How do proxies help US and South African Users to access restricted content? If you want to find how they do, please keep on reading this article, you’ll get the answer you’re looking for.
“This site is blocked in your region.” “403 Forbidden – You don’t have access to view this resource on this server.” “This service is not available in your location.” “This page has been blocked due to content filtering policies.”
If you’ve seen such messages in the U.S. or South Africa, you know how deeply frustrating and sometimes downright annoying internet restrictions can be. They can stop you from watching your favourite show, downloading content from torrent sites, or even accessing educational materials.
Have you found yourself in such a situation? It’s the digital equivalent of a door being slammed right in your face. But you don’t have to go through it anymore. In today’s article, we’ll show you how proxies can help you access anything on the internet. Here’s how.
How South Africa regulates your screen
Did you know that South Africa is one of the few African countries that actively blocks and shuts down torrenting sites? Downloading files from popular torrent sites like BitTorrent can be risky.
And while most of these sites are often associated with pirated content, there are plenty of legitimate reasons to log on to a torrent site.
You could be looking to download open-source projects like Linux distributions. Or maybe you want to share large files such as datasets for research and high-resolution media files. You could even be searching for a cool mod or patch for your favourite game.
Either way, using torrents to get such content is pretty difficult in South Africa.
Have you ever tried looking up a TV show or movie on Netflix and confirmed it’s on Netflix, but for some reason, you just can’t find it in your Netflix account? Frustrating, right?
Or maybe you wanted to binge-watch Doctor Who on BBC iPlayer. But you can’t because the screen reads, “BBC iPlayer only works in the UK.”
Gamers face the same problem – you might try to join a U.S.-specific server on PlayStation, only to be met with restrictions.
It’s called geo-blocking, and the primary reason behind it is regional licensing agreements. That’s why a movie may be available on Netflix U.S. but not on Netflix South Africa. When you try to search, you’ll see a “This title is not available in your region” message.
What’s being blocked online in the U.S.
The United States is a country that prides itself on freedom. So naturally, you’d expect the internet to be an open playground. But digital walls exist here as well.
Just like in South Africa, torrenting sites here tend to be under tight government scrutiny due to piracy concerns. So, even if you’re looking to share legitimate content, you’re likely to encounter blocks.
That’s not all, though.
If you’re on a private network in the U.S., such as in a school, library, or even office, chances are high that the network admin has blocked access to social media, streaming platforms, and controversial topics.
Users in the U.S. face geo-restrictions, too, though their struggles often look different from those in South Africa.
But geo-restrictions aren’t just about private networks. Even with an active streaming subscription, sports fans in the U.S. can hit digital walls. It’s quite possible for your favourite game to be blacked out in your area if broadcasting rights are owned by a regional company.
Some international streaming platforms are off-limits in the U.S. A few examples include BBC iPlayer, Hotstar India, and more. Other platforms have different content in different regions because licensing deals with local TV networks. A show may be available on Hulu Minnesota but not Arkansas.
And if you’re into gaming, Steam and PlayStation often have region-specific releases, pricing, and bonus content. So, a game might be cheaper in New York than in California.
How proxies provide a solution
So, how does Netflix know which shows to block based on your location? How is it that you can’t access a torrenting site on your network? It comes down to your IP address – your digital equivalent of an ID card.
Your computer’s IP address can reveal your general location. It’s how websites curate content based on where you are. So naturally, to evade these restrictions, you want to change your IP address – proxies can help you do just that.
When you route your connection through a proxy server, your traffic first travels from your current IP address to the proxy server’s IP address. The proxy then sends the data to the target – whether it’s a torrenting site, Netflix, or any other server on the internet.
From the server’s point of view, the request is coming from whichever country the proxy is hosted in, not from where you’re actually located, whether it’s the U.S. or South Africa. It’s a simple but highly effective method of evading geo-restrictions.
While there are many types of proxies, Residential proxies are by far the most efficient for getting around these blocks, as long as you source them from a reputable provider. This is because they use IP addresses borrowed from real people. When traced, the IP leads to an actual device, like a laptop or computer.
In contrast, other types of proxies, like datacentre proxies, use IP addresses generated by large-scale cloud service providers. The chances of detection are slightly higher.
At the end of the day, the internet should be a place without borders. But restrictions in the U.S. or South Africa can make access frustrating and limiting. Proxies aren’t a loophole – they are tools that can help you maintain your online freedom.
Watch this space for updates in the Hacks category on Running Wolf’s Rant.
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