Circumvention Tools
Free tools for bypassing censorship and exploiting routing leaks during the blackout. No server setup needed. Share these links directly with people in Iran.
Important: these tools require some internet connectivity to work. During a complete shutdown with zero routing, only satellite (Starlink) can help. These tools become useful when regional routing leaks open or when connectivity returns with heavy censorship.
ابزارهای دور زدن سانسور
ابزارهای رایگان برای عبور از سانسور و استفاده از نشتیهای مسیریابی در زمان قطعی. نیازی به راهاندازی سرور نیست. این لینکها را مستقیماً برای افراد در ایران ارسال کنید.
مهم: این ابزارها به مقداری اتصال اینترنت نیاز دارند. در قطعی کامل با صفر مسیریابی، فقط ماهواره (Starlink) کار میکند. این ابزارها وقتی مفید هستند که نشتیهای مسیریابی منطقهای باز شود یا اتصال با سانسور شدید برگردد.
Psiphon
Psiphon is a circumvention tool built for countries with state-level censorship. It combines VPN, SSH, and HTTP proxy techniques with a large, constantly rotating pool of servers and IP addresses, which makes it very hard to fully block.
Why it can work during routing leaks
- Uses a large, constantly rotating pool of server IPs that are hard to enumerate and block
- Automatically rotates between protocols and servers to find working routes
- Has a massive user base in Iran. Psiphon has been the go-to tool during every Iranian internet crisis
- Traffic can be disguised as normal HTTPS
How to use
- Download Psiphon from psiphon.ca
- Open the app
- Tap Connect. It automatically finds working servers
- If it doesn't connect, wait and try again; it cycles through servers
Tor Snowflake
Snowflake is part of the Tor Project. It routes censored users' traffic through temporary volunteer browser proxies using WebRTC. Since these proxies are just regular people's browsers with residential IPs, they're very hard to block.
For people in Iran (using Snowflake)
- Download the Tor Browser
- When configuring, select "Tor is censored in my country"
- Choose Snowflake as the bridge type
- Connect. Your traffic routes through volunteer browser proxies worldwide
For people outside Iran (be a volunteer proxy)
You can help by turning your browser into a Snowflake proxy. Censored users' traffic will route through your browser. It's safe, anonymous, and uses minimal bandwidth.
- Go to snowflake.torproject.org
- Toggle the switch to ON
- Keep the tab open. You're now a bridge for censored users
You can also install the Firefox extension or Chrome extension to run it automatically.
Lantern
Lantern routes traffic through a distributed network of proxy servers using various obfuscation techniques, which makes it hard to block completely.
How to use
- Download from lantern.io
- Install and open the app
- It connects automatically, no configuration needed
Starlink (Satellite Internet)
If terrestrial fiber gateways are completely severed, Starlink satellite terminals are the most reliable way through because they skip Iran's domestic internet infrastructure entirely. They talk directly to SpaceX's satellite constellation. However, this is not without risk or limitations.
How it works
- The Starlink terminal (dish) communicates with satellites in low Earth orbit
- Traffic goes: satellite to ground station (outside Iran) to internet
- Iran's BGP routing, DPI, and infrastructure shutdowns do not affect the satellite data path
Serious risks
- Criminal penalties: Terminals must be smuggled into the country. Getting caught with one carries serious legal consequences
- Signal jamming: The government is deploying frequency jammers that can disrupt satellite signals in localized areas. Rooftop placement with clear sky view helps but is not a guarantee
- Detection: The dish is physically visible and can also be detected via RF emissions. Sharing access with many people increases your exposure
- Cost: ~$499-599 for hardware + ~$120-200/month for service (prices vary; Iran is not an official service area, so roaming rates may apply)