If you want to access the internet privately and freely, using a VPN is the easiest method. The tool uses strong encryption on your traffic, meaning nobody can see the files you download or the websites you visit. It also switches your IP address to another country, allowing you to gain access to otherwise unavailable content.
However, many websites, online services, and ISPs block VPN traffic to prevent users from accessing geo-restricted or censored content. The good news is there are ways to get around these roadblocks. In this guide, we will discuss effective tips to make your VPN undetectable so that you can dodge VPN blocks.
The benefits of having an undetectable VPN
To avoid VPN blocks
Countries like Indonesia, China, and Iran are known for their restrictive internet policies and use state-of-the-art technology to detect and restrict VPN usage. Many schools and offices block VPNs using firewalls. If you make your VPN undetectable, you can access the free internet without getting on anyone’s radar.
To enjoy better privacy
Your ISP can tell that you are using VPN, though they will not be able to see your online activities thanks to encryption. Websites can also identify if someone is connecting with a VPN IP address. If you want to keep your VPN use under wraps, then having an undetectable VPN is your best bet.
To access streaming services
Streaming services like BBC iPlayer, Hulu, and Disney+ Hotstar have to follow licensing agreements, and use anti-VPN measures to prevent their content from being accessed in unsupported countries. Making your VPN undetectable will let you consistently access the titles you want from anywhere.
8 effective ways to make your VPN undetectable
- Select a high-quality VPN
You can effortlessly bypass blocks by using a premium VPN that offers excellent security features and a reliable network of servers. Certain VPN features can make your VPN connection undetectable while enabling you to get around firewalls or geo-restrictions. These include a wide selection of protocols, AES 256-bit encryption, IP leak protection, obfuscation, and an internet kill switch.
Furthermore, a large server network with regularly refreshed IP addresses reduces the possibility of encountering blocked connections.While most VPNs provide some of these features, they often lack obfuscation and other advanced settings explicitly designed to dodge VPN blocks. Also, many VPNs do not frequently update their server infrastructure, making it difficult to bypass VPN blocks used by websites and entities.
- Choose a different VPN protocol
Some VPN protocols are more effective in bypassing VPN blocks than others. Protocols control how VPN data is transmitted between the user’s device and the server. Knowing the various protocol options available to you can help you pick the best one to avoid detection:
- OpenVPN: A highly-secure and open-source VPN protocol. However, OpenVPN might sometimes fail to get around blocks as it is so commonly used. Some VPNs let you switch between OpenVPN UDP and OpenVPN TCP. The latter is better at bypassing blocks but slower than the former.
- WireGuard: One of the newer VPN protocols, WireGuard is open-source and used by many leading VPN providers because of its unblocking capabilities and fast speeds.
- IKEv2: A lightweight, fast, and highly-secure protocol that is ideal for mobile devices. IKEv2 only uses one port (500), making it quite easy to block.
- PPTP: One of the oldest protocols, PPTP offers fast speeds and poor security. It is not reliable on the privacy front either, so blocking it is not difficult.
- SSTP: A great option for overcoming blocks as it uses port 443, which is the same port used by HTTPS connections. This makes your VPN traffic look like regular traffic. That said, SSTP is only available for Windows devices.
- L2TP/IPSec: Reliable option to circumvent VPN blocks. L2TP itself does not encrypt traffic, but it supports up to 256 bit encryption when paired with IPSec. L2TP/IPSec is much slower in comparison to other VPN protocols.
- Use the obfuscation feature
Obfuscation, in simple terms, hides the fact you are using a VPN. Protocols like OpenVPN have metadata that can expose your VPN use, making it tough to dodge VPN blocks, particularly those enforced by government and network firewalls.
With obfuscation, the metadata is jumbled up in an unreadable manner. Some obfuscated servers can also prevent you from encountering VPN blocks by detecting open ports and switching frequently. This feature is extremely useful in countries with strict censorship (such as China) that use methods like deep packet inspection to block VPN traffic.
- Change your VPN IP address
If a website is blocking your connection, reconnecting to the VPN server or switching to another one should resolve the issue. When a website sees multiple users sharing the same IP address, they usually block it thinking it is from a VPN.
Streaming services like Netflix, Hulu, and Prime Video also regularly block VPN IPs. Ideally, you should choose a VPN provider that offers thousands of servers around the world, as it reduces the chances of coming across one that is blocked.
- Use mobile data
If you want to bypass VPN blocks on WiFi networks, switching to mobile data is an easy solution. VPNs are typically blocked by offices and schools to limit access to content, but using mobile data rather than WiFi can let you use your VPN. However, this method will not work against government censorship or DPI.
It is also important to remember that data-intensive activities like gaming or streaming can quickly use up data. Though almost every VPN provider comes with unlimited bandwidth,the same cannot be said about most cellular plans. So, you need to keep track of your data usage to avoid incurring any unexpected charges.
Related Read: Does VPN work on data?
- Switch to TCP port 443
Ports are essentially channels used by devices to communicate with one another over the internet. OpenVPN, the most widely used protocol, runs on port 1194, which is why it is blocked by many websites. In such scenarios, we recommend using TCP port 443 (the same port used by HTTPS traffic).
It is highly unlikely that ISPs or network administrators would block TCP port 443 as it is used by countless websites like YouTube, Facebook, Google, and so on. Keep in mind that while this is an effective method when it comes to getting past less severe restrictions like those imposed by streaming sites, it will not help you avoid DPI.
- Get a dedicated IP address
Dedicated IP addresses are exclusively assigned to you, so they are less likely to be blacklisted. Normally, you share a single IP address with multiple users when you connect to a VPN server. However, so many users using one IP address at the same time can seem suspicious to most websites.
By using a dedicated IP address, not only can you get around these blocks easily but also avoid CAPTCHA security alerts that could be triggered when you switch servers frequently. If you want to get a dedicated IP address, remember that most VPNs offer it for a small monthly fee.
- Use Tor over VPN
When you connect to a VPN server first and then use the Tor browser, your traffic will first go through the VPN, then through the Tor network. This makes it extremely difficult for anyone to track your online activities. While this method can help you bypass certain VPN blocks, it is not foolproof. Some networks and websites may still be able to detect and block the use of Tor.
Final word
By following the tips and tricks mentioned above, you can make your VPN undetectable and bypass VPN blocks imposed by websites, streaming services, etc. You can enjoy a restriction-free internet experience without worrying about getting flagged or caught by governments, ISPs, and network administrators.
Hunain Muhammad
October 1, 2023
8 months ago