By legalizing Internet censorship two years ago, Russia joined a long list of countries that in one way or another restrict their citizens' access to information on the global network. By the way, even developed and prosperous countries, like the United States and members of the European Union, do not disdain this. And as is usually the case, the law is nowhere perfect.

In our country, in particular, it is guilty of excessive cruelty and indiscriminateness: as they say, they often throw out the baby with the bathwater. Roskomnadzor, which is tasked with maintaining the “black list,” can block access to the entire site containing these pages because of several “bad” pages. This was the case when Russians were blocked from accessing the (now permitted) Internet Archive (www.archive.org), a very useful non-profit resource that stores a copy of almost every site on the Internet. The same thing happens with the (still blocked) Rutracker (rutracker.org), where, in addition to obvious pirated copies, musicians also post completely legal copies of their own works.

It also happens that Internet providers are too lazy to remove the block, although the site has already been removed from the Roskomnadzor list (you can check the address on the page blocklist.rkn.gov.ru). So, for example, my provider (MTS) still does not allow me to access archive.org.

However, do not think that Internet censorship occurs only on the scale of an entire country. On the contrary, the lion's share of bans exist only within individual organizations and companies - they are put in place by employers who do not want employees to have fun on Facebook, YouTube and similar resources during working hours. By circumventing such a ban, you certainly will not break any laws.

In short, there are situations when you need to obtain information not prohibited by law from a site that for some reason is inaccessible on your computer. What to do? Use legal tools that will allow you to bypass the blocking and obtain the necessary information. After all, blocking is very simple (both at enterprises and at the “border”). The server through which you access the Internet checks which address you are accessing, and if it is on the list of prohibited addresses, it returns you a standard “stub”: they say, access to the resource is limited.

This means that you need to make sure that the server cannot see what exactly you are requesting. Below is a list of tools that allow you to solve this problem, with increasing complexity.

Search engine cache

The idea is ridiculously simple and boils down to getting a “forbidden” page from the memory of search engines that once visited it. For example, for Google it looks like this: click the little green arrow next to the site address and select the “Saved copy” option. Both Yandex and Bing have a similar option (called “cached page”).

Turbo mode in the browser

Some browsers - primarily Opera and Yandex Browser - offer a so-called “turbocharged mode”. The idea is to send data from the site to you through a server owned by the browser developers, where this data will be compressed. This way you will spend less traffic, and sites will load faster on average. However, in addition to speed and savings, this mode has a pleasant side effect: your ISP does not know what you are viewing. Even if you access a prohibited site, say, rutracker.org, from the provider’s point of view, your browser communicates with the Opera or Yandex server. Therefore, they will not block you.

You can enable turbo mode in the main menu of the browser (Opera), or in its settings.

Proxy

A proxy server or, in common parlance, a “proxy” (from the English proxy - trusted person) is a server that acts as an intermediary: you trust it to get the information you need for you. Since, from the point of view of your provider, when requesting forbidden resource X through a proxy, you are contacting the proxy server, and not X itself, then again they will not block your request.

In the simplest case, a proxy server is made in the form of an ordinary website, where you need to enter the address of the resource you need. These are, for example, Proxfree.com and Stealthy.co. Both are free.

A more complex option, but also more convenient: register the IP address of the proxy server in your browser settings. So in the Firefox browser, to do this, you need to go to “Settings -> Advanced -> Network -> Connection”, enable the “Manually configure proxy service” option and enter the IP address of the proxy server (taken from one of the lists that are widely circulated on the Internet , for example from proxylist.hidemyass.com). Now all your browser traffic will be redirected through the proxy server.

Finally, some proxy services have their own browser plugins/extensions. For example, in the list of Chrome extensions you can find “Stealthy” from the aforementioned website Stealthy.co. Install it, and you will get the same result as in the previous case: all browser traffic will now go through the “proxy”.

Imagine that you managed to extend your own cable to some foreign Internet provider, for example, to Germany. Now, when you connect to the Internet, you will look like a client of this German provider to the whole world. And, of course, no blocking installed at your enterprise or in Russia will interfere with you. This is exactly how a VPN works - the only difference is that the cable is not real, but virtual, created by software.

Actually, VPN stands for virtual private network. Here, an encrypted channel is organized between you and the VPN provider for the exchange of data, which an outsider cannot read. This service can be both paid and free, differing in speed and range of functions. But it’s better to start with free ones: VPNbook.com, CyberGhostVPN.com.

Setup instructions are usually included and are quite standard: “Control Panel -> Network and Sharing Center -> Set up a new connection or network -> Connect to a workplace -> Connect via the Internet using a VPN.” You will find the VPN server address, login and password in the instructions for the specific service.

It would be easier, however, not to delve into the operating system settings, but to install a VPN browser extension. Such, for example, as shown here Hola. It will independently perform all the necessary settings, and you will only have to control its operation with a button in the browser toolbar.

TOR and others like it

A mediator will also help you here. But if in previous cases it was some company (browser developer, proxy server owner, VPN server owner), now you will be dealing with ordinary users like yourself.

P.P.S. The article uses graphic work by Thierry Ehrmann.

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Quite often, employers, institutes, schools, and Roskomnadzor itself block certain sites. Therefore, those who do not want to put up with closed access should know how to get blocked without any material costs.

We enter the IP of the site into the address bar, not the URL

Some blocking is carried out solely by domain name. Therefore, it is enough to find out the IP of the site of interest in the Terminal (OS X) or in the command line (Windows) by entering ping space the site address and then Enter (for example, ping vk.com). The site's IP address can also be determined through online services.

We use proxy servers and anonymizers

If you don’t know how to access a prohibited site, then use proxy sites and anonymizers. They provide a cached version of the site, allowing access to its content in private mode. You can use the services Proxysite, Proxyery and Newproxysite.

Connect to the network via VPN

The easiest way to enter a blocked site is through a VPN service, hiding your real location. Since closed access to the site can be distributed within one country. And with the help of a remote server, you can create the appearance that you are visiting a particular site even from another continent. Not all VPN services are free. The most popular is considered Hola VPN, which has extensions for various browsers and mobile platforms.

Installing the Tor browser

An anonymous mode for browsing web pages without any analytics or reports is provided to its users by the Tor browser.

Setting up Google Public DNS

It happens that providers connect personal DNS servers to limit access to certain sites. To access a blocked site, despite the settings of your ISP, just change the addresses to the values ​​​​specified in Google Public DNS, as shown in the photo below (for Windows and OS X owners).

Use Google Translate

The popular Google translator will help you see the contents of a web page if you enter the site URL into the form on the left and follow the link that appears in the form on the right. You will see the page processed and translated by the Google server.

Change the proxy server in your browser

To enter a blocked site using this method, you first need to select a proxy server in a public database through Hidemyass or other similar sites. You can choose any country, type and degree of proxy privacy. Then manually change the address in the Firefox browser settings. For Google Chrome, just use the add-on Proxy Helper.

Add a new IP address via Pentest Tools

Using the Pentest Tools service, you can find the IP address of a prohibited site. To do this, just enter the domain name in the input field and enable Include subdomain details then start scanning.

For OS X users, the hosts file can be opened via Terminal by entering sudo nano /private/etc/hosts. For Windows users, the hosts file can be found at C:\Windows\System32\drivers\etc. Copy the new IP address to the end of the file and save the document.

Bypassing blocks will be needed when the site that you would like to open in your browser is blocked. Similar methods of restricting access to sites are used both by Roskomnadzor and in smaller cases, for example, blocking the VKontakte and Odnoklassniki sites by your employer on a work computer, or blocking access to torrents by your provider.

One of the easiest ways to bypass blocking, which does not require installing additional software on your computer, is to use web services. You open such an anonymizer site, from which you go to the page you need.

Simply put, you access the site through a foreign service - an intermediary. Let's take a closer look at this method of anonymous surfing.

1. Activate the "Turbo" mode in Yandex Browser

Many users of the Yandex browser do not suspect that the simple and useful “Turbo” function, created to speed up the loading of pages on slow networks, has a pleasant side effect in the form of removing restrictions on viewing prohibited resources.
To use it, we recommend that you first download the latest version of Yandex Browser and install/update it. After starting the program, simply activate the item in the menu, as shown in the screenshot. No additional settings are required, traffic is already compressed and optimized. Deactivation of the mode is carried out in the same way - by unchecking one box.

The browser works on all major platforms, and, in addition to its pleasant appearance, offers a whole package of advantages, but it’s better to read about this in the program description.

2. Use Web services to bypass blocking

The most popular resources are https://proximize.me/, https://www.proxfree.com/ and http://hideme.ru/.
The way to use such proxy services is very simple - open the site through which you plan to access blocked social networks, and in the Enter URL field enter the address of the blocked site - the operation of the service will be indicated by a small panel with additional settings at the top of the screen.

Among the features are managing the list of proxy services - Proxy List, disabling JavaScript on the opened site and clearing Cookies with one button, as well as other convenient little things. Unfortunately, some providers block the transmission of traffic through such services, which is why we provide several bypass instructions

3. Testing browser plugins

There are special browser plugins that make it easy to access a blocked site, without additional settings and completely invisible to the user.

One of the obvious advantages is that you no longer need to remember the addresses of proxy services, and you don’t have to be afraid that they will end up on the list of those blocked by your provider or an advanced Network administrator at your work. It should be noted that the speed of connection to the Internet almost does not decrease.

The most popular plugins and extensions that are available for Google Chrome, Firefox, Opera browsers are Zenmate, Browsec, FriGate and Anonymox.

Using Zenmate's VPN via a plugin is available to anyone. Everything is extremely simple and clear. You need to go to the program page on Softcatalog.

Click the "Download" button to access the window for selecting the client version on the official website of the project.

Now you need to select your browser or operating system and install the extension. After installation, Zenmate will ask you to create an account and activate it via email. All you have to do is quickly register, enter your login and password into the add-on settings, turn on the VPN and go to your favorite site. Access is open!

The only disadvantage of the free version of the client is the connection speed limitation. Otherwise, this is the best of browser extensions. After connecting Zenmate Premium, the loading of transferred data is accelerated and it becomes possible to select other countries besides the four basic ones. In the basic package, you will surf pretending to be a resident of Germany, USA, Hong Kong and Romania. Fortunately, the license is inexpensive and every lover of torrents from the Russian Federation and those seeking access to Russian social networks in Ukraine can afford to purchase it.

If the previous solution did not suit you in any way, consider Browsec - this extension, which requires virtually no settings, encrypts traffic and allows you to manually select the desired location from a drop-down list - Russia, the Netherlands, Singapore or the UK (the actual location cannot be tracked). After installing the extension into your browser from the Google Store, you just need to select a country in the drop-down list and open any site - now the site will think that you are visiting from this country.

In the next screenshot, we used the service to determine our own IP address to check what sites see about us. Opposite the "Where are you from" address is United Kingdom, London. As you can see, the extension works on the principle of an anonymizer.

4. TOR browser - absolute security but only for advanced users?

A very interesting way to bypass blocks using a special Tor browser, which implements “onion routing”, sending data through a large number of intermediate routers and computers, leaving no traces behind. Traffic passes through the servers of enthusiasts around the world. Anyone can become a member of the network.

In fact, setting up the browser immediately after installation is not as complicated as it might seem, because it is built on the basis of the famous Mozilla Firefox and works almost out of the box. Sometimes additional settings may be needed, but to bypass blocked sites, answering the wizard’s questions during installation is enough.

The use of Tor Browser itself is no different from the usual methods of surfing the Internet - we enter the site address in the address bar of the browser and it opens. All traffic hiding functions occur in the background. But, of course, a huge number of settings are available for advanced users that will help make safe navigation even more convenient and fast.

For the average user, this is an ordinary browser, the main menu of which has many incomprehensible items. However, despite the long loading time of the program, Tor performs all its functions perfectly: it allows you to enter an address and in a few seconds go to any blocked resource. And don’t worry about violations - the transmitted data is carefully encrypted. Although, let’s be honest, other methods of bypassing blocking seem more convenient and do not force you to change your usual browser.

5. How to bypass blocking on a smartphone?

We offer a very simple but working way to bypass website blocking by your provider on smartphones running iOS and Android. The Turbo function is used, built into the Opera and Yandex Browser mobile browsers. This mode involves data compression on browser servers followed by downloading on a smartphone or tablet, which allows you to gain speed on slow communication channels.

A side effect of the mode is access to blocked sites from mobile devices (browser servers act as anonymizer services).

One of the obvious advantages is that there is no need to install additional programs and extensions. Moreover, previously blocked pages open absolutely normally, without delay and at the same speed as other resources on the Internet.

The downside is that sometimes this method doesn’t work. In addition, additional mobile applications can be briefly mentioned, for example, the Onion browser, which works through the TOR network, is best suited for iPhone and iPad. Its analogue for smartphones on Android - the Orweb browser is great for opening blocked sites.

Virtual private network – we remove the site block with a 100% guarantee

Whatever one may say, the fastest and most convenient way to bypass the ban on sites, torrents, and go to blocked social networks is to use services for creating a virtual private network VPN. A whole selection on our website is devoted to their diversity and the problem of choosing the optimal solution.

It includes such popular solutions as Hotspot Shield, Zenmate, Cyberghost, TunnelBear, Hide Ass! WebProxy, Hola VPN. We conducted a serious analysis, but identified the conditional three best.

• Zenmate received first place for its ease of use and cool extension for all popular browsers, as well as excellent buffering speed for streaming video.
• Hotspot Shield is a little behind in terms of convenience, but it helps not only disable blocking, but also secure the connection at the highest level.
• VPN Unlimited lacks in comfort, but is distinguished by a huge number of settings for advanced users and a loyal pricing policy.

To familiarize yourself with the rating in detail, we recommend studying the material “Best VPNs for your computer”. In it, we looked at the software from all sides, highlighted the advantages and disadvantages of each, determined the optimal way to bypass the blocking, and told us through which service it is safest to access the Internet.

If you often travel on the global Internet, you have probably come across sites where, when you go to them, you notice the message “Access to the Internet resource you requested is limited.” If this is a random site that was recommended to you on a forum to get acquainted with a new program, then you will close it without regret and forget about it. But there are other situations. For example, you downloaded an antivirus, but you need keys to activate it, and the site with the keys is blocked. In this case, you will need access to the site. We will discuss how to bypass the block later in the article.

In fact, there are quite a lot of websites blocked by government agencies. Some of the most popular sites that have been blocked over the past few years are Kasparov.ru, Grani.ru RuTracker, etc. Most often, the reason for blocking is non-compliance with the rules for posting information on the Internet, child pornography, drug propaganda, information about suicide, extremist information character. If you have a website or want to check any website for blocking, visit the Roskomnadzor page http://blocklist.rkn.gov.ru/. Enter the address of the site's home page in the blank line, enter the captcha and click "Search".

Roskomnadzor logo

Other government agencies may also influence the banning of a site. For example, previously, websites containing materials promoting drugs were dealt with by the State NarcoControl. The Federal Tax Service may be involved in the decision to block Internet casinos and other prohibited similar resources.

Bypassing the “Access to the Internet resource you have requested is restricted” ban

Despite the fact that sites are banned by government services, there are quite a few ways to bypass the “Access to the resource you requested is restricted” blocking. Let's take a closer look at how to visit a blocked site via a computer.

How to bypass site blocking via phone

Users more often access the Internet from phones and tablets, so there are also options for bypassing site blocking for these devices. Let's look at them in more detail.

1. The Browsec app is currently only available for iOS devices.
2. ZenMate can be used by anyone who uses Android mobile devices. You can download it from the Play Market.
3. The NordVPN app is available for all mobile platforms.
4. By visiting the website Openrunet.org and using the service, you can also bypass the blocking of any site and not only in Russia.
5. Special browsers Onion, Fuffin, Orbot will also help solve the problem with the block.

How to open a blocked site on the MTS network

First of all, official information service providers, such as mobile operators, carry out instructions to block sites. Therefore, those who use the Internet from MTS are extremely interested in ways to bypass the block to prohibited sites “Access to the resource you have requested is limited.” All methods described above in the article are suitable for all MTS subscribers.

An excellent choice for users of all devices is the Tor browser. It allows you to use new data encryption technologies, as well as a special anonymous network consisting of VPN tunnels that are capable of transmitting information in a secure form. A universal way to gain access to sites, when visiting which the message “Access to the requested resource is limited” appears, is to change your country of residence.

TOP 7 ways to bypass site bans. Use any of them to gain access to web resources that have been censored or blocked.

Situations when a web page is unavailable because you are in the “wrong region” or when access to it is prohibited by your company’s system administrator or Internet provider are quite common.

In 2014, the Russian government instructed Roskomnadzor to create a list of sites that could be dangerous for “state politics.” As a result, about 70,000 websites, almost all torrent trackers, were under the threat of a ban for residents of the Russian Federation, and such popular opposition pages as “Echo of Moscow”, “Kasparov.ru” and Yozh.ru were blocked immediately. A number of websites have also been blocked in Belarus.
There are often cases when company management instructs system administrators to “ban” social networks and blogs so that employees are not distracted from their main responsibilities.
So, how to open a blocked site? Go to rutracker.org or another blocked torrent. We'll show you seven simple ways to do this.

This is perhaps the easiest way. But it is designed only for those users who have a web browser installed or (alternative link). Simply activate "Turbo" and inaccessible online resources will become available.
Initially, the mode was intended to speed up page loading when the Internet connection speed drops. But since it relies on sending traffic through browser servers, where it is compressed and optimized, to the provider it also looks like a stream of data from harmless servers. Thus, browser servers act as proxy anonymizers.
However, in the case of Yandex.Browser, such a trick may not always work, since its servers are located in the Russian Federation.

Extensions such as Hola, Zenmate, Stealthy and Frigate are instantly integrated into the browser and provide seamless surfing on any site. They work on the same principle - they automatically change the user’s IP address, thereby distorting information about where he is.
Stealthy and Frigate can be installed for and , Hola, in addition, it supports IE (there is also a version of a separate Hola program - it is useful for those who use, for example, a browser).
Zenmate can integrate into Chrome, Firefox and (to install this add-on, you need to go to the developer page, since it is not available in the extension store).

Another way to open a blocked VKontakte, Facebook, YouTube or any other resource is to use special anonymizer sites. The principle of their operation is based on redirecting traffic to thousands of proxy servers, which allows you to hide the user’s IP.
Among such resources, the most popular are hidemy.name, Zenmate, Nord VPN, BufferedVPN, Vpn.express, HotspotShield, Speedify VPN. It is enough to insert a link to the page where you are denied access into the appropriate field on the anonymizer site, and the page you so wanted to get to will open in a new tab.

The last method, which will help open any blocked site, will be useful for especially careful users. It is actively used by spies and Reporters Without Borders. The infamous Edward Snowden also used it to search for facts incriminating high-ranking officials.
Tails is a Linux distribution that can be downloaded to a flash drive or SD card. To run it on Windows, you will have to use the program or. The software includes the Tor browser, i2p client, and special cryptographic tools.
Having downloaded Tails, you can access any sites, and all information about your stay on the Internet will be deleted as soon as you close the program (which looks like the Windows user interface), remove the flash drive or memory card from the connector.

It is also possible to bypass the ban from smartphones and tablets. NordVPN (Android), NordVPN (iOS), and e have a Turbo mode, which works on the same principle as in the PC versions of the browsers.

In addition, the Hola, TunnelBear and Zenmate applications are available in the Play Market and iTunes, which allow you to choose a location - from Germany or Britain to Hong Kong and the USA. Such services work not only in the browser; they are compatible with all installed programs. For example, with their help you can use clients for the social networks VKontakte, Odnoklassniki and applications from Yandex and Mail.Ru that are blocked in Ukraine.

The browser has a special “Free VPN” feature that allows you to access the destination page using a proxy server. A similar operating principle is used in