According to the official facebook page of Spotflux, they have collected substantial proof that the government is blocking their datacentres in Pakistan. PHOTO: facebook.com/spotflux
After weeks of user complaints that the free virtual private network (VPN) service Spotflux was not working in Pakistan, the service claimed on Monday that it had proof its datacentres were being actively blocked in Pakistan.
In a message posted on their official facebook page on Monday, Spotflux claimed that they have collected substantial proof that Pakistani authorities were blocking their datacentres.
Today we have collected enough proof that the government of Pakistan is actively blocking our datacenters. We will most likely write a detailed blog post about this in the near future and communicate our findings to relevant media sources. While we will continue to work on a solution to provide access to all regions, please understand that this may take some time. For those of you living in Pakistan: let your voices be heard not to us but to those who seek to oppress your basic human rights.
Spotflux is a New York based start-up that creates tools to protect privacy and security of users while retaining full access to information regardless of their location. However, at the top of their website, Spotflux note that their service is currently unavailable in Pakistan.
Users in Rawalpindi, Wah Cantonment, Lahore, Islamabad, Hyderabad, Peshawar, Karachi, Bahawalpur and Sukkur told The Express Tribune on its Facebook page that they were unable to use Spotflux. The users could not get through the network while using Wi-Tribe, Mobilink, PTCL, Wateen and Qubee internet connections.
Blocked for three weeks
People first started reporting problems with Spotflux in Pakistan on January 7, with more complaints following soon after.
Is anyone else's Spotflux not working?
— Kalsoom Lakhani (@kalsoom82) January 6, 2014
Chrome extension as alternative for #SpotFlux not working in #Pakistan @spotflux https://t.co/XxXaBbmSpO
— Daniyal Shahid (@daniyalme) January 8, 2014
Ref VPN issues, sent diagnostic data dump to Spotflux yesterday. Their reply: "We are currently tracking some connection problems in ...>
— Hasan Zaidi (@hyzaidi) January 9, 2014
So what happened to Spotflux? Is it blocked in #Pakistan or something? Hasn't been working for a few days now. @spotflux
— Shaheryar Mirza (@mirza9) January 11, 2014
A week later, flooded by complaints, Spotflux said that it was looking into the issue.
For users in Pakistan having trouble connecting to Spotflux: Rest assured we are working on a solution to the problem, but unfortunately we cannot predict when we may have you back up and running.
However, people were still looking for alternatives to access their favourite sites.
Yes I need some help too RT @fatah_pak: @Spotflux has refused to work any other Proxy VPN besides this and hotspot/??
— Raza Ahmad Rumi (@Razarumi) January 13, 2014
https://twitter.com/AliDayan/status/423713807580418049
VPNs, proxies to by-pass blocks
When YouTube was blocked in Pakistan in September 2012, people turned to using VPN services like ‘Spotflux’ or proxy servers to by-pass the blocks instituted by government and access websites.
In November last year, the Internet Movie Database (IMDb), a widely used online entertainment news portal, was also blocked by the authorities, only to be restored a day later.
A Tribune survey last year had found that over 80% of respondents used a VPN or proxy server to access content blocked in Pakistan.
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COMMENTS (23)
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The Government can do whatever it wants! :p I never used Hotspot or Spotflux rather I use premium stuff, they are slow and pathetic. Go for the premium stuff, it still works like a charm!
@S: @Besharam Khan:
What? :/
Government should take all steps to curb terrorism and terrorist activities in Pakistan. The most important and high priority should be verification off all sims issued and operational from day one to till now then gray trafficking and usage of internet communication methods in anti state acts... I wonder that still how people manage to use unverified sims and after 3G 4G how will they monitor those people...
hotspot shield website is also banned.
This article clearly shows that this government has no intention of unblocking youtube, rather they are actively trying to propogate the cause of the oppressive and regressive far right extremists.
I mailed spotflux a month back and they said they were having problems in this region. I thought it was a problem at their end but now PTA is the culprit. Hotspot shield is not working since a few days.
@S: @Besharam Khan: And who said a ban is a law?! Government will force anything on you and you will just say "it is a law, and I am a law abiding citizen, yes, shove it down my throat!"
Question: Can you be penalized for watching youtube in Pakistan as a citizen? No! It is just a ban and nothing more.
Just beyond ridiculous!
the article on Muhammad (S) on wikipeida has also been blocked
there is a bunch of software clients that you can use to access websites blocked, try Hola internet, tunnel bear, proxpn .. hola internet is a beast.. and there will be always solution to access stuff on internet. the Firewall used in china is know as the Great Firewall of China.. so if you can access facebook from china .. you can for sure access anything you want from Pakistan
as someone already said, this is not responsible journalism, showing people different ways to break the law. but then again this is tribune
I am not supporter of YouTube or any other side ban but being responsible citizen i should also abide by the local laws while i found this article promotion of defiance.... Showing ways to access illegal and banned stuff or dodge the govt restrictions can't be declared responsible journalism.....
The more advance technology is getting the more anti privacy activities are being done all over the world.
Hotspot Shield an other VPN service is not accessible for last 3 days. Hopefully, government will block all VPN services in near future. HTTP Proxies are also not working for some time. Any other solution...?
Spotflux is an ad free VPN service, much more efficient than the more popular Hotspot. What is government's problem if people want to use proxies for whatever purpose? You have already banned Youtube! People do need Youtube! They ban IMDB, they talk about banning Viber, Youtube already blocked! Just block internet and be done with it! What idiocy and absolute madness enforced on us!