Users of VPNs and privacy software have increased in Cuba as authorities shut down Internet access to crack down on protesters.
There were more than 34,000 additional downloads of the free VPN-like service Psiphon compared to the two weeks before the incident, independent media organization Inventory reported. Some 89.000 Cubans have installed the software on their device in order to bypass the restrictions.
In the early morning hours of July 15, a wave of internet shutdowns spread across the country to silence protesters. Beginning in Pinar del Río and spreading to the capital Havana, Cubans took to the streets to denounce months of food, medicine, fuel and electricity shortages that have paralyzed the island.
Internet blackouts are a growing problem around the world, and are used by authoritarian governments to restrict communications, especially during protests or elections. That is why people have learned to activate one of the best VPN services to mitigate the impacts of accessing censored sites like social media platforms.
With the #internet blackout in the early hours of July 15, the number of active users of the VPN @PsiphonInc suddenly increases in #Cuba.2 weeks)#KeepitOn https://t.co/TamBvriiSI pic.twitter.com/ RZvny4GQ2cJuly 17, 2022
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Why is Psiphon so popular in Cuba?
Developed by Citizen Lab researchers in 2007 to help users living with restricted freedom on the Internet, Psiphon is circumvention software that allows users to bypass Internet censorship.
It is completely free and open source, and combines secure communication and obfuscation technologies. It uses VPN, SSH, and web proxy software to bypass robust firewalls that other services can't.
Psiphon works by diverting web traffic to prevent filtering machines from filtering your online activities. At the same time, it masks your traffic so that it appears as a connection that is not subject to the current restrictions.
The software is available for Android, Windows and iOS. The free version comes with unlimited bandwidth and no registration required, but your speed is capped at 2 Mbps. You can also upgrade to Psiphon Pro for $9.99 per month, or a whopping $8.33 per month on the annual plan.
However, if you are looking to invest some money, there are better cheap VPN services that we recommend. Our number 1 on this list is Surfshark, for example, which drops to a monthly fee of €2.30 when you sign up for a two-year plan.
There are also plenty of free VPN apps. However, be sure to read our guide before making your choice. Many of these services may expose your data or fail to unblock censored sites. At the time of writing this article, Proton VPN Free is our favorite.
