Posted by Have you tried to access Hulu, Netflix, Disney Plus or any other geo-restricted website only to be told that “This service is not accessible in your country?” Well, this error message indicated that the website follows geo-restriction policies that don’t allow international users to directly access the site from a particular region.
However, these major streaming platforms benefit from geo-restriction, but they can also prevent you from accessing the content you want. Location-based restrictions are common on streaming services, betting sites, sports sites, and other well-known platforms including Netflix, Hulu, and Disney Plus. These platforms have agreements that allow them to broadcast their content in specified places. They’d be in big trouble if they disobeyed this rule.
So, why are you geo-blocked, and how you can access Disney Plus, Hulu, Netflix, Voot, DStv and other geo-restricted platforms from the comfort of your own home? Keep reading to find out to access geo-restricted sites with 3 latest technologies.
How do Geo-restrictions work in the streaming world?
The majority of ISPs accomplish this by utilizing the user’s IP address. An IP (Internet Protocol) address provides a virtual location. Your original IP address can be used to figure out where you are. As a result, limited platform algorithms match IP addresses to permitted sites, preventing access from restricted areas.
Some carriers go one step further and verify that a user’s IP address matches the GPS data on their device. If you use a free VPN provider, you may potentially be discovered. VPNs supply a pool of IP addresses to strict providers. When a user connects to the platform, it checks if any of the IP addresses on their list have been flagged.
What is the purpose of geo-restrictions?
You’ll come across geo-restrictions because of the following reasons:
- Copyright Agreements
- Blackouts
- Licensing Rights
- Price Discrimination
- Legal Reasons
- Legal Requirements
Access Geo-restricted Sites with 4 Latest Technologies
There are 4 latest technologies to bypass sites that are blocked in your country that you may be familiar with and have used one of them. VPN, TOR or the Onion Browser, Smart DNS, and Proxy Servers.
All of these latest technologies are effective and will allow you to access country-restricted Netflix, Disney Plus, and Hulu libraries, as well as social media websites and sports sites that are forbidden in other countries.
VPN
By swapping your IP address with the address of the VPN server you connect to, a VPN service can help you avoid geo-blocks. So, when you connect to any VPN server in USA, Canada, UK, Australia, then you’ll be able to directly and safely access geo-restricted websites that are only available in that country.
Because it uses encryption, a VPN can also prevent your ISP from limiting your bandwidth. You should be warned, however, that the encryption utilized by a VPN can cause your connection to slow down. That’s not to imply your web speeds will be affected completely; however, depending on how strong the encryption cipher and VPN protocol are, you may see some slowdowns.
Only a few VPNs can bypass strong geo-restrictions, as the best Netflix VPN, Hulu VPN, and Disney Plus VPN. Also, you can use it to watch different channels like Voot in USA, CTV outside Canada, SonyLiv in Australia and can be used safely from any location. Some VPNs, on the other hand, are unable to unblock even a single library, so make sure you choose one that can manage your streaming requirements.
Proxy Servers
A proxy server functions as a go-between for you and the internet. You send it your connection requests, and it passes them on your behalf to the appropriate website – but it does so use its own IP address rather than yours. As a result, it makes it simple to go around geo-blocks.
Furthermore, a proxy server might use local caching to respond to your requests faster. In other words, if the server already has the content you’re looking for in its local cache, it won’t have to send your request to the web, saving you time.
Smart DNS
Smart DNS is a service that lets you hide your real DNS address, which is provided by your ISP. While it isn’t the same as hiding your IP address, your DNS address does show your genuine geo-location. As a result, replacing it with a new address containing data referring to a location in a country where the content is available is a viable method of circumnavigating geo-blocks.
TOR (The Onion Browser)
Tor is a free-to-use anonymity network that hides your IP address while you’re online, thereby bypassing geo-blocks. Because your online traffic is bounced and encrypted across numerous Tor relays, your digital footprint is likewise masked.
However, there are some issues with the service. For starters, the relays are run entirely by volunteers, thus they can’t guaranteed to be completely dependable. An ISP, for example, can disable a relay if it is discovered (which can happen with exit relays, where Tor traffic is no longer encrypted).
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