connects your network to the nearest server has multi-platform support, live chat, and a user-friendly app that will go a long way in delivering a quick, effective, and hassle-free user experience.
Final Words
Internet restrictions are mostly regional, which means you can not access some websites, applications, or services in a particular area, when you try to access blocked content, your IP address will be immediately detected, and your access is restricted.
Luckily, VPN is a blessing for those whose internet activity is affected due to political upheaval or any other reason. VPN masks your IP address and connects you to a remote server with a unique IP address. This way, you can unblock websites and enjoy a free web experience. That said, you have to wisely choose your VPN provider, keeping its security, speed, and number of servers in mind.
