Guide / Access
Access

Access blocked websites safely

Censorship changes by country and network. Have more than one way to reach the open web.

Goal

Open blocked sites or services without putting your identity or device at risk.

Best first move

Try Tor Browser first; if it is blocked, use a bridge or a trusted VPN with obfuscation.

Recommended path

Best first move: Try Tor Browser first; if it is blocked, use a bridge or a trusted VPN with obfuscation.

  1. 1

    Test what is blocked

    DNS, IP, protocol, or deep-packet inspection blocks need different responses.

  2. 2

    Use a bridge or obfuscated VPN

    Pluggable transports and obfuscation make Tor/VPN traffic look like normal traffic.

  3. 3

    Keep a backup method

    Install more than one tool before you need it; app stores may be censored too.

  4. 4

    Separate the device if needed

    For high-risk regions, use a dedicated clean device with a privacy OS.

Best tools for this

Tor Browser

easy

Anonymous browsing and bypassing censorship.

Routes traffic through three volunteer relays; hides origin.

Orbot

easy

Tor proxy for Android apps.

Routes any app traffic through Tor on mobile.

Mullvad VPN

easy

Privacy-first VPN that avoids accounts.

Anonymous account numbers, no logs, audits, cash/crypto payments.

IVPN

easy

Audit-friendly VPN with anti-tracking.

No logs, open source apps, strong ethics.

Warnings

Downloading tools can be flagged

Install privacy tools from official sites using a trusted network when possible.

Public Wi-Fi has its own risks

Unencrypted hotspots can be monitored; combine with VPN/Tor.

Limitations

No tool works everywhere

Sophisticated blocking can detect and throttle privacy traffic.

Speed and security trade off

Tor is slower than VPN; plan accordingly.

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