Data protection and online anonymity have been hot topics when it comes to Ecuador. The growing censorship, whether on the internet or outside of it, has caused a big discussion about the government’s role and possible interference with the web. Users are subjected to having their personal data, such as IP address, exposed or handed over to third parties by their own ISPs. Nonetheless, the country already benefits from the presence of top streaming services like Netflix and Spotify. However, with a small percentage of internet users, the quality of the connection may be questionable at times, therefore disabling users from properly enjoying the wonders of the digital world.
With a population of 16.6 million and an internet penetration of 57.3%, the number of people accessing the internet in Ecuador has increased in past years. While internet access is provided with no bandwidth limits through broadband and satellite connections, the country’s internet infrastructure is still growing, which means connection speeds may be slower than expected. It is public knowledge that the government does not control the allocation of domain names or IP addresses, and nor is content blocked or filtered in Ecuador.
Well-known services like Netflix, Spotify, or Amazon Prime are available in the country for whoever wants to subscribe them. Regional content only available in the country will attract both those who are fascinated by the culture and Ecuadorians who are living abroad.
However, with Ecuador’s internet freedom declining in recent years due to an aggressive political climate, information such as the IP address of clients isn’t safe in the hands of the country’s ISPs. Additionally, cyber attacks have increased dramatically in the country, putting the safety of the online population in danger.
The right for personal data protection has been recognized by The Constitution of Ecuador since 2008. However, according to Freedom House, while anonymous or encrypted communications are not forbidden, “ISPs are required to submit the IP addresses of their clients without a judicial order on request”. Additionally, leaked reports show that there has been active monitoring of the public web and prominent political figures.
However, a new online privacy law has been in development for the past year. The objective is not only to protect users when it comes to the use of their data, but also to determinate an entity to supervise the legal obligations and rights defined in the law. Its submission and consequent execution is still far off, though, so in the meantime Ecuadorian netizens may want to look for some security solutions to guarantee anonymous and encrypted browsing.
Even though the government does not block social media, particular websites, or software, internet censorship has been escalating in recent years in Ecuador. Government critics are often subject to harassment and intimidation both online and offline. According to Ecuadorian law, websites are held liable for content posted by third parties on their site, unless the person that is responsible for publishing said content is identifiable through personal data such as their national ID number. As a result, several newspapers completely removed their ‘comments’ sections to avoid any kind of penalty.
In this environment, making comments on political subjects using social media platforms like Facebook or Twitter is discouraged since such publications can easily be reported and removed. It’s also become a trend for public institutions to use copyright laws to take down content and often issue copyright infringement notices. It isn’t uncommon that those same public institutions will issue a pre-written correction to the initial censured content.
With online suppression showing no signs of stopping, users should look into protecting themselves whenever browsing the internet. VPN services are legal in Ecuador and are often used to increase the connection speed. Given that the main goal of such software is to provide online anonymity and safety, they are of great use for people living in or visiting Ecuadorian territory. Users can therefore protect their personal data and have access to faster web connections.
Despite how small the country’s internet penetration still is, natives of Ecuador already benefit from having some of the most popular streaming services available in the country. From Netflix and Amazon Prime to Apple Music and Spotify, popular content platforms have entered the Ecuadorian market in recent years. Users can enjoy libraries complete with thousands of films, TV series, eBooks, and music with both international and locally-produced content. Naturally, in terms of quantity, regionally-created multimedia represents a very small percentage of these services’ offerings.
Since internet connections can be extremely slow at times, those accessing through a local server may find themselves frustrated and unable to make the most of the available content. Using a VPN may be a great solution since a connection through an international server will provide access to the same streaming services and an overall better connection. Users will be able to access content from services in other countries, such as Netflix U.S., and though they won’t be able to see Ecuadorian-exclusive content, they will still have a huge set of worldwide options at a click.
With an extensive server network spanning 105 countries, apps for all major platforms, and even extra security tools like an ad blocker, ExpressVPN delivers all you need for a private and secure online experience.
The software is easy to use across all devices, and the speed trumps many of its competitors, making it one of the fastest VPNs on the market. Android and iOS customers can make the most of a 7-day free trial with unlimited bandwidth and everyone can enjoy three months for free when opting for annual billing.
NordVPN has already managed to conquer the market by being one of the most reputable and trustworthy services ever made. Among its vast arsenal of features, the close attention given to security is one of the major highlights, thanks to the presence of an automatic kill switch, protection against DNS leaks, ads and malware, and even double VPN servers.
Speaking of which, these are only some of NordVPN’s special servers that compose a global network filled with unusual locations, P2P countries, support for Onion over VPN, and more. NordVPN has a handful of different subscriptions in the form of simple apps for all kinds of devices and user types.
For as little as $3.99 per month, users can enjoy all the perks of having a secure and high-speed VPN. Plus, a generous refund policy allows you to get your money back if you decide NordVPN isn’t for you during the first 30 days.
First of all, please do not feel intimidated: the perhaps vulgar name of the UK-based company is intended to be a pun. HMA VPN has a mascot in the form of a donkey, and thus this little wordplay is nothing to worry about. You should rather pay attention to the fact that HMA VPN is easily one of the best VPN companies today; they offer much more than a standard package. You are also welcome to try out the free web proxy, an anonymous e-mail service and an IP:Port premium service, which is essentially a more elaborate proxy product. On top of this, you also have VPN browser extensions for Chrome and Mozilla to use. HMA VPN does all this while still maintaining decent speeds and healthy prices. These are coupled with the fact that HMA VPN remains one of few providers who still enable access to Netflix. But the most impressive thing about this organization is the number of locations provided – it is unprecedented today.
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