Suppose you have tried and failed to watch a video clip on any social media platform because it is blocked in your location. In that case, you are not alone—people worldwide experience various restrictions based on geographical location. Governments sometimes impose this form of censorship; at other times, content creators set these restrictions mainly due to licensing restrictions.
Whatever the justification for the censorship, there is no denying that it can be very inconvenient. In some cases, it can be downright unfair, especially if you are a traveler who suddenly gets blocked from accessing services you have always used simply because you chose to explore a different part of the world. The good news is that browsing the internet anonymously is possible. As a result, by using a few tools, you can bypass internet censorship. Here is what you should do.
Use a Proxy Service
Using a proxy server is an easy way to mask your location when browsing the internet. When you use a proxy server, your requests for content will be routed through a server at a different location. This server will then make requests on your behalf, and since it will be located in an area that isn’t restricted, it will get unrestricted content. It will then pass on the content to your server. The problem with using proxies is that they typically have slow connection speeds. This, in addition to the fact that your traffic will not be encrypted when using it, makes it a less attractive option for bypassing internet restrictions. However, since it usually works and there are free proxy servers that anyone can use, this method is still popular among people who are determined to avoid content restrictions.
Use a VPN
If you are looking for an option that offers better connection speeds and superior anonymity than proxy servers, then VPNs will be perfect. This is because VPNs encrypt all the traffic to and from your device. They also offer faster connection speeds and, in most cases, can even allow their users to connect multiple devices simultaneously. What makes VPNs even more attractive is the fact that they are straightforward to use. All you need to do to start using them is sign up for an account, download the relevant VPN app, launch it, and tap the ON/OFF button to activate it. After that, you only need to choose the location you want to connect from. For example, to bypass censorship, all you need to do is check VPN if you need to connect to a server in New York and options for servers in New York. If you find one, you select it from the list provided, and you will be ready to access the content as if you were in New York.
Use the website’s IP Address.
When trying to bypass the restrictions imposed by an employer or a learning institution, you may get around them using a website’s IP address instead of its domain name. This is because most small organizations use essential blocking tools. Some of these tools rely on a list of domain names to impose their restrictions. In such a case, using the website’s IP address directly will be enough to bypass this restriction. The only shortcoming of this method is that it does not provide you with any form of anonymity.
Use Tor
Using the Tor browser is a great option for those who prioritize anonymity. This browser takes advantage of the spoofing superiority of the Tor network. As a result, your traffic will be passed through many nodes to ensure anonymity when you use it. Combined with the fact that the browser also encrypts all your traffic, it is easy to see why it is the go-to solution for users to whom anonymity is important. Anyone can download the browser without having to spend money is an advantage that is hard to ignore. The main disadvantage of using the Tor browser is its slow connection speeds. Since it has to encrypt everything and your requests must be passed through a couple of nodes before they are finally conveyed to the target website, accessing the internet through this browser can provide a bad user experience. As a result, most people prefer the balance of speed and anonymity that VPN services typically offer.
