Audio player loading… Chinese authorities may force social media platforms to revise any user comments and censor those considered 'harmful' before being published. On June 17, the country's internet watchdog, Cyberspace Administration of China (CAC), published a draft update (opens in new tab) to its 2017 legislation regulating the country's censorship machine. Platforms' content moderation teams will be required to filter and report any illegal content to authorities. All types of comment will be targeted, from original posts and replies to real-time time comments on video streaming – so-called 'bullet chats.' What's more, for the first time the creator of a post will be considered responsible for other people commenting on it too. The new directives have sparked concerns over yet more censorship in a country where the world's most stringent rules are already in place. The use of a security tools, like the best China VPN , are widespread among internet … [Read more...] about China wants to censor all online comments and hold posters responsible for reactions
China internet users
Blizzard games to pull the plug in China
Audio player loading… Major video game developer Blizzard Entertainment is set to cease its operations in China as it has failed to extend its agreement with the Chinese provider NetEase. This means that gamers based in the country will need to connect to the best China VPN services to keep playing the likes of World of Warcraft, Hearthstone or Starcraft. The news comes as US video game giant Activision Blizzard's subsidiary company reported that NetEase refused an extension of the 14-year licensing deal, about to expire, that permits Blizzard games to be distributed across mainland China. Diablo Immortal will be the only game released under a separate contract. Other titles won't be available for users connecting within the country's borders from January 23 onwards. Following the update from Blizzard Entertainment, which bemoaned their inability to negotiate a six-month extension prior to the shutdown of Blizzard games in China, NetEase has issued a … [Read more...] about Blizzard games to pull the plug in China
The best VPN for China 2023
No matter if you live or plan to head to China soon, in both scenarios we strongly recommend downloading one of the world's best VPNs beforehand. Let's see why. China is well-known to be the world's country that clamps down the most on what its residents can and cannot access online. Social media platforms, streaming services, news outlets, countless websites: they all are fully or partly censored. Even Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies cannot escape the Great Firewall's muzzle. All this makes using a VPN for China a real necessity for bypassing these strict geo-restrictions and access all the sites you usually visit. How? That's because it spoofs your real IP location and makes you appear as if you are in an entirely different country in the world in no time. A China VPN isn't just a circumventing tool, though. It encrypts all the data leaving your device without logging your information. That's really important as Chinese authorities are also infamous for their invasive … [Read more...] about The best VPN for China 2023
Authorities dismantle crypto exchange Bitzlato, allege it was cybercrime “haven”
Federal authorities on Wednesday arrested the founder of Bitzlato, a cryptocurrency exchange they said has been a financial haven for Russia-aligned criminals engaged in ransomware and illicit drug sales on the dark web. Anatoly Legkodymov, a 40-year-old Russian national residing in Shenzhen, China, was arrested on Wednesday in Miami, US prosecutors said . The prosecutors alleged that on Legkodymov’s watch, Bitzlato processed roughly $4.58 billion worth of cryptocurrency transactions and that a “substantial portion of those transactions constitute the proceeds of crime, as well as funds intended for use in criminal transactions.” Bitzlato is known as a virtual asset service provider (VASP). Ransomware and cybercrime bazaars—no questions asked Further Reading Paying ransomware demands could land you in hot water with the feds The US Justice Department took action in conjunction with the US Treasury Department's Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN), which … [Read more...] about Authorities dismantle crypto exchange Bitzlato, allege it was cybercrime “haven”
Best Android VPN 2023
If you have an Android device and you don't like the idea of your phone or apps giving away your geolocation data around the clock, using a reliable and well-tested VPN is a good idea. Will using a VPN get rid of all your privacy headaches? Definitely not. But the best Android VPN will provide you with whole-device protection so that your internet service provider can't view your browsing activity or app usage, Google can't see your geolocation, and your other apps' owners can't see what you're doing outside of their app . And that kind of protection is enough to stop you from being low-hanging fruit in an era of constant surveillance and an increasing risk of data breaches. Android-specific VPN downloads accounted for about 75% of the mobile VPN surge over the past few years, according to the most recent trend reports. Over 480 million mobile VPN apps were downloaded around the globe in just 12 months between 2019 and 2020, according to research firm Top10VPN . … [Read more...] about Best Android VPN 2023
Best Mac VPN for 2023
Apple is known for its strong security measures, but if you're a Mac user and you want to protect your online privacy, using a VPN , or virtual private network, is a good idea. While Apple devices offer a number of security features, it's still possible for your internet service provider to track your browsing activity on both iOS and MacOS, and other sites can collect your IP address. MacOS can't prevent either of those things, but the best Mac VPN can. With a reliable and well-tested VPN, Mac users can keep their online activity under wraps and better protect their digital information. When we select the best Mac VPN for our readers, we consider a number of things that are specific to being a Mac user: First, if you've been using MacOS, you're used to a clean, intuitive user interface with a minimal learning curve and a well-organized set of digital tools -- which is why a VPN's usability weighs into our consideration. Further, while not every Apple device is faster … [Read more...] about Best Mac VPN for 2023
oneplus: OnePlus 11R 5G to debut alongside OnePlus 11 on February 7
Close OnePlus 11R OnePlus will launch the OnePlus 11R 5G on February 7, the same day it will unveil the OnePlus 11 5G smartphone. The company hasn't released much about the smartphone but teases that it will be "fastR" – probably hinting at faster charging speed. The news about the OnePlus 11R started making rounds on the internet when some users claimed that they've got a push notification from Amazon suggesting the OnePlus 11R's debut on February 11. Soon after the reports started to pour in, OnePlus confirmed the development via a tweet. The teaser doesn’t reveal much about the OnePlus 11R but the tweet shows the lower back suggesting a Silver colour option and OnePlus 10T-like design. It also uses the tagline “The Shape of Power” suggesting that it could offer powerful internals at an affordable price. Read Also OnePlus 11 battery specs tipped online: What to expect OnePlus 11 5G launch event Alongside … [Read more...] about oneplus: OnePlus 11R 5G to debut alongside OnePlus 11 on February 7
The Best VPN Services of 2023
Table of Contents What to Look For in a VPN in 2023 Frequently Asked Questions Best Overall VPN: ExpressVPN Best Budget VPN: Private Internet Access Best Free VPN: Windscribe Best VPN for iPhone: Proton VPN Best VPN for Android: Hide.me Best VPN for Streaming: ExpressVPN Best VPN for Gaming: TorGuard Best VPN for Torrenting: IVPN Best VPN for Windows: NordVPN Best VPN for China: VyprVPN Best Private VPN: Mullvad Update, 01/25/2023: We’ve reviewed our recommendations and are confident these are still the best VPNs you can subscribe to. What to Look For in a VPN in 2023 A virtual private network , or VPN, is a service that allows you to connect to the internet through one of its own servers, effectively masking your IP address and adding some anonymity to your browsing. VPNs can serve all kinds of purposes. You can circumvent censorship, access another country’s Netflix library , or simply add an extra layer of security while on the … [Read more...] about The Best VPN Services of 2023
VyprVPN Review: Venomous or Defanged?
Rating: 6/10 ? 1 - Does not work 2 - Barely functional 3 - Severely lacking in most areas 4 - Functions, but has numerous issues 5 - Fine yet leaves a lot to be desired 6 - Good enough to buy on sale 7 - Great and worth purchasing 8 - Fantastic, approaching best-in-class 9 - Best-in-class 10 - Borderline perfection Price: Starting At $5/Month VyprVPN is an independent VPN service owned and operated by Switzerland-based Golden Frog. It has a strong reputation for privacy and also is at the forefront of efforts to fight internet censorship. I took it for a spin to see how it performs. When compared to the best VPNs , VyprVPN performs well but not without some small issues. Thanks to its censorship-busting Chameleon protocol, it’s a great pick for people trying to use the internet from China or similarly restrictive regimes. However, it falls short in some other areas, most notably its inability to unblock Netflix . Here's … [Read more...] about VyprVPN Review: Venomous or Defanged?