If you’ve never traveled internationally before, this may be news to you, but the same content isn’t available everywhere. The usual broadcasting agreements and legal mumbo jumbo get in the way in plenty of situations, like with major TV stations, but online streaming services are another animal entirely.
Due to a myriad of reasons, but in many cases content filtering, a lot of sites and services are blocked overseas, including YouTube. Filters vary according to the country’s standards for content decency, but can range from the most innocent DIY channels to pornography.
In addition, many streaming services simply aren’t available everywhere yet. Netflix just made the jump to Australia this past year, but it’s still not available in South Africa, the Middle East, or Asia. Hulu is only available in the US, and YouTube is blocked entirely in China.
It’s wild how access to content can differ so radically across the border, but what’s a real drag is that you can actually be a paying customer with these services and still be unable to access them overseas.
The thing is, if Amazon Instant Video isn’t available where you are, it doesn’t matter that you’re a paying Prime customer back in the States; you won’t be able to access their content regardless.
How Your IP Address Limits Your Access
To figure out how to get around these content filters, it helps to first understand just how they work. The answer lies with your IP address. When you connect to any network with your device, it shares its unique IP address with every server it communicates with.
Think of it as your virtual license plate. Your IP address is unique to your device and is the nasty little code responsible for the ability to trace your internet activity back to you. This code gives servers your rough geographic location, and as a result, the information they need to determine whether you have access to their content or not.
Your IP address determines the language web content is displayed in and even assists ad software in displaying location relevant advertisements to you. Talk about adding insult to injury.
How to Get Around Content Filters
Okay, so now on to the good part: how to get around these content filters. It’s actually easier than you might think; you just need to install a Virtual Private Network.
A Virtual Private Network (VPN) is a service you can sign up for to access blocked content. Just be sure to sign up and install the software before you travel. More often than not, filter circumvention tools such as these are also blocked in the countries where you actually need them.
Here’s how it works:
1. You find a service provider you like and sign up for a plan.
2. Once you download and install the software and apps to your devices, choose a server location from their drop down menu. The location you choose will determine what kind of content you have access to.
3. Once connected, your real IP address is blocked, and you’re assigned the one associated with the server you’ve chosen, making your activity untraceable and your browsing anonymous.
4. Your traffic is also encrypted, so your data is safe from hackers and even government surveillance programs.
Basically, VPNs function like a secret tunnel in the internet, protecting your data over unsecured connections and rerouting your traffic through their network of servers to give you access to any content you want, no matter where you are.
For example, if you’re in Beijing, you can just connect to a server in say, New York, and still stream Netflix, despite the fact that the service is unavailable and blocked there. It’s fast, it’s effective, and almost all VPNs are fully automatic, requiring no manual configurations.
Private, Unlimited Streaming
VPNs combine the best of both worlds—accessibility and privacy—to allow to you watch anything you want online, no matter where you are. That’s right, it’ll even work on school and office networks.
Ideally if you’re using a VPN to stream content online, you want a connection that’s fast and dependable, so be sure to check out some reviews to see how competitors stack up in performance and speed testing.
Also, make sure you get a VPN that’s compatible with all of your devices, that comes with unlimited bandwidth and has a large enough network of servers to accommodate their customer base. The more servers they have, the wider the distribution of customers and the faster your connection is likely to be.
What are some shows you can’t live without? Have content blocks ever gotten in the way? Share in the comments below.
