What are obfuscated servers, and why do you need them?

In this guide, we explain what obfuscation does, how obfuscated servers can enhance your digital privacy, and when obfuscation is most beneficial.

An obfuscated VPN server uses encryption to scramble VPN data, making it indistinguishable from regular HTTPS traffic. This technology is essential in preventing detection by Local Area Networks, ISPs, and government surveillance. It hides the fact that you are using a VPN to gain online privacy. 

Adding obfuscation to a VPN protocol can improve connectivity on networks or in regions that enforce VPN blocks. By camouflaging traffic as regular HTTPS bound for a website, and routing VPN traffic over common ports, it becomes hard for third parties to detect VPN use and enforce VPN blocks.

Obfuscation allows you to use a VPN anywhere, without fear that you could raise suspicion of the networks you are using. This is particularly important in regions where circumventing censorship or network restrictions is not just a matter of access but of personal safety and privacy. 

Why do VPNs provide obfuscation?

A VPN encrypts your data and routes it through a remote server, concealing your online activities from local networks and ISPs. Although this provides a significant level of privacy, it doesn’t completely mask the use of a VPN. Protocols like OpenVPN and WireGuard have unique markers that can be detected if you know where to look.

Local WiFi network administrators, ISPs, and government agencies use advanced analysis techniques known as Deep Packet Inspection (DPI) to monitor internet traffic. This technique can identify the tell-tale signs of VPN connections, even if they can’t see what goes on inside the VPN tunnel.

Obfuscated servers and Stealth VPN protocols add a layer of camouflage, hiding the fact you’re using a VPN. This makes it safer to use a VPN in situations where you prefer nobody to know you have a private connection. Privacy for your privacy!

How do obfuscated servers work?

Obfuscation adds an extra encryption layer to your VPN connection. This layer is specially designed to outwit WiFi networks, ISPs, government surveillance, and other snoops, effectively masking the fact that you’re using a VPN.

At its core, obfuscation is like a disguise. It takes your VPN traffic and packages it in a way that makes it appear like everyday HTTPS traffic bound for a website. HTTPS is the most common type of online traffic, so your VPN traffic blends seamlessly and avoids suspicion.

To create this disguise, obfuscated connections leverage stealth protocols that achieve two things:

1. Scramble the data, altering byte patterns so that the connection doesn't resemble a VPN.
2. Route the connection through common ports that are necessary for mundane, everyday tasks.

What are the best VPNs with obfuscation?

If you are in a rush to find a VPN that includes obfuscation, we have provided a quick list below.

The best VPNs with obfuscation:

1. NordVPN: Provides obfuscated servers, fast speeds, and access to servers in 60+ countries. Has a solid no-logging policy and a risk-free 30-day money-back guarantee. Works to access Netflix US and many other platforms.
2. Surfshark: Best budget VPN with obfuscation. A reliable VPN that offers fast speeds. Unlimited connections make it perfect for larger families. Strong encryption and a no-logs policy.
3. ExpressVPN: A fast and reliable VPN with a solid no-logs policy and obfuscation by default when you use the OpenVPN protocol. 
4. Proton VPN: A reliable VPN based in Switzerland. Has now introduced a stealth protocol to provide obfuscated connections.
5. PrivateVPN: A robust no-logs VPN that includes obfuscation and port forwarding. Works with Netflix and other streaming services. 
6. Private Internet Access: Includes SOCKS5 and Shadowsocks proxies that can be stacked onto the VPN using its MultiHop feature. This provides decent obfuscation for concealing VPN use from ISPs.

What are the main technologies used for obfuscation?

VPNs employ a variety of obfuscation techniques, each varying in complexity and effectiveness. Basic forms of obfuscation are often sufficient for bypassing simple network restrictions, like when certain ports are blocked. Advanced forms of obfuscation can help users connect in countries that have strict firewalls, such as China.

Obfsproxy

Obfsproxy (Obfuscation Proxy) is an open-source pluggable transport developed by the Tor project . It was designed to enhance online privacy and circumvent censorship by disguising network traffic bound for the Tor network as regular HTTPS. 

It is now sometimes leveraged by consumer-facing VPNs to make it more challenging for network administrators and ISPs to detect and block VPN traffic.

A primary benefit of Obfsproxy is that it acts as an add-on to the VPN protocol (pluggable transport). Obfsproxy modifies packet headers and traffic patterns in such a way that DPI finds it harder to identify traffic as belonging to a VPN.

Obfsproxy primarily focuses on obfuscation rather than encryption, so while it can make VPN traffic look like HTTPS traffic, it does not provide additional security.

Various forks of Obfsproxy exist, but the ones most commonly used by VPNs are obfs3, obfs4, and ScrambleSuit.

OpenVPN TCP over port 443

This is the most basic form of obfuscation. It works by routing OpenVPN TCP traffic over port 443. This obfuscation method does not use additional stealth protocols to conceal VPN traffic. Instead, it relies on sending traffic through the port used by HTTPS, which makes it hard for Local Area Networks and ISPs to block.

Although this configuration helps VPN subscribers connect to the VPN on a wide variety of networks, it does not prevent government snoops from detecting VPN use.

Many VPNs advertising obfuscated servers opt for OpenVPN TCP over port 443 due to its cost-effectiveness and ease of implementation. However, its limitations become evident in countries where governments use DPI to block VPN traffic, such as China, Iran, Egypt, and the UAE. 

Shadowsocks 

Some VPNs provide obfuscation by routing VPN traffic through a Shadowsocks proxy. The open-source Shadowsocks protocol was originally designed to help Chinese internet users bypass the Great Firewall of China. Thanks to its ability to bypass strict government-imposed censorship, it can be considered an advanced form of obfuscation. 

Shadowsocks works by encrypting VPN data and sending it to the Shadowsocks server before the VPN server location. This is a technique known as bridging. The additional encryption provided by the Shadowsocks protocol makes it difficult for LANs, ISPs, and government agencies to block or intercept VPN traffic.

An advantage of Shadowsocks is that it works with various internet protocols, making it suitable for a wide range of applications. It can be configured to use different encryption methods and can operate over both TCP (Transmission Control Protocol) and UDP (User Datagram Protocol) connections.

SSL Tunnel

SSL (Secure Sockets Layer) Tunnel is a type of VPN obfuscation that wraps VPN traffic in an additional layer of encryption. This helps to disguise VPN traffic and makes it harder to detect using packet inspection. 

The primary benefit of using an SSL Tunnel for VPN obfuscation is that it uses the same encryption as HTTPS traffic. When combined with routing that uses port 443, this makes it very hard for third parties such as networks or ISPs to detect or block VPN use.

The most commonly used SSL Tunnel technology used by VPNs to implement obfuscated servers is Stunnel. Stunnel is an open-source application used to provide TLS/SSL tunneling for a variety of applications across various platforms. 

SoftEther

SoftEther is an open-source tool developed at the University of Tsukuba in Japan. It's known for its versatility and ability to support various VPN protocols, including L2TP/IPsec and OpenVPN. This allows it to be stacked on those protocols to provide an additional layer of obfuscation. 

Obfuscation provided by SoftEther modifies the characteristics of VPN traffic to make it resemble regular HTTPS traffic bound for a website. It also adds another layer of encryption (SSL or TLS). Strengthening an OpenVPN connection with SoftEther helps conceal VPN use and prevents local networks and ISPs from blocking VPN traffic.

Another advantage of SoftEther is that it allows the VPN client to modify the port being used to send the VPN traffic. This allows SoftEther to purposefully route VPN traffic using common ports that are hard to block such as 443 (HTTPS) and 992 (IMAPS).

DNS Obfuscation

Some VPNs provide obfuscation by concealing VPN-bound DNS requests within standard DNS traffic. The VPN achieves this by interweaving DNS queries within a stream of regular DNS lookups. This shields the user's specific domain requests against detection and interference.

Custom obfuscation protocols

Many obfuscation protocols are open source, which means that anybody can access their code and implement them. This is how most VPN providers implement their obfuscation, but they don't always admit it.

Some VPNs prefer not to openly declare what type of obfuscation they are using. These providers may simply state that they offer 'Obfuscated Servers' or use a custom, branded name for their obfuscation technology.

Most of the time, custom obfuscation will either be a direct copy of a well-known obfuscation method (Obfsproxy, SoftEther, SSL Tunnel, etc) or a slightly modified version (fork) of an existing protocol.

When should I use a VPN with obfuscation?

The main reason for employing a VPN’s obfuscation feature is to conceal VPN use from local networks, ISPs, and government agencies. If you are using a VPN at work and do not want the local network administrator to find out, you may want to turn on obfuscation or connect to obfuscated servers. 

The same is true if you are in a country where VPN use is frowned upon. The obfuscation feature will prevent ISPs from detecting that you are using a VPN, adding a layer of privacy.

It is also worth using the obfuscation if you are struggling to connect to your VPN on a particular network. Some local networks or ISPs may block ports associated with VPNs, so an obfuscated connection (designed to look like regular HTTPS) can help to get you connected.

In which countries should I use a VPN with obfuscation?

Whether you should use a VPN with obfuscation largely depends on the level of internet freedom and censorship that your country enforces. Overreaching regimes that impose high levels of censorship and widespread surveillance are countries where obfuscation is more important. So, if your government is known to monitor internet usage closely and block access to certain websites and services, it is a good idea to use a VPN with obfuscation.

Countries with high censorship

In countries like China, Iran, and Russia, internet censorship is extensive. Governments in these regions leverage advanced techniques such as Deep Packet Inspection (DPI) to detect and block standard VPN traffic. In these countries, using a VPN with obfuscation is not just a matter of accessing restricted content but also about protecting your online privacy and security. 

Below we have included a list of countries where it is a good idea to use VPN obfuscation:

• China: Extensive internet censorship with the "Great Firewall" blocking many foreign websites. High levels of surveillance online.
• Iran: Strict internet censorship, including blocking social media platforms and filtering online content. Potentially severe repercussions for bypassing restrictions.
• Russia: Increasing control over internet access, including the blocking of certain websites and online services.
• North Korea: Extremely limited and controlled internet access, with heavy surveillance and censorship. Severe repercussions for bypassing online restrictions. 
• Saudi Arabia: Restrictions on access to certain websites and online services, especially VoIP services and social media.
• United Arab Emirates (UAE): Censorship of politically sensitive material and restrictions on VoIP services.
• Turkey: Internet censorship including blocking of social media platforms and restrictions on online content.
• Belarus: Government control over internet access and censorship of content deemed politically sensitive.
• Pakistan: Widespread internet censorship that targets content considered blasphemous or anti-state.
• Vietnam: Censorship of political content and blocks on some international websites.
• Egypt: Blocking of websites and online platforms, particularly those that are politically oriented.
• Syria: Heavy internet censorship and monitoring, particularly politically motivated content that is critical of the government.
• Turkmenistan: Severe restrictions on internet access and censorship of foreign media.

Regions with restricted internet access

In addition to countries with high censorship, there are regions where internet access is highly restricted. This includes countries in the Middle East like Saudi Arabia and the UAE, where access to VoIP services and social media platforms is often blocked. In these locations, obfuscated VPNs can help you bypass restrictions as discreetly as possible.

How do I set up obfuscation in my VPN?

Setting up obfuscated servers differs slightly with each VPN. Services like ExpressVPN provide obfuscation by default when you use the OpenVPN protocol. 

Some VPNs list specific servers that support obfuscated connections. Others require you to open the settings menu and toggle obfuscation on. Finally, a few VPNs include obfuscation as part of their MultiHop feature.

Ask your provider for details about how to use the obfuscation feature.

Obfuscated servers FAQs

Should I use a VPN with obfuscation when traveling abroad?

If you aren't sure about the internet laws and regulations of a country while traveling abroad, it is a good idea to use a VPN with obfuscation. When traveling, you may find yourself in a country where it is hard to access your home country’s websites or services. An obfuscated VPN will help to ensure that you can always get connected and use home services privately.

Can I get a free VPN with obfuscation?

At the time of writing, we know of no reliable VPNs that offer obfuscation protocols for free. Although there are a few reliable VPNs available for free, these services are quite limited. Reliable VPNs that have a free plan, primarily offer it to advertise their service. For this reason, you will only get access to the primary features, a strict data cap, and a few server locations. This does not usually include any obfuscated servers, which are reserved for paying customers.

Do I need an obfuscated VPN to watch Netflix?

Netflix is available in most countries, and by and large, you will not need to use obfuscation when streaming Netflix. That said, if you are trying to stream Netflix while connected to a network that blocks VPNs, you may want to use obfuscation to facilitate your connection to the VPN.