How to - Access the blocked web

Method 5: Using a third-party utility, such as TOR can help you access blocked websites without any effort, whatsoever. Using it is pretty simple, but it is definitely slower than your Internet speed as it uses the Internet connection with another computer somewhere in the world. It securely creates a type of an Internet tunnel, which passes through a few more websites, countries and Internet service providers before picking up the desired website and brings it back again. It keeps hopping through various routes and channels to help create a secure, untraceable path.

TOR is an effective way of access the web

To use TOR, simply download the utility from www.torproject.org and run the executable file. The downloaded file does not need installation, but it extracts a few required portable executable files to a folder on your desktop. Once done, simply open the folder and execute the file ‘Start Tor Browser.exe', and it will bring up the Vidalia control panel, connect anonymously to the respective servers and later automatically starts a secure Firefox (portable) browser, using which you can access your blocked websites. Using Tor makes it more difficult to trace Internet activity, including visits to Web sites, online posts, instant messages and other communication forms, back to the user and is intended to protect users' personal freedom, privacy, and ability to conduct confidential business by keeping their internet activities from being monitored.

Method 6: Using online services to download files when P2P and torrents are blocked at your end. It is pretty simple. Websites, such as ZbigZ.com or Put.io offer services to download your torrents and store them in your online storage quota at very high-speeds. For example, a 4GB torrent download, which would take me anywhere between 24 hours to 48 hours on a standard 1 Mbps Internet connection, and a bittorrent client can be downloaded in less than two hours. Simply paste the link of the torrent (you don’t even need to download the .Torrent file) or the magnet link or if you have the .torrent file. Just upload it to the servers, and it will download the files for you. In our tests, a single 4.7GB ISO file took only 15 seconds to download. The file is stored on their servers and offers you a HTTP link to download it later at your convenience. While ZbigZ.com offers a free service (with limitations) and a paid option too, Put.io offers a 3GB online space for just Rs. 250 (USD $5) per month. This not only saves your bandwidth speeds, but also allows you to download your P2P using an HTTP download service.

Method 7: Using VPN (Virtual Private Network) services. Popularly known over many years, this one is a more concrete and secure way of accessing the Internet. The system works by setting up a connection that is channeled through your ISP, through to a VPN service or a computer that has open Internet access. Using this technique, you should be able to access the web freely with no restrictions on sites, keywords, services, etc. Unfortunately, VPNs are a bit more complicated to set up. Usually, free VPN services, such as Hotspot Shield are known to be around, might be a bit difficult to find free ones. If you don’t, you might need to ask a friend to open a connection (install a server) on his machine provided he has an unblocked gateway. Then you can access your websites using his/her machine. Services, such as ProXPN and XyberGhost are some you can try out. Hotspot Shield installs a routing driver automatically on your PC during installation, creates the necessary routing methods and gives you access to the open Internet service from various open VPN services around the world. Once enabled and running, you will be able to access any website out there, but will be disturbed by continuous ads littered around your screen.

There are numerous other methods of getting around blocked and censored websites. While some are more straightforward and easy, others are a bit difficult and more secure. Paid services are also in the offering, but most often people are on the look out for free ones. Necessity is the mother of all invention, they say and as long as there is necessity, somebody out there will definitely invent ways to get there.