• Italy’s anti-piracy blocking system, Piracy Shield, removed previously blocked domains and IP addresses due to a lack of capability.
• The system updates announced the Italian Authority for Communications are to be funded from public money.
• To prevent sidestepping the system’s blockades, Italy intends to ban the use of some smart TV VPNs.

The Italian Authority for Communications (AGCOM) will require two smart TV manufacturers to prevent users from installing VPN apps on their products during September, ahead of the programmed launch of Piracy Shield 2.0, Italy’s controversial anti-piracy blocking system.

Starting with October 2023, AGCOM publicly declared being happy with some IPTV providers’ decision to make VPN use mandatory, saying VPN users flag themselves as piracy-inclined by default.

Later that month, an AGCOM document said VPN and open DNS service providers would have to execute the blocks requested by the agency. 

The AGCOM currently studies legitimate apps that can be used for piracy, such as VPNs, La Repubblica reports, and focuses on an unnamed VPN app on smart TV app stores that has an office in the E.U. 

VPNs are mostly used for safety and anonymity while browsing the internet, but they can also unblock several geo-restricted services. 

However, while a legitimate VPN service cannot be pursued legally since it abides by general legal obligations, AGCOM could rely on the Digital Services Act due to a lack of copyright grounds.

The current system does not meet the needed blocking capacity, only blocking 60 to 70 of the country’s over 300 ISPs. So, it unblocks domains and IP addresses on its list to make room for new ones. 

Head of telecoms regulator AGCOM Massimiliano Capitanio said the platform needs an infrastructural upgrade to support more ISPs. 

A new platform is expected to be launched by the end of the year, and the current one will be expanded. The estimated running cost of 2 million euros yearly will be financed from public funds.

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• All existing Ivacy users are asked to migrate to PureVPN.
• The process of migrating requires minimal data transfer.
• Current subscribers keep access to all the existing features and add-ons.

Ivacy has announced that PureVPN, one of the provider’s initial backers, has gained controlling stakes, which has prompted the two VPNs to enter a partnership. More precisely, Ivacy is evolving into ‘Ivacy Powered by PureVPN’ to offer enhanced security features and an expanded range of products.

Ivacy subscriptions are no longer available to purchase, and existing subscribers will be automatically migrated. If you’re a current user, you should receive an email that explains how to migrate your account, which should be an effortless process. PureVPN promises to honor all subscriptions and add-ons offered by Ivacy in the past, meaning that you won’t lose any of the existing features you have.

Migrating your existing account from Ivacy to PureVPN doesn’t require a new account. You’ll only have to consent to migrate your data, which will transfer your Ivacy login details and payment information if you decide to keep auto-renewal active. Speaking of renewals, you’ll keep your current pricing as well.

The above applies to direct payment users who have subscribed using a payment card, PayPal, Stripe, etc. If you subscribed on your iOS or Android device, you must cancel your existing subscription and migrate to PureVPN independently.

As Ivacy explains, moving your account to PureVPN lets you experience the VPN’s 6,000+ servers in 65+ countries and 80+ locations. In addition, PureVPN offers residential IPs from the US, dedicated IPs, port forwarding, dedicated servers for specific online activities, and up to 50 simultaneous logins, which is why this provider has found its place among the best VPN services, as per our team’s hands-on tests.

The company behind PureVPN offers additional cyber-security solutions, which will be available to Ivacy users should they decide to upgrade. These include PurePrivacy, available on iOS and Android, and PureKeep, which is supported on Windows and Mac. Lastly, there’s also PureEncrypt, which works on desktop devices.

We’ll also note that PureVPN offers apps for Windows, Mac, Android, iOS, Linux, Chrome OS, Amazon TV, and Android TV, and it also supports routers.

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• NordVPN has proven to be highly effective at preventing its users from visiting fraudulent online stores.
• The VPN offers an advanced cybersecurity tool and AI to detect malicious websites, prompting an alert when needed.
• NordVPN’s Threat Protection Pro is available on Windows and macOS.

NordVPN’s Threat Protection Pro, included in upper-tier NordVPN subscription plans, has been tested by AV-Comparatives, one of the leading independent organizations for systematic software security testing. More precisely, AV-Comparatives conducted a fake-shops test, which included 35 highly popular cyber-security products, to check how well they can identify online shops run by scammers.

AV-Comparatives’ test cases included 500 fake and 100 legitimate shops, checking each cyber-security tool’s effectiveness at redirecting users away from malicious websites. NordVPN ranked third, showing that its ability to protect users from online scams is admirable.

The table above shows the test results for the 35 tested tools, where you can see that NordVPN has managed to block up to 70% of malicious websites. That’s due to the VPN’s use of “Smart AI” and an extensive database to stop you from visiting fraudulent websites, which helps you avoid phishing scams more successfully.

AV-Comparatives notes that even the most effective tools for detecting fake shops aren’t bulletproof solutions. Therefore, it’s crucial to stay vigilant when shopping online. You can recognize fake shops by unrealistic discounts, poor grammar, and misspelled domains. Also, you should look for contact information, review privacy policies, avoid unusual payment methods, and research the retailer.

As mentioned in our own NordVPN review, it’s worth noting that NordVPN’s Threat Protection Pro does more than detect fake online stores. It blocks trackers from following you around the Web, eliminates online ads, trims URLs to make it easier to share links, scans files for malware, and detects app vulnerabilities (prompting you to update or use them with caution).

Threat Protection Pro is available on Windows and macOS. If you’re a Mac user, you need to download NordVPN from its website to access this feature instead of installing it from the Mac App Store. Mobile versions and NordVPN’s browser extensions offer ‘Threat Protection’ (previously known as ‘Threat Protection Lite’), limited to blocking malicious and phishing domains.

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• NordVPN, ExpressVPN, Surfshark, Proton VPN, VyprVPN, and more are no longer available in Brazil through the local iOS App Store.
• Apple is most likely acting upon Brazilian orders to remove certain VPN apps.
• Internet users in Brazil still have some excellent options regarding reputable VPNs, but that situation could change overnight.

Update: On August 22, 2024, we provided updates to the following content, as all of the previously listed VPNs are once again available for download in Brazil.

Social media giant X (formerly Twitter) has officially shut down its operations in Brazil following a months-long legal battle with the country’s authorities. The social media network was accused of not doing enough to counter disinformation after being asked to block certain accounts accused of spreading fake news and hate messages.

Even though X has shut down its operations, the app remains available in Brazil. However, this latest development has caused quite a commotion among Internet users, who are now massively turning to VPN providers. As noted by Proton VPN, this free-of-charge provider has registered a 580% increase in the number of sign-ups in the last couple of days.

However, reports were circulating that obtaining a VPN in Brazil became an issue. More precisely, some of the top-rated VPN services were delisted from the Brazilian iOS App Store. These apps were marked as “purchased” when an install was attempted without an option for users to download them onto their iOS/iPadOS devices.

The most notable VPNs affected by this change were Proton VPN, NordVPN, ExpressVPN, Surfshark, Kaspersky VPN, TunnelBear, VyprVPN, and more. Security researchers at Top10VPN have created a table with nearly 40 VPN apps blocked on August 19. However, as the researchers noted on August 20, all of the previously listed apps have returned to the Brazilian iOS App Store.

In the meantime, a group of other reputable VPNs remained available for download. These include CyberGhost VPN, Private Internet Access, Windscribe, PureVPN, IPVanish, and others.

Even though it’s not usual for Apple to remove VPNs to comply with censorship, as happened recently in Russia, there’s no official confirmation about the latest events in Brazil. Some speculate that technical issues prevent the Brazilian App Store from working, while others are sure Apple is acting upon Brazilian orders.

The post 35+ Well-Known VPNs Reportedly Removed from Brazilian iOS App Store appeared first on TechNadu.

• Many digital services and apps have been difficult to access in Pakistan in the last few weeks.
• The country’s IT minister blames VPNs for causing country-wide slowdowns.
• There are indications that Pakistan is moving towards blocking VPNs.

During the last couple of weeks, numerous Internet users in Pakistan have been reporting unusually slow Internet speeds. Some services, such as WhatsApp, were increasingly hard to access and use on mobile data and even via broadband, making media exchange nearly impossible. As per the country’s IT minister, the root of these issues is the use of VPNs, which are most often used to bypass local networks.

Pakistan’s IT minister, Shaza Fatima Khawaja, first noted that the state hasn’t shut down the Internet or slowed it down. Then, she continued to note that a large segment of the population has turned to VPNs due to issues with accessing specific services and apps.

More precisely, as per Ms. Khawaja’s words, when a large number of people use VPNs to bypass local content restrictions, that action “puts additional pressure on the system and ultimately slows down the Internet.” In theory, that could be true, but only in some very specific situations. That said, if the reasoning is correct, that would mark the first time VPNs were used on such a wide scale to affect a region’s Internet access.

In the meantime, IT experts from Pakistan have been warning of the country’s intention to implement stricter data filtering and increase digital surveillance. Ms. Khawaja added that “there will be some controls to prevent threatening and defamatory content against the state and individuals,” without mentioning whether those measures would be implemented in the form of a country-wide firewall.

Pakistan’s IT minister also mentioned that the government plans to auction 5G spectrums early next year, bringing faster and more affordable Internet access. She also noted that four new Internet cables are being laid, connecting Pakistan to the Gulf and Africa, which should bring faster and more stable Internet access.

We’re yet to see whether VPNs are actually to blame for the situation in Pakistan. However, we’ll remind you that the country’s authorities have recently mentioned the possibility of regulating VPNs by approving individual providers. That move would affect more than 41 million VPN users in the country.

The fate of VPNs in Pakistan seems uncertain, but most can still bypass Web restrictions, no matter how technically complex those restrictions might be. Top-rated VPNs for Pakistan come with obfuscation, which will become crucial in the future if you plan on opening up your access to the Web.

The post Pakistan’s Government Blames VPNs for Reduced Internet Speeds Country-Wide appeared first on TechNadu.

• Proton VPN’s browser extensions are now included with a ‘Proton Free’ plan.
• Free users get unlimited bandwidth and speed, but they’ll be connected to the nearest VPN server automatically.
• The extensions also work on Edge, Brave, Vivaldi, and more.  

Proton VPN’s intention to help people bypass censorship has received a significant push. As per the VPN’s latest announcement, its Chrome and Firefox extensions are now available to those using its free-of-charge plan. Proton VPN’s Chrome add-on also works on Microsoft Edge, Brave, Opera, and Vivaldi, while the Firefox extension also works on LibreWorlf, Waterfox, and more.

As noted in our in-depth Proton VPN review, this provider offers relatively liberal free and highly praised premium plans. Those who don’t wish to pay get unlimited data bandwidth and speed, which is rare in the world of free VPNs. However, that plan also comes with a limited selection of servers, which also applies to the VPN’s Chrome and Firefox extensions.

More precisely, free-of-charge VPN servers are found in 5 countries: the Netherlands, Japan, Romania, Poland, and the US. You’re not allowed to pick a VPN server manually, which means you’ll connect to the nearest server automatically. Paid subscribers receive access to 6,500+ servers in 112 countries, 10 simultaneous connections, as well as high-end features like ‘Secure Core’ and split-tunneling, placing Proton VPN among the top-rated VPN services, as per our expert team's findings.

Nonetheless, Proton VPN’s decision to make its Chrome and Firefox extensions free is worthy of praise. You can download the extensions from Proton VPN’s website or your browser's ‘Add-On Store,’ which helps you avoid local censorship. This applies to countries like China, Russia, Iran, and Turkmenistan, where VPN apps are often removed from Apple’s and Google’s App Store.

Keep in mind that if you use a VPN extension for your browser, only your browser’s traffic will be protected. Other applications on your device will still use your local IP address. If you need protection for all your incoming and outgoing traffic, we recommend using Proton VPN’s native app, available for Windows, macOS, Linux, and more.

In other recent news, Proton VPN has recently confirmed its no-logs policy through another independent audit. Also, it brought new ‘Discreet App Icons’ to Android, which allows you to set the VPN’s icon to look like any regular built-in app.  

The post Proton VPN’s Chrome and Firefox Extensions Now Available for Free appeared first on TechNadu.

• Access to YouTube has been disrupted for more than a month now.
• Reportedly, Russia plans to block YouTube entirely by September.
• A VPN is now the only way to access the streaming site fully.

Internet users in Russia have been reporting problems accessing and streaming YouTube for a while now, blaming the country’s potential block of this Google-owned site. The first official announcement came from Rostelecom in early July, saying that “technical problems in the operation of equipment owned by Google” were to blame.

More precisely, Rostelecom blamed Google for abandoning and neglecting their servers in Russia after withdrawing from the country after the invasion of Ukraine. However, as Russia’s Meduza reported, YouTube’s data transfer speeds have been limited to 128 kilobits per second, making it only possible to listen to audio.

Now, multiple sources are reporting that Google’s streaming platform experienced a mass outage throughout the country on the morning of August 8. This aligns with Meduza’s earlier report that the Russian authorities plan to slow down YouTube and ultimately block it entirely in September, which still hasn’t been officially confirmed.

YouTube, owned by American multinational Google, has had a strenuous relationship with Russia for some time now. In 2022, the streaming platform blocked Kremlin-backed media outlets RT and Sputnik and even terminated the channel of Russia’s lower house of parliament. As a result, the Kremlin responded by accusing YouTube of adhering to an “anti-Russia policy.”

In the meantime, Russian Internet users have started turning to VPN services, even though the Kremlin is trying to suppress those as well. By connecting to a VPN server outside the country, Internet users can obtain a non-Russian IP address. This helps bypass censorship measures and geo-blocks. In other words, a VPN is currently the only way to access YouTube in Russia.

It's worth noting that the Russian VPN ban has been ongoing for several years now. Even though a number of options are still available, the list of fully working VPNs in Russia has been shrinking. If you plan on using one, our strong recommendation is to pick one that with obfuscated servers and advanced anti-censorship measures.

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• PIA is one of the first providers to offer a native ARM application.
• The app is currently in beta as PIA is actively working on resolving bugs.
• Other VPNs that have joined the bandwagon are Surfshark and Windscribe.

As reported just a couple of days ago, big-name VPNs are developing ARM applications for Windows, and we expect that most of the high-end VPN providers will make the switch soon. That said, Private Internet Access is among the first providers to offer an ARM-native application, now available for download.

Recently introduced Copilot+ PCs are powered by Snapdragon’s X Elite processors, which have a different architecture than Intel or AMD CPUs. As such, these devices require ARM applications to take full advantage of their high-end performance and energy efficiency.

While most non-native software can run through emulation on ARM, this doesn’t apply to VPN apps, which are specialist software that integrates with Windows more deeply. Per PIA’s explanation, this provider’s developers had to work with delays in certificate signing from Microsoft, overcome code framework dependencies, and more.

As reported by Tom’s Guide, PIA’s Head of Product, Himmat Bains, said: “We are excited to bring PIA’s functionality to Microsoft’s next generation of ARM-based machines. We have been working hard to bring all of PIA’s functionality across to this new hardware, and are thrilled that our users can again enjoy the full power of the PIA platform.”

In addition, since Windows’ ARM architecture is still under very active development, PIA has decided to keep the latest application in beta. That said, don’t be surprised if you encounter bugs or glitches, as PIA’s developers work hard to streamline the app’s functionality.

When it comes to other VPNs, your additional options are Surfshark and Windscribe, as both of them offer native ARM applications. We’ve also seen reports that NordVPN and ExpressVPN are working hard on a solution, but haven’t finalized their ARM software just yet.

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• Proton VPN’s Stealth protocol is now available on Windows as well.
• You can use a more discrete icon to hide Proton VPN on Android.
• This provider now offers 6,500+ servers in 112 countries in total.

Proton VPN, one of the top-rated VPN services according to our expert team, has introduced several new features and refinements. They’re all aimed at bypassing censorship measures, allowing its subscribers to access the Web more securely.

One of the standout upgrades is Proton VPN’s Stealth protocol, which is now available on Windows in addition to macOS, iOS, and Android. This protocol uses obfuscation through TLS tunneling over TCP, while other VPN protocols typically use UDP. This makes Stealth harder to detect and block, as well as suitable for avoiding alerting Internet filters.

Despite its high-end obfuscation technology, Stealth is optimized for fast performance. This VPN provider has designed the new protocol to be compatible with its ‘VPN Accelerator’ technology, meaning you can expect equally fast speeds and stable connections across nearby and remote servers.

Next, Proton VPN’s Android app now allows you to set a more discreet icon. You can choose a custom icon by going to the app’s settings, making Proton VPN look like any regular built-in app. This feature is designed for those at risk of physical inspection, which we’ve seen happen in countries like China and Myanmar.

This provider has also expanded its server network. In this latest expansion, Proton VPN focused on 12 countries found at the bottom of the Freedom House Index and the Democracy Index lists. In other words, you can now find servers in Afghanistan, Bahrain, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Iraq, Kuwait, Libya, Saudi Arabia, Sudan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Yemen. There are now 6,500+ servers in 112 countries in total.

When it comes to the countries mentioned above, Proton VPN has clarified that they aren’t physically located there due to privacy concerns. Instead, they are found in nearby countries and provide virtual IP addresses of their end destinations. That way, you’re protected against privacy intrusions and data logging.

All Proton VPN subscribers already have access to all of the new features. To get them on your device(s), update your VPN app to the latest version.

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• Following censorship accusations, Instagram was blocked on Aug 2nd.
• Turkish authorities are now focusing on VPNs, disrupting their operation.
• Some of the affected VPNs are NordVPN, ExpressVPN, and Surfshark.

Turkish authorities have reportedly decided to make it harder for citizens to use VPN services following the decision to block access to Instagram on August 2nd. One of the world’s biggest social media apps was blocked without a concrete reason. Still, many speculate that the reason lies behind Instagram’s restrictions on posting messages of condolence for the recent assassination of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh.

The only message regarding the ban was from the Turkish Information Technologies and Communication Authority (BTK), which noted the following: "Instagram.com has been blocked by the decision dated 02/08/2024 and numbered 490.05.01.2024.-608903 of Information and Communications Technology Authority."

Following the ban on Instagram, Proton VPN’s Censorship Observatory reported that the number of sign-ups from Turkey increased by 4,500%. This was a clear indication that web users in Turkey have been turning to VPNs to unblock social media apps. Now, the Istanbul-based Freedom of Expression Association (IFÖD) reports that 27 VPN services are facing disruptions across the country.

The list of the disrupted VPNs includes some of the most widely used VPNs in Turkey, such as NordVPN, ExpressVPN, Surfshark, CyberGhost VPN, and Private Internet Access. Some of those providers have noted that while a certain number of people haven’t been able to connect from Turkey recently, widespread disruptions are yet to be seen.

If you live in Turkey, your best bet is to use the Tor Browser to communicate with your VPN provider’s support if you can’t connect. And if you plan on traveling to the country, we recommend installing your chosen VPN app in advance. Of course, it’s also recommended to use a high-end protocol like OpenVPN or WireGuard. Lastly, pick an obfuscated server if your VPN offers that option.

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