Have you ever tried loading a web page and failed? You may need help accessing a website blocked by the network admin or your ISP. However, knowing where to look and what to do allows you to get around restrictions and gain access.
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The Best Ways to Get Around Browsing Restrictions
Firewalls are commonly used to block access to specific sites or services. But it’s possible to bypass these pesky blocks. Here are some tried and true methods.
Find Ways to Modify the URL
One of the most effective ways around network restrictions is to change a site’s URL so the administrator cannot restrict it. There are two ways of doing this:
- Load Google Translate on your web browser. If you want to watch a video on YouTube, but it’s blocked on your network, translate “https://www.youtube.com” into another language like Arabic or Chinese to make the URL unrecognizable. This method sounds bizarre, but it works to a certain extent, especially for school and work filters. For region-blocked URLs, it’s less effective.
- Use a URL shortener to change the way the web address looks. Basically, you don’t want your administrator to know what site you’re accessing. You also want to ensure that anyone who sees the URL won’t be able to tell what website it belongs to.
Look for an IP Address Instead of a URL
Some IT admins only block websites according to their names or URLs. To illustrate this, take Facebook as an example. A restriction might apply to www.facebook.com but not to the website’s IP.
In order to obtain an IP address for a blocked site, you can use Terminal on macOS or Command Prompt on Windows. Type “ping domainname.com” and press Enter. An IP address will appear in the results. Copy that and paste it onto your browser’s address bar.
Changing the URL into an IP address is not a surefire method because some sites might have a redirection mechanism. Other websites might produce an error because their certificates only cover domain names.
Use a Proxy Server
If your internet service provider is blocking access to certain websites, using a proxy server is the best way to get around this. A proxy server is an intermediary between you and the website you want to access. It ensures that your ISP can’t see what you’re doing online, so it’s often helpful for more sensitive activities like accessing restricted content or anonymizing emails. There are many proxies on offer, but they generally fall into two categories: paid and free.
Free proxies are usually slower than paid ones because they require less infrastructure investment from their operators. We recommend using them for tasks like checking sports scores.
Many people need help figuring out how to bypass proxy server restrictions. Paid proxies provide faster connections with fewer limitations on bandwidth usage, so they’re ideal if speed is essential in whatever task you’re trying to accomplish.
Get a VPN
You can use a virtual private network (VPN) to get around a network restriction. It allows you to connect your computer or phone to a remote server for added security and privacy when browsing. When you go online, a website will not see your IP address, but one belonging to your VPN.
This method can be helpful if you want to hide your true identity while browsing. You may be using public Wi-Fi in an airport or coffee shop and don’t want people nearby to know what sites you visit regularly. It also helps protect against hackers who might wish to access sensitive information stored on computers.
VPNs are not free, but they are worth the money. With this kind of technology, you get what you pay for. There are many cheap options, but they deliver poor speeds and unreliable connections.
Access the Internet Freely Without Annoying Blocks
Don’t suffer in silence when facing blocked websites when you’re at school or work. There are many ways to go around restrictions when you are browsing. The above solutions will open up the internet and make knowledge genuinely accessible for all. If one method doesn’t work, try another. We find that proxies work the best in this regard, so make that your first choice!
