2025 has been a tough year for internet users around the world. Political unrest has led to significant internet restrictions (most recently in Tanzania and Cameroon) and increased censorship in countries known for their limited access to information online.
As if that were not enough, a storm of age verification laws has swept the internet, even in Western democracies.
Best VPN deals for Black Friday
1.Top VPN Picks
NordVPN is probably the best-known VPN brand, and independent tests prove time and time again that it’s not just about good marketing. Test after test, NordVPN continues to top our VPN rankings.
When it comes to privacy and security, NordVPN covers all the bases, with things like a no-logs privacy policy, multiple VPN protocols, and a reliable kill switch, as well as advanced features. These include double VPN protection, quantum encryption, Meshnet and the flagship Threat Protection Pro, which protects against online threats such as fraud and malware.
Nord also has an excellent track record when it comes to unblocking, and the newly launched NordWhisper protocol promises to do an even better job of avoiding potential VPN traffic blocks.
2. The best censorship-resistant VPN
Swiss provider Proton is an institution among users concerned about data protection. This is the company behind Proton Mail, the most popular encrypted email service, and the ever-reliable Proton VPN.
Proton offers one of the best free VPNs on the market right now. But to access the full version, you need to upgrade to the premium plans.
The Proton team is really focused on unblocking censored content and it will only get better after the introduction of the Stealth Obfuscated Protocol in 2022. With its unique intelligent routing technology, Proton can also provide local coverage in countries where servers cannot be physically installed due to political or security reasons.
Last year, Proton doubled down on its fight against censorship by bringing its Stealth protocol to Windows and adding even more servers in unstable areas. The company now says it is working to further expand these capabilities to defend against the ever-evolving internet blockers.
Like all Proton products, their VPN is designed from the ground up with privacy and security in mind. This way you can be sure that the service handles your data properly, now even less than usual…
3. Best VPN with security package
Surfshark is also one of our top VPN picks and is already one of the best cheap VPNs all year round. During this year’s Black Friday sale, Surfshark’s security suite really stood out.
Surfshark One is the perfect answer to the various threats people face online every day. In addition to a VPN subscription with comprehensive privacy features and reliable unblocking performance, Surfshark One also gives you access to the antivirus tool, the ad-free private search engine service, and the data intrusion detection system. Here are all the details:
How a VPN can help with internet restrictions
A virtual private network (VPN) helps users bypass internet restrictions by redirecting internet traffic through its servers, meaning your internet service provider (ISP) can’t see what you’re connecting to online. Most importantly, you can also use it to spoof your location.
To avoid internet blocks or other online interruptions, simply choose a VPN server located in a country where there are no restrictions. The best VPN services have a large network of international IP locations, giving you plenty of options.
VPN also encrypts your connection data, unlike other circumvention tools, such as proxy servers. This increases the security of your data and makes it more difficult to monitor and block your activities.
