One day, you want to open Steam or Netflix, and suddenly, you see the pop-up screen that says “unable to connect.” The first you’d logically do is check the internet to know whether the problem was caused by it or not. However, despite the okay connection, the same problem is still there. Why?
The answer is simple: the access is blocked in your country. No matter where you live, there’s always a moment like this. Due to government laws, access to some apps is blocked for whatever reasons. While it can be frustrating for people, it’s actually a problem that’s so easy to fix. You can even bypass it easily without the need to have prior knowledge of IT. Here’s the solution:
Unlock The Access with a VPN
Yes, the geo-blocking issue can be easily solved with a VPN service. As it can basically teleport you to different parts of the world, you will be free to access all the content you want to see. Aside from streaming, VPNs are being used for gaming, too. So, in case you want to play a game that’s blocked in your country, you can always use the VPN service to solve it. That’s it, it’s very simple.
If you want to try it out, free VPNs are always available to use. But if you want something more, there are some premium VPNs that may cost more but are able to deliver better features and custom services.
The Blocking Problems
On the news, we often see that some countries have started blocking access to several games because they are not relevant or even crossing the laws in those particular countries. For example, India banned PUBG, which made a lot of people enraged. PUBG was (and probably is) considered to be one of the top games in the country, with lots of players and a huge gaming community.
And, of course, a lot of people were disappointed in the decision and used some kind of way to access the game again. The same thing also happened in Venezuela, where they banned popular games like COD and Grand Theft Auto because of the bad effects they could pose to the kids. We know that there are some risks of online gaming, but simply blocking the game wouldn’t feel fair to the other players. Also, even when blocked, people will access those games anyway using the methods that are popularly used.
How to Access International Content Safely
If you’re facing the same problems, here are some tips we can share to be finally free from the issue:
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Use a VPN
The first one is a method commonly used by people worldwide to access any blocked sites or games, which is by using a VPN. This service will allow you to switch locations easily by picking the servers. If you want to access content in Singapore, simply select the servers in the country to use the connection.
Other than allowing you to be “virtually present” in other locations, VPNs can also be helpful in keeping your internet secure. If the VPN is activated, your actual IP will be hidden and replaced momentarily with a virtual IP. Using channeled connections, you can now browse any site easily without experiencing the blocking problem anymore.
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Smart DNS
Another method to use is by using Smart DNS. It works in the same way as VPNs do, but with its own pros and cons. For example, when using Smart DNS, you won’t experience a change in internet speed as you would when using a VPN. The Smart DNS won’t completely rerouter your connection to a different network, but only the information of the location.
However, changing DNS settings here doesn’t provide any benefits in terms of privacy, as you’ll still be using your own IP address to access everything.
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The Free Proxy
First of all, the free proxy works by hiding your IP in order to access the blocked sites. However, do note that it’s a one-time access you’ll be having, different from both VPNs and Smart DNS. There’s no encryption to your internet traffic, but the access will be open.
Yes, this makes this option less secure than VPNs; that’s why it’s recommended for one-time use only. For example, if you want to access something using a computer at the school or office, you can simply use the proxy.
Another thing worth mentioning is that the connection when using the free proxy isn’t as smooth as Smart DNS or even VPNs. Although access to blocked sites has opened, the experience won’t be enjoyable as you’ll experience slower speed.
