In this guide we’ll talk about how you can use a VPN to bypass geo-restrictions easily.
Have you ever tried to access a website or stream a show and found that it’s not available in your country? It’s quite frustrating especially when you’re traveling or want to enjoy content that’s blocked in your region.
Fortunately, we’ve got a solution for you. By using a VPN you can bypass these restrictions with ease. A VPN allows you to connect to a server in another country which makes it appear as if you’re browsing from that particular location. According to a survey, 39% of Americans use VPNs either for professional or personal use.
In this guide we’ll talk about how you can use a VPN to bypass geo-restrictions easily.
What are geo-restricted websites
Geo-restricted websites are online platforms or websites that limit access to their content based on the geographic location of the people trying to access them. This means that if you’re in a certain country or region, you might not be able to access some websites, streaming services or specific content within those services.
For instance, there are some shows on Netflix which are not available in particular regions. However, with a VPN you can watch any of those shows with ease (tried and tested).
Companies often use geo-restrictions for a myriad of reasons. Some do it intentionally and some do it because of local laws and regulations. For example, some business owners selling in a particular country try to limit users from other regions so that they can have the exact analytics or how well their website is doing.
How geo-blocking works
The way this works is that when you connect to the internet your device is assigned an IP address by your internet service provider (ISP). This IP address acts like a digital fingerprint and your ISP can see it too. Through this they can see your location, track your online activities and know which devices you’re using.
Now let’s suppose that you open your browser and visit a website. Your IP address is sent to the website’s server so it knows how and where to send the content. This is exactly how the websites recognize where you are located.
Here’s where geo-blocking comes in. Websites use special tools to determine your location based on your IP address. If the content you’re trying to access isn’t blocked in your country, you’ll be able to easily browse without any issues. However, if your location is part of the geo-blocked countries, you won’t be able to move any further and will see an error message.
2 Easy ways to bypass geo-blocking
Here are two easy ways in which you can easily bypass these geographical restrictions.
1. Using a VPN
One of the best and easiest ways to unblock a website or service that is not available in your region is by using a free or paid VPN. A VPN encrypts all the incoming data and hides or changes the IP address so no one can identify where the traffic is coming from. It’s great for privacy purposes as well as to bypass geo-restrictions.
For example, by using a US VPN you can unblock shows on Netflix and enjoy them from your home. However not all VPNs have this capability which is why it’s important to choose wisely. If you’re looking for a reliable one, consider Browsec VPN service. They provide the best solution to all your problems.
To use this VPN service, follow these steps:
- On your browser, go to the Chrome Web Store.
- Here type, Browsec VPN and download the VPN Chrome extension.
- Once it’s downloaded, it’ll appear in your extensions tab.
- You can now pin it to your browser and tap on it to toggle in every time you need to unblock a restricted service. You can also choose between four countries in the free plan including the US and the UK.
2. Using a proxy
The next way to bypass geo-blocking is by using a proxy server. For this simply go to Chrome and type in “proxy”. You’ll see hundreds of results from which you can choose the one that works best for you. The only thing you need to consider here is that proxy servers are not as capable as a VPN as they cannot encrypt your data.
Proxy servers can change your IP address, but they only work inside the browser. This means all the other internet traffic is still going through your real IP address. Free proxies are not very useful and don’t usually allow you to select the country of your choice. However, there are paid ones too but they are even more expensive than VPNs.
Conclusion
Geo-restrictions can be frustrating especially when you’re trying to access content that is easily available in other parts of the world. This is why it’s important to understand how you can unblock such sites and browse with ease. We’d always recommend using a free VPN as they’re more than enough for personal use.
