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Internet Blocks, the Great Firewall and VPNs


roddy

How are you getting round Internet blocks in China?  

69 members have voted

  1. 1. How are you getting round Internet blocks in China?

    • I just give up and read the China Daily
      20
    • Free web proxy like Anonymouse
      21
    • Paid web proxy like Proxify
      3
    • A browser plug in like Gladder
      12
    • I installed a bit of software, like Tor
      21
    • Something else which I will detail below . . .
      4
    • Port forwarding over SSH to a remote proxy, like Imron
      10
    • VPN, like Witopia
      57


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Thanks for the feedback, that's extremely helpful. It's a pity none of the ones that are offering lifetime plans are likely to work in China these days. It's interesting to hear that ExpressVPN is one of the ones that works these days - they have a good blog entry explaining why the lifetime membership model is unlikely to be sustainable for them: https://www.expressvpn.com/blog/expressvpn-lifetime-subscription/

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Something small, cheaper than Express, available on Chinese app stores and (God knows how) reliable is Green Leaf VPN/绿叶VPN. I've been using it for four months now and it's been a genuine pleasure to use.

 

Pros: Plenty of servers per territory (Japan, HK, Europe, America, Taiwan...), ludicrously cheap (78 RMB/6 months), available on PC, Mac, Android and iOS, reliable.

 

Cons: Only available in Chinese. Limited number of connection protocols available for computer editions (typically IKEv2). 

 

If you're reading this, looking for one in China and think Express is too expensive, I really recommend trying this.

 

 

 

(Edit: Wahey! Apparently this is my 100th post. Wonderful.)

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  • 2 weeks later...
  • 3 months later...

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/jul/11/china-moves-to-block-internet-vpns-from-2018

 

Just saw this story. 

 

Haven't "they" been trying to block VPN's all along anyway? Hence the patchy on again off again connections? 

 

I am am starting an online course in September that will likely require a VPN. Hope this story isn't accurate ! 

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Aye, but there's blocks and there's blocks. You can have a junior ministry official make a speech calling for more to be done, or you can have the minister himself do it. You can tell the telecoms firms to do it, or you can actually follow up and see if they are. Etc, etc. A complete ban on VPNs seems difficult, as there are genuine business uses for both Chinese and foreign firms. However I'm not sure Xi will mind shaving corporate profits a little...

 

What'll actually happen is anyone's guess - but my guess is the screws will turn gradually, but only ever in the direction of tighter. 

 

Time for a new topic on this, perhaps with a new poll? This topic's ten years old and I'm not sure anyone's using Anonymouse any more (who even remembers it? I should do a 10 things only 70s kids who moved to China in the late 90s will remember Buzzfeed post)

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2 hours ago, ChTTay said:

I am am starting an online course in September that will likely require a VPN. Hope this story isn't accurate ! 

 

The story is worrisome. If it comes to pass, afraid it's bye bye China for me.

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I have finally made the big decision never to use a VPN again.

 

So far so good.

 

The Guardian is not blocked. 

 

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with photos 

 
BTW 
Tomorrow is July 12th and July 12th is a day of action to save net neutrality. PornHub needs your help. 
 
 
 
I was thinking. PornHub is blocked in China. 
What is the legal status of porn in China? What if a local company makes porn? Hahaha backdoor. So what if a local company, based in China, makes porn and gives backdoor access (hahahaha) to the Chinese government? Is it possible? Or porn is not legal in China at all? 
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Out of all the companies listed there you focused on PornHub?  Net Neutrality is about far more than PornHub :roll:

 

49 minutes ago, Angelina said:

What is the legal status of porn in China?

Start a new thread if you want to find out, rather than derailing an existing one.

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7 minutes ago, imron said:

Out of all the companies listed there you focused on PornHub?  Net Neutrality is about far more than PornHub :roll:

 

 

 

Most of the Internet is porn. 

I remember my first experience with Yahoo search. I saw Selma Hayek and Andy Dick and I wasn't looking for Andy Dick. 

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Hey Angelina, I tried to quote your text above to post a question to it but am not sure where the "Reply" button or function is residing at. I know, noob here..

Could you explain why you're venturing off the VPN and think it a good thing? I've just heard news of my acceptance by CSC and will be in the country in less than two months, and among the labyrinth of preparations I intend to make lies the question of internet access. I'm a very active reader of certain publications and somewhat active writer as well so I wished to keep this going in China if at all possible. If there are other routes other than VPN that would allow me to still pick up analysis and editorials in English and Spanish, I'm all ears; unfortunately am void of Mandarin reading skills as of now. Going to China to fix that haha

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There's always a way around VPN blocks. I started out using ssh tunnelling to an unencrypted proxy I setup. You could use an encrypted proxy. You could even configure a VPN on port 80 or 443 so it doesn't look like a VPN. You could use Tor. You could even configure a VPN on your computer in China and do a reverse connection from Europe to obfuscate things further. The technology provides endless possibilities for tech savvy people. 

 

PS: if you're not a techie, just connect to your corporate VPN, and use that. Some companies will block stuff like Facebook, but hopefully most other sites will be available. 

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7 hours ago, chadthehig said:

Could you explain why you're venturing off the VPN and think it a good thing?

 

Quote

Angelina -- I have finally made the big decision never to use a VPN again.

 

Angelina is expressing a minority opinion. Most of the rest of us are glad to have a working VPN. Suggest you arrange it and install it before arriving here (China.)

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8 hours ago, chadthehig said:

Could you explain why you're venturing off the VPN and think it a good thing? 

 

 

 

I am not using a VPN because I am tired of all the hypocrisy. 

I can live without it. 

 

 

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