Google is introducing a “Verified” badge on the Play Store to help users identify safe and reliable VPN apps. This badge, displayed as a shield with a checkmark and the word “Verified,” indicates that the VPN meets strict security and privacy standards, ensuring users can trust apps that genuinely protect their data.

How VPNs Can Earn Google’s Verified Badge

To earn the badge, VPN apps must pass Google’s Mobile Application Security Assessment (MASA) Level 2 and comply with Play Store guidelines. Developers must meet specific criteria, including having at least 10,000 installs, 250 reviews, and 90 days of availability on the Play Store. They must also operate under an organization developer account and submit a declaration in the Data Safety section, detailing how user data is handled and confirming independent security audits.

This initiative addresses growing concerns about malicious VPN apps that pose as security tools while harvesting data or spreading malware. Earlier this month, Google warned about legitimate-looking VPNs being used as backdoors for cyberattacks. With VPN usage rising due to privacy concerns and online restrictions, the need for clear verification is critical.

Leading VPN providers like NordVPN, Hide.me, and Aloha Browser have already received the badge, highlighting their commitment to user security. Verified apps may also gain increased visibility on the Play Store, encouraging developers to adhere to these standards.

This move is part of Google’s broader efforts to enhance Play Store transparency and security, following updates like privacy labels and independent security review banners. Last year, Google also introduced a verification badge for government-made apps, helping users identify legitimate applications from official sources.

As cyber threats evolve, the “Verified” badge is a crucial step in helping users make informed choices in a crowded VPN market, ensuring safer and more reliable app experiences.

For more daily updates, please visit our News Section.

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Internet privacy has become quite crucial these days, and to prevent and mask the online identity, the Virtual Private Network services are now booming. However, it is quite difficult to choose among the best VPN players on the market. This is where a free trial becomes useful and essential.

A free trial allows you to explore the features of a VPN without any commitment. For instance, Surfshark offers an impressive 7-day free trial, giving users a hands-on experience of its premium features. Whether you’re testing the connection speed, assessing server reliability, or exploring additional tools like ad-blocking and malware protection, a free trial ensures transparency.

Benefits of VPN Free Trial

Evaluate Performance – Not all VPNs deliver on their promises. With a free trial, you can test Surfshark’s blazing-fast servers, seamless streaming capabilities, and secure browsing.

User-Friendly Interface – Surfshark is known for its intuitive design. With the free trial, you can navigate through the app, understand its functionalities, and see how user-friendly it is.

Compatibility Across Devices – The 7-day free trial allows you to test the VPN on multiple devices—be it your smartphone, tablet, or desktop.

Cost-Effectiveness – Investing in a VPN is a commitment. A free trial lets you decide if Surfshark is worth the subscription fee, giving you the confidence to proceed with a long-term plan.

How to Get Surfshark’s 7-Day Free Trial

Signing up for Surfshark’s free trial is straightforward. Simply download the app from your device’s app store, sign up for the free trial, and explore all premium features. There’s no risk involved, as you won’t be charged during the trial period.

Don’t miss out on this opportunity to experience Surfshark’s top-notch VPN services risk-free and start your 7-day free trial now.

The post Why You Should Enjoy Free Trial Before Buying a VPN? appeared first on Gizmochina.

Privacy concerns have always remained in the limelight since the evolution of the Internet. With time, different tools, firewalls, and utilities have been developed to bolster the overall security of the network and data. In recent times, VPNs have become a primary tool that safeguards privacy while accessing the network. Nowadays, the advantages have varied, and users tend to use VPN services. SurfsharkVPN is one of the most talked-about VPN service providers around the globe. We have reviewed the VPN and found some advantages that are worth the applause and some issues that might hinder the ‘perfect’ experience. Let’s dive in for details.

Key Takeaways

• Surfshark offers useful features to hide your identity, safeguard your privacy, and even enhance system security.
• Surfshark offers a free seven-day trial on Android, iOS, and Mac, along with a 30-day money-back guarantee.
• Don’t worry about logs, as Surfshark doesn’t keep any logs.

Installation

SurfShark is compatible with almost every popular operating system, including MacOS, Windows, Android, and iOS, MacOS, and browsers such as Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, and Microsoft Edge. Below are the details of our setup:

Machine Environment

We tested the Surfshark VPN on an Android, iOS, and Windows OS machine and compared the features after rigorously testing the VPN across different use cases. We used different applications across different countries and tried to flaunt the features marketed by the VPN fully, and the results were satisfying. We tested the services from Toronto, Canada, and Chandigarh, India, to better evaluate the overall service. Moreover, what excites us is the company’s no-log audit report, which promises privacy for the end user. Below is the result of our evaluations:

There are several other competitors in the VPN space; however, Surfshark has maintained its spot by offering VPN services with some extra features at an affordable price.

Why We Recommend the SurfShark VPN

Note: For test purposes, we have used some online streaming services using VPNs. In no way do we recommend using these services unethically.

Unblocking the Web

After the initial setup, we tried Surfshark VPN using its WireGuard protocol by accessing Weibo.com from India as it is blocked currently. However, with the Surfshark the website opened like a flash without a major delay. Moreover, we tried accessing some Prime Video India content from our Toronto location, and the content was buffering without any buffering in Full HD.

Speed Tests

Further, we tried the VPN using the OpenVPN Protocol and did a speed test from Toronto, and it offered a 340 Mbps download speed. From our location in India, it touched 130 Mbps download speed. However, speed to far-off locations often reduces the speed below 100Mbps. There’s a significant drop in speed if you want to access Australian servers from Toronto, Canada.

Alternative ID

Moreover, the user can fake their profiles with the Alternative ID in countries such as the United States, Australia, Brazil, Denmark, Germany, and Portugal.

Ease of Access

Logging into the SurfShark VPN has become easy, as users can easily log in on different devices using a QR code from devices that are already logged in. There’s also an option to log into the Surfshark account with an Apple or Google account. Such practices help users easily access the services across devices.

Better User Interface with Kill Switch

In addition to Android and iOS apps, Surfshark offers a modern and easily accessible user interface. Precisely, the Android app has passed Google’s Mobile Application Security Assessment, confirming that SurfShark uses some best practices to secure the user’s data and privacy. Further, the user can use a Kill Switch (Soft or Strict) to fully cut down on internet access if the VPN is not active. It is a quite useful feature in some scenarios.

Split Tunneling

Surfshark Bypass is another useful feature that allows the VPN to bypass certain apps, programs, or websites.

Among the features listed on the product page, the product stuns with features like WireGuard, AlternativeID, and Incogni. Further, the no-logging policy attracted our attention. It bundles the ability to unlock Netflix, Player, Amazon, Prime, and Disney Plus. If you arrive in an odd situation, the support live chat is not so far away. Moreover, it helps to initiate multiple simultaneous conceptions at no extra cost. To access their network of 3200+ servers across 140+ locations in 100 countries, the user can buy cheap long-term plans.

Compatibility and Security

With extensive support across different operating systems like Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, and Linux. There are also dedicated extensions for Firefox, Chrome, and Edge. It allows users to connect with strong AES-256-GCM encryption and offers support for different protocols, such as OpenVPN, WireGuard, and IKEv2. Users can search on SurfShark without leaving any traces behind. There’s a dedicated antivirus program that protects you from incoming attacks.

Logging Policy

Certain independent security audit reports confirm the ‘strong security posture’. However, there were some general security flaws that were already fixed by Surfshark. In another audit, Deloitte verified the ‘no-logs’ policy claim and found the server setup “properly prepared, in all respects, by Surfshark’s description of its no-logs policy.”

Other Features

• WireGuard Protocol: Surfshark’s WireGuard protocol offers faster speeds and enhanced security compared to traditional VPN protocols.
• No-Logging Policy: The No-Logging Policy is a major advantage of using Surfshark, as none of your online activities are tracked or stored.
• Streaming Access: It unlocked popular streaming services like Netflix, Amazon Prime, Disney Plus, etc.
• Live Chat Support: The support team offers immediate assistance via 24/7 live chat.
• Strong Encryption: To further protect the user data, the communication is well protected with the AES-256 GCM encryption to secure your data.
• Protocol Flexibility: It supports multiple VPN protocols like OpenVPN, WireGuard, IKEv2, and others that enhance flexibility and security.
• Antivirus Integration: Includes a dedicated antivirus to protect against malware and other online threats.

However, since most of the features are part of the SurfShark One subscription, so you won’t be able to enjoy some features in the SurfShark Starter plan.

Future Improvements:

Certain features are limited to Android and Windows PCs; users on Mac or iOS are unable to utilize the Split Tunneling feature. Moreover, the pricing for a single month is a bit expensive, and the same goes for the renewal. Furthermore, you will get more latency for the servers nearest to your locations.

Pricing

ShurfShark offers three different plans including the SurfShark Starter, SurfShark One, and SurfShark One+. These plans could be expensive if you opt only for a month. We suggest going for the 12-month or 24-month plans. There are extensive discounts for long-time plans.

There are slight upgrades in the Surfshark One and Surfshark One+ plans; however, the difference increases if you opt for the Surfshark Starter. Most of the features are absent from the starter plan. We suggest you opt for the Surfshark One plan if you don’t want to delete your data from company databases or people’s search sites.

With long-term plans, it only costs $2.69 per month. It is worth considering the Surfshark VPN at this price, and we suggest you always opt for a 2-year plan to maximize the savings.

Conclusion

There are plenty of features, but those come at a cost, especially if you want to grab it for a month. The user has to shell out ~$15 per month. It is always recommended to grab the annual or biannual plan. The cost compensates better for a long-term plan.

Surfshark has features that would safeguard user privacy and data. Overall, speeds are good from certain locations; however, the speeds hamper once you connect far-off servers from your location. The VPN was able to unblock most of the websites and apps that are blocked in India. It is a better option if users in North America want to access Chinese applications and apps. You will never miss your favorite show while traveling, as the VPN easily unlocks the video streaming service’s content across the globe.

The post Surfshark VPN Review: Enjoy Protection with Extras at an Affordable Price appeared first on Gizmochina.

Opera has recently announced the expansion of its free VPN service to the Opera Browser for iOS. Initially launched for Android users in 2019, the feature now extends across all major platforms, including Mac, Windows, Linux, Android, and iOS. Here are the details…

Opera adds Free VPN service to Opera browser for iOS

As internet privacy concerns continue to rise, Opera built-in VPN service offers users an added layer of protection while browsing the web. The VPN service keeps personal information secure by concealing IP addresses and encrypting online activities, particularly when connected to unsecured networks.

Opera VPN service on iOS provides a seamless experience, requiring no subscription, account login, or additional extensions. Users can activate the VPN with a simple toggle in the main menu, ensuring private IP addresses and encrypted traffic. With a strict no-logs policy in place, Opera ensures that no personal data or browsing history is collected, maintaining user anonymity.

Offering fast and secure access to virtual locations worldwide, users can now enjoy a private and secure browsing experience. Alongside the introduction of the free VPN service, Opera Browser for iOS boasts several new features. A Bookmarks feature lets users efficiently organize their favorite websites, while the Speed Dial functionality provides quick access to frequently visited sites. Football fans will appreciate the Live score feature on the browser’s homepage, which delivers real-time updates on matches happening around the world.

Opera’s free VPN service for iOS is currently available to a limited number of users, with a full rollout expected in the coming weeks. To begin using the VPN, users can download the Opera Browser for iOS from the Apple Store and enable the VPN feature within the app.

Jørgen Arnesen, EVP Mobile at Opera, shared his thoughts on the announcement:

“As the first browser company to offer a free built-in VPN across all major platforms, we demonstrate our dedication to providing users with a secure browsing experience. We’ve invested considerable time and effort into developing this feature, and we’re thrilled to bring this essential tool to iOS users in order to protect their online safety and privacy.”

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A Virtual Private Network, commonly known as VPN, is a powerful tool that allows users to connect to the internet securely and privately. VPN technology uses encryption to scramble data, making it unreadable to anyone who might intercept it. It then routes this encrypted data through a private network of servers located in different parts of the world. This technology provides several advantages to users, including online privacy, improved security, and access to content that may be restricted in their location.

With the increasing number of cyber threats and online privacy concerns, VPNs have become increasingly popular among individuals and organizations alike. Google, one of the biggest tech players in the game previously announced that its Google One Subscription will now come bundled with VPN. This included only the highest tiers of the subscription, until now. As per the latest blog post from the company, the VPN benefit will now extend to all Google One subscription tiers.

Google One plans already come with increased storage space to ensure your important files and media are safely backed up. To offer even more peace of mind and protection, VPN by Google One is expanding to all plans and will also include access to a dark web report in the U.S., allowing users to better monitor their personal information. The VPN will be available for all Google One subscription tiers, even the $1.99 base plan. This may be a great way to attract those users who were on the cusp of getting into the Google One plan. Users will be able to use Google VPN on Android, iOS, Windows, and Mac devices.

VPN by Google One is currently available in select countries and regions, including Austria, Australia, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Mexico, Netherlands, Norway, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan, United Kingdom, and United States. Eligible Google One members can take advantage of this feature to enhance their online security and privacy.

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Google Chrome is the undisputed market leader when it comes to web browsers. It’s has speed, app sport, and integration with other Google services. This make the browser indispensable for many of us. For this reason, its competitors have to make much more effort to be preferred. For example, they can request much lower system requirements or provide features that are available with add-ons in Chrome as default. Lastly, Microsoft Edge 110 added a built-in VPN following this policy, but only for select users. Here are the details…

Microsoft Edge 110 has a built-in VPN

Microsoft has been testing a version of its Edge with a built-in VPN service for about a year. Now, the company has rolled out the feature to some users in the latest stable version. The new feature, called Secure Network, has been implemented in partnership with Cloudflare and provides users with 1GB of secure VPN traffic as part of the free plan. The fact that the feature has reached the final stages of implementation suggests that Microsoft is likely to announce pricing and a full release of the Edge Secure Network soon.

The Secure Network VPN feature emphasizes the privacy benefits of using a VPN rather than its ability to circumvent regional restrictions by changing the user’s IP address. The service automatically selects servers in the user’s region for safe operation on public networks. In other words, users can only use the Secure Network to protect their privacy.

According to screenshots of Edge 110, which have appeared online, the VPN service supports three modes of operation: “Selected Sites,” “Optimized,” and “All Sites.” This suggests that users will have the option to choose which sites they want to protect with the VPN, or to turn it on for all sites. It’s worth noting that Google added a free VPN to its Pixel 7 series smartphones late last year. However, Microsoft’s decision to integrate a VPN directly into its web browser is a significant step that could lead to increased use of VPNs among its users.

The integration of a VPN service into a major web browser marks a significant step forward for online privacy and security. But it’s not likely to become the industry standard until Google starts using it.

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Google is finally bringing a promised feature to its Pixel 7 series of smartphones. The company had announced that the flagship phones will receive a free VPN feature, which is finally rolling out to the devices.

For those unaware, the Search Engine tech giant had first announced this feature for its Pixel 7 series during its “Made by Google” event in which it also launched the Pixel Watch and phones. Now, the company is finally bringing this free VPN feature through the Google One application. To put things simply, VPN stands for Virtual Private Network and it helps change one’s identity when one is online and it even helps encrypt your internet data as well. In other words, it basically makes it harder for others to get unwanted access to your private data or track your location online.

This even helps in protection when using public WiFi networks. So now, users of the Pixel 7 and Pixel 7 Pro can expect to receive this feature, with the company also putting up a support page that lists the countries where the feature is currently available. This includes nations like Austria, Australia, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Mexico, Netherlands, Norway, South Korea, Spain Sweden Switzerland, Taiwan, United Kingdom, and United States.

Notably, Google has also claimed that if you are from any one of these regions, the VPN by Google One will still be functional even if you travel to any other country or region. Furthermore, the free VPN services will also be offered to Google One subscribers with 2TB of online storage, which costs around 9.99 US Dollars per month.

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Google One subscribers who are using the Premium Plan or above get access to the company’s own VPN service free of cost. So far, the service has been limited to Android and iOS devices, but now Google is rolling it out to desktop users.

The company has confirmed that it is bringing Google One VPN support to Mac and Windows devices. It is made available in 22 countries across the globe, allowing users to mask IP addresses and block trackers.

Users of the desktop version will need at least macOS Big Sur or Windows 10. While the Mac app works for both x86 and ARM users, the Windows app doesn’t support 32-bit or ARM-based systems.

It’s noteworthy that unlike many premium VPN services available in the market, Google One’s VPN doesn’t allow users to change their location to access or unlock other regions’ media content on streaming platforms. Similar to Apple‘s iCloud Plus VPN, the Google One VPN automatically assigns an IP address in the region from where the user is getting connected.

Google also has independent bodies audit its VPN service. The company also shares the source code for its app libraries to ensure transparency. The search engine giant has revealed that the audit for the desktop apps will be made public in the “coming weeks.”

The company had originally started offering VPN service for free to Google One subscribers with a 2TB plan in the United States in 2020, but since then, Google has expanded the offering to 22 markets, including Mexico, Canada, the UK, France, Germany, Spain, and Italy, and others.

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Last week, the Indian government issued an order which required VPN (Virtual Private Network) based companies to collect and provide it with user data.

The order, issued by the Computer Emergency Response Team (CERT-in), which is a department under the Ministry of Electronics and IT requires these companies to collect sensitive user data like IP addresses, usage patterns, etc, and store it for up to 5 years before eventually handing it over to the government whenever asked. Failing to comply with these orders can result in prison sentences of up to a year under Section 70B(7).

The government has stated that this move is aimed at “coordinate response activities as well as emergency measures with respect to cyber security incidents.”

As you can imagine, this is a direct step against data privacy. And it appears that major VPN companies operating in India are unlikely to comply with these orders according to recent statements issued by them.

Laura Tyrylyte, who is the security spokesperson for NordVPN said “We are committed to protecting the privacy of our customers, therefore, we may remove our servers from India if no other options are left.”

Express VPN also issued a statement saying “VPNs are critical for user safety and the preservation of user’s right to online privacy and are fundamentally opposed to any efforts to undermine such technologies.”

Shurfshark VPN’s legal head Gytis Malinauskas has said that “We operate only with RAM-only servers, which means that at this moment, even technically, we would not be able to comply with the logging requirements.

Going by the statements of these major VPN service providers and their firm stance against the Indian Government’s mandate, it could be possible that these companies might soon stop providing their services in India. The last date for complying with the CERT-in’s directive is June 27th, 2022, so stay tuned for more updates on the matter.

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India has just issued a new order that appears to be a step against data privacy. The government is now asking VPN based companies to collect and provide it with user data.

According to an Entrackr report, the government wants Virtual Private Network firms to collect the user’s data for five years on their servers and then eventually hand it over to the government. This order is not limited to just VPN based companies and even targets Cloud and Crypto based firms as well. The report adds that firms that do not comply with this order may face prison sentence up to a year under the Section 70B(7). This order has been issues by a department under the Ministry of Electronics and IT, which is known as Computer Emergency Response Team (CERT-in).

The department has urged VPN companies to collect sensitive user data, which includes their customer’s names after validating them. Furthermore, they would even have to store other forms of information of the user like their IP addresses, usage patterns, and even other forms of identifiable information as well. All in all, the IT Ministry department stated that these efforts are being made to “coordinate response activities as well as emergency measures with respect to cyber security incidents.” However, this is a major step against data privacy since companies are now legally allowed and required to collect and store your data as per the new order.

The VPN, cloud, and crytpo based firms will begin collecting data starting from the date of 27th June 2021. So, the process is already underway. Unfortunately, many firms might face difficulties (especially VPN firms) that advertise their services with a no logs policy. Additionally, VPN users typically use the service to hide their original IP address and online footprint. This even helps in hiding their IP addresses from malicious individuals like hackers. So, collecting such user data defeats the purpose and makes data leaks more likely in the near future.

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The top cyberspace authority in China has recently drafted new regulations that would punish individuals and firms that use or offer VPN services. In other words, the government will be cracking down harder on those that try to scale the “Great Firewall.”

According to an SCMP report, the latest move from the government is an attempt to further boost its control over the internet. This would likely also serve as a warning to many internet based services/businesses. The newly drafted regulations were proposed last weekend might still be changed after public consultation. Although, it marks one of the strictest attempt at punishing virtual private network (VPN) services. For those unaware, a VPN service basically helps users avoid the Chinese firewall by redirecting its traffic through a remote server.

Meaning, this lets people bypass the firewall and access content online, which otherwise would be restricted. The new rules titled “Network Data Security Management Regulations” was proposed by the Cyberspace Administration of China and it states that no individual or organization will offer “programs, tools, routes” or other services like internet access, server hosting, technical support, promotion, and more for “penetrating and bypassing the cross-border data security gateway.”

Violating this regulation will have you face up to 10 times the amount of money made from the offence, or up to 500,000 Yuan (roughly 78,500 US Dollars) if you’re in a management position. Additionally, the organization that offers VPN services might even have their business license revoked as well. This draft could even be used to potentially target firms that are based overseas and are operating in China.

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Google is the place where we search all of our queries. And now, it could just make us anonymous and protected as well. It has announced a new VPN service for Android by Google One is coming to the US, and other countries soon.

In a blog post(via The Verge) Google says it is introducing a new VPN service for Android users who have the 2TB and higher Google One plans. It costs $99.99(USA)/₹6,500(India) a year or $9.99/₹650 a month. This service will reportedly encrypt and protect the entire online traffic irrespective of browser or app being used. However, it is built into the Google One App(Android-only as of now). And as said above, users need a Google One Membership.

VPN by Google One

For the unaware, Google One is a  subscription service that gives more cloud storage. With every Gmail, users get 15GB of free color storage. But if you want to upgrade it, you need to subscribe to Google One. However, if you are in the US and already on a 2TB plan, you will get the VPN support through an update soon in the coming weeks on the Google One App. But if you are somewhere else, you might have to wait longer.

Additionally, Google is also rolling out Pro sessions by Google One with VPN support for 2TB plan users. This is basically a support service that schedules conversations. And connects you to a Google Expert to know more about the VPN service.

How to enable it? -That said, to enable the update, after getting it, open the Google One app and navigate to VPN on the Home section. On the next page, enable the VPN. Also, if you share your 2TB plan with family members(Max:5) they can enable the service at no extra charge.

Availability

The new VPN by Google One service is limited to Android as of now. But it will expand to iOS, macOS, and Windows, and other countries in the coming months. As said earlier, it will roll out to the USA in the coming weeks. And Pro sessions will also roll out to the USA, United Kingdom, and Canada in a few weeks.

UP NEXT: Google Pixel 5 sits at 15th place in DXOMARK Camera with 120 points

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China is home to some of the biggest tech companies in the world. But do you know it has one of the most censored internet regimes? Recently, the country seems to be busy strengthening its censorship hold. Things are expected to become even more restricted as the latest report from Bloomberg states that the Chinese Government has ordered the three main state owned carriers in the country, namely China Mobile, China Telecom, and China Unicom to block all personal VPNs by February 1, 2018.

Generally, VPN is just a tool to bypass country specific restrictions put out by famous streaming services like Netflix. For others, it’s a safe way of downloading torrents. However, for people living in China, VPN plays a greater role. It’s a tool that connects China to the open internet, helping citizens access websites and content that’s traditionally banned by the Great Firewall. The list of banned websites in China is huge! According to Wikipedia, as of 2015, the number of banned websites is over 3000. This figure could have changed by 2017, but it should give you an idea of the degree of censorship in China. Moreover, country’s censorship is not just limited to websites. The Great Firewall regulates everything on the internet including keywords, foreign content, and much more.

VPN helps Chinese citizens to go around this censorship, opening up access to a number of restricted websites like YouTube, Gmail, International News media sites etc. However, VPNs are not just important for individual citizens but also for companies currently operating in China, to connect to their headquarters. So, if China decides to ban VPNs altogether, it would severely affect international brands that work inside its territory.

But the government says that they are not going to ban all VPNs and companies could still use the service if they are registered with the officials. So, it is primarily targeting unregistered users and individuals who are using VPN services without their knowledge. Before this notification, the government’s action plan was to target individual cases as and when necessary. However, after the notification sent to the three main state owned carriers in the country, it looks like China is taking its internet ‘Clean Up Drive’ very seriously.

In fact, according to a recent letter seen by the Associated Press, China Telecom, one of the biggest internet providers in the country has instructed registered companies to limit VPN use to connect to their headquarters. The letter adds that VPN should not be used to access restricted websites in China. Further, the letter states that the identities of all the employees of the company using VPN services must be revealed.

Moreover, it’s not just VPNs but other popular social apps like Facebook, Snapchat etc are also banned in China. As a result, the Chinese have access to only those apps that follow the strict censorship rules laid out by the government like WeChat, Weibo, and Baidu.

Surprisingly, till now, Whatsapp was not on the government radar. But that changed earlier this week when Whatsapp users in China realized that they couldn’t send or receive images. By the end of Wednesday, things got worse, with many Chinese users unable to connect to Whatsapp servers unless they were using VPN. Right now, you can just send and receive text messages via the app. Everything else seems to be blocked for the time being.

But it’s not just VPNs and apps, China has increased its restrictions on practically every aspect of the internet. In fact, almost all of the foreign content on the two popular sites — AcFun and Bilibili have vanished overnight. These two websites were extremely sought after by the Millennials in China because they had some of the most popular TV shows and movies from US, UK, South Korea and other foreign countries. Unlike Sina, iQiyi, and other Chinese video platforms, these two websites don’t have strict in-house censorship, which in turn made them popular hubs for foreign content. But in just a matter of 48 hours, their content directory reduced significantly, all thanks to the intervention of the Chinese government.

Judging from the recent notifications and decisions passed by the Chinese government, their stance on the internet is very clear. Individual users will be forced to obey the restrictions laid out by Xi Jinping’s government, with very little room to circumvent these rules. This includes keeping the Chinese citizens away from any kind of influential foreign content, apps, or services.

The increase in censorship is said to be a part of the preparation for the 19th Communist Party Congress to be held later this year. So, things may become better for Chinese citizens once the congress is over. We’ll have to wait and see.

The post China Strengthens Its Grip On The Internet: VPNs, WhatsApp, & Foreign Content Bear The Brunt appeared first on Gizmochina.