If you’re quarantined or self isolating during the COVID-19 Coronavirus outbreak, there’s a good chance that cabin fever will be setting in soon. The good news is that streaming companies across the world are heavily discounting their services or offering free content during this crisis to allow you to access your favourite content easily from the comfort of your own home.

To access services outside of your country, you will need a Vanishedvpn subscription. Once you have this, simply connect to the VPN in the location of the service you’re trying to access, and we’ll take care of bypassing any location blocks for you.

We will be updating this blog post as deals appear, but here’s some to get started with:

Sling TV (Connect via our USA VPN)

The American internet TV service is offering thousands of hours of its programming for free temporarily because of coronavirus. Among the free content is access to ABC News Live, as well as entertainment for kids. Check out the Sling site here. You don’t even need an account for the free content.

USA Netflix (USA VPN)

Did you know that you can get up to 3 x more content in your existing catalogue simply by connecting to our USA VPN on your device. We are there only VPN provider in the world to guarantee access to USA Netflix. Check out full guide here

BBC iPlayer (connect via UK VPN)

BBC iplayer, ITV.com & channel4.com are all UK based streaming channels which have extensive catalogues of films & box sets available to stream for free. Award winning box sets like Luther, Line of Duty, Gavin & Stacey are all available alongside classic movies like Point Break & Escape from Alcatraz. Check our full guide to BBC iplayer here.

Sundance Now (USA VPN)

Owned by AMC Networks, Sundance Now offers a variety of dramas and documentaries, including the acclaimed miniseries The Little Drummer Girl and the show McMafia. Like Acorn TV, Sundance Now is extending their seven-day free trial to 30 days, with the code SUNDANCENOW30. After that, it’s $7 per month, or $5 per month if you commit to a yearly subscription.

PBS (USA VPN)

The Public Broadcasting Service is making Ken Burns’ Emmy-winning documentary series Baseball available for free on its site and all other PBS digital platforms. With the opening of the Major League Baseball season pushed back, the docuseries could whet your appetite for America’s pastime. Or maybe it’ll just make you miss it even more.

Shudder (USA VPN)

Zombie aficionados, rejoice. The horror-centric streaming service, Shudder, is extending its free trial to 30 days with the code SHUTIN. Subscriptions are then about $5 per month. Shudder is currently only available in the US, UK, Canada, and Ireland.

VidAngel (USA VPN)

The family-friendly American service is now available for free until March 30 (it’s usually $10) if you agree to social distancing. The platform, which boasts “the world’s largest library of clean comedy,” also includes a feature that allows users to skip “objectionable” content on Netflix and Amazon. By connecting to our USA VPN, and connecting your other accounts, you can get up to 3 x more content.

The Metropolitan Opera (USA VPN)

North America’s largest classical music organization, which temporarily shut down last week, is providing nightly streams of performances on its site for free, as long as the opera remains closed. On tap tonight is Verdi’s Il Trovatore, conducted by Marco Armiliato. Next week is Wagner week. Here’s the current schedule.

DOX Channel (USA VPN)

The documentary streaming service has cut the cost of an annual subscription, from $30 to $15, if you sign up before March 31. The service has a number of acclaimed documentaries, including Blackfish, Man on Wire, and I’m Still Here.

Disney+ (connect via our USA VPN)

Disney isn’t offering anything for free, but it did throw a bone to parents everywhere and made Frozen II available on its streaming service three months ahead of schedule. 

Free public WiFi seems like the best thing since sliced bread. 

Free, easy to use, decent speed, unlimited browsing. 

What’s not to love?

A lot, actually. So let’s get started.

Free public WiFi hotspots can be a trap. They are open, unsecured and relatively easy to hack. They open up a whole new world of possibilities for hackers to invade your privacy, collect your personal and financial data, or even break into your device. 

There are over 100 Million public wifi hotspots available to us, but a staggering 89% of these are not secure.

So what ?

All the traffic within a public WiFi network is usually unsecured, meaning it does not use proper encryption to protect your internet data. Your sensitive information sent via an unsecured WiFi network (such as credit card numbers, passwords, chat messages) becomes an easy target for hackers. 

When it comes to stealing your data, hackers get quite creative. One of the ways they attack is called man-in-the-middle (MITM). Cybercriminals will create their fake public network. In most cases, the name will be similar to the name of the place with access to a public network (like a restaurant or hotel) nearby. Then, hackers will snoop on your private information and target data on your devices.

On top of that, hackers can install packet sniffing software. It is particularly dangerous because it records massive amounts of data which later can be processed on their demand.

Childs play

A recent ‘ethical hacking’ demonstration, a 7 year girl took 10 minutes 58 seconds to set up a rogue network on public wifi, and begin to intercept personal data from users on the same network.

How do hackers exploit public wifi

Here are just a few of the ways that you can be hacked.

Evil Twin attack
In an Evil Twin attack, cybercriminals create a fake network with a name that is very similar to the actual legitimate wifi name. For example, if a coffee shop provides a wireless guest network named “CoffeeShop_Guest,” hackers will create a similar network of their own and call it “CoffeeShop_FREE.” Once connected to the evil twin, all your network traffic becomes visible to the hacker behind it.

Man-in-the-middle attack
In MITM attacks, hackers spy on your browsing activity, waiting for the perfect time to strike. To put it simply, the cybercriminal stands between your device and a website or service you are trying to access. From there, the hackers have the ability to intercept and alter all your communications and access sensitive information like banking credentials, passwords, cryptocurrency wallets, and even your private messages from auntie Doris begging you to stop sending her invites to play Candy Crush. 

Malware injection
A malware attack is especially nasty and can occur when cybercriminals inject malware into unprotected WiFi hotspots and compromise your internet traffic. These attacks are extremely difficult to detect and a real pain to get rid of. On an unsecured WiFi network, malicious code can slip into your device at any time – when shopping for a new wine rack, or just browsing the Gram while sipping your morning avocado iced coffee.

Cookie side-jacking
Cookie side-jacking is one of the oldest forms of cyber-attack. When you are connected to an unsecured public WiFi, hackers can get their hands on your cookies. The same cookies that store your login details on your computer so you don’t have to enter your username and password every time you open a website. And stealing this information is easier than you think. 

Nasty worms
While most people are usually familiar with viruses, not many people have heard of worms. The difference between the two is that the viruses require you to download a file, while worms can infiltrate your device, even if you don’t visit any shady sites. If a Wi-Fi network lacks proper security, worms can easily find their way to you and can compromise your data.

WiFi sniffing
With the help of pretty basic software, which is simple enough to use and legal to get, hackers can spy on your online activities, see your login information, steal your passwords and break into your online accounts if you’re browsing on an unsecured network. Somehow even creepier than sniffing stranger’s hair in public, and that’s a pretty low bar to set.

In 2017 Belgian researchers discovered that WPA2 protocol used by the vast majority of WiFi networks is unsafe.

According to the report, the WPA2 protocol can be broken using novel attacks potentially exposing personal data.

The vulnerability can affect a broad range of operating systems and devices – including Android, Apple, Windows, Linux, OpenBSD, MediaTek, etc. Basically, if you have a device that connects to WiFi, it can be affected. The situation is a little different in the European Union since the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) took effect. ISPs processing Europeans’ data must be compliant to the GDPR. They have to make sure they store personal data only with the consent and when it’s not linkable to an individual.

So how do I stay safe on public wifi

Using a VPN is the only way to be certain that you cannot be hacked while using public wifi. Think of it as a condom for your data.

Vanished VPN is one of the best value VPNs in the world, and we consistently out perform our competitors in terms of speed. We have apps for your devices, and easy setup guides.

Check out our great value plans today , and wave goodbye to hacking worries.

Mola TV is an Indonesian service that has rights to broadcast the English Premier League. By using their app, you can access live streams for free, however, this is normally blocked if you are outside of Indonesia.

This is where we come in. By connecting to our new Indonesia VPN, you will bypass the location blocks, and , Boom ! Free, live and catchup Premier League is all yours.

How to watch

Here’s how to watch.

1. Get a VanishedVPN subscription if you don’t already have one (we have a 7 day trial period).
2. Setup your device using our setup guides.
3. Connect to our Indonesia VPN (Indonesia.vanishedvpn.com for L2TP )
4. Download the Mola TV app from the App Store or google play
5. Fire up the app, and enjoy free premier league streams.

NOTE – We have noticed that some large stream including live matches don’t seem to load when using OpenVPN. For consistent results, we recommend setting up L2TP on your device (see guides for IOS & Android).

Want to watch on the big screen ? We believe that you should be able to chrome cast or use the android app on a fire TV. We’ll look into this , and publish guides if its possible.

The easiest way to connect your iPhone or iPad is to use our IOS app. Just search for Vanished VPN on the App Store or follow this link

You will need an active Vanished VPN subscription which can be purchased here.

Once you open the app, click on the grey tick in the centre of the screen. You should see a pop up box asking you to enter your VPN credentials. Click dismiss, and you should be prompted to enter your VPN credentials which you can find in the ‘my account‘ section of our site.

If you don’t get prompted, simply click the menu (3 bars in the top left of the screen), and select ‘settings’, which will open the credentials box.

To connect, from the main screen, click the country icon at the bottom of the screen, and select the location you want to connect to.

To connect or disconnect, click the Vanished VPN logo in the centre of the screen. This will turn green when successfully connected. The first time you use the app, you will be prompted that the app needs to update configurations. Click allow, and enter your pin to enable this.

Once setup, you won’t need to enter your credentials again. Just click on the tick to either connect or disconnect from your chosen location.

Trouble shooting.

The app needs to create a VPN in the settings of your device. If there is already a VPN with the same name in the settings, you may need to delete this. On your device, go to setttings / VPN. Click the ‘I’ next to the old VPN connections, and then ‘delete VPN’. Once this is done, delete & re-install the app, and go through the setup again.

The pinnacle of Test rugby, the Six Nations, in the northern hemisphere has rolled around again so to make sure you miss none of the action we’ve compiled an information page with the games and where they will be televised.

Thankfully, you can stream the whole tournament online, live free & legally wherever you are in the world. All you need is a a Vanished VPN subscription and this trusty guide.

All matches will be shown on either BBC iPlayer or ITV.com (see full schedule below)

1. Get a Vanished VPN subscription if you don’t already have one.
2. Connect to our UK VPN
3. Goto either BBC iplayer or ITV.com
4. Enjoy the Rugby

Men’s Six Nations

In the Men’s Six Nations Championship the games are shared between BBC and ITV this year. But importantly, it all revolves around who is playing at home.

So, if England, Italy, and Ireland are playing at home, then the game will be televised on ITV.

However, if France, Scotland, and Wales are, then the BBC is televising the match.

Six Nations TV Coverage 2020: BBC and ITV Matches

Round 5

Sat 14 March, Wales v Scotland, Principality Stadium, BBC, 2.15pm
Sat 14 March, Italy v England, ITV, 4.45pm
Sat 14 March, France v Ireland, BBC, 8pm

For more information and updates, check out the official 6 Nations fixtures list.

Barely a week goes by without news of a major cyber incident being reported, and the stakes have never been higher. Data theft has become commonplace; the scale of ransom demands has risen steadily; and cumulatively the environment in which businesses must operate is increasingly hostile. The cyber threat has become the unavoidable cost of doing business today.

Ransomware, spear phishing, malware, drive‑by attacks, DDoS attacks – the list goes on and on. While cyber attacks that make the news are often large in scale, make no mistake that small businesses are being attacked, too. 

In fact, small businesses may be more vulnerable to cyber threats than large corporations. 

Let’s take a look at some cyber security facts, presented to us by Hiscox’s that will blow your mind!

The number of firms reporting cyber incidents has risen from 45% in 2018 to 61% in 2019.

The mean figure for losses associated with all cyber incidents among firms reporting attacks has risen from $229,000 last year to $369,000 – an increase of 61%

The mean cost of cyber incidents has jumped from $34,000 a year ago to a fraction under $200,000. For large firms, there has been an 18-fold rise to $395,000. The comparable figure for small firms is $9,000, up from $3,000 in 2018.

Given those stats, cybersecurity should be of utmost concern if you’re going to put your business or services online. 

When it comes to the precautions small businesses can take in terms of IT security, many of them are obvious. These include ensuring that antivirus software is up to date and ensuring that company networks are behind well-configured firewalls.

But there’s always more you can do, and one thing well worth considering is the use of Virtual Private Network (VPN) solutions. A VPN; with its highly encrypted tunnel that exits at a remote location is a great defence from cyber attacks, with protection for company assets, which is stronger than a traditional firewall, and therefore more secure from a data breach.

What extra protection can VanishedVPN offer my business?

We’re glad you asked. Let’s go over some key features together.

• Digital security for your entire team
We secure your business data from cybercriminals by using military-grade encryption.

• Safety on any Wi-Fi network
We encrypt all your online activity, including the files you share or the emails you send.

• Dedicated global IP address
Connect to the country VPN of your choice, and you will be allocated an anonymous IP address that cannot be traced back to your business, protecting you from cyber criminals.

• Protection for your company data in the office and on the go 
Connect to VanishedVPN servers at any time, for as many times as you want.

• Unrestricted global access
Bypass geo-restrictions & access blocked content and services from anywhere in the world.

All in all, from small companies to huge corporations, nobody is immune to digital threats. That’s why VanishedVPN is perfect for organisations of any size. 

You don’t need to be a technical genius to use our service either! VanishedVPN provides a dedicated infrastructure that’s easy to use for you and your colleagues. It effortlessly integrates with your company’s existing platforms and protects every one of your devices — computers, laptops, phones and tablets. 

With VanishedVPN, your entire team can securely access company resources remotely, connect to any public Wi-Fi, and explore geo-restricted content.

So… why aren’t more businesses using a VPN?

They are! And sixty percent of those that are not, said that lack of budget is the main challenge. 

That’s why here at VanishedVPN, we offer affordable prices so even small businesses can take steps to counter the ever‑evolving threat of cyber attacks and become cyber ready. 

Don’t get caught in the landslide of cybercrime and join the majority of small businesses that are protected online today. We’d love to help you! 

Contact sales@vanishedvpn.com to discuss your requirements, or WhatsApp +61 466 383 501

The 1st Grand Slam tennis tournament of 2020 is underway in Melbourne, and if you are outside Australia , you may find it hard to watch due to geoblocking, but we have a solution. For live coverage & highlights, just connect to our Aus VPN, and go to 9now for all the action.

How to Watch

1. Get a VanishedVPN subscription if you don’t already have one.
2. Connect to our Australia VPN
3. Go to 9now and enjoy the tennis

You can also get access to coverage by connecting to our India VPN, and visiting www.sonyliv.com/listing/all_tennis_sports

Both of these sites are free, and provide coverage from different courts on demand, together with highlights.

This guide shows you how to watch the India V Australia in the one day cricket series.

Big Picture

For the first time since being pumped by England in the World Cup semi-finals, Australia return to ODI cricket as they begin plotting their path for the next three-and-a-half years. India are both the hosts in 2023 and where Australia’s rejuvenation as a one-day side kicked into gear last year as they made a late sprint to be World Cup contenders with a memorable come-from-behind 3-2 series victory.

While some senior figures have been retained there is a fresh feel, particularly in the batting, with Peter Handscomb and Ashton Turner – both of whom starred on the last India tour before being squeezed out of the World Cup – back in the mix alongside the uncapped Marnus Labuschagne, who will be looking to transfer his stunning Test form into the one-day arena.

The ‘big three’ of the Test attack – Mitchell Starc, Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood – are also back together while there has been an interesting decision to move away from a number of allrounders for a variety of reasons: Glenn Maxwell, Marcus Stoinis and Mitchell Marsh are currently lighting up the BBL.

How To watch

Here’s how to watch the streams legally & cheaply wherever you are in the world:

1 Get a VanishedVPN subscription if you don’t already have one (we have a 7 day money back guarantee so that you can try risk free).

2 Connect to our India VPN

3 Go to Hotstar.com, and sign up for a Hotstar premium account (follow our guide here if you need help with this).

4 Go to Cricket section of Hotstar & enjoy the cricket. Note, you may need to change the language settings to English (just click the settings icon in the bottom right corner of the screen)

Check out the hotstar preview to this series here (connect to our India VPN first to unblock).

Love Island 2020 is back to take us on a summer bae-cation to South Africa where 12 new singletons will be looking for love and the chance to win £50k in the process.

And it looks like this new series is already set to be a scorcher as the line-up includes the show’s first ever twins, a police officer, a coffee bean salesman and the heir to the Lanhydrock estate in Cornwall. 

Love Island will air on ITV2 in the UK on Sunday 12 January onwards. The online stream of this is normally blocked if you are outside the UK, but this guide will show you how to stream every minute of Love Island 2020 live, free & legally wherever you are in the world using VanishedVPN.

How to watch

Here’s how to watch the Love Island 2020 if you’re not in the UK:

1. Sign up for a VanishedVPN subscription if you don’t already have one (we have a 7 day money back guarantee) & configure your device using our setup guides.
2. Connect to our UK VPN
3. Go to TV Player, and enjoy Love Island 2020

Vanished VPN is proudly supporting the Australian Bush fire Charities by donating 25% of all new orders during January 2020.

In order to protect your anonymity and provide a safe platform for you to use Bit Torrent / P2P, we have a dedicated servers which is located in Switzerland & Holland, where the laws around Bit Torrent are very liberal.

To protect your privacy, there is no logging on the P2P servers (as this is not required in Switzerland & Holland).

Please ensure that you use this server for P2P / Bit Torrent

servername =  p2p.vanishedvpn.com

The OpenVPN config file is available here.

SWITZERLAND: THE SAFEST COUNTRY FOR DOWNLOADING TORRENTS

Switzerland is by far the safest country for torrents. According to Swiss law, downloading music and movies (even copyrighted works) ‘for personal use’  appears to be completely legal.

‘Personal Use’ is a bit of a general definition, but generally if you aren’t attempt to profit from the download, or distributing it to a large number of people, it’s you’re likely ok.

But the Swiss will take your online freedom even further…
The monitoring of peer-to-peer downloads by a 3rd party is actually illegal!

According to this article on Torrent Freak, IP addresses are considered personal information (your IP address is the only personally identifying information available in a torrent swarm). Since collecting personal information without consent is illegal under Swiss law, 3rd party monitoring agencies are actually committing a crime if they do so. This effectively kills the ‘business strategy’ used by a number of ‘Copyright Trolls‘.

Though there are new laws under consideration that will help rightsholders remove copyrighted material from web servers, the Swiss protected personal freedom to download files for personal use will likely remain legal for the foreseeable future.

Source – http://www.best-bittorrent-vpn.com/-safest-countries-to-download-torrents.html