While VPNs can hide your IP address and encrypt your traffic, your ISP and many other online platforms can still tell that you are using a VPN. If you are using a VPN for absolute privacy, then an obfuscated VPN is what you truly need. This blog will explain the technology and use cases behind VPN obfuscation in detail, as well as specific steps to obfuscate your traffic that even VPN novices can easily get started with.
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What Is an Obfuscated VPN?
An obfuscated VPN, also widely named a stealth VPN, is a VPN service that can disguise the VPN traffic as normal internet data. While all your online activities can be hidden by VPN encryption, the fact that you are using a VPN remains detectable. An obfuscated VPN can alter the characteristics of VPN traffic to make it similar to normal Internet traffic, thus keeping you 100% anonymous to the service provider, website owner, or anyone in the middle.
How Can VPN Traffic Be Identified?
ISPs and websites impose multiple methods to analyze your traffic patterns and detect VPN traffic. Here are 4 commonly used methods:
- Suspicious IP Analysis: Some abused VPN IP addresses were marked in suspicious IP databases, where ISPs can compare and detect VPN use.
- Protocol Signatures: The structure and metadata of some standard protocols, for example, OpenVPN and L2TP, can be distinctive. VPN traffic with those protocols can be recognized.
- Port Monitoring: Many VPNs use protocols with specific ports. For example, 1194 for OpenVPN and 4500 for IPSec, which can be easily recognized.
- Deep Packet Inspection: DPI is used to inspect packet metadata to find identifiable VPN patterns. For example, OpenVPN has recognizable handshakes and packet sizes.
How Does VPN Obfuscation Work?
Obfuscated VPN utilizes multiple techniques to obfuscate VPN data. Here are 5 commonly used ways that a VPN hides your VPN traffic from either your Internet Service Provider or any VPN-detection services.
1. Offer A Huge IP Pool
Some VPN blocks target certain abused IP addresses. In this case, obfuscated VPNs usually provide a large pool of IP addresses to prevent IP bans from affecting your traffic. For example, X-VPN provides more than 8,000 high-quality VPN servers worldwide, effectively avoiding low-quality IP bans.
2. Provide Various Ports
Since port monitoring is widely used to identify VPN traffic, professional obfuscated VPNs often provide various ports, such as HTTPS port 443, to make it look exactly like browsing data and thus undetectable.
3. Utilize TLS Encryption
Some VPNs obfuscate the traffic with TLS encryption, which creates a TLS tunnel around the VPN connection to make it look like regular HTTPS traffic.
4. Scramble Packets
Targeting the DPI technology, obfuscation can alter the data packet structure, such as changing the headers of the packets, to make it look less like VPN traffic.
5. Proprietary Protocol
Some VPN providers develop their own proprietary protocols with obfuscation built in. For example, X-VPN Everest Protocol obfuscates and disguises the entire protocol, making your VPN connection difficult to identify.
Why You Need an Obfuscated VPN?
A standard VPN encryption is sufficient in most cases. However, a VPN with obfuscation is crucial in certain network environments to ensure uninterrupted VPN use, privacy, and access.
Stop ISP Throttling Targeting VPN
Use VPN in Restricted Networks
Get Around VPN Blocks
Disclaimer: Please use an obfuscated VPN in compliance with local regulations and related terms. We do not advocate VPN abuse and take no responsibility for violations.
How to Obfuscate VPN Traffic?
The exact steps to obfuscate your traffic depend on the VPN provider you choose. Here, take X-VPN as an example, for it provides a proprietary protocol named Everest for easy obfuscation, and supports advanced settings that can disguise your visit as any website you want.
Step 1. Download X-VPN and log in with a premium account.
Step 2. Click on the “Auto” button on the homepage to access protocol settings.
Step 3. Choose an Everest protocol to connect, the “TLS” protocol is highly recommended for top-notch obfuscation.
You’ll be auto-connected to a server after you’ve configured protocol settings. You can go back to the homepage and switch to other IP locations easily.
X-VPN also supports advanced configuration that allows you to manually enter a domain name to disguise. Just click the “Auto” and find the “Obfuscate Setting” and enter any domain you can access without a VPN.
3 Best Obfuscated VPNs
With countless VPNs claiming to offer obfuscated servers, choosing a reliable provider is crucial. After testing the obfuscation of various VPNs on VPN-blocking services, the following 3 are believed to be the best obfuscated VPNs.
1. X-VPN
X-VPN is believed to be the best VPN with obfuscation technology. It offers 8,000+ high-quality VPN servers across 225 regions, effectively avoiding IP bans. Besides, the self-developed Everest Protocol obfuscates and disguises your VPN connection from detection, with optimized blazing-fast speed maintained. Additionally, the advanced configuration option allows you to manually enter a domain to disguise, which is especially helpful if you are traveling to a heavily restricted country where disguising your traffic as a local browser access is safer.
- Obfuscated ProtocolYes
- Customize ObfuscationYes
- Proprietary ProtocolEverest Protocol
- Connection Speed⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
- VPN Servers8,000+ high-quality servers
- CompatibilityWindows, iOS, Android, macOS, TVs, router, Chrome extension, etc.
- Simultaneous Login5
- Basic Price$11.99/month
- Current Deal
The best part about X-VPN is that there are free versions available. Though the obfuscation feature requires a premium account, you can enjoy 1000+ VPN servers with strong encrypted at no cost! Give it a shot now.
2. ExpressVPN
As another industry-leading VPN, ExpressVPN is also recognized as a top obfuscated VPN. Like X-VPN, it develops a proprietary protocol called Lightway to provide faster speeds, more secure connections, and more reliable services. The protocol is automatically enabled on all its 3,000+ obfuscated servers, requiring no manual setup. Also, it guarantees fewer connection drops whether you switch Wi-Fi or disable airplane mode. Additionally, ExpressVPN even offers paid users 1-3GB eSIM data for a better online experience.
- Obfuscated ProtocolYes
- Proprietary ProtocolLightway Protocol
- Connection Speed⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
- VPN Servers3,000+ high-quality servers
- CompatibilityAndroid, iOS, Windows, Mac, Linux, TVs, extensions, routers, etc.
- Simultaneous Login8
- Basic Price$12.95/month
3. Astrill VPN
Inspired by OpenVPN, Astrill developed its own proprietary protocol, StealthVPN. This stable protocol can effectively disguise your traffic to bypass automatic firewall systems. StealthVPN allows you to connect using both TCP and UDP protocols. You can also customize ports between 1 and 65537 to bypass port monitoring. This high degree of customizability makes Astrill StealthVPN popular and trusted.
- Obfuscated ProtocolYes
- Customize ObfuscationYes
- Proprietary ProtocolStealthVPN Protocol
- Connection Speed⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
- VPN Servers300+ high-quality servers
- CompatibilityWindows, iOS, Android, macOS, Linux, and routers
- Simultaneous Login5
- Basic Price$30/month
Conclusion
The increasingly severe internet environment makes a single VPN encryption inadequate. Obfuscated VPN can assure users more in hiding the VPN trace. It disguises your data through various methods and provides better privacy protection. The top 3 VPNs that offer obfuscation technology are tested to be X-VPN, ExpressVPN, and Astrill VPN. Pick one and stay untraceable online now!
FAQs
Is It Legal to Use Obfuscated VPNs?
Using an obfuscated VPN is legal and allowed in most countries, except for those that strictly ban VPN use. However, there are potential legal implications if you are trying to use an obfuscated VPN to access content that is illegal in your area. Please check your local regulations before taking further steps.
Is Obfuscated VPN Undetectable?
Obfuscated VPN is not 100% undetectable, it depends largely on the VPN service provider you choose and the inspection technology the other side uses. Getting a trustworthy VPN service like X-VPN is essential if you want to increase your untraceability.
Will Obfuscated VPN Slow?
Yes, using an obfuscated VPN can potentially slow down your internet speed. You can reduce this delay by choosing a proprietary protocol that is specially optimized for obfuscation speed. For example, the Everest protocol by X-VPN.
Do I Need to Buy Obfuscated Servers Separately?
It depends. Some VPNs sell obfuscated servers separately, while many premium VPN services include obfuscation technology as part of their standard packages. You can get X-VPN Premium and enjoy obfuscation on all its 8000+ high-quality VPN servers.
Is There an Obfuscated VPN Free?
Yes, there are some free obfuscated VPNs, but with limited bandwidth, speed, or security features. For example, Proton VPN Stealth protocol and Hide.me VPN TLS-Crypt. For unlimited and reliable obfuscation, a paid VPN is more recommended.
