On paper, the Internet is free and open in Congo. In reality, the situation could be different as we have seen on at least one occasion when the government shut it down after the disputed presidential elections.
Of course, a VPN can do little if there is no Internet but when you can get your net fix – you’ll want to use it to stay anonymous online. And also to be able to access various services that are typically reserved for users in the West.
You see, with a VPN, not even your ISP will know what you’re doing online and this gets you back your privacy. No longer will the likes of Google and Facebook be able to easily track you down. And the same goes for various government agencies — not just those in Congo.
We have just scratched the surface here. You should have a VPN for Congo and all other places for that matter. And here are the best VPNs to try out:
Pros
Cons
- 5,000+ servers in the network
- Easy to use - install it and forget it
- One license is good for up to 6 devices
- Strict zero-logs policy
- 30-day money-back guarantee
- Chrome extension is just a proxy
- You can't pay with PayPal
Summary
Its network includes more than 5,000 servers spread across 60 countries, which directly translates into faster speeds. NordVPN is also very secure, relying on the strong 256-bit encryption combined with secure VPN protocols (OpenVPN, WireGuard, IKEv2/IPSec). But as a user, you get a seamless experience with all this technology "doing its thing" in the background.
NordVPN is well suited to pretty much every task you throw at it — whether it's accessing a banned site from some country that filters out the internet, torrenting, accessing streaming services, or just wanting to keep a low profile on the web. It also doesn't keep any logs.
We highly recommend NordVPN to anyone looking for reliable service.
Pros
Cons
- Good for both torrenting and streaming
- Works in China
- Solid network with servers in 60+ countries
- Easy to use apps on multiple platforms
- Live chat isn't always available
- Fairly pricey
Summary
Whether you need a VPN for watching Netflix shows or downloading files via BitTorrent, Astrill can help you out — all while keeping your identity under the radar. And this is especially true if you live or work in China when the company's stealth protocols will kick in to let you access all the popular sites that are by default blocked by the country's censors.
Astrill's apps are easy to use and available on all popular platforms. Nevertheless, they still manage to provide a host of advanced features tech-savvy folks are used to get. Highly recommended, again, especially if you're looking to bypass the Great Firewall of China.
Pros
Cons
- Feature-rich yet easy to use
- One of the best VPNs around
- Strong no-logging policy
- Reliable support you can reach 24/7
- Limited number of servers in Africa and the Middle East
- Kinda pricey
Summary
ExpressVPN has great desktop apps for Windows and Mac, mobile apps and browser extensions. Also, it is well suited for video streaming services such as Netflix, Hulu, BBC iPlayer and others.
However, what makes it stand out is its ease of use. We can't emphasize this enough. One could tell a lot of time has been spent making sure even the advanced features are easily accessible. And we love it for that. Plus, let's not forget ExpressVPN's speed which tends to leave other services in the dust.
Pros
Cons
- Fast download and upload speeds
- Works with Netflix, Hulu, BBC iPlayer, etc.
- Great for torrenting
- Advanced privacy features (i.e. Tor over VPN)
- Relatively small number of servers
- There are no browser extensions
- Live chat support is not always available
Summary
Specifically, you can rely on PrivateVPN for both torrenting and streaming, without paying a premium. It is, in fact, one of the most affordable options in its league and we love it for that.
Customer support may not be on par with bigger players but it's not like you should experience many problems anyway. You will get the same level of security and privacy as with other services, and a single license will let you run PrivateVPN on up to 6 devices. Pretty cool.
Pros
Cons
- Works in China
- Many servers in Asia
- Strict zero-logs policy
- Advanced services like VyprVPN Cloud
- No browser extensions
- Torrenting could be better
Summary
It manages to bypass restrictions in high-censorship countries and elsewhere by relying on its proprietary Chameleon protocol, which can easily slide under the radar.
VyprVPN is also great for accessing video streaming services such as Netflix, Disney+, Hulu and so on — delivering the true buffer-free experience every single time. It will also work with BitTorrent, and consequently - Kodi.
VyprVPN has a strict zero-logs policy. Period.
Internet in Congo
As you would imagine, the Internet is not widely available in Congo. Although a growing proportion of the public, especially youth, are utilizing online social media, only the most affluent have Internet access in their own homes — others are doing it from cybercafes.
In that sense, the government doesn’t restrict the use of or access to the Internet. Similarly, there are no reports of the government monitoring email or Internet chat rooms. The constitution and law provide for freedom of speech and press, and the government generally respects these rights. The law makes certain types of speech illegal, including incitement of ethnic hatred, violence, or civil war.
In addition, the constitution and law prohibit arbitrary interference with privacy, family, home, or correspondence — and the government makes no known attempts to collect personally identifiable information via the Internet.
But it uses Internet shutdowns as a censorship tool…
In January 2019, the government of Congo shut down the Internet in the country as voters awaited the results of the highly-contested presidential election.
According to the officials, this move was necessary in order to preserve public order after “fictitious results” were circulated on social media. The same official told Reuters that the country would remain offline until full results were published and doing otherwise could “lead us straight toward chaos.”
Nevertheless, the West didn’t like this with the US, European Union, Canadian and Swiss diplomats issuing a joint statement to call on the Congolese government to refrain “from blocking means of communication, in particular access to the internet and the media.”
You need a VPN for Congo
Even if the Internet works completely, you will still want to use a VPN to stay anonymous online. Perhaps the government switches boats and starts spying on its citizens? Or perhaps it doesn’t. But one thing is certain – the Big Tech will do it and there is no reason to leave them your personal information, Internet habits, and so on.
With a VPN, you get your privacy back as no one will able to tell “what you did last summer.” Also, you’ll get to access parts of the Internet that would otherwise be inaccessible to you — at least from Congo. Simply connect to a US- or Europe-based VPN server, and you’re good to go. Suddenly, you get to access the Internet in its entirety. And yes, this includes the popular video streaming services like US Netflix (cause it has the largest catalog of movies), Disney+, Hulu, HBO Max, and so on.
Plus, a VPN will keep you more secure while connecting to public Wi-Fi hotspots and that’s not a small feat — considering that the number of so-called “man in the middle” attacks has been growing in recent years.
And that’s just the tip of the iceberg. What you want is a VPN for everything, one that will cover you back in many situations, including:
- Accessing content that could otherwise be restricted in your physical location.
- Preventing tracking and minimizing your digital footprint so that no one can track you online (at least not that easily).
- Avoiding throttling from your ISP – which is known to happen when you’re torrenting or accessing video streaming services.
- Bypassing firewalls in a workplace, university, school and so on.
- Bypassing censorship in places like China, North Korea, countries in the Middle East, and even Turkey and Russia.
- Securely connecting to public Wi-Fi hotspots – with a VPN encrypting all the traffic coming to and from your devices.
The bottom line is – get a VPN that fits all your needs. The top contenders include the following:
