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How to Bypass Internet Restrictions and View the Content You Want
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Came across prohibited or restricted content on the internet? Yeah, we can imagine the frustration flooding in. But whatever the reason for the website being blocked, be it your work, school, or the country you’re living in, you don’t have to lose hope just yet — there are plenty of ways to dodge all that internet restrictions. We’ve compiled some tips for you on how to do it — you’ll definitely find something to your liking.
Why are some sites blocked?
First things first — what are the reasons behind websites being blocked? 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):
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. Online censorship in certain countries
We often associate 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.
4. 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 avoid these restrictions online, with just a bit of magic (read — perfectly feasible technological solutions).
How to bypass blocked sites
On to why we’re here. With all these content restrictions tightening, what tools can you use to bypass them and retain freedom online? We’ve handpicked some of the most popular ones for you — let’s take a closer look.
1. Unblock websites with VPN
Most likely the most common and effective method. A virtual private network (VPN) is a powerful and easy-to-use tool that allows anyone to bypass the most popular methods of censoring the internet hassle-free. What’s its strong suit? VPN encrypts your data and hides your IP address, letting you choose among a wide selection of servers (the number is different depending on VPN providers) in various locations. This way, you can access geo-blocked content. VPNs may slow down your connection speed by a bit, though, but this decrease is practically invisible if you use a premium VPN.
How to unblock websites using VPN
Installing and using a VPN is pretty simple, especially if you choose a trustworthy and user-friendly provider, like VeePN. It’s available on most popular devices and platforms. VeePN lets you choose from over 2,500 servers distributed among 60 countries. Here’s how to unblock websites with our app: choose your subscription plan (or test-drive the app on a free trial), download VeePN on your device, and choose a needed server.
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.
Then click on 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 |
Bottom line: How do I remove Internet restrictions from my Wi-Fi?
Internet restrictions don’t seem so frustrating now, do they? With several bypassing methods outlined, you can now choose the most fitting one to access blocked content wherever you want.
A VPN is most likely the simplest solution here — it lets you unblock content and stay anonymous online. VPNs protect your privacy online and hide your browsing activity from third parties. 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. Use a VPN and don’t let any blocks ruin your online experience.
FAQ
Can a VPN bypass Internet restrictions?
Yes — a VPN hides your real IP address, allowing you to browse anonymously and avoid any restrictions you may stumble upon online.
How do I remove Internet restrictions from my Wi-Fi?
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.
How do you bypass school site restrictions?
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.
