Safe internet browsing using VPN and Tor browser

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Using a VPN

VPN stands for “Virtual Private Network.” When you connect to a VPN, all data that you send (such as the requests to servers when browsing the web) appears to originate from the VPN itself, rather than your own ISP. This masks your IP address, which can be an important tool for protecting your privacy, since your IP address provides an indication of your general location and can therefore be used to identify you.

In practice, VPNs can:

  • Protect your Internet activity from prying eyes, especially if you’re connected to an unsecure Wi-Fi network in a café, airport, library, or somewhere else.
  • Circumvent Internet censorship on a network that blocks certain sites or services. For example, when you are working from a school’s Internet connection or in a country that blocks content. Note: It’s important to keep up to date on security news for specific countries’ policies on VPNs.
  • Connect you to the corporate intranet at your office while you’re traveling abroad, at home, or any other time you are out of the office.

Here's a video that introduces how VPNs work:

<iframe title="YouTube video player" src="https://www.youtube-nocookie.com/embed/_-DekqEyAV0" width="560" height="315" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture"></iframe>

Here's another helpful video explanation: <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o6Fzq1PEQb4" target="_blank" rel="noopener">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o6Fzq1PEQb4</a>

Are VPNs illegal in your country?

Current VPN bans (as of Sept 19, 2022)

  1. Belarus
  2. China
  3. Iraq
  4. Myanmar
  5. North Korea
  6. Oman
  7. Russia
  8. Turkey
  9. UAE

Currently, a handful of governments either regulate or outright ban VPNs, which include countries like Belarus, China, Iraq, North Korea, Oman, Russia, and the U.A.E., to name a few. Still, others impose internet censorship laws, which makes using a VPN risky.

Depending on the country, governments may impose fines on both the citizen and the VPN service provider for using an unsanctioned VPN. Although using VPN is completely legal in India, there are some cases where the government or local police have punished people for using the service.

More information: <a href="https://www.vpnmentor.com/blog/are-vpns-legal/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">https://www.vpnmentor.com/blog/are-vpns-legal/</a>

Resources on VPNs

[Online course] How to bypass internet censorship (by the Totem Project) - This online course explains concepts like tunneling, encryption and VPN. It also guides you through how to choose a secure circumvention tool (e.g. VPN or Tor browser).

[Guide] Choosing the VPN That's Right for You (by the Electronic Frontier Foundation) - So do you need a VPN? And which VPN should you use? The answer to these questions are packed with various considerations and nuances. This guide will help you think through what tools are right for you, and what factors you should consider in your search for a VPN.

Techsplanations: Virtual Private Networks <a href="https://cdt.org/insights/techsplanations-part-5-virtual-private-networks/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">https://cdt.org/insights/techsplanations-part-5-virtual-private-networks/</a> [by the Center for Democracy and Technology]

DDF VPN Guide: What is a VPN? How Do I Choose a VPN? <a href="https://digitaldefensefund.org/ddf-guides/ddf-vpn-guide" target="_blank" rel="noopener">https://digitaldefensefund.org/ddf-guides/ddf-vpn-guide</a> [by the Digital Defense Fund]

 

VPN Recommendations

Mulvad (<a href="https://mullvad.net/en/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">https://mullvad.net/en/</a>) and IVPN (<a href="https://www.ivpn.net/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">https://www.ivpn.net/</a>) are highly recommended.

TunnelBear (<a href="https://www.tunnelbear.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">https://www.tunnelbear.com/</a>) is another good option. In partnership with Tunnelbear, <a class="inline_disabled" href="https://engagemedia.org/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">EngageMedia</a> (who works with HRDs in South and Souteast Asia) has been distributing free VPN vouchers to civil society and activists for the last three years. You can contact them here: <a href="https://engagemedia.org/contact/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">https://engagemedia.org/contact/</a>

Tor Browser

Tor is a volunteer-run service that provides both privacy and anonymity online by masking who you are and where you are connecting. The service also protects you from the Tor network itself—you can have good assurance that you’ll remain anonymous to other Tor users.

For people who might need occasional anonymity and privacy when accessing websites, Tor Browser provides a quick and easy way to use the Tor network.

The Tor Browser works just like a regular web browser. Web browsers are programs you use to view web sites. Examples include Chrome, Firefox, and Safari. Unlike other web browsers, though, the Tor Browser sends your communications through Tor, making it harder for people who are monitoring you to know exactly what you're doing online, and harder for people monitoring the sites you use to know where you're connecting from. (source: <a class="inline_disabled" href="https://ssd.eff.org/en/module/how-use-tor-windows" target="_blank" rel="noopener">EFF</a>)

This video is a helpful introduction to Tor browser. (Note: you can access the subtitles in many languages by clicking on the settings button ⚙️ and selecting "Subtitles")

<iframe title="YouTube video player" src="https://www.youtube-nocookie.com/embed/JWII85UlzKw" width="560" height="315" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture"></iframe>

Resources on using Tor browser

<a class="inline_disabled" href="https://ssd.eff.org/en/module/how-use-tor-windows" target="_blank" rel="noopener">[Guide] How to use Tor for Windows</a> (by EFF) - available in EN, ES, FR, RU, AR and other languages

<a class="inline_disabled" href="https://ssd.eff.org/en/module/how-use-tor-macos" target="_blank" rel="noopener">[Guide] How to use Tor for macOS</a> (by EFF) - available in EN, ES, FR, RU, AR and other languages

<a class="inline_disabled" href="https://ssd.eff.org/en/module/how-use-tor-linux" target="_blank" rel="noopener">[Guide] How to use Tor for Linux</a> (by EFF) - available in EN, ES, FR, RU, AR and other languages

Download Tor Browser: <a class="yt-simple-endpoint style-scope yt-formatted-string" href="https://www.youtube.com/redirect?event=video_description&redir_token=QUFFLUhqbmFKaEdpWExQa21ieDJwTFVvNlhKYlJ2MUl0d3xBQ3Jtc0ttb1FPQVBKRF9fVVpZcmd3M2t2ejhVTjE0Z3dsbV9xanVIOUtSZmxhZHE0UXFJZ3ExbWJaVWJ0ZVNjWlNQT1VYcUhrMTM1MVEyT1BYWGVZUkd6amExTDVraDJxcHRZMGtKaVh0ekN6a0VwU09HOFNJNA&q=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.torproject.org%2F&v=JWII85UlzKw" target="_blank" rel="noopener">https://www.torproject.org</a>

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