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Tom's Guide
22-07-2025
- Politics
- Tom's Guide
Political turmoil and military tensions see 24 internet restrictions imposed so far in 2025
24 cases of internet restrictions have been imposed in the first six months of 2025, with countless people, activists, and journalists being censored. One of the best VPNs, Surfshark, monitors cases of censorship through its Internet Shutdown Tracker and cases exceed those recorded in the first six months of 2024. So far in 2025, 24 internet restrictions have been recorded in 10 countries/territories. The first six months of 2024 saw 20 restrictions in nine countries, with internet censorship going on to impact 4.8 billion people. This trend could see even more people become victims of internet censorship by the end of 2025, and reinforces how vital it is to oppose internet censorship at every turn. Of the 24 internet restrictions recorded, 15 occurred in Asian countries/territories. India imposed five restrictions, mostly as a result of protests taking place across several regions and cities. The disputed Jammu & Kashmir region also saw five restrictions amid political turmoil. Iran was third on the list, recording three internet restrictions. These largely took place during the height of its military tensions with Israel and saw demand for VPNs peak at 707% over the baseline. Congo DR, Iraq, Panama, and Venezuela all restricted the internet twice, while Kenya, Togo, and Tanzania recorded one case of internet restriction. The Proton VPN Observatory saw a VPN spike of 12,000% over the baseline in Togo as protestors called for the president's resignation following controversial constitution changes. NetBlocks, which works in partnership with Surfshark to run its tracker, reported at least three days of internet blackouts in Panama. This took place at the end of June and coincided with protests by banana workers. According to Surfshark this was the first time Panama has imposed internet restrictions since the provider began monitoring data in 2015. ⚠️ Update: Metrics show the internet blackout in the Bocas del Toro Province of #Panama is in its third day, with emergency calls also impacted; the measure, imposed in response to banana workers' protests, continues to limit economic activity and freedom of expression 24, 2025 "Over the years, governments have used internet shutdowns to control and silence journalists, activists, and the public," said Justas Pukys, VPN Product Manager at Surfshark. "Internet blackouts can be dangerous, especially during critical events such as elections, protests, or other political turmoil. Losing internet access makes it harder to stay in touch with family members, access critical news outlets, and share urgent information with the world about unfolding events." "Since internet access is now essential to basic human rights, it's more important than ever to track cases of mass censorship." Social media is often seen as an easy target for authorities looking to impose restrictions. Social media restrictions differ from network restrictions but can occur simultaneously. Surfshark reports that 24 countries are currently blocking social media or voice over IP (VOIP) services. Telegram is the most targeted app, with X/Twitter close behind. Venezuela blocked Telegram in the early hours of January 11 as President Nicolás Maduro was sworn in for a third term. A few days earlier, Venezuela had gone on a VPN banning spree as 21 providers had their websites blocked. In March, the Proton VPN Observatory recorded a VPN spike in Turkey of 1,100% over the baseline. The government restricted access to YouTube, Instagram, TikTok, and X, as protests engulfed the country following the arrest of President Erdogan's main political rival. TikTok was also blocked in Albania – another country imposing its first restriction – as a one-year ban came into effect in March. The app famously went offline for a short period in the US as rumors surrounding its ban and/or potential purchase circled. President Trump has since extended the TikTok ban twice and it looks unlikely to be shut down again. Although this move wasn't done with direct censorship in mind, and therefore not classed as an internet restriction, it shows that no country is immune to restrictions and it should be challenged at every level. VPNs are on the front line when it comes to combating internet censorship, and they are a vital tool for those living under restricted conditions. Many of the leading VPNs are effective at bypassing restrictions of varying severity. In most instances, all it takes to bypass blockages is connecting to a server in a different country and accessing the app or site being blocked. But in some cases, you need one of the most private VPNs as government censorship is more sophisticated – China and Russia are the two leading examples here. Advised for bypassing all restrictions, but especially important for sophisticated restrictions, is VPN obfuscation. Obfuscated servers hide the fact you're using a VPN and make it harder for sites, internet service providers, and governments to block your traffic and identify you. NordVPN, Surfshark, ExpressVPN, and Proton VPN all have obfuscated servers, as do other secure providers not featured in our best VPN list. All of these providers have strict no-logs policies, which mean your internet traffic is never recorded, stored, shared, or sold. Double VPN or multi-hop features are also present. These route your traffic through two encrypted VPN servers, rather than the usual one, for added security. Proton VPN champions anti-censorship features which are specifically designed to bypass internet restrictions and keep vulnerable users safe. These include Proton VPN Free, Guest Mode, and the ability to disguise its Android VPN app. Many VPNs also offer free emergency VPN subscriptions to journalists, activists, and anyone living under internet censorship unable to access a free and open internet. Providers like Proton VPN and Windscribe do this in the form of some of the best free VPNs, while others like NordVPN and Surfshark have dedicated emergency VPN programs. Follow Tom's Guide on Google News to get our up-to-date news, how-tos, and reviews in your feeds. Make sure to click the Follow button. We test and review VPN services in the context of legal recreational uses. For example: 1. Accessing a service from another country (subject to the terms and conditions of that service). 2. Protecting your online security and strengthening your online privacy when abroad. We do not support or condone the illegal or malicious use of VPN services. Consuming pirated content that is paid-for is neither endorsed nor approved by Future Publishing.
Tom's Guide
16-05-2025
- Business
- Tom's Guide
Surfshark's Dedicated IP now available in seven new locations
If you're looking for a unique IP address that only you can access, Surfshark's Dedicated IP might be for you. The offering from the number two provider in our best VPN list has now got even better. Surfshark has expanded Dedicated IP, with seven new locations available across five countries. Dedicated IP is available as a paid add-on for all Surfshark plans, and here's everything you need to know about the update. Surfshark: the best cheap VPNSurfshark is the best cheap VPN we've tested. It sits at #2 on our best VPN list and is the fastest VPN we've tested – hitting speeds of over 950 Mbps. You can protect an unlimited number of devices on one plan and hide your personal information with Alternative ID. The 2-year deal works out at $1.99 per month ($53.73 plus tax up front) and you'll get 3 extra months of protection for free. Dedicated IP is available as a $3.75 per month add-on and there's a 30-day money-back guarantee. Surfshark previously offered 13 Dedicated IP locations, and the seven included in this update takes its total to 20. The new locations are: According to Justas Pukys, Senior Product Manager at Surfshark, demand for Dedicated IP addresses is rapidly increasing across major cities worldwide. Surfshark has added these new locations to meet demand and bring the feature to key global regions. Surfshark added that more locations are on the way as it continues to expand Dedicated IP. Other Dedicated IP locations include Toronto, London, Amsterdam, Frankfurt, Paris, Milan, Tokyo, Hong Kong, Sydney, and Johannesburg. San Jose, Los Angeles, Dallas are the U.S. cities on offer. Typically, when you connect to a VPN server you'll get a new IP address each time. Providers have a bank of addresses and multiple users have access to them. In some cases, these IP addresses can be targeted by internet service providers (ISPs). You may encounter numerous CAPTCHA requests or find the site you want to visit is blocked. Dedicated IP changes this. You're assigned your own IP, unique to you. Your traffic appears more consistent and CAPTCHAs should reduce. Sharing an IP address with others means it has the potential to be abused. Your Dedicated IP is used only by you and you don't have to worry about the actions of other VPN users. Dedicated IP supports all major protocols, meaning you get the speeds Surfshark is famous for – it's the fastest VPN we've tested – without compromising your VPN protection and data privacy. Surfshark's Dedicated IP is available on iOS, Mac, Windows, and Android. Surfshark provides VPN protection for an unlimited number of devices and this is no different for Dedicated IP – all your devices can share the same IP address. "Dedicated IP acts as a permanent, individual address on the internet that offers a more stable and reliable VPN experience," said Pukys. "Unlike shared IP addresses, which may be used by hundreds of users at once and often trigger human verification requests, a Dedicated IP can significantly reduce such disruptions." "It also enhances secure access to platforms that require consistent identification, such as remote servers or banking services, and minimizes exposure to the risks commonly associated with shared IP usage," he added. Dedicated IP is available as a paid add-on for all Surfshark for $3.75 per month. To upgrade, log into your Surfshark account, select "Dedicated IP" then "Upgrade." Choose your location and pay. A 30-day money-back guarantee is included but you can only purchase one Dedicated IP per account. A number of VPN providers also offer a dedicated or static IP address as a paid add-on to plans: NordVPN's dedicated IP address is the most expensive of the leading providers – but it does have the largest number of locations. PIA and CyberGhost's dedicated IPs are the cheapest amongst these VPNs, so if price is a concern these may be a better option for you. Proton VPN also offers a dedicated IP address but only for business users. We test and review VPN services in the context of legal recreational uses. For example: 1. Accessing a service from another country (subject to the terms and conditions of that service). 2. Protecting your online security and strengthening your online privacy when abroad. We do not support or condone the illegal or malicious use of VPN services. Consuming pirated content that is paid-for is neither endorsed nor approved by Future Publishing.
Yahoo
15-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Surfshark expands Dedicated IP with new locations
Surfshark Dedicated IP Surfshark, a cybersecurity company, expands its Dedicated IP service to seven new locations, now offering unique, static IP (Internet Protocol) addresses in 20 locations worldwide. This expansion provides users with reliable access to IP-sensitive services. It also minimizes frustrating human verification requests by ensuring a consistent IP address each time they connect through a designated VPN server. 'Dedicated IP acts as a permanent, individual address on the internet that offers a more stable and reliable VPN (Virtual Private Network) experience. Unlike shared IP addresses, which may be used by hundreds of users at once and often trigger human verification requests, a Dedicated IP can significantly reduce such disruptions. It also enhances secure access to platforms that require consistent identification, such as remote servers or banking services, and minimizes exposure to the risks commonly associated with shared IP usage,' says Justas Pukys, Sr. Product Manager at Surfshark. Benefits of Dedicated IP The Dedicated IP feature is available on Android, Windows, iOS, and macOS and supports all major protocols, including WireGuard®, for maximum speed. This allows users to benefit from a static IP address without sacrificing connection performance. One key advantage is a noticeable reduction in human verification requests — common with standard VPNs, where multiple users share the same IP address, often triggering verification prompts. Dedicated IP minimizes this issue by assigning a unique address, making traffic appear more consistent to websites. It also enhances network performance, as only one user generates traffic through the IP, leading to faster and more stable connections. Additionally, Dedicated IP simplifies access to remote networks, eliminating the unpredictability of changing addresses associated with shared VPN servers. 7 new locations Surfshark already offered 13 Dedicated IP locations: the US (San Jose, Los Angeles, Dallas), Canada (Toronto), the UK (London), the Netherlands (Amsterdam), Germany (Frankfurt), France (Paris), Italy (Milan), Japan (Tokyo), Hong Kong (Hong Kong), Australia (Sydney), and South Africa (Johannesburg). Now, the company has expanded Dedicated IP to seven new locations: the US (Denver, New York, Las Vegas), Brazil (São Paulo), Poland (Warsaw), Singapore (Singapore), and Turkey (Istanbul). According to J. Pukys, demand for Dedicated IP addresses is rapidly increasing, particularly in major cities worldwide. To meet this need, the company has added seven new locations to its network, bringing this feature closer to users in key regions around the world. This is just the start — more locations are on the way as the Dedicated IP continues to SURFSHARK Surfshark is a cybersecurity company offering products including an audited VPN, certified antivirus, data leak warning system, private search engine, and tool for generating an online identity. Recognized as a leading VPN by CNET and TechRadar, Surfshark has also been featured on the FT1000: Europe's Fastest Growing Companies ranking. Headquartered in the Netherlands, Surfshark has offices in Lithuania and Poland. For information on Surfshark's operations and highlights, read our Annual Wrap-up. For research projects, visit our Research Hub. Attachment Surfshark Dedicated IPError in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
