Enhancing Security While Accessing Webpages Banned in China

China's Great Firewall (GFW) employs advanced techniques such as deep packet inspection (DPI), DNS filtering, IP blocking, and active probing to restrict access to foreign websites. To securely bypass these restrictions, users must adopt a combination of privacy-preserving and obfuscation technologies. This article explores the best practices for securely accessing banned websites in China while minimizing the risk of detection.

1. Use a Reliable VPN with Obfuscation

• Choose VPNs with obfuscation: Providers like NordVPN, ExpressVPN, and Surfshark offer obfuscated servers that disguise VPN traffic as regular HTTPS traffic.
• Use stealth protocols: OpenVPN with XOR patches, Shadowsocks, and WireGuard-based stealth technologies can help bypass DPI.
• Rotate VPN servers: Frequent server switching prevents IP blacklisting.
• Self-host a VPN: Deploying a private VPN using Outline VPN, Algo VPN, or WireGuard on a cloud provider minimizes the risk of detection.

2. Leverage Shadowsocks or V2Ray

• Deploy on a cloud server: Hosting Shadowsocks or V2Ray on an overseas VPS (e.g., DigitalOcean, Linode, AWS) enhances reliability.
• Use plugins: Combining Shadowsocks with TLS and WebSocket plugins mimics normal web traffic.
• Enable traffic obfuscation: XTLS and VMess in V2Ray make detection more difficult.

3. Use Tor with a Bridge Relay

• Obfs4 bridges: Obfs4 disguises Tor traffic as innocuous traffic to evade DPI.
• Meek bridges: Uses domain fronting via cloud services (Google, Microsoft) to bypass blocks.
• Running a personal bridge: Setting up a private Tor bridge adds an extra layer of security.

4. DNS Encryption and Traffic Camouflage

• Use encrypted DNS: DNS-over-HTTPS (DoH) and DNS-over-TLS (DoT) prevent interception.
• Set up a private DNS resolver: Cloudflare’s 1.1.1.1 and Quad9 (9.9.9.9) are recommended.
• Use domain fronting: Accessing banned services through major CDNs (e.g., Google, Cloudflare) hides destination servers.

5. Use a Secure Browser

• Tor Browser: Ideal for anonymity when configured with bridges.
• Brave Browser: Built-in Tor support for private browsing.
• Firefox with privacy extensions: uBlock Origin, NoScript, and HTTPS Everywhere enhance security.

6. Avoid Linking Accounts and Personal Information

• Use disposable email accounts.
• Avoid logging into personal accounts (Google, Facebook, etc.) while bypassing censorship.
• Disable WebRTC: Prevents IP leaks.

7. Use Secure Operating Systems and Devices

• Tails OS: A live OS designed for privacy and anonymity.
• Whonix: A privacy-focused Linux distribution that routes traffic through Tor.
• Use a separate device: A dedicated burner phone or laptop reduces exposure.

8. Monitor for Leaks and Security Risks

• Run IP leak tests: Websites like ipleak.net verify VPN effectiveness.
• Use a firewall: Blocking non-VPN traffic prevents accidental leaks.
• Monitor DPI countermeasures: Test for connectivity issues frequently.

Conclusion

Bypassing China’s Great Firewall securely requires a multi-layered approach involving VPN obfuscation, encrypted proxies, secure DNS configurations, and privacy-focused browsers. Regularly updating security tools and monitoring for leaks further enhances anonymity. Adopting these best practices reduces the risk of detection while ensuring uninterrupted access to global content.

Mindcoeur Editorial
28. 3. 2025