NordVPN Obfuscated Servers Explained: What You Need to Know
NordVPN is one of the most secure VPNs available as it provides tons of fantastic security features, one of which is obfuscation. These obfuscated servers offer an extra layer of security and allow users to bypass strict censorships or internet restrictions. In this guide, we’ll explain all you need to know about NordVPN’s obfuscated servers.
What are Obfuscated Servers?
An obfuscated server is a VPN server designed to disguise or change VPN traffic so that it looks like regular internet traffic. Obfuscated servers are useful for accessing internet content in regions where VPNs are banned or blocked. NordVPN uses this technology to hide its traffic, making it look like the user is not using a VPN.
In countries with strict surveillance and internet regulations, you may not use regular VPN servers as they will be detected and blocked. NordVPN helps to bypass this by disguising the VPN traffic as the regular https traffic. With NordVPN’s obfuscated servers, you can get an additional layer of security and privacy protection.
This feature makes it impossible for providers to recognize that the user is using a VPN server. NordVPN’s obfuscated servers are capable of bypassing the Great Firewall of China. Their servers are one of the most reliable means to avoid heavy censorship in the country. Only a few VPNs can work in the country, and NordVPN is one of them, thanks to their obfuscated servers.
Also, some streaming services regularly detect and block VPN servers, making it quite hard for internet users to use a VPN to connect to the service. VPN protocols such as the OpenVPN protocol mostly have detectable patterns, allowing providers to detect VPN servers, though the user’s privacy is still protected. One way to go around this is server obfuscation. Obfuscated servers enable internet users to bypass filters or blocks employed by these streaming services.
Why Use NordVPN Obfuscated Servers?
Many users ignore the obfuscated server feature on NordVPN even though there are many reasons to use them. In this article, we’ll look at the various situations where obfuscated servers can be helpful.
Government Censorship
Many countries employ strict surveillance measures and censorships to restrict the internet content available to users in that region. Countries such as Iran, North Korea, China, and Turkey all have various internet restrictions. Some social media services are inaccessible in these regions, and you can only access them through a VPN. Through a VPN, you can access banned websites as the service reroutes your internet traffic through a VPN server. However, the government or internet providers try to detect and block VPN traffic to prevent access to these services. This is why obfuscated servers are necessary. NordVPN obfuscated servers provide access by disguising VPN traffic as the regular internet traffic.
Detection Measures by Network Administrators
Apart from government censorship, some websites or internet services may be blocked by network administrators at schools, workplaces, or other institutions. To bypass these detection measures, you’ll need a VPN with obfuscation servers. NordVPN obfuscation servers are capable of circumventing these internet filters on a network.
ISP Throttling
At times, your internet service provider may reduce your internet speed based on your internet activity. For example, your internet service provider can cap your connection speed when using streaming services or during torrent downloads. Some reduce speeds automatically if the provider detects that you are using a VPN. Even if you are using a VPN for other purposes, some internet service providers may automatically reduce your internet speeds. This is where obfuscated servers come in handy as they hide VPN use from internet service providers.
Access Streaming Services
Many streaming services block access to libraries outside of the user’s region because of licensing and copyright agreements. This means you have to use a VPN to gain access to foreign content by connecting to a server in your preferred destination. However, streaming services are aware of that, and they employ methods to detect and block VPN servers. Some streaming services ban server IPs while others check the data packets to expose VPN protocol signatures and block the detected servers. To go around this, you will need a VPN with obfuscated servers.
Extra Privacy
If you desire the extra privacy and security obfuscated servers offer, then consider the NordVPN obfuscated servers. With obfuscated servers, no agency or internet service provider can know that you are using a VPN. It hides the VPN server and internet traffic while providing extra anonymity.
How to Connect to NordVPN Obfuscated Servers
NordVPN automatically disables access to its obfuscated servers; this means users have to locate and connect to these servers by themselves. NordVPN has obfuscated servers in countries including Canada, France, Germany, Japan, Italy, the Netherlands, Singapore, Turkey, the United States, and others. To connect to NordVPN obfuscated servers, follow the steps below.
- Visit the NordVPN website and sign up if you do not have an account.
- Purchase a subscription plan and download and install the app on your device. After the installation, sign in using the details you supplied during registration.
- Open Settings and click the Advanced tab at the upper right corner. Turn on the obfuscated servers by clicking the button. If the option is not available, ensure you select the OpenVPN protocol (TCP or UDP).
- Return to the front page of the app. The obfuscated servers will now be on the server list. NordVPN will automatically connect you to the fastest obfuscated server, but you can change it by clicking on the three dots to select another server. Once the connection has been established, you can now enjoy the extra privacy.
Get 71% off now
Conclusion
Not many VPN providers offer better privacy and security features than NordVPN. One of these amazing features is server obfuscation, which allows you to use a VPN server without being detected by the government, internet service providers, or network administrators. NordVPN has obfuscated servers in various countries around the globe, which can provide the unrestricted access you desire as long as you remain connected.