Unblock Facebook in China

Tunneling Through the Great Firewall

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The Best Facebook Proxy

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best facebook proxy browserWhat's the deal? It seems like everyone has been coming down on Facebook lately; Work, School, China, Mom and Dad. WTF?  Facebook is awesome, and only those who see it as a "time waster" or a "threat to national security" would ever think of banning it.  That's why we need a Facebook proxy.

Instead of making a long and boring post, I'll make this quick.

About Proxies

Facebook gets blocked because of firewalls. Proxies get you around firewalls.  There are firewalls for every computer and network.  That means you can block a site from a computer by setting it's firewall to block the IP address of that site.  In the same way, schools, jobs, and public computers can use a network firewall to block sites (porn, bomb making, and of course Facebook) from a whole range of computers sharing a network.  Proxies are used to change the IP address of the computer, and trick the firewall into thinking that you're not in it's jurisdiction.  When you use a Facebook proxy, it's the proxy's IP address that's accessing Facebook, not your real IP

facebook blocked accessThat means you can access Facebook at work, school, home, your phone, on public wifi, and even in Communist/Socialist regimes like China and Vietnam!

What's the best Facebook proxy?

Well, I guess everyone's got an opinion, but I think the best Facebook proxy is SecuriTales.

Yes, you have to pay for it, so if you're looking for a freebie, you're out of luck. BUT, you should pretty much ALWAYS pay for a proxy, even if it's not SecuriTales.

Here's why.

Did you ever think about why things are free?

1. Because they suck

2. Because they're getting your money some other way

Number 2 could mean a couple things.  One, obviously, is that they make money off advertising. Some of the legitimate free proxies out there like Hotspot Shield work alright, but they do bombard you with advertisements and popup ads.  What a pain in the ass.  But if you haven't go the cash, it's a decent alternative.

proxy spamHowever, the scary thing is that it doesn't stop there. Some free proxies are actually like collection pots for IP addresses.  They store the IP data and personal information from you computer, and then the owner of the proxy can either sell this information to other users or use it himself to send out spam and otherwise steal and abuse your online identity.

I'm not kidding, it really happens.

So think before getting excited about some random free proxy site you came across.

So, the deal is that SecuriTales is a totally legit service. They've got support and everything.  The best part, is that you don't have to jump in blind and pay a bunch of money.  It's only six dollars a month, and there's a 25% discount which I'll tell you how to get it a bit.

free trial facebook proxyThe second best part is that there's a FREE TRIAL.

Once you finish the free trial, they give you a chance for a 25% discount if you sign up immediately, which means you only pay 4.5 dollars for a month.  That's chump change for a fast service that you can trust.

The third best part of the best Facebook proxy is that if you don't like it, you can get your money back. They've got a 30 day money back guarantee which means you can try it out for a full month and if it's not worth your money, you can get your money back.

best facebook proxyThese are the reasons I think SecuriTales is the best Facebook proxy.

Only $4.5 dollars for Facebook – all day, every day, wherever it's banned.

At least try it for FREE.

Their site it www.securitales.com

 

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12VPN Review and Discount Code

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12vpn review12VPN is one of my all time favorite VPN services, and I still use it, even though I've tried over ten different VPN services over the years.  Below, I've written a bit about how VPNs work, and specifics about the 12VPN service.  If you want to skip to the good stuff and get the discount, here's the link for a 10% discount on all products.  It will take you right to the shopping cart.  That means if you want  to explore the site, you can go to http://12vpn.com to check things out, and then get the 10% DISCOUNT by clicking the discount link and going to the checkout area.

12vpn discount couponRemember that you must click the 10% DISCOUNT link to get credit from the discount code.

US Only VPN service $79 USD – 10% =

  • $71 USD / Year
  • SAVE $8 USD
  • $6 / month

World VPN service $119 USD – 10% =

  • $107 USD / Year
  • SAVE $12 USD
  • $ 9 / month

***The Windows, Mac and Linux packages all include support for iPhone, iPad, Android and Symbian.

bypass firewall with vpnVirtual Private Networks

VPNs do two things.  1. They hide your IP address and allow you to access websites with an IP address different from your own. 2. They protect this connection from outsiders.  When you surf the Internet, an IP address unique to your computer is attached to all your traffic.  This means that if they want to, any site you surf can see where you are in the world. Along with cookies and other data associated with your computer, they can learn a lot about what sites you surf, and how you spend your time on the Internet.  Some people consider this an invasion of privacy.  Changing your IP address can prevent this by making you anonymous on the Internet.

When you type a URL into your browser, your IP is making a request to visit their IP.  When firewalls get involved, a couple things can happen.  1. The best case scenario is that the request is accepted and you go to the website.  2. Your firewall doesn't allow you to surf the site. This may happen when you try to get on Facebook at work, or Youtube from your school computer.  It happens all the time  in China because of The Great Firewall. 3. The site you request blocks you because of your IP. Maybe you're coming from a region where a lot of spam originates. Or maybe you're trying to access Hulu / Netflix from outside The USA.  Either way, sites can block you based on your IP address.  Of course, changing your IP with a VPN can get around this.

12vpn secure browsingWhen you connect to a VPN, your data is first encrypted and tunneled to the VPN server.  The VPN server then acts as a middle man, erasing any traces of your IP address from the request, assigning you a new IP address (from the region of the VPN server), and then connecting you to the site.  It's like sending an anonymous package to someone.  Instead of your address on the box, its the address of the delivery company.  No one knows who you really are.  You are essentially "going around" the firewall.

vpn data encryptionSo what's encryption and tunneling?  Ok, I'll be the first to admit that details of just how my Internet traffic and IP address are "encrypted" and "tunneled" is a bit cryptic to me.  But someone once explained it to me like this, and I think it makes sense.

If you imagine the sending a package scenario for a moment.  Now lets say you're worried about who might see you sending this anonymous package.  Maybe they see you putting the package in your mailbox or the catch the delivery truck en route.  There's potential that they might see the original package, learn where you live, and be able to find you and steal your stuff.  So a VPN wraps the pack securely, and puts it is an armored car to make the delivery.  This way, if anyone does see the armored car, they can't get inside.  If the were some how able to see inside the car, they still wouldn't know what's in the package.

Cool right?

12vpn review12VPN Review

Like I said above, 12VPN is a pretty cool service. It's already very cheap, and with the discount, it's even cheaper. You simply can't find a quality VPN service for a better price out there. Remember that I've tried many over the years – I know what I'm talking about.  For SSL/OpenVPN needed in China, some companies are charging upwards of 10 USD a month  for limited server locations and bandwidth caps.  For PPTP or L2TP (if you're not in China, the price is pretty standard)

In a nutshell, these are the standard things that 12VPN has to offer

  • Mac, Windows, Linux, iPhone, Android Supported
  • Email Support Team
  • 7 day money back guarantee
  • PPTP, L2TP, SSL/OpenVPN protocols
  • Multiple Server Locations in The US and The UK, and around the world
  • Free Updates

More importantly through, these things make 12VPN BETTER

Cool stuff

  • Super easy installation (no previous experience needed)
  • Free Viscosity License for Mac and Windows users ($9 USD value)
  • Free Server Switching
  • Friendly Support Team
  • Unlimited Bandwidth
  • US Only Plan is only $6 / month (with discount)


***Stuff for the nerds

  • Allows P2P
  • Support for lesser known platforms including Symbian S60, DD-WRT, pfSense, Tomato and others
  • Military grade encryption (see site for details)
  • L2TP with IPSec, Cisco, IKEv2 VPN protocols available

excellent customer serviceEasy installation (under two minutes) and a friendly support team make 12VPN a great choice for newbies.  High-tech badass encryption and fast connection speeds make it suitable for an anonymous surfer on a mission.  It might not seem like much, but I think the thing that seals the deal for me with 12VPN is the attitude of the support team.  No matter what service you choose, you're likely to run into some sort of issue, and will need to contact the support team.  A friendly and "ready to help" attitude makes a world of difference when you're frustrated and ready to throw your computer out the window.  Everyone likes to write "quick and friendly support team" on their site, and hope people just believe it.  12VPN actually puts it into practice.

Here's the links for the 10% DISCOUNT again.  For details about pricing, scroll back to the top of the page.  If you're purchasing a VPN for something other than Mac, Linux, or Windows, choose any of the above and contact the support team with your details.  All of the above packages come with support for all available platforms.

Check out their site to for more details

12VPN official site http://12vpn.com

 

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Securitales Proxy Review and Discount

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securitales discountSecuritales is a service that I didn't know much about until recently.  My blog is generally for readers in China, but Securitales works in many countries around the globe.  It's what is called "web based proxy".  If you don't want to read through the whole review, and just want the discount, the discount code is ST25NAT. This gives you a 25% discount on all services. There will be a box where you can enter the coupon code when you're ready to check out.  Or you can keep reading to find out more about how proxies work, what a web based proxy is, and my personal review of Securitales (and I'll show you the discount code again at the bottom)

www.securitales.com

firewall block ip addressProxies

Ok, so a bit about proxies in general.  When you're blocked from sites it's  normally because a firewall doesn't allow communication between your two IP addresses. That's right, your computer has an IP address – an identifier and locater that's attached to and unique to your computer.  The URL you type into your browser also has an IP address.  Restrictions can be made by a firewall, so disallow access to or from certain IP addresses. For example, when you're at work, the Firewall prevents users on your network from accessing Facebook's IP address.  When you're outside The USA, Hulu's Firewall prevents you from accessing it's content.  Firewalls use IP addresses to keep people in, and out.

Proxies play the middle man.  When you try to directly access the site, you run into the firewall. However, if you reroute your traffic to a third party and "adopt" their IP address to mask your own, you're able to trick the firewall. Think of it as a road block.  You can't go forward, so you go around. And on your way, you change the license plates of your car.

secure browserWeb Based Proxies

There are different kids of proxies that can bypass firewalls.  A web based proxy is just what is sounds like.  It's based…on the web.  That means there is no installation necessary, regardless of whether you're using your phone or computer to access the proxy.  You can access the secure link, and thus the secure browser either directly from the website of your service, or from a link they provide you with in your email inbox.  If you can surf the net, you can find the link and unblock sites.

Web based proxies in particular offer a number of advantages.  Because there's no installation, you don't have to worry about updates.  All of that is taken care of behind the scenes.  You can use one license for ALL your Internet devices, including laptops and smart phones.  You can also use it at places like work, school, and public computers, without anyone knowing you've been using the proxy to bypass their firewall.  There's no traces left behind like with devices that need installation.

securitales coupon codeSecuritales

Securitales is clearly one of the best web based proxies out there.  Sure, there are lots of choices out there, but there are a number of reasons why Securitales is just plain BETTER.

1. They're professional.  If you've every used a proxy service before, you know what I mean when I say that a lot of proxy services look kind of sketchy.  Many of these sites are poorly designed, offering only a bare bones proxy with absolutely nothing else.  No support, no direction, and no trust.  Some proxy services engage in illegal use of IP information, and are a huge source of spam.  Can you tell the difference? Do you really want to trust your IP data to these services? It's important to know your proxy service, and the professional site, attitude, and service of Securitales is obvious when you check out their site.

2. They're fast.  One of the most important requirements of a service is quality, and in this case quality = speed.  Though with a proxy you won't be able to watch Hulu and Netflix (only VPNs do that), you will be able to stream video off of a lot of other sites including YouTube and Vimeo.  Normal web browsing is a given, and you probably won't notice any difference in speed.  If you're in a country like China that censors the Internet, you might even notice an increase in speed. This happens because some countries put a cap on bandwidth allowed to certain sites that are not yet officially banned. Changing your IP address with a proxy service like Securitales removes this bandwidth cap.

3. Unlimited bandwidth.  In today's world, anything less is unacceptable.


4. They're cheap.  At $6 USD a month, you can't really beat that.  Most places charge more, and some places may charge upwards of $10 USD to gain Internet freedom.  And here's the best part.  Now that you've read through the article, you can get a 25% discount, which means for a year of service, you pay only $54 USD, or $4.5 USD a month.  It's pretty much impossible to find this price anywhere else. All you need is this discount code ST25NAT.  Of course, if you sign up for less time, you'll pay a bit more.  For a two month contract you normally pay $8 USD a month, and with the discount you'll pay $6 USD a month.  There's also a 6 month contract available.

I'll highlight that again for you.

Securitales Discount Code ST25NAT (25% off)

5. There's many reasons to trust Securitales. There's a FREE TRIAL, and there's a 30 day money back guarantee.  If you don't like it, don't pay for it! Click the link to take a look for yourself.

 

 

 

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Web Based Proxy in China

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web based proxy in chinaNot many people actually know what web based proxies are – and to tell you the truth, until recently, I couldn't tell you what one was either. However, with recent updates to the way The Great Firewall censors our Internet activity here, web based proxies in China have become extremely important to unblocking sites.

Why?

Well, if you own an iPhone, iPad, or Android device, you already know that you can't install a virtual private network on it.  These tablet computers and smart phones usually require that you install a PPTP or L2TP VPN.  But these protocols were blocked in China in March 2011.

This is where the web based proxy in China come in.

proxy for iphone and ipadThe key is the "web based" part.  It's just what it sounds like.  You unblock sites in China by first connecting to a web site with a secure browser.  There is nothing installed on your computer, and this website can be accessed from anywhere that can browse the Internet. Your Mac or PC, your work or school computer, and most importantly, your phone or tablet computer.

Have you ever noticed that when you purchase stuff online, a little lock appears next to the URL you're currently on?  And next to that there's no longer an http:// prefix, but an https://. This is the URL prefix for secure or private connections. Connection that you need permission to access.

proxy for android tabletWeb based proxies in China make use of this private connection, and you'll notice that the blocked URL you type into the secure browser will always be preceded by the https://

So, aside from the versatility of proxies, why else would you want them as opposed to a VPN?

Well, seeing as there's no installation necessary, you can access them easily and without a trace.  When your boss is out of the office, you can open the secure link from your email and check out what's happening on Facebook.  If you've got a few minutes before class and have nothing to do, you can open up the web based proxy browser and watch a Youtube video.

When you're done, close the browser, and no one will notice a difference.

And a web based proxy in China is usually cheaper than a VPN is going to cost you. Securitales, the web based proxy I use in China is only $6 a month.  And I'll let you in on a secret (really, I don't mention this in all of my posts), if you sign up for the FREE TRIAL first, and then sign up for the paid service when the free trial is over, you get a 25% discount.

securitales in chinaThat means for an entire year of service, you pay on $54.

You can check it out at www.securitales.com

You can unblock any site in China, and there's nothing to lose by taking advantage of the free trial.

 

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