While we do not condone piracy at NDTV Gadgets, the reality is that “blanket bans” often result in legitimate websites being blocked as well. That’s where this little guide comes in handy.
Before trying the methods we describe, make sure the website is blocked and not down. Is It Down Right Now is a pretty reliable website. Just open it and enter the website name in the form and click Check. It will tell you whether the website is just for you or for everyone.
If the website you’re trying to access isn’t down but you still can’t open it, here are some quick ways to fix the issues. Note that if, for example, your ISP does not use DNS blocks, one or more of these methods may not work for you.
Simple URL changes
The first thing you want to try is to change the url to https instead of http. Doing this is easy, just follow these two steps.
1) Go to your browser’s address bar.
2) If you want to access “http://blockedwebsite123.com”, please change it to “https://blockedwebsite123.com” and reload the website. This may not always work, but some users have reported that it works on some sites.
Change DNS
If the URL changes don’t work, you may want to try changing your nameservers to Google DNS or OpenDNS. Most people report that this method works for them with BSNL. Here’s how to do it on any device.
For Windows Vista, 7 or 8 users, please see the instructions below.
1) For Windows Vista and 7, click Start > Control Panel > Network and Internet > Network and Sharing Center. If you are using Windows 8, press Windows key + C > click Search on the right > type control panel in the search bar > select Control Panel > Network and Internet > Network and Sharing Center.
2) Click Change adapter settingslocated in the left sidebar.
3) Right-click on the Internet connection (MTNL, Airtel, BSNL, etc.) where you are having trouble accessing the website and click characteristic.
4) Select Internet Protocol version 4 (TCP/IP) and click characteristic.
5) Click the radio button next to Use the following DNS server addressess. If you want to use Google DNS, enter 8.8.8.8 as the preferred DNS server and 8.8.4.4 as the backup DNS server. If you want to use OpenDNS, use 202.67.220.220 and 202.67.222.222 respectively. After entering these contents, click OK.
For Windows XP users, the steps are as follows.
1) Click Start > Control Panel > Network Connections.
2) Now select the specific Internet connection having access issues, right click and select characteristic.
3) Left click Internet Protocol (TCP/IP)then select characteristic.
4) Follow the instructions in step 5 above.
Try this if you’re using an iOS device connected to a Wi-Fi network.
1) Open Settings > Click Wi-Fi > Click the Wi-Fi network the device is connected to.
2) Click DNS and change both values to Google DNS or Open DNS (as described in step 5 above). The two values should be separated by a comma and a space (8.8.8.8, 8.8.4.4).
For Android users, these are the steps.
1) Open Settings > Click Wifi.
2) Long press the Wi-Fi network you are connected to > click Modify network.
3) Now click on the box next to Show advanced options. Scroll down.
4) Click on DHCP > Select Static IP > Scroll down and modify Domain name system 1 and Domain name resolution 2 (As described in step 5 above).
On a BlackBerry 10 device, try this.
1) Settings > Network & Connections > Click Wifi. Now connect to the Wi-Fi network.
2) Long press on the connection you are connected to > click edit.
3) Scroll down and close Obtain IP automatically. Once you do this you will see more options like IP address, domain name system and gateway. Here switch to OpenDNS or Google DNS (as described in step 5 above).
Unfortunately, Windows Phone 8 does not support manual DNS changes.
try proxy
If changing DNS doesn’t work, you should try using a web proxy to open blocked websites. These websites simply direct you through servers located in other countries, which means you can access unblocked websites in those countries.
Hidemyass and NewIPNow are two such websites. Simply enter the name of the blocked website into the form and click Enter. On the Hidemyass website, the free proxy is at the very bottom of the page, followed by a lot of links to paid versions, but just scroll all the way down and you’ll see the address bar. NewIPNow allows you to choose the location of your server (US, UK, or Canada), which may be useful to some users.
Subscribe to a Virtual Private Network
For complete anonymity on the web and the ability to access all websites blocked in your country, a Virtual Private Network (VPN) is the best solution. The best VPNs aren’t free. If you really need privacy or want to avoid proxy sites, you can try Private Internet Access for $7 (Rs. 420) per month, or TorGuard for $10 (Rs. 600) per month.
If we’ve missed your favorite way to open blocked websites, let us know in the comments. For more tutorials, be sure to visit our How-To section.