04 August,2015 12:59 PM IST | | A Correspondent
While the state has imposed a ban on a number of porn websites, it may still not be able to impose it completely; several Virtual Private Networks, which are freely available online, offer a simple bypass to these restrictions
As is the case with technology, there's always a way around. The news of the government's decision to ban porn sites may have little bearing, as users in India can still bypass the government restrictions using one of the many Virtual Private Networks (VPNs) available in the market.
mid-day view: It's not about porn, it's about our freedoms
Pic for representation/Thinkstock
Here are a few VPNs that users can download:
OpenVPN
Recommended by the Free Open Source Foundation, OpenVPN not only offers anonymity on the Web, it also provides industrial level security. It offers free unlimited access to VPN, and is impossible to detect or block. One can download the free version of the OpenVPN app for desktop PCs by clicking on the OpenVPN Community project on its website home page (openvpn.net). Download an OS-specific installation on your device, and you are good to go. Follow the how-to-guide carefully. There are also mobile versions available for Android and iOS devices in their respective app stores.
Price: Free
Log on to: openvpn.net
Ban on porn: Let's debate before deciding
Pic for representation/AFP
VPNBOOK
Gives unlimited access to the internet and helps bypass censorship by the governments and service providers. The app, however, requires manual setups and may not be a good option for those not aware of how virtual private networks function. It offers a PPTP (point-to-point tunneling) as well as certificate and configuration bundles to be used with OpenVPN app on your desktop as well as mobile phones (Android and iOS). VPNBOOK is free to download and use.
Price: Free
Log on to: vpnbook.com
Cyberghost
Available for smartphones (Android and iOS) as well as desktop environment (Mac OS, Linux builds and Windows OS), Cyberghost is an easy to set-up Virtual Private Network. Just download the app from its website, follow the instructions and you are good to go. There's no restriction on bandwidth, however, the free version, is available only for Windows, Mac and Android devices, and not for iOS devices. It can also be installed on Google Chrome books as well as Raspberry Pi, and can be built right into a Wi-Fi router.
Price: Free
Log on to: cyberghostvpn.com
Hotspotshield
One of the most popular virtual private networks out there, Hotspotshield is an easy to use and install application available for free across devices, including iOS devices. Surf the web anonymously, hide your IP address, bypass Internet censorship and restrictions, as well as protect your data from hackers. The app also uses a special data compressing technology that allows you to download up to twice the content with the same bandwidth.
Price: Free
Log on to: hotspotshield.com
TunnelBear
Made for those with limited tech-know-how and usage, the TunnelBear is the easiest to install VPN. It is available for free download for Android and iOS devices as well as PC and Mac. The only downside is the bandwidth is limited to just 500MB per year. However, you can earn an extra GB by participating in their Twitter promotion.
Price: Free
Log on to: tunnelbear.com
NOTE: We advise our readers to read the terms of service and privacy policy carefully before using any of the services, as some of these might collect personally identifiable information.
