25/02/2018 The FCC’s Repeal Of Net Neutrality Is Causing Unprecedented Spikes In VPN Usage

SHARE TWEET

February 24, 2018

The FCC’s Repeal Of Net Neutrality Is

Causing Unprecedented Spikes In VPN Usage

Who's really getting the last laugh? Americans are losing trust in corporations and the
government, and taking matters into their own hands. There was a whopping 170 percent
increase in VPN sales in the US.

TECHNOLOGY ALEX WONG / GETTY IMAGES

In December 2017, the Federal Communications

Commission voted to repeal net neutrality, giving the
world wide web back to internet service providers. This
maneuver aims to deregulate the industry and allow
Damir
Mujezinovic companies such as AT&T, Comcast, and Verizon to slow
down, block, and throttle websites, and charge consumers
more for particular internet services. The FCC’s “Restoring
Internet Freedom Order,” which repealed the net
neutrality protections, was officially published on
February 22.

While most American internet users still haven’t fully felt

the effects of the repeal, an ongoing online campaign has
not lost momentum. As the Inquisitr reported in January,
net neutrality activism has even found its way into the
Senate. Still, besides raising public awareness about this
issue, campaigning hasn’t really produced tangible results;
public revolt has not made Ajit Pai and the FCC reconsider
their decision, as of yet.

Net neutrality activism has, however, at least played a part

in the unusual, enormous, and unprecedented spike in
VPN usage in the United States.

https://www.inquisitr.com/4801558/the-fccs-repeal-of-net-neutrality-is-causing-unprecedented-spikes-in-vpn-usage/ 1/5
25/02/2018 The FCC’s Repeal Of Net Neutrality Is Causing Unprecedented Spikes In VPN Usage

A VPN, or a Virtual Private Network, is a service that

SPONSORED
masks and spoofs the end user’s IP address, recounting
internet traffic through a third party server, and therefore
circumventing censorship and government firewalls. In
countries like China and Russia, where the world wide
web is heavily monitored, government-controlled, and
censored, VPNs have become synonymous with privacy
and freedom of information. These shifts have even led
Putin to sign a new law effectively banning anonymous
browsing tools in Russia. Wired ran an article about this
back in April 2017.
CAN A CALL FRO
M MOM CALM A
CHILD’S NERVE
S?
FEATURED BY CONNATIX

Scientists the University of

Wisconsin-Madison polled a
group of girls between the ages of
7 and 12. They found that a
Jaiz Anuar / Shutterstock
simple call from Mom has the
same calming effect as getting a
VPN providers might be losing their grip on the Russian
hug from her.
market, but VPNs are becoming so popular in the United
States that HotSpot Shield, one of the most popular VPNs
in the world, saw more than 100 million downloads in
2017 alone, exceeding all expectations and breaking
previous records.

HotSpot Shield is a product of a software company called

AnchorFree. The company’s CEO, David Gorodyansky,
discussed these interesting developments with Business
Insider. Mr. Gorodyansky saw unprecedented spikes in O processador Intel®
mais poderoso de
new users immediately after the FCC repealed net todos os tempos.

neutrality. He thinks the FCC’s crackdown on net

neutrality, in combination with high-profile hacks, is why
TRENDING STORIES
Americans are losing trust in corporations and the
government.

“Over the last 18 months, people are starting to realize

that the government won’t protect them and that Google
and Facebook want to use their data as currency. People
are realizing that they need to take this into their own CELEBRITIES
hands,” Gorodyansky said, adding that “Americans are
Terry Crews Speaks Out In Support Of
starting to realize that security and privacy are important.”
Brendan Fraser

Gorodyansky claims to have witnessed three major spikes. CRIME

The first one happened after Congress voted to allow ISPs

‘Jerry Springer Show’ Bodyguard Steve
to sell web and app usage to third parties without asking Wilkos Charged With DUI After Lying About
Wreck For Weeks
users for permission. The second spike occurred along
with the Equifax hack. And lastly, the third surge of new TECHNOLOGY

users happened after the FCC repealed net neutrality.

Reddit Refuses To Act As The_Donald
Continues To Attack School Shooting

https://www.inquisitr.com/4801558/the-fccs-repeal-of-net-neutrality-is-causing-unprecedented-spikes-in-vpn-usage/ 2/5
25/02/2018 The FCC’s Repeal Of Net Neutrality Is Causing Unprecedented Spikes In VPN Usage

“If the FCC doesn’t want to regulate net neutrality. That’s Victims, So Advertisers Take Action

fine. We wish they did, but they don’t want to, that’s OK. ODD

We’re basically going to solve this from a technology point

14-Year-Old Boy Claims He Has Been Laying
of view,” AnchorFree’s CEO said, “I think there’s been this Eggs Since 2016, Doctors Baffled By His
transition where people are starting to trust big Bizarre Condition

corporations and the government less with their CELEBRITIES

information.”
Elizabeth Hurley Bikini Pics Come With
‘Disturbing’ Revelation For Some Liz Fans
According to App Annie, an app market research
RUMORS
company, Virtual Proxy Networks make up five of the top
10 highest-grossing productivity apps on Apple’s App Kate Middleton And Prince William Are
Store. Reportedly Having Twin Girls, According To
‘Life & Style’

This begs the question: Who’s really getting the last laugh?

Former Gmail marketing manager at Google, internet

entrepreneur, and VPNmentor writer Ariel Hochstadt
recently wrote an interesting blog post, pointing out the
irony that seems to be mockingly emerging amidst the net
neutrality repeal backlash.

According to Hochstadt, VPN sales have skyrocketed in

Australia, which experienced a 470 percent increase in
VPN sales. In the United States, there was a 170 percent
increase in VPN sales. Likewise, Turkey experienced a rise
of 89 percent.

“
“It appears the drive for an uncensored, untampered and neutral
internet couldn’t be stronger. The actions of Ajit, Tayyip and George
(The 3 Amigos?) made them an unlikely, but impressive sales team
for the VPN community. With VPN companies getting the last laugh,
and with more awakened internet users taking their privacy
seriously, we can pretty much say that a VPN is a thorn in the side
of this gargantuan force seeking to monopolize a free and open
internet.”

In Australia, April 13 has been dubbed the “National get a

VPN day” by various internet privacy organizations and
activists. Similarly, Ariel Hochstadt declared Ajit Pai “VPN
Industry Man of the Month.”

U.S. citizens can virtually browse a neutral internet — they

can at least avoid the “slow traffic lanes” by geo-shifting
their IP locations — just like the Turks can avoid
government censorship this way. In fact, anyone who
cares about their privacy can easily protect it with a
Virtual Proxy Network. The unintended consequences of
the FCC’s net neutrality repeal are slowly manifesting into
reality, and at a tremendous pace. For VPN providers,
business is clearly booming.

https://www.inquisitr.com/4801558/the-fccs-repeal-of-net-neutrality-is-causing-unprecedented-spikes-in-vpn-usage/ 3/5
25/02/2018 The FCC’s Repeal Of Net Neutrality Is Causing Unprecedented Spikes In VPN Usage

SHARE TWEET PIN IT

FEATURED BY CONNATIX

IN THE STYLE OF: THE

2018 SAG AWARDS
The 2018 Screen Actors Guild Awards have
all been handed out, but of course what we
really want to know is who wore what on the
red carpet! So let's have a look at some of the
fashion themes we spotted on this glamorous evening.

TRENDING NOW

Elon Musk: ’Tintin A & B Will Facebook ‘Protect’ Feature South Korean Model For Net
Attempt To Beam ‘Hello World’ For iOS Is Actually A Spyware Neutrality Could Be The
In About 22 Hours When They To Gather User Information Answer To America’s

LATEST HEADLINES
Lakers Rumors: LA James Mattis Seemed To
Should Trade Lonzo Ball Suggest Donald Trump
For Kemba Walker, Attack On Syria Not
Reports ‘LA Sports Hub’ Justified — ‘Newsweek’
February 25, 2018 Criticized For Claim
February 25, 2018

‘The Walking Dead’ ‘Shark Tank’: Flashback

Season 8: Carl Grimes To That Great Moment
Could Survive, Hints When Six Sharks Sat On
‘TWD’ Star Christian The Panel
Serratos February 25, 2018
February 25, 2018

https://www.inquisitr.com/4801558/the-fccs-repeal-of-net-neutrality-is-causing-unprecedented-spikes-in-vpn-usage/ 4/5
25/02/2018 The FCC’s Repeal Of Net Neutrality Is Causing Unprecedented Spikes In VPN Usage

Kim Kardashian Twitter: Knife Arch Trial In London

Star Updates Fans On McDonald’s Locations
Baby Chi, Announces Sees Success, Potential
‘Family Feud’ Appearance For Permanent Security
With Kanye West Measure
February 25, 2018 February 25, 2018

ENTERTAINMENT HEALTH & LIFESTYLE NEWS SPORTS BUSINESS

Entertainment Health US Politics Baseball BUZZWORTHY

Celebrities Lifestyle Animal Basketball
SCIENCE & TECH
Music Religion Odd Boxing
Movies Family Football Science
TV Geek Culture WORLD NEWS Golf Technology
Famous Relationships Food & Dining South America Hockey Automotive
Fashion Africa MMA Gadgets
Shopping Asia Auto Racing
Travel Australia Soccer
Canada Tennis
Europe
GAMING
Middle East

INFO LEGAL SUBSCRIBE FOR NEWS CONNECT

About Terms Of Service

Email Address GO
Advertising RSS Terms Of Service
Write for Inquisitr Privacy Policy
Influencers Spam Policy
Contact Copyright Policy

ALL CONTENT © 2008 - 2018 THE INQUISITR.

https://www.inquisitr.com/4801558/the-fccs-repeal-of-net-neutrality-is-causing-unprecedented-spikes-in-vpn-usage/ 5/5