Unblock Facebook in China

Tunneling Through the Great Firewall

How to Surf Blocked Sites in China

August 15th, 2011 Posted in Securitales, Surf Blocked Sites, Unblock Facebook, Web Based Proxies, Web Based Service
Aug, 15 2011
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blocked sites in chinaUse Web Proxies To Surf Internet Anonymously and Surf Blocked Sites in China

Are you often worried about protecting your identity when browsing the internet? Or have you come across a situation where you were unable to access a site just because it was blocked – ie The (infamous) Great Firewall. With exorbitant expansion of internet, risks of identity theft have also increased. Do you know that when you browse the internet, you are easily giving away some of your information such as your IP address, location, browser name, application name and version etc. This is some of the information that can be misused if received by the wrong person (ie Chinese hackers). In order to protect people from becoming victims of internet fraud and scams, many software companies have developed proxies that allow you to surf the internet anonymously.

Moreover, with these proxies, you can also get access to the sites which have been blocked. In China, a number of websites and social networking sites like Facebook are blocked. Previously, people used to make use of VPN connections to unblock these sites, but lately most of the major VPN sites have also been blocked. If you are looking for information on how to surf blocked sites, then there is good news for you. There are web based proxies available which can be used to surf blocked sites.

facebook in chinaThere was a time when I was eager to find out information about how to surf blocked sites because my company had blocked some of the major websites I was a member of.  Companies blocking websites works a lot like how China blocks websites. I came across this web based proxy called ‘Securitales’. This proxy not only allows you to surf blocked sites, but it also allows you to surf internet anonymously. This means that you get two benefits in one package. Apart from these benefits, there are also other benefits of using web based proxies such as Securitales.

blocked sites in chinaIt does not require any installation on your computer which means that no one will ever find out that you are using a proxy to access blocked sites. Moreover, if you are using this web based proxy from your work computer or your school computer, your activities will never be detected. You will have freedom to access those restricted sites and you will get to do all this with complete security and privacy.  This also means that you'll be able to use in on your iPhone (or Android) as well as computer without a problem.  One of the major downfalls of VPNs in that you are limited to one subscription per computer, and in China, VPN protocols for phones are blocked.

How to surf blocked sites remains a popular topic because not many people are aware how great these web based proxies really are.  Even today, you can see tons of forum posts and Yahoo questions popping up in Google. Securitales helps solve the problem of how to surf block sites – instantly.

There's even a FREE TRIAL

I don't do a lot of direct promotion on the site, but Securitales really is a kick-ass way to surf blocked sites in China.

surf blocked sites with securitales

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Proxy to Access Facebook in China

August 13th, 2011 Posted in Proxies, Securitales, Unblock Facebook
Aug, 13 2011
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unblock blocked sites in chinaThere are a number of countries where social networking sites such as Facebook is blocked.  Moreover, there are many schools, colleges and universities where students do not have access to Facebook.  In China, together with Facebook, a number of other major websites are also blocked and this makes things really difficult for people who love to spend time chatting with friends from all over the world.  As is turns out, all of these sites can be unblocked with a web based proxy.

Some years ago when I first came to China, I discovered that most of the major social networking sites had been blocked.  I really needed a way to unblock Facebook because there had not been a single day when I didn’t post messages to my friend or didn’t play my favorite games on Facebook.

I knew that there were some techniques that could be used to unblock Facebook, but I was not confident about using any.  I knew that there was a proxy to access Facebook in China, but I had forgotten the name that once was mentioned by my friend.  I really didn’t want to risk using any other proxy to access Facebook in China than the one that my friend had recommended.  This is because that particular proxy had been tested by my friend and I was told that it is the best one she had tried

proxy to access facebook in chinaI thought for sometime about this particular proxy to access Facebook in China and finally I remembered that it was Securitales.  I immediately turned on my computer and searched for Securitales.  I was happy to find that this proxy to access Facebook in China came with a money back guarantee (30 days!) and if I was not satisfied with it, I could have my money back.

I decided to get it and since it does not require any installation, it was easy to use and it was quick as well.  In no time, I was able to connect with my friends outside of China using this secure and trusted web based proxy called Securitales.  Later on I found out that even if the site goes down in the future, the proxy will still be usable.  This makes it a worthwhile investment because unlike VPN connections and other Facebook unblock software, the Securitales proxy can be used in the future if the website gets blocked by the internet service providers or the government.  So if you are looking for a proxy to access Facebook in China, get Securitales.

facebook in china proxy

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Access Facebook in China Free Trial

July 7th, 2011 Posted in Access Facebook, Securitales
Jul, 07 2011
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facebook in china freeI won't drag this out. Everyone's looking for free stuff these days. Well, here you go. Securitales has got free trials going. They're not a VPN, but they do allow you to access Facebook in China.  They work pretty well I think. For laptops, I still prefer using a VPN, but for mobile devices like iPhone and iPad, this is a great choice, especially because PPTP and L2TP VPNs are blocked.


Here's the link

When you get to the Securitales page, the free trial is right under the sign up form


Securitales

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Access Facebook in China on iPad

July 7th, 2011 Posted in Access Facebook, China, iPad, Reviews, Securitales, Web Based Service
Jul, 07 2011
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ipad in chinaI've got to write a follow up article on some of the recent posts I've been making, because I suddenly became aware a few days ago that it's still possible to access Facebook in China on iPad.  I know, I know, after all my posts talking about how L2TP and PPTP VPNs were blocked because of the stuff that was going on in Egypt, and after all the stuff I wrote about how mobile devices like iPad couldn't access blocked sites without jailbreaking the iPad and messing up your warranty, I've got to go back and change what I said.  It is completely possible to access Facebook in China on iPad – all you need is a web based service to help you bypass Internet censorship.

I got an email from a company called Securitales the other day.  I had seen their advertisements around, and to be honest, they never really caught my eye.  I didn't really know what they were, but I was happy with my VPN, so I didn't look into it so much.

However, when they contacted me about featuring them on the site, it came to my attention that their service was a bit different from other services I had tried.  They're a web based service.  This is now the second time I've used this term – and it's exactly what it sounds like.  It's called a web based service because their method of unblocking sites in China does not involve downloading or installing anything on your computer.  It is accessible through any device that can connect to the Internet because there are no changes made to the device that you're using. It's just like accessing a website, or using a special browser window.  This is why you can even access Facebook in China on iPad.

facebook in chinaUnlike PPTP and L2TP VPN protocols which are blocked and don't work in most of China, Securitales will send you a secure link to your inbox, which means you can access their secure browser anywhere, anytime, even if their site is blocked.  They've even got a FREE TRIAL, (if you click the link, the free trial option is right below the sign-up form) which is amazing these days – most VPNs don't even offer that.  Once you access the link, type in your username and password, and type the URL of the blocked site into the secure browser area.  You'll notice that it's using HTTPS, not HTTP.

I was pleasantly surprised at the speed of Securitales.  Like I said, I had seen their service advertised around before and didn't think much of it.  But don't let their lack of flash and strange name (sounds like the name of a Pixar/Disney movie doesn't it?) fool you.  They're pretty much on par with most VPN companies.

A disadvantage of using a web based service is that you've got to type the URL you want to visit into the designated area in order for the site to be unblocked. I'm still getting used to it and I frequently switch back to my normal browser only to be blocked from the site, and then I've got to go back and retype the URL. Not a big deal, but slightly inconvenient.  For users that want to access Facebook in China on iPad however, you haven't really got a choice, and something is better than nothing.  This is probably just one of those things that you get used to.

Securitales will also work on your iPhone and Android devices.  In a nutshell, for mobile users in China, its a very cool service to have.

 Securitales Website

Remember, they've got a FREE TRIAL

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China in The Philippinies

June 29th, 2011 Posted in China, News
Jun, 29 2011
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Here's an interesting article on China's recent (and future) activities in The Philippines, and how Filipino Americans are reacting.


China in The Philippines

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Access Youtube From China

June 27th, 2011 Posted in StrongVPN, Unblock Youtube, Vpn
Jun, 27 2011
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youtube in ChinaJuly 2011 – You'll notice a lot of links that aren't working here on the site.  It seems that in recent weeks, The Great Firewall has had some serious updates, and many of the VPNs featured/reviewed are blocked (at least the sites are). This may not be for the entire country, but at least here in Fujian, many have been blocked.

Securitales is a Web Based Service that is not blocked.  A web based service is different from a VPN, but can also unblock sites in China.  The advantage of a Web based service over a VPN is that you don't have to download anything onto your computer. It works on iPhone, iPad and other smart phones as well as laptop and desktop operating systems like Mac, Windows, and Linux.

The most important thing right now is that it's NOT BLOCKED.

Check out Securitales at www.securitales.com.

I do a lot of talking about Facebook here at Unblock Facebook, but today I though I'd make a featured post for Youtube.  Yes, you can access Youtube from China with a VPN, just like any other site.  Lots of people forget about Youtube, because we have Youku here in China, but there's lots to be had you Youtube that can't be found on Youku.  Ok, mostly the anti-china stuff, but I think in general, Youtube has more stuff than Youku, and it's in English, so it's easier to find. Youku is good for watching free movies, but that's about it. I just don't get Chinese meme – I saw a video of some guy washing his laundry the other day that was supposed to be funny.

This is why we need to access Youtube from China.

I find that video from Youtube is a bit slow with a VPN, but there's nothing you can do about it. It's slow video, or no video.

Actually, when I tried StrongVPN a while back, I was able to access Youtube from China and stream video at a pretty good speed. That's why I always talk about StrongVPN being the fastest VPN I've used. At that time I was using the lite service from 12VPN, back when it was available, and there was a clear difference in speed.

Problem is however, that StrongVPN has been blocked recently. Well, at least I've been unable to access my account for the past week here in Fujian.  Try the link and see what happens.  If not, I'd suggest Astrill or 12VPN.

Access Youtube From China (top 2)

strongvpn in vietnam12vpn in Vietnam

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SwitchVPN in China Review

June 23rd, 2011 Posted in Reviews, Vpn
Jun, 23 2011
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switchvpn in china

SwitchVPN in China

SwitchVPN is a lesser known VPN, but still worth checking out. I have not tried this VPN so cannot vouch for it's reliability or speed. But there are a few things I can see from checking out their site.

1. Not a lot of choice. +1 -1

This is good, and bad. For one, it makes things simple. Lots of sites like to have EVERYTHING available which is a lot to take in for new users. Considering users in China can't use PPTP or L2TP this makes things much easier. You can ignore pretty much all of their plans but the SSL plan which is 12 dollars a month.

2. Live Support +1

3. Unlimited Bandwidth +1

3. Downloading Torrents OK +1 (some sites don't allow this)

4. Windows/Mac/Linux +1

5. 48 hour Money Back Guarantee -1

There are plenty of services out there that offer 7 day money back guarantees.

6. Site Design +1

I used to Knock their site for bad design and presentation. They've recently improved it, and it looks much better – more like a service I can trust.

7. Price +0

Not the cheapest, Not the most expensive.

8. Not Affected by March 2011 VPN crisis in china +2

9. Still Not Blocked in China +2

10, Site connection speed +1

11. Servers in Multiple Locations +1 (US, UK, Netherlands, Germany, Canada, Switzerland, Malaysia)

12. Free Server Switching +1

All in all, it looks like a decent VPN service.  One thing that really impresses me about SwitchVPN in China is that I've never had issues connecting to their site. Even some of my favorite VPN sites like StrongVPN and 12VPN have from time to time been inaccessible or a couple days. If you find that some of the links on my site get timed out, SwitchVPN is a cool service to check out.

SwitchVPN Official Site

 

 

Or check out my PureVPN in China Review

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PureVPN in China Review

June 23rd, 2011 Posted in Reviews, Techie Stuff, Vpn
Jun, 23 2011
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PureVPN in ChinaPureVPN in China

PureVPN – There's really no question about it – you don't need to get this VPN, especially if you're in China. There are a number of problems with PureVPN. I'll admit that I haven't tried it, but just from looking at their site, here are the problems I see.

Price. The cheapest plan is 10 dollars a month. For this *limited* plan, you are limited to 30 GB a month. This shouldn't be a problem for most users, but if you're doing some serious downloading – which a lot of people do with VPNs (I'm assuming to avoid authorities) – 30 GB of download per month should be plenty. Buy why limit yourself? There are services out there for the same price or cheaper that offer unlimited bandwidth.

Types of VPN. All VPN plans are limited to PPTP L2TP and SSTP.  For users in China, PPTP and L2TP are for the most part, out of the picture. SSTP is only for Windows 7 and Vista users. That means that Mac, Linux, iPhone, iPad, Windows XP, and Android users are out of luck. Ok, if you're running Windows 7 or Vista, you've got another possible VPN services with PureVPN, but why use SSTP when you could just as easily get SSL/OpenVPN?  SSL/OpenVPN is compatible with Windows 7, and this is the most secure VPN protocol.

Positives of PureVPN

Live support
Unlimited Server Switching
Not Blocked in China
Servers in multiple countries including US and UK

Yearly Plans

$75 / $145 / $160

Official PureVPN Site

 

 

or check out our Hide My Ass in China post

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Hide My Ass in China

June 23rd, 2011 Posted in 12VPN, Astrill, Hide My Ass, iVPN, Reviews, Updates
Jun, 23 2011
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hide my ass in reviewHide My Ass in China

Hide my Ass is a really cool service. They're not expensive, and their VPN is very user friendly. They've got a clean design to their site which makes it easy to navigate. One thing I hate about VPN sites like Black Logic and Secure VPN is that it's hard to find out what's going on in there. How much is the VPN? Can I use it on my Mac? Is it compatible with Windows 7? Should I use PPTP or L2TP on my iPhone? There are so many questions for a new user, especially for someone who hasn't used a VPN before.

This is why Hide My Ass is cool. It's up there with my favorites (12vpn, Astrill, and iVPN) as far as user compatibility goes.

One big problem though – they're blocked.

Ok, not all the time, but a lot of the time. They've got the SSL/OpenVPN needed by users in China, but you can't get to it if the site is blocked.

What would I suggest?

I think Hide My Ass is a cool VPN service.  If you're planning on coming to China, get your VPN set up with them before you go. If you're hear and on the off-chance they're not blocked for a while, you can check them out. Hide My Ass won't do you wrong.

But if HMA continues to be blocked, there are lots of other services featured at the site that aren't blocked – Astrill, 12vpn, iVPN

 

Hide My Ass Official Site

 

 

or check out or VyprVPN Review

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