Russia actively blocking virtual private networks

Nearly 200 services banned with further 47 additional requests made

Life

Vladimir Putin. Image: Getty

The Russian government is stepping up its efforts to block virtual private networks (VPNs). This crackdown suits the authoritarian nature of president Vladimir Putin’s regime, which strives to control information and limit citizens’ privacy. In December 2024, Moscow-based news agency Interfax reported that Russia had already banned 197 VPN apps.

A report by a Russian journalist indicates that another 47 requests for VPN blocking have been made. Roskomnadzor, the Russian agency responsible for media monitoring and censorship, is actively pursuing this campaign to prevent Russians from accessing technology that could shield their online activities from government surveillance.

VPNs act as intermediaries that route all Internet traffic between users and websites through a secure server provided by the VPN provider. This process masks the user’s unique IP address, making it difficult for websites or malicious parties to track their online activities. Since reputable VPN services use thousands of shared servers, users effectively blend into the crowd, making it difficult for data thieves or snoopers to identify them.

Users can usually download desktop VPN software directly from the provider’s website, bypassing the limitations of an app store. Mobile devices, however, present a greater challenge because of their more restrictive operating systems. This can limit VPN use to laptops and desktops.

It is important to note that VPNs do not only face government censorship. Many websites are developing sophisticated techniques to detect users connected via VPNs.

Business AM

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