Verizon is infamous for throttling network speeds for its users, however, you can speed up your connection along with a VPN. We’ll explain why this practice is now becoming more commonplace, additionally, also how VPN technology works to counteract unfair throttling by Verizon and many other internet providers. Just check out our recommended VPN providers in order to unleash the full speed of your Internet connection in just a few minutes. In this article, we are now going to talk about How to Stop Verizon Throttling – The best VPN. Let’s begin!
In a clear violation of net neutrality, even before the voting took place in late 2017, the U.S.-based wireless service provider Verizon was caught artificially slowing down user speeds whenever accessing many services. This practice of throttling largely affected Netflix and YouTube content, and two sites that directly compete for along with video streaming services Verizon itself owns and then operates. Verizon apologized and promised in order to remedy the error, yet many users report nothing happened to undo the throttling.
Throttling doesn’t have to relate to just a single website. Many wireless carriers and ISPs throttle data when you reach a certain amount of downloads. Others will slow down your connection if you guys use services just like Kodi or a VPN. There’s actually no reason behind these speed bumps. Only that the ISP needs to control your connection to the internet. The good news is that you do not have to put up along with Verizon or also any other company throttling your internet.
Contents
- 1 How to Stop Verizon Throttling – Best VPN
- 1.0.1 How VPNs Stop Throttling via Verizon and Other Providers
- 1.0.2 Evaluating VPNs For Their Ability To Undo Throttling by Verizon
- 1.0.3 Best VPNs
- 1.0.4 ExpressVPN
- 1.0.5 NordVPN
- 1.0.6 Surfshark
- 1.0.7 CyberGhost
- 1.0.8 Stop Verizon Throttling – Other Methods
- 1.0.9 VPN Configuration Settings
- 1.0.10 Below are a few common changes that you might be able to make that mostly help stop data throttling.
- 1.0.11 SSL/TLS Tunnel
- 1.0.12 Shadowsocks (SOCKS5 Proxy)
- 1.0.13 Stop Verizon Throttling on a Smartphone
- 1.0.14 How to Tell if Your Wireless Internet Connection Is Throttled
- 1.0.15 Conclusion
How to Stop Verizon Throttling – Best VPN
How VPNs Stop Throttling via Verizon and Other Providers
Virtual private networks give a ton of privacy and anonymity features thanks to data encryption. A process that wraps each and every packet of information in a layer of unbreakable code before it actually leaves your device. No one can see what’s inside these packets, not even Verizon as well. And if they can’t tell what you’re accessing, then they can’t throttle your connection based on that actually.
If your internet is just being throttled on a more generalized basis, then VPNs can also help that, too. Most of the ISP throttling efforts are put into place based on port numbers. That is just like numbered doors your internet traffic passes through. Data packets mostly run via the same port. So all an ISP has to do is throttle connections on that port as well. VPNs can actually send traffic via different locations. That allows them to access ports Verizon and many other ISPs can’t block without shutting down your internet altogether.
Evaluating VPNs For Their Ability To Undo Throttling by Verizon
Well, getting the right VPN requires more than just picking a service based on how cool their logo looks actually. Privacy and censorship are really real issues, and if you guys don’t select your VPN wisely. You could put your data at risk rather than protecting it.
Below are the main criteria that you should use whenever choosing a good VPN in order to stop Verizon throttling. We actually used the same features in order to make our recommendations below. That permits you to find the fastest, safest, and also most reliable VPN around to prevent or undo Verizon throttling.
- Reputation – A trustworthy VPN can also keep you safe, however, an unreliable one can destroy your privacy. You have to make sure your VPN is well-established and receives good reviews from current and past users.
- Speed – VPNs can be a little slower than an unsecured connection, even whenever you actually take throttling into account. Using a fast service is important to keep your speed scores high.
- Security features – Things just like encryption strength, DNS leak protection, and kill switch features are crucial in order to keep your connection safe.
- Logging policy – To make sure true privacy, always select a VPN service that has a strict zero-logging policy.
Best VPNs
When you’ve done your homework, then it’s time to sign up for a VPN and put a stop to throttling once and for all! Below are our recommended services that you can use on any device around the world. Just pick your favorite, stop the throttling, and enjoy your faster connection!
ExpressVPN
Pros
- Unblocks US Netflix, BBC iPlayer, and many other streaming services
- 94 countries, 3,000+ servers as well
- Really simple and easy to use
- No logs for personal data actually
- 24/7 Chat Support as well.
Cons
- Expensive month-to-month plan too.
ExpressVPN actually has fast speeds, strong security, and also great reputation in the VPN community. It’s also incredibly easy to use, which offers custom software and apps for a really wide variety of devices. All of which come along with one-click connections and other useful privacy features as well. ExpressVPN basically uses 256-bit AES encryption on all data combined with a zero-logging policy on traffic. DNS requests, and IP addresses as well. You guys also get DNS leak protection and automatic kill switch features on each and every device, along with a really fast network with locations in 94 different countries – a great option to prevent throttling by Verizon or any other internet provider!
NordVPN
Pros
- Unblocks US Netflix, iPlayer, Amazon Prime, and also many other streaming services
- Different IP addresses servers
- Allows more than 6 devices to be connected all at once
- Retains no metadata of your browsing
- Live chat support is also available.
Cons
- Some servers can also have average d/l speeds
- Refund processing can also take more than 30 days.
NordVPN is actually a stable, trustworthy, and extremely reliable VPN provider that actually has been in business for years. The company offers a huge network of 5,300+ servers in 59 different countries for fast connections around the globe. The core of NordVPN’s privacy is also built around a strict zero-logging policy.
That covers bandwidth, traffic, time stamps, and also DNS access. That basically includes an automatic kill switch, DNS leak protection, and 256-bit AES encryption on all of the data. You can also take benefit of unique privacy features such as double encryption, onion over VPN routing, and DDoS protection as well. This VPN is a solid and reliable option in order to undo or prevent being throttled.
Surfshark
Pros
- Each server optimized for unblocking Netflix, BBC iPlayer, Hulu, and much more
- Every server is actually a specialty server
- No questions asked money-back guarantee
- Based in the British Virgin Islands, where there are actually no data retention laws
- Responsive customer also supports available 24/7.
Cons
- The growing network does not really have the same coverage as more mature VPNs as well
- Also, the new-kid-on-the-block status may not instill the same trust as larger providers as well.
Surfshark is actually a rising star in the VPN industry, and it will work extremely well to defeat your ISP’s unfair throttling as well. Featuring unbreakable 256-AES-GCM encryption on all 800+ servers, and there’s simply no way for anyone to brute-force their way into your business.
And for any other method Verizon might use to track your activity online, Surfshark has an answer as well. You guys can cloak your VPN traffic with their special Camouflage obfuscation, which makes it all. However, impossible for your ISP to tamp down on whatever it is you are doing on their network.
Surfshark even secures you whenever your connection drops out, cutting the Internet via the automatic kill switch. Coupled along with protections against IP, DNS, and WebRTC leaks. In addition, an independently audited no-logging policy, ISP tracking, and throttling are effectively things of the past.
CyberGhost
Pros
- Unblocks US Netflix, Amazon Prime, YouTube, Hulu as well
- 3,600+ servers in 55+ countries actually
- No leaks detected as well
- Also, a strict no-logs policy
- Money-back guarantee.
Cons
- Doesn’t unblock all of the streaming services.
CyberGhost delivers a superb mixture of speed and privacy, which makes it a great VPN to stay safe online. However, unblocking websites and defeating throttling efforts from Verizon and other ISPs. It starts along with 256-bit AES encryption on all the data and includes a thorough zero-logging policy on traffic, time stamps, and also IP address.
DNS actually leak protection and an automatic kill switch makes sure your identity stays hidden no matter what. You also get access to more than 5,700 servers in 90 countries for fast worldwide connections. Good news for Verizon customers that are suffering from throttling.
Stop Verizon Throttling – Other Methods
VPNs are great all-purpose tools that can mostly defeat throttling efforts from Verizon in an instant. For more stubborn ISPs, though, you guys will want to deploy stronger measures in order to keep your connection fast and secure.
VPN Configuration Settings
By default, most of the VPNs will immediately put a stop to throttling efforts by Verizon or any other company. Encryption is often all that’s needed to give you free access to the internet actually. If that’s not enough, then you can mostly change some of your VPN settings to try a more aggressive method actually.
You can open your VPN configurations page and look for an option in order to change security protocol settings. Inside, check for other ways to alter the default port, toggle extra encryption protocols, or also switch encryption types altogether as well.
Below are a few common changes that you might be able to make that mostly help stop data throttling.
- Use UDP or TCP port 1194, and the official OpenVPN port
- Turn on SSH connections on any port
- Activate SSL encryption on any port as well
- You can also switch to UDP or TCP port 80
- Try a high port, such as 41185
SSL/TLS Tunnel
SSL (Secure Socket Layer) tunnels are an extremely reliable method to defeat ISP throttling efforts. If you guys have ever seen a site with a green padlock icon in your browser’s URL bar. Then that means it was secured with HTTPS, or HTTP secure. This protocol uses SSL for basic encryption. And you guys can do the same for all of your internet traffic. That makes it anonymous and difficult for Verizon to track.
Stunnel is the most famous piece of software for setting up and via SSL tunnels. It also takes a little research to do properly. However, once it’s complete you will be able to bypass throttling in an instant. You guys can also select a VPN service that offers SSL tunnels via default, like NordVPN.
Shadowsocks (SOCKS5 Proxy)
Shadowsocks uses the SOCKS5 protocol (Socket Secure 5) which actually transfers data packets between clients and servers through a proxy server. It’s just simple but effective, designed to break via censorship barriers via keeping traffic completely obscured. This also helps to defeat throttling, because knowing the destination of a packet of data is mostly how ISPs decide when to apply speed caps. The website above will walk you via the process of renting and setting up a shadowsocks server to use on your home network.
Stop Verizon Throttling on a Smartphone
Verizon doesn’t really stop its throttling efforts on data connections. The company actually applies caps and bandwidth limits on many of its cell phone services, too. Unfortunately for us users, this is almost impossible in order to bypass along with any measure of reliability. Right now, the workaround is complex and really difficult to implement, requiring deep knowledge of Android architecture, phone rooting, and also ROM cracking.
VPNs can’t really stop 3G or 4G data throttling, nor can any of the methods above. If possible, then try to switch to a standard internet connection through Wi-Fi and downloading your content for offline access.
How to Tell if Your Wireless Internet Connection Is Throttled
If you are a Verizon customer, then there is a good chance your connection to the internet is already throttled. Netflix might feel slow too, YouTube a little sluggish, and also your Kodi streams are never quite HD. There actually are dozens of potential causes for internet slowdown, however. In order to make sure it’s throttling that’s the issue, then try the easy method below.
BattleForTheNet is a really great resource that promotes internet freedoms around the globe. The site also has a number of tools that can help you test your internet connection for censorship and throttling concerns. No complicated setups are required, just visit the throttling test site, click the button, and then wait for the results.
Another less reliable method is just to try any online speed test service. Watch your download speeds whenever you are accessing a site you think maybe throttled via Verizon. Then visit SpeedTest.net and then run a quick test. If the download speeds there are vastly different than the other results, chances are you’re throttled as well.
Conclusion
Alright, That was all Folks! I hope you guys like this “Verizon throttling” article and also find it helpful to you. Give us your feedback on it. Also if you guys have further queries and issues related to this article. Then let us know in the comments section below. We will get back to you shortly.
Have a Great Day!
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