You would think with www standing for World Wide Web, the internet would be a global network for anyone to use. All sites are open to everyone, anywhere. Someone in the UK can access American websites, while someone in Canada can go onto a UK site.
However, as many people soon find out, that isn’t the case. Not every UK site is accessible to Canadian users, just like not all American sites are accessible in the UK. Many websites are blocked to anyone outside of that specific country.
It becomes quite frustrating when you browse the web and denied entry to particular sites. But there are ways around this. Here are few of the ways to bypass the blockage so you can browse the web from any location.
Your Best Bet – a VPN
Installing a VPN (Virtual Private Network) onto your device is the best option for accessing any website from any location. A VPN sets up a tunnel between you and the network. This tunnel encrypts your data as it moves through it, making it private and secure from anyone but you. So not only are you gaining access, you are doing it in a relatively private and secure method.
This tunnel can lead your data to any location. So even if you are in the UK, your information will reveal that you are surfing the web from a house in Canada. Now you can access all the content you want, even if it is location restricted.
The VPN works by changing your IP address. Your IP address is a bunch of numbers that is your network identity. Any online activity that you do, your IP address is recorded. If someone finds your IP address, they will be able to discover your location. This is how region blocked websites know you are not where they want you to be.
Changing your IP address easily with a VPN software will make it look like you are in a different location than you really are.
DNS Service
A DNS is a server that holds all the information related to a public IP address and their linked hostname. Again, the IP address is that string of numbers that reveals your location. The hostname is what it is called (usually a website name that you type into the search bar).
A DNS does a similar tunnel like a VPN. If you are trying to access blocked content, your DNS will reroute your data traffic through this tunnel to the required region. You then look like you are in the proper area to access the content, even if you haven’t left your home.
A handy thing with this method is it is automatic. Once installed, you do not need to turn it on or off. When you go to a blocked site, that is when the DNS kicks in and redirects your traffic. This is different than the VPN that reroutes your traffic continuously through its encrypted tunnel.
Web Browser Extensions
Another option to browse the web through any location is by a web browser extension. This method though is the least recommended and least secure way.
The extension sends your data to an outside server which changes your IP address to one within the requested country. The downfall, the extension also uses the bandwidth of your computer to work with everyone else using it. This opens up many vulnerabilities to your computer. You become an easy target for hacking and spying on since your computer is basically connected with everyone else using the same extension.
If you want a secure way of access the web from any location, all why protecting your data and privacy, then a VPN is the way to go.
