It’s been a long wait, but Proton VPN’s anti-censorship Stealth protocol finally works on Windows.Proton VPNis also expanding its free service to 12 more countries and introducing an icon-customization feature for Android.
A VPN masks your web activity by routing your traffic through a remote, encrypted server. And while your ISP cannotdecodeVPN traffic,they canidentifyitwith practically zero effort—if someone’s internet traffic is illegible, it’s because they’re using a VPN.
This isn’t a problem in the United States or other countries where VPNs are legal. That said, most authoritarian regimes enforce some form of internet censorship that can only be bypassed by a VPN. And while these regimes may not explicitly ban VPN usage, they often retaliate against citizens who attempt to circumvent censorship, particularly in times of political or social unrest.
The Stealth protocol, which was previously limited to Android, iOS, and macOS, is now available on Windows. Proton VPN’sStealth protocolis designed to protect users who face internet censorship. It disguises VPN traffic as “normal” internet traffic, thereby preventing governments from identifying citizens who bypass censorship. This opens the door to more robust information-sharing and anti-authoritarian activity in countries that are under the thumb of internet censorship.
Interestingly, the Proton VPN Android app can now be disguised as a weather, notes, or calculator app. This may help users stay discreet while using Proton VPN in public.
Proton VPNis also expanding its free service to 12 additional countries—Afghanistan, Bahrain, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Iraq, Kuwait, Libya, Saudi Arabia, Sudan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Yemen. These countries, which already enforce some level of internet censorship, are likely to increase censorship efforts if regional tensions continue to escalate in the Middle East.
Proton also notes that VPN signups have grown by 4,000% in Venezuela and 3,500% in Bangladesh. This is due to the former’s “deeply flawed” election and the latter’sviolent responseto student-led protests.
you may find a full list of supported countries at theProton VPN website. For clarity’s sake, I should point out thatallProton VPN users can access the Stealth protocol, and Proton VPN’s free service is available inallcountries, not just those under authoritarian rule. Also, Proton is expected to bring its VPNto Apple TVlater this year.
