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No one wants to be restricted in the modern world. Although we all have free access to the Internet and all information, many websites and countries still set their limits. Geo-restricted content online is not a rare thing. When you want to access it, you face a problem.
Naturally, you would love to bypass those restrictions and download the desired app or watch a movie you wish. If you leave your country for work or just travel, you may not be able to access your Netflix subscription or even your educational platform or personal website. A VPN will help you solve this problem easily. See how exactly you can use a VPN, get around blocked sites, and enjoy your favorite content.
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What is VPN?
A Virtual Private Network or VPN is a tool that provides you with a fake IP address. It helps unblock websites by encrypting your data. Thanks to a VeePN, no third parties can see your true IP address and access your information. It is a perfect tool to combat online censorship and access restricted content.
Using a VeePN means you are not using the website directly but through another server. Your provider has no idea you are doing it and it cannot block you. Most websites and apps see your new IP address and do not forbid you from opening them.
How to unblock geo-restricted content with a VPN?
If you, for instance, have a US Netflix subscription but need to go abroad, you will not be able to watch the content you used to. In other regions, Netflix content is different. You may need to use a VPN for computer to access your favorite TV shows or movies. The same concerns your corporate website if it is geo-restricted.
In case, when designing a website, you made it accessible only to the target users (let’s say, users from the USA, UK, Canada, and Australia), you will not be able to open your own website when being outside of these four countries. Using a VPN will solve this problem and allow you to open your site easily.
You may need it to install apps that are not available in your country, watch some YouTube channels (yes, some YouTube channels are blocked in different countries for various reasons), access educational platforms not available in your area, etc. See how to unlock the necessary content using a VPN.
1. Pick a reputable provider
Not all VPNs are equally effective. You will notice it when trying to open the most protected websites. They see you are using a private network and still do not open any access. A VeePN will be installed in a matter of minutes. Although there are plenty of services in the market, just a few of them will be really helpful. Do some research and do not waste your time installing useless apps.
You can choose two ways — either install an extension in your browser or download an app and turn it on each time you need it. It is, actually, recommended to have it on always when working on your computer or phone. What is VPN for a smartphone? It is the same app installed on your PC or laptop. Mobile versions are not much different from desktop ones.
2. Create an account
In most cases, you will need to do it before installing the app. If installing an extension, you will already be logged in to your browser (Google account, for example). It doesn’t require a lot of time, just providing your basic data like an email and password.
3. Turn the VPN on
Open your VPN or extension. Pick the server to connect to. As a rule, you will be offered the fastest server but you can choose any you wish on the list. Pick the location you are interested in (depending on what content you are going to unblock or where you are at the moment).
4. Open the desired website
That’s all you need to do to unlock the content you wish. Sometimes, even with a VPN, the website may still not be available. It may happen because your VPN provider is not very qualified and reputable. If it is not the reason, see the instructions below.
What to do if a VPN doesn’t unblock the website?
If you are sure you have installed a good and reliable VPN for windows or smartphone, checking its settings would be very helpful. Once you connect to the server, you can see some other options, including:
- Ads blocker;
- Trackers blocker;
- Cookies blocker;
- Malware blocker;
- WebRTC blocker;
- Bypass local network.
To protect your computer and personal data from intruders and annoying ads, it is better to turn on all the above-mentioned features. If you see the website still cannot be opened, click bypass local network and connect again. Some websites have advanced protection and even if you use a VPN, they see your real IP address that may still leak. Once you choose to bypass your local network, everything should start working well. You may also need to reboot your computer.
Why else may you need a VPN?
A VPN is not only used to unblock geo-restricted content. Its features go far beyond that. The first reason to install it is to protect your privacy. A VPN hides your real IP address and no third parties can access it and see your data. It is a great way to avoid intruders’ intervention. It is especially necessary if you use public Wi-Fi where plenty of other users may easily access your information, steal your passwords, and other important data.
A VPN also increases the speed of your internet connection although there is a belief that it slows it down. In fact, your internet provider sets certain data limits about which you do not even know. As a rule, it is written in very small fonts in your agreement. Once you use the set number of data, your speed is restricted. You may notice that after some time, your internet connection slows down significantly.
Thanks to a VPN, your IP address is changed and you can easily bypass those restrictions. Thus, a VPN not only helps you unblock forbidden content but also boosts your security and Internet speed.
