Unblock Websites 2018

Throughout the world people are wondering how to unblock websites as censorship and online restrictions continue to increase. Websites everywhere are getting blocked in efforts to restrict access to certain information and media. In this guide we will explain to unblock websites in a way that is safe and secure, while also protecting your privacy.

WARNING: There are many different unblock proxy websites that are dangerous and unsafe to use. One security expert examined over 400 different proxies that people use to unblock websites and found that 79% were dangerous. Here are a few of the risks that were identified:

• 79% of ‘unblock proxy’ websites do not allow HTTPS traffic. This leaves your traffic unencrypted, which allows third parties to steal your private data, such as passwords, credit cards, bank details, and anything else you might be doing online.
• 8.5% of ‘unblock proxy’ sites were modifying javascript to inject ads into the user’s computer.
• 16.6% of ‘unblock proxy’ sites were found to be manipulating static HTML pages to inject ads from third-party domains. This is very dangerous since malware can easily be delivered through benevolent-looking ads that are served through third-party domains.

This should come as no surprise to most people. Using these free solutions opens you up to serious risks, as explained in this study and also the follow-up study, where the researcher concluded:

If you are using a free proxy server from the internet you can easily get your data stolen.

Note: many of the same risks we find with ‘unblock proxy’ websites also apply to free VPN services. As the saying goes, when something is free, you are the product.

Unblock website guide – In this guide we will cover the following topics:

1. How to unblock websites
2. The best VPNs to unblock websites
3. Site blocked – worrying trends
4. Website blocked by country
5. Unblock proxy sites (beware)
6. Best website unblocker
7. Unblock websites conclusion

So now let’s examine a safer and more secure alternative for unblocking websites.

How to unblock websites

The good news is that with the right tools (a good VPN service), it is safe, secure, and easy to unblock websites.

A VPN is the best tool for unblocking any website online. To use a VPN to unblock a website, simply follow these three steps:

1. Sign up for a VPN account (such as ExpressVPN or NordVPN)
2. Download the VPN apps for the devices you want to use to unblock websites
3. Connect to one of the VPN’s server locations to unblock the site and enjoy your content!

So now you might be wondering…

How does a VPN unblock websites?

A VPN basically acts like a private, encrypted tunnel between your computer and a VPN server located anywhere in the world. It allows you to bypass restrictions and censorship, while also encrypting your internet connection and thereby giving you privacy online.

Without a VPN, your internet provider can easily block access to different websites, while also being able to see everything you do online. With a VPN, however, all of your data will be encrypted and unreadable to your internet provider.

And finally, a VPN also gives you more online anonymity because it replaces your IP address with the VPN server’s IP address. This also makes you appear to be located in the country where the VPN server is, which is called geo-spoofing your location.

This graphic from ExpressVPN shows how a VPN protects your data and unblocks websites at the same time:

Now we will take a closer look at the best VPN services to unblock websites.

Unblock websites with the best VPN services

So which is the best VPN to unblock websites? Below are the top recommendations that have passed all the tests and will keep you safe online.

All three of these providers are safe, secure, user-friendly, and performed very well in extensive testing for their respective reviews.

British Virgin Islands

Panama

USA

Now let’s take a close look at each one of the top recommendations.

#1 ExpressVPN

ExpressVPN remains one of the top-recommended VPNs on Restore Privacy because it consistently performs the best in testing and offers excellent applications and features. This VPN service is based in the British Virgin Islands and has built an excellent reputation as a premium VPN provider with great customer service. You can find in-depth test results in the ExpressVPN review.

ExpressVPN is one of the best providers on the market for unblocking all types of content. It continues to work well with unblocking Netflix, BBC iPlayer, and YouTube, while also being a great option for torrenting and general privacy. Their customer support is also second-to-none with a 24/7 live chat support and a 30 day money-back guarantee with all plans.

ExpressVPN discount – While ExpressVPN is somewhat more expensive than other options, they are currently offering an exclusive discount which drops the price down to $6.67 per month from the regular prices. You can get the ExpressVPN discount here >>

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#2 NordVPN

Another great VPN to unblock websites is NordVPN. This no logs VPN provider is based in Panama and offers excellent encryption and privacy features. NordVPN continues to expand its server network to offer you good speeds throughout the network, although speeds can vary somewhat depending on the server you are using.

If you are looking for a VPN service that offers advanced security and online anonymity features, then NordVPN is one of the best you will find. It offers double-hop VPN server configurations, Tor-over-VPN servers, and a powerful ad-blocking feature that’s called CyberSec. All of these features combine to give you a very privacy-focused VPN service that is very affordable at only $3.99 per month (with the current discount pricing).

You can get additional information about NordVPN’s advanced features and check out all the test results with the NordVPN review. I also have a NordVPN coupon page with the latest discount information.

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#3 IPVanish

The third VPN recommendation to unblock websites is IPVanish. IPVanish offers a huge server network, great performance, and simple, user-friendly applications. The one drawback with IPVanish is that it’s based in the US, which isn’t the best privacy jurisdiction. But since IPVanish is a no logs VPN provider with an excellent track record, the jurisdiction issue is much less concerning.

IPVanish performed very well in testing for the IPVanish review. With server network consisting entirely of self-owned servers, IPVanish is a great tool to unblock websites wherever you may be located. It also offers some great features and a large selection of apps for all devices.

Visit IPVanish

Site blocked – worrying trends

Why are so many websites getting blocked?

The short explanation for this trend is control.

Both corporate and government entities are working hard to control and restrict the content you can access online. In other words, they are working to undermine the free and open nature of the internet by blocking access to thousands of different websites. Unfortunately, this trend of blocking sites continues to get worse around the world.

As we have seen throughout history, censorship is a slippery slope. It may start out gradually and then increase over time. This is exactly what we are seeing today in many countries around the world, particularly in places like China and the Middle East.

Many websites are also getting blocked in the Western world today. The reasons for this vary, but torrenting websites are often the target. Here is a news clipping from Australia, where the problem is particularly bad (see the VPN for Australia guide).

Usually these blocks are carried out by the internet service provider. In some cases, the government resorts to even more restrictive, nation-wide measures, such as the ‘Great Firewall‘ of China.

Website blocked by country

When it comes to internet censorship and websites being blocked, you are probably being lied to. Many different media outlets will criticize governments in China and the Middle East for blocking websites, while at the same time turning a blind eye to censorship in the Western world.

One glaring example of this is in the United Kingdom, where around 650,000 different websites are currently being blocked, according to this report. These blocks are quietly being carried out by internet providers, such as Sky Broadband, Talk Talk Telecom, Virgin Media, and other organizations. Wikipedia also lists a number of different websites blocked in the UK.

While many countries, such as Russia and China, resort to aggressive measures to block websites and content, other countries will focus on specific areas to block. This may include torrenting websites, porn websites, gambling sites, or general information websites that are deemed too controversial by the thought police.

In Germany, for example, the government can now fine social media companies millions of dollars if they don’t immediately remove content that the German government wants to be censored. Aside from social media censorship, there are also many reports of websites being blocked in Germany and Austria.

You can find more information on blocked websites by country from Wikipedia.

Unblock proxy

As we have discussed above, most of the unblock proxy websites you find online are actually dangerous and unsafe to use. This is mainly due to the fact that your data is not getting encrypted via HTTPS when you use the proxy. Without encryption, your private data could be easily siphoned off by third parties, which puts you at serious risk.

As a quick recap, one researcher identified the following risks in his study of unblock proxy websites:

• 79% do not allow HTTPS encryption (your data is left exposed)
• 8.5% are modifying javascript to inject ads, which may be used to deliver malware
• 16.6% are manipulating static HTML pages to inject ads from third-party domains

It should be abundantly clear that these free proxy unblocker websites are not safe or secure.

This is why the safest and most secure way to unblock websites is through a trustworthy VPN service, rather than some shady free online tool that is collecting your data and hitting you with ads.

Best website unblocker

The best website unblocker would be a safe, secure VPN service, such as one of the three listed below:

• ExpressVPN ($6.67 per month)
• NordVPN ($3.99 per month)
• IPVanish ($6.49 per month)

All three of these options are great for unblocking websites and they are all very easy to use, regardless of your technical proficiency. If you are on a budget, NordVPN may be the best choice as it offers the cheapest monthly price with the current 66% discount.

You can also get more information on the latest recommendations at the best VPN test report. Additionally, you can also check out the VPN reviews page to compare other VPN providers.

Regardless of which option you choose, be careful when selecting a website unblocker and consider all the different options.

Unblock websites conclusion

Despite all of the troubling trends we see unfolding with websites getting blocked around the world, the solution to these problems remains relatively simple.

You don’t need to let governments, internet providers, or other organizations dictate the content and information you access online. Censorship continues to get worse throughout the Western world as governments follow the examples of China, Saudi Arabia, and others.

Fortunately, a good VPN is the solution to these problems because it will unblock any website while also giving you privacy and security through tough encryption. This means that your internet provider, government authorities, and other third parties will not be able to see what you’re doing online and connect your activities back to your IP address.

While censorship and website blocks continue to get worse, the tools for unblocking websites and securing your internet connection are becoming more mainstream every day. You can reclaim your online freedom and restore your privacy with one of these VPN services today.

British Virgin Islands

Panama

USA