Introduction
Using a virtual private network (VPN) has become an essential tool for internet users in Egypt looking to bypass government restrictions and access content blocked in the country. Egypt has a long history of censorship and surveillance of online activities, with various websites, services and applications blocked or restricted. This makes using the internet inconvenient, limiting access to information and communications.
VPNs provide Egyptian internet users with a practical solution to bypass these restrictions with strong encryption to ensure privacy and security. By routing your traffic through servers located outside Egypt, VPNs allow you to access blocked content, avoid surveillance of your online activities, and protect your privacy when browsing the web. With the right VPN service, Egyptian users can enjoy an open internet experience without limitations.
However, setting up and using a VPN in Egypt does come with some challenges. The Egyptian government actively blocks many VPN services and protocols which requires choosing your VPN carefully. You also need to properly set up and configure your VPN app to ensure you get connected to a server that works reliably in Egypt. This article will recommend the best VPNs for use in Egypt, outline the setup process, and suggest alternative connection methods.
Challenges in Using VPNs in Egypt
Using a VPN in Egypt can be difficult due to the restrictions and blocking imposed by internet service providers under government directives. These challenges include:
Government Restrictions on VPNs
The Egyptian government actively blocks access to many VPN services to prevent citizens from bypassing censorship and surveillance. Popular VPN providers like Hotspot Shield, TunnelBear and even built-in VPN clients are restricted. Only a handful of VPN services continue to work reliably in Egypt.
Blocking of VPN IP Addresses
Egyptian ISPs maintain blacklists of VPN server IP addresses which they actively block to restrict access. Even VPN services that work initially end up getting blocked, interrupting access. This requires users to constantly check and switch server connections.
Difficulty Finding Reliable VPN Services
With so many services blocked or restricted, finding a VPN that continues to work reliably in Egypt poses a significant challenge. Most Egyptians rely on word of mouth and social media tips to discover which VPNs work currently. But these tend to stop working after some time due to blocking of IPs.
Recommended VPNs for Egypt
Despite the restrictions, a handful of VPN services continue to perform well in Egypt thanks to dedicated servers, robust networks and custom protocols that evade blocking. Here are the top recommended VPNs for users in Egypt:
ExpressVPN
ExpressVPN is currently the fastest and most reliable option in 2023 for Egyptian users. It offers:
- Fast speeds thanks to a large network of 3,000+ global VPN servers including locations in Egypt. This ensures strong, fast connections.
- Advanced leak protection and encryption keeps your internet traffic secured and private.
- Special MediaStreamer feature allows accessing blocked streaming sites like Netflix, BBC iPlayer, Hulu etc.
- Quickly resolves any blocked server issues so connections keep working reliably in Egypt.
- Offers a 30-day money back guarantee allowing you to test if ExpressVPN works well in Egypt.
With fast speeds, great unblocking abilities and strong privacy protections, ExpressVPN is a great choice for Egyptian VPN users despite being slightly expensive.
NordVPN
NordVPN is another reliable VPN option in Egypt owing to:
- 5,500+ servers worldwide including Egypt locations help bypass local blocking.
- Advanced security features like double VPN, Onion over VPN, malware blocking ensure private browsing.
- Strict no-logs policy protects users’ privacy. No activity or connections data is collected.
- Manual configuration options allow setting up a secure OpenVPN connection if app connections are blocked.
- Affordable pricing and lengthy 30-day money-back guarantee on subscriptions.
NordVPN has proven reliable for Egyptian users thanks to its huge network of servers, air-tight security, and custom connection options when needed.
CyberGhost
CyberGhost VPN is growing in popularity in Egypt due to:
- A large pool of over 7,400 VPN servers across 90+ countries, including server locations in Egypt.
- Strict no logs policy for protecting users’ privacy.
- Built-in ad blocking, malware blocking and tracking protection.
- Affordable long-term subscription plans.
With local Egypt servers and strong privacy standards, CyberGhost maintains reliable connections making it a good budget choice.
Surfshark
Surfshark VPN is another emerging option in Egypt that offers:
- 1,700+ VPN servers in over 100 countries, including Egypt locations.
- Strong AES-256-GCM encryption, DNS leak protection and kill switch.
- Allows unlimited simultaneous device connections with a single account.
- Affordable long term subscription plans.
Surfshark’s growing server network now covers Egypt allowing it to bypass restrictions reliably while offering great value on subscriptions.
How to Use a VPN in Egypt
Using a VPN app correctly is vital for Egyptians to bypass internet censorship and access blocked content. Follow these steps:
1. Sign up for a VPN Service
First, go to the website of your chosen VPN service ExpressVPN, NordVPN, CyberGhost or Surfshark and sign up by purchasing a subscription plan. The longer 1 or 2 year plans offer the best value.
2. Download and Install the VPN App
Next, download and install your VPN’s custom apps for Windows, MacOS, iOS, Android or other devices you use to access the internet. Log in using your account details from Step 1.
3. Launch the VPN and Login
To connect, launch your VPN app and login with your account. Make sure the app is updated to the latest version for best performance.
4. Pick an Egypt Server
Once logged in, check and expand the list of servers to locate and select an VPN server located in Egypt. This provides the closest, fastest server for internet traffic routing.
5. Start Browsing Privately
With the Egyptian VPN server activated, you can now start browsing the internet, accessing blocked sites & apps in the country and keep your activities private & secure from prying ISPs.
The VPN will now securely tunnel all your internet traffic, encrypt it using military-grade protocols and route it through the Egypt server location you picked. This allows you to bypass censorship and restrictions.
Alternative Methods for VPNs in Egypt
If your VPN apps stop working in Egypt, try these manual methods to establish a VPN connection using open technologies:
SSH Tunneling
SSH tunneling works by forwarding traffic through an SSH connection to a server located abroad. This tunnels web traffic similar to a VPN to bypass internet blocking.
To use SSH tunneling, you will need access to a remote server outside Egypt or use an SSH tunneling service. Setup can get technical compared to VPN apps.
OpenVPN Connections
OpenVPN apps still work reliably in Egypt by manually configuring connections using TCP or UDP protocols:
- TCP-based OpenVPN traffic goes through port 443 similar to HTTPS traffic which helps avoid DPI blocking.
- UDP-based OpenVPN traffic is harder to identify and block for ISPs helping bypass restrictions.
OpenVPN connection can deliver great speeds but require installing community apps and manually setting up connections.
Windscribe VPN
Some users report Windscribe VPN still works reliably in Egypt. To use it:
- Install and signup for the Windscribe VPN desktop app
- Activate the built-in IKEv2/WireGuard protocol and establish a connection.
- Now exit out of the Windscribe app but keep the VPN connection running via WireGuard.
- Browse the internet using the active WireGuard tunnel bypassing censorship.
- Connection speeds may be slow unless you upgrade to a paid pro account.
By separating the Windscribe VPN app from the underlying WireGuard connection, Egyptian users are able to maintain stable VPN access.
Conclusion
Using a reliable VPN has become a prerequisite for Egyptian citizens and expats staying connected to the open internet. While government-mandated internet censorship tries to restrict access to many global websites and online services, VPNs allow users a practical workaround.
However, Egypt continues to block an increasing number of commercial VPN services and protocols. This requires choosing VPN services like ExpressVPN, NordVPN, CyberGhost or Surfshark that are currently working reliably via local Egypt servers and custom protocols. As blocking increases, Egyptians may also adopt alternative methods like SSH tunneling, OpenVPN connections or WireGuard protocols.
With this guide to selecting a VPN, installing and configuring them correctly, and understanding useful alternatives; Egyptian users can overcome mandatory internet filters and censorship. This allows them to browse freely and privately without any restrictions.