How to Use Proxy to Change Your Country and Bypass Internet Restrictions
October 13 2009
A large number of web services are geographically restricted. The reasons are usually to do with content licensing restrictions. But a web application can only guess at the location of a visitor based on an IP address and other information, such as browser language and regional settings.
If you find yourself outside of the U.S. and wanting to watch Hulu, outside of the UK and wanting to look at the BBC, here are some tips:
Proxy Servers
Easy to find, easy to set up. Some sites have become smart enough now to check if the IP address you are coming in from is a known open proxy server.
The best source if you are a blogger is to check your spam comments. Most of those IP addresses will not only be open proxy servers, but will be fairly new proxy servers.
FoxyProxy is a Firefox plugin that allows you to easily switch between proxy servers (many Chinese web users are very familiar with having to juggle proxy servers and use such plugins, or browsers that have similar features built-in)
VPN Servers
Similar to a proxy, except that a VPN is an encrypted link to a server that will route all of your network traffic (your computer, in effect, becomes part of the network).
FreeVPN -- A completely free VPN client and service for Windows machines. No ads, and a fast service.
Feeedur -- A commercial VPN/anonymizing service that works well.
HotSpotShield -- Another free VPN service, but forces you to click on an ad.
UltraVPN -- cross platform (OS X support). Both free and anonymous.
Sources:
Tech Crunch October 5, 2009
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