Kozminski Techblog

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VPN – virtual private network, mostly used to encrypt and hide the user’s data while being connected to the internet. However nowadays it gained another use, which is bypassing region block.

Starting with watching movies, right now even the biggest streaming services like Netflix users don’t have an access to all the movies in their current region ex. “Forrest Gump” can be watched from UK, but not from Japan. And it changes overtime, so there is never certainty if a movie is gonna stay for long. One way is to buy multiple streaming services, but it still might not be enough, besides it is very unconvinient and makes more people consider piracy. VPN makes the process more convinient tricking the system by making it seem like the device is in a different place, where the desired content is licensed and could be watched. The process involves masking IP address of the device and redirecting it through the system at the location set with the VPN and assigning new IP address to match with said system.

Similar principle is followed with downloading games from a region, where it’s available and then switching back, however there is a risk involved, since it can be punished by the system if detected. The reason is that sometimes the prices differ with region and companies justify punishments it with that.

Finally, when I do think VPN is useful and has other uses than bypassing these blocks, it shouldn’t be that way. I find it unreasonable to pay for multiple services to watch a certain movie, or not having this availability at all in my country, or even having to pirate. Region block is very limiting, VPN helps but the problem shouldn’t be there in the first place.

Sources:
https://www.wizcase.com/blog/how-to-download-region-locked-games-from-anywhere/
https://www.cisco.com/c/en/us/products/security/vpn-endpoint-security-clients/what-is-vpn.html
https://www.cisco.com/c/en/us/solutions/small-business/resource-center/security/how-does-a-vpn-work.html