WebTunnel: How to Bypass Censorship by Disguising Itself as Regular Web Traffic
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Nowadays, Internet censorship is becoming increasingly strict, especially in countries where access to information is seriously limited. Therefore, blocking bypass technologies are more important than ever - they help you stay connected to the world and use the Internet freely. One of such solutions is WebTunnel - a fresh development of the Tor team, which helps to bypass censorship, especially in countries with severe restrictions.
Details about WebTunnel
WebTunnel is a kind of bridge (or relay) in the Tor network, created to bypass blocking. Unlike other methods, its main feature is disguising traffic as regular HTTPS traffic, making it almost impossible to notice. This is not just another way to bypass censorship, like obfs4. WebTunnel makes your traffic look like regular encrypted web surfing, which helps it pass through filters that block non-standard protocols.
Why WebTunnel is a real find for residents of countries with strong censorship:
- Disguise as regular web traffic. While obfuscation (for example, via obfs4) may raise suspicions, WebTunnel fakes traffic as standard HTTPS - and no one really blocks this type of traffic.
- Using one IP with other services. WebTunnel can operate over the same IP and port as regular websites, further confusing those trying to track you.
- Easy to set up. All you need to do is manually add the bridge to Tor Browser and you're in business.
The main idea of WebTunnel is to work through WebSocket connections over HTTPS. Essentially, your traffic looks like regular visits to websites, and even with detailed analysis, it does not give away that you are using Tor. This makes blocking such traffic almost impossible.
Another cool feature of WebTunnel is the ability to transmit traffic both openly and covertly through Tor, using the same node. This creates the illusion of a normal visit to the site, when the hidden traffic goes through WebTunnel.
How to set up and use WebTunnel: a step-by-step algorithm
WebTunnel is a powerful tool for organizing free access to the Internet from the territory of countries with strong censorship restrictions. And here is how to set it up on different devices:
- Step 1: Get a WebTunnel bridge. Open the bridges page https://bridges.torproject.org/options. In the “Advanced options” section, select “webtunnel” and click “Get bridges”. You may need to solve a CAPTCHA to prove that you are not a robot. Copy the bridge string that appears on the screen.
- Step 2: Install and configure Tor Browser on your PC. Download the latest version of Tor Browser (this is important because older versions may not support WebTunnel). Once installed, launch the browser, select "Configure connection", then "Add a bridge manually". Paste the bridge string and connect.
- Step 3: Using WebTunnel on Android. Download Tor Browser for Android from Google Play or the Tor website, install and launch the application. When you first launch it, select the via bridges setting and enter the WebTunnel bridge string you copied in step 1. After that, you will be able to connect and bypass censorship via WebTunnel.
- Step 4: Testing and feedback. Once connected, check if the previously blocked sites work. If you have any problems, the Tor team is looking for your feedback to help improve WebTunnel.
Some useful tips for using WebTunnel:
- Save bridge strings. You may not be able to get a new bridge in the future if access to sites is blocked.
- Update Tor Browser regularly to get the latest fixes and improvements for WebTunnel.
- Use a VPN for additional anonymity and protection.
Private VPN Server: Reliable and Versatile
A private VPN server, like WebTunnel, helps bypass censorship and protects your privacy. Although VPNs and WebTunnel work differently, their goal is the same - to provide access to the free Internet. WebTunnel, however, is more suitable for the most severe censorship conditions, making it indispensable in such regions.
If you are planning to buy a private VPN server, take a look at Private VPN server. There you will find useful information in the FAQ section, which will help you figure out what's what.