Streaming has exploded in popularity since the pandemic lockdown starter. However, it was already experiencing massive growth even before that. This is partly due to people enjoying spending more time at home and the general convenience of it. However, due to specific location-specific copyright issues, many people are unable to watch their favorite shows. Nevertheless, there are particular ways around these blocks, including using a VPN, but sometimes this doesn’t always work as VPNs can become blocked. This post will discuss the most straightforward option, a VPN, then go over some methods to get around a VPN block.
WHAT ARE THE MAJOR STREAMING PLATFORMS
The world of streaming has come a long way since Netflix changed the landscape. Now there are numerous options you can choose from, and some of the major players include:
- Netflix: 208 million.
- Amazon Prime Video: 175 million.
- Tencent Video: 123 million.
- iQIYI (Baidu): 119 million.
- Disney+: 103 million.
- Youku (Alibaba): 81 million.
- HBO Max: 44 million.
- Peacock: 42 million.
- Hulu: 41 million.
As you can see, the major platforms are Chinese and American, which happen to have the largest markets for streaming content. Most of these services are blocked in most countries and require VPNs to access them. For example, someone in China who wants to watch Netflix could use a service to help them. Tunnelbear is one such service that is often used to get around Netflix’s notoriously draconian geo-blocking rules. VPNs are primarily used if you want to access websites or view content that is otherwise forbidden by their rules or because the production company does not wish certain countries to view the content for whatever reason.
TIPS TO UNBLOCK CONTENT ON ONLINE STREAMING PLATFORMS
USE A VPN
The idea behind a VPN is pretty straightforward: it’s a way of securing your delicate data from prying eyes over the internet. If you’re using a public Wi-Fi connection like at a coffee shop or the library, anyone can watch the data you’re sending and receiving, even if they’re not on the same network as you. They are meant to mask your IP address and encrypt your traffic for you. It encrypts your traffic, giving you the ability to surf the web anonymously and hide your IP address, often by encrypting your data and sending it through a private network (such as an ISP or company’s own private network) to the recipient’s computer. Because the data is encrypted, the VPN acts as a middleman, which hides your identity. This is usually enough to unblock a streaming service, but you might need to try more sophisticated methods in some cases.
CHANGE VPN SERVERS OR VPN SERVICES
The beauty of a quality VPN is that it should have many (hundred and sometimes thousands) of different servers worldwide. The remarkable thing is that the service you are attempt]ing to access will often have different rules for other countries. For example, you might be unable to access Hulu using a server-based in the UK, but you might find success if you switch to a US one. This usually works, but if not, you might try a different VPN altogether. Most are cheap enough that you can get monthly subscriptions and see which one works. You might lose a few dollars by switching around, but it is worth it if you want to watch your shows.
YOU CAN BUILD A VPN SERVER
It is highly recommended you create your own VPN server if you enjoy experimenting with hardware and software. Having an IT background isn’t necessary for this. All these resources have made creating custom VPN servers quite simple, and there are many articles and tutorials available online. If you understand Linux and router hardware, you can go online and have a go. The benefit is that your private VPN won’t be on any known VPN blacklist.
DIFFERENT VPN PROTOCOLS CAN BE USED
There are a variety of protocols available today for VPNs. Other options deliver fast performance but compromise the ability to use it everywhere. With most VPN apps, you can easily switch protocols. You can accomplish this by selecting a protocol in the VPN’s settings panel. You can open VPN blocks quickly by doing this, and it’s probably the easiest way to do so.
CHANGE PORTS
Ports are a way for data to flow from one place to another. If one port is blocked and unusable, could open a different port and see if that works. One way to limit VPN access is to stop a port, which interrupts the flow of information. Using another port is the solution in this case.
SECURE SSH/SSL TUNNELING
SSH and SSL are both protocols used in communication between two computers that have some level of security. SSH is a secure protocol used to move data from one computer to another, and it is a core protocol for many network applications. SSL is a protocol used to encrypt the information for web traffic so that it is safer to pass through an internet connection. This requires more knowledge than setting up your own VPN server but could be more fruitful.
A VPN is the best option for watching streaming services anywhere globally; however, there are occasions when the VPN becomes useless. It may be necessary to try the methods mentioned here to see if you can bypass the block.