Whether you live in Tanzania or are planning to travel soon, you’ll need to find an alternative way to continue accessing X (formerly known as Twitter).
UK internet watchdog NetBlocks confirmed the blocking of social media across the country’s major internet providers on Friday, August 30, 2024 (see tweet below). “The incident comes as police issue a warning over alleged plans by the opposition party to raid police stations where political prisoners could be held,” the experts wrote.
Connecting to one of the best VPN apps is the easiest way to continue accessing the platforms as you normally would. Keep reading and I’ll explain everything you need to know.
⚠️ Confirmed: Live stats show X (formerly Twitter) has been blocked on #Tanzania’s major internet providers; incident comes as police issue warning over alleged plans by opposition party to raid police stations where political prisoners may be held pic.twitter.com/5aUL791DggAugust 30, 2024
How a VPN Can Help
A VPN, short for Virtual Private Network, is a security software that not only encrypts your internet connections but also spoofs your IP address.
This last skill makes it seem like you are surfing the web from a completely different country in just a click or two. This is exactly what you need to bypass geo-restrictions, such as those currently in place in Tanzania.
Even if you are new to the VPN world, you don’t have to worry. Using a VPN is as easy as downloading and using any other application on your phone or laptop.
All you need to do is subscribe to your chosen service, download the VPN app on your device, and connect to one of the servers in a country with no online restrictions. All the top VPNs have a huge international network of servers, giving you plenty of choice.
At the time of writing, TechRadar’s #1 recommendation is NordVPN, as it offers user-friendly apps, reliably fast speeds, great unblocking capabilities, and a ton of security features. However, if you’re on a tight budget, Surfshark is the best cheap VPN on the market, with plans starting from the equivalent of around $2 per month.
I generally advise against using free software, as these services can compromise your privacy. Some free VPNs make money by selling your data – the exact opposite of what a VPN is supposed to do. In some cases, you also run the risk of infecting your device with malware or viruses.
That said, we’ve put together a special guide to the best free VPNs out there to help you choose the safest free software when you need a reliable VPN that won’t cost you a dime. Our top picks right now are PrivadoVPN and Proton VPN – but keep in mind that they all have limitations.
More than VPNs
VPNs are the most widespread and user-friendly tools to improve your privacy. However, they are not the only way to bypass blocks, bans and geo-restrictions.
One of the best VPN alternatives is the Tor Browser. The advantage of Tor is that it is completely free to use and offers an even higher level of security by routing your internet connections (and data in transit) through at least three layers of encryption. However, this enhanced encryption can significantly slow down your connection speed.
Proxy services are another effective method of spoofing your IP address. Unlike VPNs, they do not encrypt your internet connections, making them less secure overall. I highly recommend users who are at risk of surveillance to opt for a VPN instead.
You can also use a SmartDNS service to easily bypass geo-restrictions online. Again, these services don’t offer the same level of protection as VPNs, meaning they don’t encrypt your data. Worse yet, a SmartDNS doesn’t even change your IP and only reroutes information about your location.
We test and review VPN services in the context of legal recreational use. For example: 1. Accessing a service from another country (subject to the terms and conditions of that service). 2. Protecting your online security and enhancing your online privacy abroad. We do not support or tolerate the illegal or malicious use of VPN services. The consumption of paid pirated content is not endorsed or approved by Future Publishing.
