The retail industry has been rendered obsolete by the internet age, which has made the entire world accessible online. The internet has changed everything, from gaming, chatting, and video chatting to streaming music and movies. Streaming services like Netflix, Amazon Prime, and Vudu are commonplace in Canada.
What if we told you that because of geo-restrictions, you're still not on the "world” wide web? It doesn't matter how infinite your site's content appears to be; it's not for everyone. In streaming services, you see this more frequently.
Because of this, we know you can access Netflix in Canada, but you're actually accessing Netflix in Canada. For example, Netflix Canada, Australia, and New Zealand are not included. This is nothing more than a matter of content restrictions based on a region. Sites like HBO Max, Hulu, Sling TV, and others have geo-restrictions. With the help of virtual private networks, you can access Hulu, Sling TV, and HBO Max in Canada to stream movies and TV shows without a problem.
VPNs and streaming services have a long history together. VPNs were designed for businesses and offices to protect their confidential information. To counteract cyberattacks, it quickly rose to the top of the list of cybersecurity professionals' preferred methods. In the later stages of the game, the focus shifted from work to play.
We wrote this article to explain some of the nitty-gritty details of circumventing geo-restrictions using a virtual private network (virtually). To get you started, we've put together a list of our favorite VPNs for streaming new content. To begin, it's important to grasp the underlying rationale behind geo-restricted streaming services.
Streaming Services that are geo-restricted in Canada
Canadians are unable to access the following streaming services:
- HBO Max
- Peacock TV
- Sling TV
- Vudu
- ESPN+
- Hulu
It's a pity that Hulu, one of the industry's most competitive and long-standing players, won't allow Canadian streamers access. You're probably wondering why this is happening, and we'll get to that in a minute.
Why are streaming services geo-restricted?
Streaming services and production companies must adhere to a set of rules when they work together. It's easy to see the difference in recommendations between Netflix Canada and Netflix US when we compare the two services. As a result, production companies only target markets where they believe their shows will have the greatest chance of success. They've already done the math and analysis to determine why one market will be more lucrative than another.
Following these guidelines is mandatory for Netflix. You may see the message "This content is not available in your region" on occasion when this occurs. It's a bummer, but the company knows where it stands to gain the most. To think that an Independence Day film would be the most popular in Asia is like assuming that all of America would see it on July 4. (highly unlikely).
It is also important to note that when we access these sites, our IP address reveals where we are located. For example, this enables Netflix to identify content that is relevant to our region. Having this knowledge will help you better understand virtual private networks.
How does a VPN help?
Because your IP address is hidden by a VPN, the site cannot identify you. The markets you want to access are served by VPNs' cloud or physical servers. Your IP address is converted to a regional IP address, and then the streaming site grants you access as the regional user.
With a virtual private network (VPN), any website can be accessed in your region. Over the years, many VPNs have grown and spread their servers around the world. You can virtually travel from Canada to the United States, the United Kingdom, Australia, and many more places with just a few simple taps.
What Can One Do If A VPN Is Blocked?
Try the following if you're having trouble bypassing geo-restrictions with a VPN:
- Restart the VPN
- Switch servers.
- Check to see if you've turned off your device's location.
- Contact the customer service department.
If you're using a free VPN, be prepared to have it detected by streaming services. A paid VPN, on the other hand, will give you access to a wider variety of servers, making it easier to bypass geographic restrictions and view the blocked content.
Is this unethical?
It's not my intention to bring up ethics, but this is deemed unethical. Due to the rise of VPNs, streaming services are seeing a decline in their audience. As a result, these services are implementing robust cybersecurity measures to reduce the number of IP addresses obtained through the use of a VPN.
As a result of Netflix's efforts, many VPNs have been unable to access the streaming service. Of course, VPN providers are already hard at work devising countermeasures. As a result, when purchasing a VPN service, it is important to check the testing dates and see whether or not they are current. We've compiled a list of the best VPNs for accessing geo-restricted content.
Best VPNs in Canada
These seven options are the best for streaming among the many that have been tried and tested in the market. They include:
- ExpressVPN
- NordVPN
- SurfShark
- IPVanish
- CyberGhost
To find new and exciting shows and movies to watch, you can use any of these methods. Virtual private networks (VPNs) are quickly becoming the tool of the future, protecting your devices from all types of hackers and cyberattacks.
Conclusion
Using a virtual private network (VPN) will allow you to access all of the content you desire. A VPN will not only allow you to get around the geo-restrictions, but it will also keep your online privacy safe. It will keep you safe and private.
Make use of the best VPN service available. With a good VPN, you won't have to constantly switch servers to avoid detection.