Get Around Blocks: The Complete Guide to Unblocking Websites

• riazul-islam
• September 2, 2024
• 1:09 am

Have you ever felt frustrated when trying to visit your go-to news site or sports team‘s page, only to be greeted by an ominous "Access Denied" message? As our online world becomes increasingly interconnected, more of our favorite websites are getting blocked by geographic restrictions, workplace filters, and even government censorship.

The good news is there are tried and true techniques you can use right now to bypass these digital roadblocks and access the internet freely. I‘m going to share the ins and outs of the best unblocking methods, from quick fixes like Google Translate to advanced tools like virtual private networks (VPNs).

Here‘s a plain English guide to everything you need to take control and enjoy barrier-free browsing.

Why Websites Get Blocked in the First Place

Before jumping into the unblocking basics, it helps to understand exactly why and how sites get restricted. The most common reasons are:

• Geographic Media Licensing: Streaming platforms like Netflix have agreements allowing certain shows/movies only in select regions. Trying to view this outside these areas results in annoying blocks.

• Work/School Network Controls: To manage bandwidth usage, organizations often prevent access to sites considered unproductive like social media.

• Government Censorship: In some countries, regimes limit access to sites with content deemed questionable or threatening to their ideology.

• Temporary Technical Issues: Server outages or DNS problems can also cause sites to be inaccessible until issues get resolved.

So in a nutshell, websites get blocked due to licensing deals, productivity policies, censorship, and plain old technical hiccups.

When these happen, it‘s incredibly annoying. But bypassing the limitations is actually simpler than you might guess…

Method #1: Mask Your Location with a VPN

The most reliable way to access blocked content is using a Virtual Private Network (VPN). This popular tool works by encrypting your internet connection and routing it through remote servers, hiding your real location.

Let‘s break down how VPN unblocking works:

• You sign up for a service like ExpressVPN and install their app
• With one click, the software connects you to a server in another country
• Your device gets assigned a new IP address from that location
• When you try to visit a site, it sees that foreign IP instead of your actual one

So by masking your digital identity this way, a VPN lets you bypass geographic blocks and access content just like someone in that country!

It‘s kind of like disguising yourself when going to a fancy costume party. The bouncer only knows the outfit you‘re wearing, not who‘s underneath!

The privacy perks of VPN services extend beyond just unblocking websites as well:

• Secures data on public WiFi
• Encrypts internet activity from prying eyes
• Stops advert tracking across sites
• Allows safe torrenting

With a huge global server network and top-tier encryption, NordVPN is my recommended VPN for both unblocking and security.

Method #2: Add Anonymity with The Onion Router (Tor)

For those looking to access blocked content with maximum privacy, Tor is the gold standard for anonymous unblocking.

This software bounces your web requests around a huge volunteer network of servers all over the world, making it near impossible to trace the traffic back to you.

It‘s like passing a secret message through a huge game of telephone, obscuring it more at each hop along the way.

Unlike VPNs which rely on encryption, Tor leans on constant rerouting to ensure anonymity. With over 7,000 relay entry and exit points, unmasking requests is extremely difficult.

Some standout aspects around using Tor:

• Entry traffic very difficult to trace
• Entire route encrypted end-to-end
• No activity/traffic logging
• Allows access to onion dark web sites
• Can be slower than VPNs due to extensive hopping

The open-source Tor Browser is free to use and works right out of the box for quickly unblocking sites.

For those wanting both speed and anonymity, Tor also works great paired with a commercial VPN service.

Method #3: Configure a Proxy Server

A proxy server acts as an intermediary for your web requests. So when you try accessing say a video platform restricted in your region, the proxy hides your location and fetches the content on your behalf.

You can visualize this as asking someone from an allowed area to get what you need instead of going yourself.

Some types of proxies that aid in unblocking websites:

• HTTP Proxy: Reroutes browser traffic specifically through another server somewhere
• SOCKS Proxy: Forwards data at the system level for all apps, not just the browser
• SSH Tunnel: Access remote blocked sites by relaying through a secure SSH server connection

Proxies tend to leak more metadata than encrypted options but certainly get the job done for accessing blocked URLs and basic content in many cases. Ease of setup makes it handy for quick unblocking needs.

Method #4: Install Browser VPN Extensions

Rather than installing a full system-wide VPN app, browser-specific extensions offer fast and easy access blocking circumvention:

• Chrome: Extensions like Zenmate and DotVPN
• Firefox: HideIPVPN and Safebrowse

These browser plug-ins route just your browsing activity through remote servers instead of all system traffic.

You can think of this method like putting on a hat and glasses so websites think you‘re someone else!

The small footprint and ease-of-use makes these a handy option for quick unblocks. Drawbacks are slower speeds and they don‘t hide your identity for anything besides web browsing.

Method #5: Use Smart DNS Proxies

Smart DNS is an alternative technology similar to VPN that uses rerouted DNS addressing to fool sites into allowing restricted access.

When attempting to visit a blocked site, Smart DNS assigns you temporary servers that make web hosts think requests are coming from approved regions. It essentially tricks the bouncer based on your "clothes."

Some reputable Smart DNS services include:

• SmartDNSProxy: 30-day risk free trial, unblocks 20+ major sites
• dnsexit: free plan available, offers apps for most devices

The main advantage over VPNs is potentially faster speeds with less connectivity drops. But Smart DNS leaks identifying origin data and won‘t encrypt traffic like VPNs.

Method #6: Use Public DNS Servers

Overriding your device‘s default DNS settings can also bypass blocking in certain cases. DNS (domain name system) servers are essentially the phone books of the internet, translating URLs to server IPs.

ISPs and networks often implement filtering and restrictions directly through their own DNS services. So switching to public third-party servers from Google or Cloudflare circumvents these controls since all name resolution happens through alternate means.

You can visualize it as using a different phone book that has the blocked websites‘ numbers.

To override device DNS settings:

Windows

1. Open Network Connections > Adapter Options
2. Select current WiFi/Ethernet connection
3. Open IPv4 Properties > Use Following DNS Addresses
4. Enter public DNS server IPs like Google or Cloudflare

Mac

1. Click Apple Icon > System Preferences > Network
2. Select DNS Tab on WiFi/Ethernet connection
3. Replace with public DNS server IPs

This method works well unless firewall rules block by IP rather than DNS lookup filtering.

Method #7: Access Blocked Sites Through Google Translate

You‘re likely thinking "Google Translate for unblocking websites??" Using translation sites/apps to access blocked content certainly seems odd but it works flawlessly in many cases!

Here are the simple steps to try:

1. Go to translate.google.com
2. Enter the blocked URL you want to access
3. Translate the text to another language then back to English
4. Click the now translated link to open directly!

So how does Google Translate pull off this magic website unblocking trick? Turns out that translation sites interface with web servers in unique ways that can sneak past basic network blocks in some circumstances.

It‘s an easy shortcut worth trying before pulling out the big guns like VPNs and Tor!

Method #8: Use Website IP Addresses Instead of URLs

Some rudimentary website blocking solutions rely on restricting access through URL patterns rather than actual server IPs.

Entering a site‘s raw IP rather than the normal domain name can at times bypass these types of filters.

You can think of this like trying to get home through the backdoor when the front entrance is locked.

To find the direct IP address:

Windows

1. Open Command Prompt
2. Type ping website.com
3. Returned IP can now be entered in browser

Mac/Linux

1. Open Terminal
2. Type dig website.com
3. Use displayed website IP address

Give this method a shot for hits-and-misses unblocking success before pulling out the advanced guns.

Method #9: Shorten Blocked Website URLs with Bitly

URL shortening services like Bitly or TinyURL can also help dodge web filters by hiding flagged domains behind simplified links.

You can visualize shortened URLs like wrapping a restricted gift in different paper so it sneaks past the rules.

Give this a try by:

1. Going to Bitly.com
2. Entering long URL to be shortened
3. Clicking generated compact link
4. Using new shortened URL to access blocked site

Now shortened URLs often get blacklisted once discovered. But combining this technique with a VPN or Tor connection can outsmart filters with multiple layers of obfuscation.

Method #10: View Google‘s Cached Versions of Sites

Google and other search engines keep cached snapshots of websites to allow faster retrieval during outages and spikes in traffic.

If a site is completely blocked, checking if Google has a cached copy can provide access to at least the last archived version.

You can think of cached pages like digging up a time capsule to the previous state of a website.

Here are the steps to view cached copies:

1. Search for blocked website in Google
2. Click downward arrow icon next to the result
3. Select "Cached" option to view last archived snapshot

This lets you essentially travel back in time to the latest indexed copy of a site. Images and content may be outdated but it‘s handy for accessing something rather than nothing.

Unblocking Q&A

Still have questions? Here are answers to common website unblocking FAQs:

Is accessing blocked content legal?

Bypassing geographic restrictions and censorship with tools like VPNs is generally considered legal in most countries. However actively hacking services or sharing copyrighted streams/files can violate laws. Always access sites according to local regulations.

Can VPNs slow down web browsing? How much?

VPNs can reduce speeds due to traffic tunneling but usually only by 25-30% for quality services. Connecting to geographically closer servers minimizes latency impacts even further. Also look for VPNs offering specialty protocols like Wireguard or Lightway which are tuned for performance.

What happens if proxy servers don‘t successfully unblock a website?

If proxying fails, try alternative options like VPN services, Tor browser, or DNS/IP bypass tricks. Using a multi-layered approach can help evade blocks if singular methods falter. Worst case, viewing cached Google snapshots provides some access.

Can I unblock sites on my iPhone? What about on Android?

Yes, both iOS and Android mobile platforms fully support VPN apps as well as mobile versions of Tor browser for on-the-go website unblocks. Install a trusted VPN service and enable it whenever browsing access issues arise.

How can I tell if a VPN doesn‘t store user logs for privacy?

Reputable no-log VPNs like ExpressVPN, NordVPN, Surfshark publish independent audits verifying they indeed never gather activity or connection logs. Without backend recording, using a no-log VPN prevents profiling. But other factors like encryption protocols also impact privacy.

Take Control of Your Web Experience

While increasing online censorship makes accessing your go-to websites trickier than ever, this doesn‘t mean you need to accept defeat. Using the right tools combined with a bit of technical know-how puts the power back in your hands.

I hope this guide served as a cheat sheet to bypassing all the annoying blocks slowing you down with some new ideas beyond just switching on a VPN. Layering a few approaches together when needed helps ensure your ability to freely access internet content without limitations.

Feel free to reach out if any part of utilizing these website unblocking techniques remains fuzzy! I‘m always happy to lend guidance around ensuring your time online is barrier-free.

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