Concepts & Hacks to Access Geo-restricted Sites!
Finally, it’s the holiday season that’s expected with the approach of another wave of Corona variant coming our way, which means another LOCKDOWN? And the only way to get through this period is to watch your favorite movies and shows. But what happens when you find your favorite movies and shows are geo-restricted in your hometown? We all know how gloomy does the phrase “geo-blocking” sounds? I’m guessing “extremely” is the answer.
The “geo-blocking strategy” has been embraced by content providers, service owners, website developers, and anyone who has anything online to prohibit undesirable access from individuals who are geographically dislocated. So, for example, you can’t watch American Netflix, HBO Max, and Hulu if you’re not in the United States.
Because of licensing, copyright difficulties, government policies, and other causes, geo-blocking is an annoyance that may affect everyone. You’ll see the following geo-blocking error message if the content isn’t available in your region:
“Sorry! Currently, this content is unavailable in your country/region.”
That’s what geo-blocking is all about. I know what you’re thinking right now. Is your only alternative for getting access to your favorite content is to go to other countries? But the answer is, No!
That’s when the idea of circumventing the geo-blocking technology emerges. So, if you’re dealing with this problem and aren’t sure what to do, look no further because I’ve got you taken care of! Continue reading to see if you can solve all of your queries with the concepts and hacks! Let’s get started!
What are Geo-restrictions?
The process of restricting access to internet content for some users depending on their geographic location is known as geo-restrictions. Companies utilize this approach to restrict access to their content and services according to the user’s location.
Geo-restrictions are most commonly employed in the video streaming industry, but they can also be used to block access to social media, dating sites, news sites, and other websites. It all boils down to licensing and copyright difficulties when it comes to streaming. Disney Plus is a good example of geo-restrictions because it is majorly not available in many regions like Singapore, South Africa, Germany, New Zealand, and much more of such regions. But you can securely access Disney Plus in these regions with Disney Plus VPN. If you try to access such platforms from geo-restricted regions, you will be directly banned because Disney Plus can see your location when you access their content. According to Rantent Disney Plus has launched in multiple countries and is planning to expand its network in 2022.
What are the reasons for Geo-restrictions?
Geo-blocking will never go away in the internet world. These barriers are simply getting stronger over time. Keep in mind that they weren’t created in vain. Their creation is motivated by concerns about copyright breaches, the need to uphold license agreements, and, in some situations, the need to provide online protection. However, the reasons for geo-blocking include:
- The Nature of Content Against Government Policies
- Copyrights Issues
- Licensing Rights
How Do Geo-restrictions work?
Your Internet Protocol (IP) address is used to determine how geo-blocking works. In the same way that your physical address identifies your location, your IP address does as well. Geo-blocking is also used when traveling. For example, if you are an American visiting Germany, you will not access Disney Plus, Hulu, and Netflix US library there.
But don’t worry, there are some ideas, hacks, and ways for getting around geo-restrictions. So, what are they, and what exactly do you have to do? Well, for that, you need to read on.
Four Simple Ways to Get Around Geo-Restrictions
Since geo-restrictions are based purely on your IP address and geographic location, you must understand that the easiest method to get around them is to discover a hiding technique. I realize it may seem not easy to believe at first, but the only easy options to access geo-restricted content are listed below.
- Virtual Private Network (VPN)
- Smart DNS (Domain Name System)
- Proxy Servers
- The Onion Router Browser
Now that you know how to bypass geo-blocking, a VPN is a better option than Smart DNS, Proxy Servers, or TOR because VPNs are more secure, and your surfing speed is less likely to be affected. So now, I understand if you’re wondering what VPN is and how it works?
What is VPN?
A virtual private network (VPN) is the most effective solution to circumvent geo-restrictions securely and privately, hiding your original IP address and replacing it with one from another country. As a result, any website you visit while using a VPN will only see the VPN server’s IP address. So, for example, if you use a VPN to access Disney Plus, you can connect to a US server. However, you need to subscribe to a premium VPN rather than free VPNs because premium VPNs provide more servers and ensure no IP or DNS leaks.
Conclusion
At this time, geo-restriction is a serious problem for many people. However, any online behavior that blocks users from accessing or consuming their preferred content can result in losses for numerous businesses and brands. Therefore, it’s best to stick to tried and true concepts, hacks, and ways if you want to avoid any form of censorship.
These four methods may be effective for accessing geo-restricted content from anywhere. Nonetheless, we urge that you go for a premium VPN. Though it may come with a subscription fee, it is undoubtedly the quickest, safest, and most effective option to access any geo-restricted content in your region.