The Great Firewall

One of the many things I have learned doing my research for my trip is a lovely little thing called The Great Firewall of China. 

Now, an unsuspecting naive little lamb like myself, would have thought this was a nickname given to the Great Wall of China.

This is not the case.  Allow me to briefly explain. 

In my previous post I mentioned something about the "GREAT FIREWALL"

and yes folks, its a real thing. Virtually anyways. You see, in China, there is no 

Facebook, 

Google (in fact everything that has to do with Google)

Instagram

Twitter

SnapChat

Netflix

Youtube

Picasa

PornHub

and about 3,000 other websites. Click this link if you want a detailed list of what is banned thanks to Wikipedia.

Sooooooooo..... having a Virtual Private Network (also known as VPN) would safely help you get connected to those back home while and catch up on your latest Netflix binge. 

Now if you don't know what a VPN is here is Google's definition: "a network that is constructed using public wires — usually the Internet — to connect to a private network, such as a company's internal network. There are a number of systems that enable you to create networks using the Internet as the medium for transporting data."

Basically what it does is allows you to surf the web without the government spying on you. Yes, I said the government. 

Specifically, the Chinese government. 

The way VPNs works is simple. You can purchase one OR use the free VPNs sites. 

However, the best VPN's are the paid ones because they are secure. Free VPNs tend to be spotty and sometimes fail. The cheapest VPNs run for as low as 6 dollars a month!

Also, if you decide to get a VPN, do so BEFORE you leave to China. Why? 

Because once you are there you cannot access any VPN websites...because they're illegal.

Okay, its not actually illegal per se because many businesses have VPSs that they use where security and privacy of sensitive information is necessary. 

The Chinese governments just wants to approve of all VPNs and to make sure nothing bad is said about them, a censorship is placed. 

Hence, the Great Firewall. 

In a country where nearly 10 million people use VPSs, its safe to say that using one will not get you locked up or deported. Just watch what you say. That's all.