This means that internet speeds when using a smart DNS are usually higher. One main advantage of a smart DNS is that it only needs to reroute information about your location through a different network, instead of routing all your web traffic - a feature common with VPNs. The smart DNS reroutes a request through proxy servers that are located in other countries where the websites are supported. In the event that specific social media sites such as Facebook and Twitter are blocked, a smart DNS (Domain Name Server) can disguise your location, allowing you access to restricted websites. Some of these are web browsers and operating systems, while others combine VPN features with other technologies.īelow is a list of alternative tools that can be used to help journalists access the internet, and continue to do their work. There are other alternative tools that can be used to evade partial internet shutdowns. “When using circumvention tools, ensure that they are trusted and verified by the community,” he said, which is often easier said than done. Sean Ndlovu, a digital security specialist, noted that there have been instances where people discovered that the VPNs they downloaded where being run by governments. However, VPNs are not necessarily the perfect tool for every occasion. VPNs therefore became the go-to tools to access basic internet resources that would allow them to do the basics. “If not, then communication was still limited.”ĭoing research became difficult for journalists like Tshuma, as most websites and online publications could not be accessed. “The person you were communicating with or source needed to have a VPN installed in their phone as well,” he said. Mandla Tshuma, a journalist based in Zimbabwe, noted that he used a VPN to access the internet during a social media shutdown in January this year. Using VPNs such as Express VPN, Tunnelbear or Outline VPN allows users to gain access to the internet during these partial shutdowns. This makes it difficult for internet service providers (ISPs) to identify a user, and subsequently block their access.ĭuring a targeted throttling or partial shutdown, a block of IP addresses in a particular location or country can be slowed down or crippled by the government. Most VPNs create a tunnelled and encrypted connection that will use a separate IP address generated by the VPN server. Virtual private networks (VPNs) are one of the most common online security tools, used to hide a user’s internet protocol (IP) address or geographical location.
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