How to Bypass Internet Restrictions and View the Content You Want

Are you tired of being blocked from accessing your favorite websites, services, and online content? Whatever the reason for the website being blocked, be it your work, school, or the country you’re living in, don’t lose hope just yet. With a VPN, you can bypass Internet restrictions and unlock unlimited access to the Internet restrictions because your traffic goes through an isolated encrypted tunnel to a remote server, so that your traffic omits any roadblocks on its way to the service, website, or streaming platform you want to access. In this article, we’ll talk about the benefits of VPN for bypassing Internet restrictions as well as other ways of surfing the web without any limits!

VeePN Research Lab

Mar 10, 2025

12 min read

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Why Websites and Content Get Blocked

But what are the reasons behind websites being blocked in the first place? Let’s take a look.

1. Some services restrict access to their content

They do this by using geo-blocking tools to limit access to their content in certain countries. One example that instantly pops up in mind is Netflix, which has different libraries in different countries. So, show selection in some states may be richer compared to others. For example, here are the countries with the biggest number of TV shows and movies available on Netflix as of March 2023 (and yeah, it caught us by surprise, to say the least):

Countries with the biggest number of TV shows available on Netflix

On top of that, this content restriction can also apply to news articles or even entire services that can’t be accessed outside their country of origin, like Hulu.

2. Government censorship and Internet restrictions

We often associate online censorship with countries like China or Turkey without realizing how widespread this issue actually is. Often carried out by governments for political, security, and other reasons, internet censorship is suppressing what people can access on the Internet. Let’s take a look at some specifics.

According to the 2022 edition of the World Press Freedom Index that examined press freedom in 180 countries, the “worst” countries to access content freely are North Korea, Eritrea, Iran, Turkmenistan, Myanmar, China, and others. At the same time, Scandinavians rule in this regard.

3. Employers and schools can block websites on their internal networks

Another widespread reason. Why do they do that, you may ask? Most likely for employees and students to remain productive. While this measure certainly is reasonable for one to avoid the temptation of scrolling through social media, for example, it may be too restricting when you want to locate needed information right away at the site.

With all this in mind, at least a good thing is that you can bypass WiFi restrictions, with just a bit of magic (read — perfectly feasible technological solutions).

How to bypass blocked sites

With content restrictions tightening, what tools can you use and how bypass Internet blocks and retain freedom online? We’ve handpicked some of the most popular ones for you — let’s take a closer look.

1. Using a VPN to Unblock Websites

By encrypting your data and hiding your IP address, a VPN lets you bypass Internet restrictions and access geo-blocked content from anywhere in the world.

How VPN Work to Bypass Restrictions:

When you connect to a VPN, your Internet traffic is routed through a secure VPN server, which masks your IP address and encrypts your data. This means that websites see the VPN server’s IP address instead of your own, allowing you to access content that may be blocked based on your physical location.
With a VPN, you can choose from a variety of server locations, giving you the freedom to access content from all over the world. Plus, many VPN providers offer additional security features like malware protection and ad-blocking, making your online experience even safer.

How to unblock websites with VPN

Easily! Bypass Internet restrictions with VeePN. VeePN is available on most popular devices and platforms. It lets you choose from over 2,500 servers in 89 locations across Europe, North and South America, Asia, Africa, and Australia. Here’s how to unblock websites with our app:

Sign up with 85% off.
Download VeePN on your device and open the app.
Under the Connect button on the main screen, choose a needed server location from the list. Go for a country in which your service or website is available.

So, say you want to access your home UK Netflix library but are traveling to the US — just choose one of the UK servers in the VeePN app.

4. Click Connect and congratulations — you’ve beamed to the UK (virtually, but still) and can view its content on Netflix.

Pros and cons of using a VPN

Pros	Cons
Changes your virtual location	Most trustworthy VPNs aren’t free
Encrypts your data	Work or school computer may not allow you to set up VPN
Accessible to inexperienced users	Free VPNs are mostly unreliable

2. Use Tor

Tor, or The Onion Router, is a free and open-source software that allows you to browse anonymously. Unlike a VPN that sends your traffic through a specified secure server, the Tor technology encrypts traffic and randomly routes it through different nodes. Tor uses numerous layers of encryption to make user tracking difficult (hence, the onion). The network is decentralized, relying on volunteers to operate the thousands of relays needed to provide anonymity.

At the same time, using Tor, you will most likely end up with slower speeds. So, while it’ll let you access blocked websites, you shouldn’t use it for all your day-to-day browsing. Also, while Tor can hide your IP address well, it doesn’t mask any of your data sent through. That’s why, once data goes through the last node, it’d be easy to get it. Finally, your work or school computer may not allow you to install Tor.

If Tor seems like an appealing option for accessing blocked content, do the following:

Go to the Tor website and install the Tor browser on the needed platform by following directions on the website.
Launch Tor and configure it, if necessary (for example, if you’re in the country that censors Tor, like China or Egypt).
With Tor launched, you can connect and get anonymous access to the websites you need.

Pros and cons of using Tor

Pros	Cons
Free to use	Slower connection speeds
Can unblock many websites	Exit nodes don’t encrypt traffic
More secure than regular browsers	Some websites block Tor

3. Use web proxy or proxy extension

Both work well for bypassing content restrictions on public computers, or if you’re accessing from a work or school computer that won’t let you set up a VPN or Tor. It hides your actual IP address and lets you dodge content restrictions in the way. It’s a great tool for anonymous web browsing or accessing content unavailable in specific regions.

To use a web proxy, simply go to a proxy website, like ProxySite, type in the URL of the website you want to visit, and click on a button to access it. A drawback here is that you have to go back to the proxy website each time you want to access a desired website.

At the same time, while really alike, proxy extension is a bit more convenient than a web proxy since the former is right in your browser, so you won’t have to constantly navigate to the proxy. Still, while usually free, proxies don’t provide the same level of security as a VPN, for example, and usually work slower than the latter.

To sum things up a bit, if all you need is to quickly access a blocked website on a one-time basis, a proxy might be the sure-fire way to do so.

Pros and cons of using a proxy

Pros	Cons
Usually free	Doesn’t secure your data
Hides your IP address	Isn’t optimized for streaming
Can be easily used on a public computer	Slower connection speeds

4. Use SSH tunnel

Finally, working similarly to a VPN, a Secure Shell (SSH) tunnel can securely “tunnel” your traffic. But while a VPN protects all of your data, SSH works on an application level. You can connect to the SSH server remotely, which will send your browsing traffic over the secure connection. It helps in bypassing any filtering on the local network and encrypting your traffic. It’ll allow you to avoid content restrictions, although your connection will be a little slower.

So, how exactly can you bypass filtering with SSH? You can create an SSH tunnel with PuTTY on Windows or with the SSH command on other platforms. But it will require you to be tech-savvy.

Pros and cons of using a SSH tunnel

Pros	Cons
Can encrypt your data	Difficult to set up for inexperienced users
Bypasses filtering on local networks	Encrypts applications, not the whole traffic coming from your device
Supports remote control	Slower connection speeds

5.Setting Up and Using a Custom DNS Server and Encrypted DNS

How to Set Up a Custom DNS Server

Using a custom DNS server can help enhance your internet speed, security, and access to geo-blocked content. Here’s how you can set it up on various devices:

On Windows:
- Open the Control Panel and go to Network and Internet > Network and Sharing Center.
- Click on Change adapter settings on the left panel.
- Right-click on your active network connection and select Properties.
- Select Internet Protocol Version 4 (TCP/IPv4) and click Properties.
- Choose Use the following DNS server addresses and enter the custom DNS (e.g., Google DNS: 8.8.8.8 and 8.8.4.4 or Cloudflare DNS: 1.1.1.1 and 1.0.0.1).
- Click OK and restart your internet connection.
On macOS:
- Open System Preferences and go to Network.
- Select your active network (Wi-Fi or Ethernet) and click Advanced.
- Go to the DNS tab and click the + button to add a new DNS server (e.g., 8.8.8.8 and 8.8.4.4 for Google DNS).
- Click OK and then Apply to save the changes.
On Android:
- Open Settings and go to Network & Internet.
- Select Private DNS and choose Private DNS provider hostname.
- Enter dns.google for Google’s DNS or 1dot1dot1dot1.cloudflare-dns.com for Cloudflare DNS.
- Save and restart your device.
On iOS:
- Go to Settings > Wi-Fi and tap on your connected network.
- Scroll down to Configure DNS, select Manual, and add 8.8.8.8 and 8.8.4.4 (Google DNS) or 1.1.1.1 (Cloudflare).
- Save and reconnect to Wi-Fi.

How to Use Encrypted DNS

To use DNS and browse the web safely, you still need to encrypt your Internet traffic. Encrypted DNS enhances privacy and security by preventing ISPs and third parties from spying on your DNS queries.

DNS over HTTPS (DoH) and DNS over TLS (DoT)
- DoH encrypts DNS queries over HTTPS, while DoT encrypts them using TLS.
- Major browsers like Chrome and Firefox support DoH.
Enable Encrypted DNS in Chrome
- Open Settings in Chrome.
- Navigate to Privacy and Security > Security.
- Enable Use secure DNS and select a provider like Cloudflare or Google.
Enable Encrypted DNS in Firefox
- Open Settings and go to General > Network Settings.
- Click on Settings, scroll down, and enable Enable DNS over HTTPS.
- Choose a provider or enter a custom DoH server.
Using a VPN for Secure DNS
- A VPN (such as VeePN) encrypts all your traffic, including DNS queries, preventing DNS leaks and ISP tracking.
- Most premium VPNs offer built-in encrypted DNS to protect your online activity.

By setting up a custom and encrypted DNS, you ensure faster and safer browsing while reducing exposure to DNS hijacking and tracking.

Pros and Cons of Using Custom and Encrypted DNS Servers

Feature	Pros	Cons
Security & Privacy	Protects against DNS hijacking, phishing, and ISP tracking.	Some DNS providers may still log user activity.
Faster Browsing	Can improve website loading speeds by using optimized DNS resolvers.	Performance varies based on location and provider.
Access to Blocked Content	Helps bypass geo-restrictions on certain websites.	Doesn’t work for all restrictions, especially those based on IP addresses.
Setup & Compatibility	Works on most devices and can be manually configured.	Requires manual setup and may not work on restrictive networks.

6.Mirror sites & IP addresses

What Are Mirror Sites?

Mirror sites are exact replicas of a website, hosted on different domains or servers to ensure accessibility when the main site is down, blocked, or experiencing high traffic. They serve as backup versions and are often used for:

Bypassing Censorship – If a website is restricted in certain regions, users can access a mirror site instead.
Faster Access – Some mirrors are geographically closer to users, improving load speeds.
Distributing Content – File-sharing, academic research, and open-source software often use mirrors to distribute large files.

Pros and Cons of Mirror Sites:

Feature	Pros	Cons
Bypass Restrictions	Allows access to blocked content.	Not all mirrors are legitimate or secure.
Improved Availability	Reduces downtime if the main site is down.	Some may contain outdated or altered content.
Better Speed	Mirrors closer to users can load faster.	Can be used for phishing or malware if unverified.

What Are IP Addresses?

An IP (Internet Protocol) address is a unique identifier assigned to a device on a network, allowing communication over the internet. There are two main types:

IPv4 (e.g., 192.168.1.1) – The most common, but with limited address space.
IPv6 (e.g., 2001:0db8:85a3::8a2e:0370:7334) – A newer version with more available addresses.

How IP Addresses Affect Online Activity:

Geo-Restrictions – Websites use IP addresses to determine a user’s location and may block access accordingly.
Tracking & Privacy – ISPs and websites can log IPs to track browsing activity.
Anonymity & VPNs – VPNs mask real IPs to enhance privacy and bypass restrictions.

Pros and Cons of IP Address Awareness:

Feature	Pros	Cons
Online Privacy	Changing IPs with a VPN protects identity.	ISPs and websites can still track activity.
Access to Global Content	VPNs can help bypass location-based restrictions.	Some services detect and block VPN use.
Security	Hiding IP prevents tracking and DDoS attacks.	Exposed IPs can make users vulnerable online.

Bottom line: How do I remove Internet restrictions from my Wi-Fi?

Internet restrictions don’t seem so frustrating now, do they? Use a VPN and don’t let any limits ruin your online experience — unblock needed content and stay anonymous online. If you’re looking to bypass network restrictions, a reliable VPN is key.

The most important thing to do, though, is to choose a trustworthy service. VeePN provides an extensive network of 2,500+ servers along with 89 virtual locations, protects your traffic with top-grade 256-bit AES encryption, and is extremely user-friendly. Ready to bypass Internet restrictions and access unlimited content? Sign up for VeePN today and get 85% off!

FAQ

Yes — a VPN hides your real IP address, allowing you to browse anonymously and avoid any restrictions you may stumble upon online.

The easiest way to do this is to set up a VPN on your router. This way, all the devices connected to your home network will be protected while you can dodge the content restrictions on each, with your IP address hidden.

First, you need to realize that bypassing school’s restrictions could have serious repercussions. But if you’re really desperate, you can try downloading a VPN or Tor (keep in mind that some school devices won’t let you do that, though) or using a proxy server. Learn more in this article.

Written by VeePN Research Lab VeePN Research Lab is dedicated to provide you latest posts about internet security and privacy.