Top 5 Ways to Access Blocked Websites

This post is a continuation of our recent article “Top 5 Ways to Access Blocked Websites“ in which we covered the most popular 5 ways using which you can unblock restricted websites at school, work or office. In this part II, we will discuss 5 more rather unconventional methods of unblocking websites, most of which are not so common and thus generally not known to most people. So here they go:

Method 1: Using Google Mobile Search

You can use Google Mobile Search to indirectly gain access to your desired website. Google Mobile Search removes the CSS & javascript elements from the web pages and breaks a large page into several small pages. Though the output will appear as if you are viewing the website on a mobile phone, this method certainly works quite well.

Method 2: Get Web Pages Via Email

Web2Mail is a great free service that sends websites you want to read directly into your inbox. Simply send an email to www@web2mail.com with the URL of the blocked website as the subject title and you will start receiving web pages from the website into your inbox.

Method 3: Using Encrypted VPN Service

The Your Freedom OpenVPM service is a sophisticated application that hides your network address from the end server. You just need to download the client application , install it and subsequently run it on your computer. Your PC will start acting as an anonymous web proxy and you can safely gain access to all blocked websites.

Similarly you can also download and use Tor , which is an advanced proxy server that uses multiple anonymous servers for a single Web request and allows you to access blocked websites while remaining anonymous.

Method 4: Using JAP

JAP or JonDo is a popular client that acts as a local proxy between the browser and the internet, allowing you to browse the blocked websites while remaining anonymous the whole time. As JAP uses a single static address which is shared by many JAP users, the end server won’t get to know your real IP address. All you need to do is to download the JAP client and install it. Then you need tochange your LAN settings in whatever browser you are using (throughTools->Internet Options) and check “Use a Proxy server for your LAN” option (or “Manual Proxy configuration” in Firefox). Enter “127.0.0.1″ in the server column and “4001″ in the port column. Then run the JAP client and check the “On” option under Anonymity tab. Now simply open your browser and browse the blocked websites freely.

Method 5: Using Wayback Machine

Wayback Machine is an internet service that keeps a copy of almost all websites on the internet right from the date they were started. Cached pages of each website are available, using which you can indirectly gain access to the blocked websites. However the only downside is that there is a 6 month time lag before the pages appear in the Wayback Machine.

Let’s see an example. My ISP has blocked IsoHunt, which is a major bit-torrent website. However by entering the URL of IsoHunt on Wayback Machine, I was able to access it without any problems. I then searched “America” on IsoHunt. Here’s the screenshot (Click on the image to enlarge it).



Do you know of any other ways to access blocked websites? Do share them with us.

Also, stay tuned for the next article in this series – “How to Open Facebook at School & Office”.

New Era Of Internet Starts Next Week: Welcome IPv6

Bangalore: The internet has seen an unprecedented network growth in the recent past. But According to the standard protocol there is a limitation in the number of IPs that can be supported. This hinted at a possibility that with the increasing number of devices the internet is about to run out of IP addresses very soon. The proposed solution is about to be implemented next week.

 
On June 6 all major Internet service providers (ISPs), home networking equipment manufacturers, and web companies around the world are coming together to permanently enable IPv6 for their products and services. It is the Internet Protocol version 6 which will allow 2^128 address spaces that can support billions of devices to connect to internet and it will also improve the QoS (Quality of Service) parameters in services including video and audio. The list of companies to shift to IPv6 includes Facebook, Google, Yahoo, AT&T, Cisco, and Akamai to name a few.

 
On June 8 2011, some companies tried out the IPv6 addresses for a day. The check was done to look for any issues that may crop up when the final transition from IPv4 to the new protocol is made. "Last year’s industry-wide test of IPv6 successfully showed that its global adoption is the best way to keep web devices communicating in the future.” saidJay Parikh, VP of Infrastructure Engineering at Facebook.

 
This change to IPv6 is not going to affect end users too much. The 4 digit IP addresses will change to 6 digit addresses and there will a large number of IP addresses available for users.

 
 “The Internet has grown to be an essential part of our daily lives. It connects our devices to our apps; more importantly, it connects us to each other. Yahoo! is proud to be a part of the World IPv6 Launch – an event that marks the next chapter of our Internet. IPv6 enables the Internet to grow, while remaining open and accessible to new applications and new ideas.” said Jason Fesler, Distinguished Architect and IPv6 Evangelist, Yahoo!

How to Choose an ISP for Your Small Business

It may seem as if all Internet connections are the same, but some differences--beyond price--exist between Internet service providers, and between types of connections that a single ISP offers. This guide is designed to help you choose the ISP and the connection that best suit your small or midsize business or organization.

Internet Connection Types

When shopping for Internet access, you'll probably encounter several marketing terms frequently. Broadband and high-speed are used to describe pretty much any type of Internet connection that provides bandwidth speeds faster than traditional dial-up access--and nearly all connections offered today qualify as faster than dial-up. Wideband, a relatively new term, refers to connection types that provide throughput at levels approaching or exceeding 50 mbps.

Here are the three most common connection types you're likely to see when shopping for an ISP.

DSL: This is generally the cheapest connection type, with business-class prices ranging from $30 to $90 per month. Though DSL uses traditional telephone lines, you can carry on voice calls and transfer data simultaneously. DSL performance depends on how far your location is from the ISP's exchange, but speeds may reach 15 mbps for downloads and 1 mbps for uploads, which can support a dozen typical users simultaneously or a point-of-sale system.

Cable: This is one of the most popular connection types. Monthly prices for cable range from $60 to over $300. The technology works over standard television cable lines, but it permits concurrent TV viewing and even digital phone use. ISPs may offer cable speeds of 50 to 100 mbps for downloads and 2 to 10 mbps for uploads--enough for a few dozen simultaneous users. Cable connections share bandwidth among other users in the vicinity, so speeds may be slower during peak (work) hours.

Fiber: This newer connection type offers superior performance. Telecommunication companies have been using fiber-optic lines in their backbone infrastructure for some time now, and in the past few years they have extended the fiber connections closer to end-users. Some companies run fiber-optic cabling to a neighborhood distribution point, as is the case with AT&T U-verse, and then make the connection to individual buildings via existing copper lines. Others, likeVerizon FiOS, are installing fiber connections all the way to their customers. Fiber-optic connections permit download speeds of 15 to 150 mbps and upload speeds of 5 to 35 mbps. Monthly pricing ranges from $70 to $200. Since fiber provides such high bandwidth, it can easily provide TV, phone, and Internet service for 24 simultaneous users.

Bandwidth Speed

ISPs offer a couple of service levels or plans for each connection type. The main point of distinction between levels is the bandwidth speed. Choosing a suitable speed is one of the key decisions you must make.

Generally, the greater the number of people who'll be using the connection, the more bandwidth you'll need. In addition, the more performance-intensive the users' needs are--for example, watching or streaming video, downloading large files, or using Internet-connected VoIP phones--the more the bandwidth you'll need. On the other hand, users who want to use their connection for email and browsing the Web won't need as much bandwidth.

Some ISPs have begun to cap data usage. Under a data cap, if you exceed the data transfer limit during a billing cycle, the ISP may automatically throttle back your speeds for the remainder of the cycle, or it apply a surcharge to your bill. But unless you stream an extensive amount of video or download a great many large files, you probably won't run afoul of a data cap.

The Fine Print

Make sure to read the fine print of SLAs and other service contract documents.It's important to read and analyze the fine print of a service provider's contract before signing up. The prices that most companies post online are conditional: Many require contracts, ranging from one to three years in order to get the advertised monthly service rate. In addition, some prices include a discount for a set amount of time or are locked in for a limited period. You may even see prices listed that apply only when you arrange to subscribe to a bundle of Internet, phone, and TV service.

Most ISPs offer a service level agreement (SLA) that spells out the service's performance and support terms, including up-time guarantees, support availability, and guaranteed response-time for support or fixes; they usually also state your compensation if the ISP fails to meet its obligations under the agreement. Compare the SLAs of any providers you're looking at before you sign a contract.

Other policies of note are the ISP's subscriber agreement, its terms of service (ToS), and its acceptable use policy. These documents state the rules governing how you may use the service, including any bandwidth or data usage limits that may be in force. You can browse the ISP's site for these documents or run a Google search for the company name and the word "policies."

Equipment and Installation Fees

Consider the hardware each ISP provides. Some services provide nothing more than a basic modem, while others may give you a gateway that includes a router with ethernet ports, firewall protection, or even a built-in Wi-Fi router. ISPs rarely post this type of information on their website, so you'll probably have to call the service's sales line for details.

Installation or activation fees are another variable. Some companies provide free installation and activation, but most make waiving the associated fees (typically $100 to $150) contingent on your accepting a one-, two-, or three-year contract.

Since ISPs usually install the basic Internet modem or gateway and verify access on a single computer, you'll likely be responsible for setting up the service on your other computers. DSL providers normally provide kits for the user to install, in lieu of offering professional installation; fortunately, most such kits are easy to set up.