Filter evasion definition
Filter evasion refers to the practice of bypassing content filters used to monitor or block certain types of online content or activities. These filters can be applied by organizations, governments, or platforms, but users can employ various tactics to evade them.
For example, in countries with heavy censorship, filter evasion techniques are used by journalists, activists, and ordinary citizens to access blocked websites, news, or social media. On another hand, advertisers use filter evasion techniques to evade ad blockers by obfuscating the characteristics of their ads.
See also: packet filtering, url filtering
Filter evasion methods
- VPNs. VPNs mask the user's IP address and change their virtual location, allowing the users to evade location-based filters or access restrictions.
- Proxy servers. Proxy servers act as intermediaries between the user and the internet, allowing users to access restricted sites by routing their traffic through a third-party server.
- URL encoding. Modifying a website's URL by using different character encoding schemes can sometimes trick filters that block specific URLs or keywords.
- Circumventing censorship tools. Specialized software, such as Tor, can be used to access restricted content anonymously and bypass censorship.
- Altering content. Users may deliberately alter certain text or keywords to evade automatic detection systems.
- Tunneling protocols. Users can employ tunneling protocols to encapsulate restricted content within permitted protocols, effectively hiding it from filters.
- DNS manipulation. Changing the Domain Name System (DNS) settings to alternative servers can bypass certain geographic or domain-based content filters.
