Can you use VPNs to access region-locked content?

Virtual Private Networks are a tool used by most users nowadays in order to ensure their security while online. Through a VPN, you can choose to change your IP address seen online. This means that you can display yourself to be coming from another country whenever surfing.

VPNs are used by those who want to protect their identity online. Aside from this, the information they store online can also be protected. This is because everything they will send will first be encrypted, sent to the VPN provider’s server, and then sent to the website of your choice. This means that if hackers will be able to take hold of your information, they will not be able to access its contents.

Can you use it to access region-locked content?

The simple answer is: yes. However, this depends upon the service you are subscribed to. For example, some VPNs like NordVPN and CyberGhostVPN are capable of bypassing most restrictions. These are paid services. On the other hand, some free VPNs may have difficulty in doing this. How the VPN is programmed determines if it will be able to bypass these filters or not.

The usual websites where these restrictions usually occur include streaming services like Youtube and Netflix. Both websites sometimes have restrictions in terms of countries allowed to view certain content because of licensing issues and legal matters. For example, a certain show may be bought by the service available to be streamed in all countries while another may only be available for specific ones. This is because it is more expensive to make it available for every user within the platform.

How do I unlock content with a VPN?

First, you will need to subscribe to a VPN service. You will then choose a specific country you will be shown to be coming from. For example, users from Singapore may display themselves as users from the United States. The user will be connected to a server that other people may already be using. Sometimes, servers may be already full. Their capacity depends upon the service you will choose.

You will then be connected to the server. The information you will upload online will be encrypted. For users with a slower internet connection, the speed of browsing may be slower than usual. The benefits you will have from using it, though, may encourage you to still use a VPN. 

Now that you have an idea as to why VPNs are so great at being able to help you access content that is usually locked in your geopraphic area we suggest taking a look at the best ranked VPNs that we have complied. See our list of the top VPN service providers right here.