Recently, We have introduced TrueDome which picks a military-grade cyber defense force when it comes to user privacy and connection security.

As we continue to improve our apps, and our brand continues to grow, we’re pleased to announce that TrueVPN becomes one of the first providers in the VPN industry to upgrade the security of its infrastructure with a 100% diskless server network, covering all the 13,600+ servers and locations in all supported countries by our large network. In doing so, we’re leading the ongoing pursuit for more private and transparent practices across the field.

Today, the vast majority of top VPN providers offer strict no-logs policies. However, in pursuit of higher user privacy and security, converting all servers to RAM-only profiles has not become a common practice. Running all servers on volatile (RAM) memory means that any information that would usually be on the hard drive is wiped off automatically whenever a server is turned off.

RAM-only Servers

By design, RAM-only servers are more secure than regular VPN servers with hard-disk,

RAM-only servers are servers that use RAM modules instead of traditional hard disks (HDDs). The RAM modules store the operational data and code required for the VPN service to function.

These servers use a type of RAM which is volatile. If power is removed (by rebooting the server or turning off the server), the information stored is lost. In traditional HDDs, even if power is removed, stored data is not lost.

RAM-only servers provide a way to eliminate the retention of your data. With a reboot, there won’t be any trace of sensitive information. Also, these types of servers ensure that VPNs commit to their no-log policies regarding user activities.

Additionally, prying eyes such as hackers and other third parties won’t have unauthorized access to these servers. Even if the servers are physically seized, they won’t have any data. Concisely, RAM-only servers ensure improved privacy, security, performance and consistency.

Why are hard drive servers less secure?

The data stored on server hard drives is mostly operational and is only required to initiate a successful VPN function. Despite this, it could, theoretically, still be accessed in case the servers were seized or taken over by a malicious third party.

Along with that, hard drive servers are less secure because their private keys could potentially be stolen from the server configuration and the attacker could pretend to be a legitimate TrueVPN server simply because they would then possess these keys.

However, moving all the necessary processes to RAM means that no information can be physically taken from servers. Plus, it can be wiped easily and remotely as a part of regular security procedures.

How do RAM-only VPN Servers Work?

The servers’ boot on a read-only image containing the operating system and other required software. Since there’s no HDD, the contents of this image and other required files are loaded into the RAM modules. Essentially, every aspect of the VPN service takes place in the volatile memory (RAM).

Conclusion

TrueVPN is continuously reaching for better security practices in the industry. That is illustrated by being one of the first VPN providers to initiate an independent security audit and launching two-factor authentication on all of its applications.

Our vision is to create the best environment for our users to fully exercise their right to privacy and security. RAM-only servers help us take a substantial step towards that goal.

FAQ

During the 2022 war between Russia and Ukraine, VPNs have been in the news together a lot lately, thanks to the country’s official ban on most VPNs. Ironically, this means that you need a VPN in Russia now more than ever.

You’ll need to choose your VPN carefully, as many are blocked in Russia and others do sketchy things with your data or even use it for profiling, And if you don’t know what data-profiling is, You should read this story.

But pick the right one and you’ll be glad you did. Here are 5 reasons why.

Top 5 Reasons Why You Must Use a VPN While being in Russia

Within this story, we’re going to discuss why you should use a VPN while being in Russia or Ukraine.

We will focus on top five important factors that you should consider whenever you use the internet or choosing the right VPN service provider based on technical factors.

Internet Censorship

The Russian government maintains an internet blacklist — a list of websites that are blocked to all internet users in Russia.

At first, the list was made up of sites that contained child pornography and similar offensive content. But over time, it’s expanded to include sites that are “suspected of extremism” or that “violate the established order.”

These terms are so vague that they permit the government to block pretty much any website it desires. Blocked sites include the Internet Archive, Rutracker (a torrent site), LGBTQ sites and the video sharing site Dailymotion.

If you want to access any of these banned sites, you’ll need to use a VPN. Because it encrypts your traffic, Russia’ web filters won’t be able to stop you from viewing sites on the blacklist.

Recently, TrueVPN introduced TrueDome® which is picks a military-grade cyber defense force when it comes to user privacy.

So if you live in Russia, Make sure to enable TrueDome before connecting to a VPN.

And if you don’t know how to Enable TrueDome, Follow this guide

Bypass Communication Limits

Anyone lives in Russia knows that common internet communications are monitored by Russian government or even blocked entirely.

In Russia, encrypted messengers like Telegram and encrypted email services like ProtonMail are blocked. Additionally, accessing the professional networking site LinkedIn is prohibited.

Using a VPN lets you get around these blockades and keep communicating through your channels of choice. If you’re sending sensitive messages that you want to keep private, a VPN is a must-have.

If you use TrueVPN as your favorite VPN service provider and you just want to use a VPN to bypass VOIP blocking or social blocking, Make sure to enable SmartMask feature which allows you to connect to obfuscated servers.

Russia Engages in Heavy Internet Monitoring

The Russian government is quite open about the fact that it monitors everything on the internet through multiple means.

ISPs in Russia are required to run software that allows the government to monitor internet traffic. It uses deep packet inspection to examine metadata and gather more information on your activity.

Additionally, public WiFi operators are legally required to collect your personal information, including your passport info, before letting you use the network.

It’s next to impossible to maintain your online privacy in Russia unless you use a VPN. Despite the heavy monitoring that goes on, a VPN’s encryption will keep your data secure.

You Could Go to Jail Without a VPN

Russia’s battle against “fake news” isn’t just symbolic: it can have real effects on your life, especially if you like to get political online.

In Russia, spreading so-called “fake news” online can net you a fine of up to $75 per incident. And if you’re a legal entity, that fine goes up to $15,000.

That’s not to mention what happens if you post anything that goes against Russia or Putin. Get caught doing that and you could go to jail for 15 days — just for making a post online.

Encrypting your data with a VPN will reduce your trackability and make it safer for you to express yourself online.

Best VPN To Use In Russia

Choosing a VPN provider is not that easy, Simply you’re trusting a VPN provider over your ISP.

So, don’t be fooled into believing that all VPNs offer the same service, Figuring out what you need a VPN for and deciding what features are important to you will help you choose the best one.

The right VPN Provider must take your trust very seriously, Encrypt your data with industry standards encryption and offer a verified zero-log privacy policy.

Try TrueVPN — Fastest VPN Provider in 2022

TrueVPN is a VPN service provider that offers zero-knowledge DNS and zero-log privacy policy, and have over 13,700+ servers deployed in 90+ countries including Russia and China.

When it comes to Speed, TrueVPN slaps all VPN companies thanks to its 10-Gbps RAM-only servers which by design doesn’t collect or store user data.

Learn more about TrueVPN

Yet, TrueVPN is available for iOS, macOS and iPadOS and can be easily downloaded from Apple’s App Store.

Additionally, TrueVPN supports other platforms as well, but unlike iOS, iPadOS or macOS you have to installed it manually, If you need any help just contact Customer support and they will help you get TrueVPN on your platform easily.

TrueVPN Reviews

TrueVPN’s rating is 4.8/5.0 which is pretty high on App Store, Trust Pilot, and other service review websites, and here’s one of a lot verified positive reviews.

Conclusion

You need a VPN in Russia especially if you are a journalist or politician, Your choice of your VPN service provider should be carefully taken.

Virtual private network (VPN) blocking refers to methods that prevent the use of VPN tunnels to communicate with other people, machines, or websites. A VPN encrypts data that travels between two parties and gives users a different Internet Protocol (IP) address. This provides users with privacy and security. 

However, for reasons discussed below, governments and organizations sometimes want to prevent the use of VPNs. This leaves some users figuring out ways to unblock VPN connections so they can enjoy secure, discreet connections.

Why Do VPNs Get Blocked?

Government Censorship

Governments sometimes do not want their citizens to access certain websites, so they block these sites. With a VPN, it looks like your IP address is outside the country, making your access look legitimate. To counteract this, some governments block VPNs.

Copyright

People sometimes copy a movie and upload it to a website that allows users to download content, such as a torrent. People who download or upload the content may try to hide their identity with a VPN, so copyright holders may try to block VPNs to prevent illicit dissemination.

Streaming Location Restrictions

If you have ever been to Mexico and tried to use Netflix, you may quickly see that the movies available there are different than those you can access in the United States. For this reason, people often use VPNs to get a United States IP address. When Netflix sees a U.S. IP address, it shows the same content you would get if you were physically in the States.

School and Workplace Restrictions

Sometimes employers or school administrators do not want employees or students accessing certain sites while at work or school, so they ban the use of VPNs on the business’s or school’s network.

Types of VPN Blocking

IP Blocking

With IP blocking, a company or person will collect a list of IP addresses connected with VPN services. All of these IP addresses will then be blocked on the network.

Deep Packet Inspection (DPI)

Deep packet inspection (DPI) checks the data packets moving through the traffic going to and from a device. In this way, an organization or government may be able to figure out if you are using a VPN and stop your activity.

Port Blocking

It is possible for a firewall to block certain ports, specifically ones that VPNs use. If your data travels through one of the blocked ports, the firewall will not allow it to pass through, preventing you from communicating using your VPN.

Introducing TrueDome®

TrueDome is a cybersecurity defense system developed and built-in by-and-to TrueVPN to protect users from interceptions using Deep Packet Inspection and other cyber threads.

The internet should be open to everyone. TrueDome® is a feature that allows you to use TrueVPN in restrictive regions with no issues over a military-grade encryption.

Normally, TrueDome® mode will turn on automatically whenever needed. However, you can turn it on manually as well. For instance, If you live in a country which VPN connectivity is blocked, You can turn on TrueDome® to bypass blocking.

Learn more about TrueDome from this guide.

TrueVPN started to roll-out TrueDome to its apps starting with iOS and macOS apps.

Benefits of TrueDome®

As interceptions from Deep Packet Inspection becomes really noticeable issue to user’s rights to privacy, TrueVPN stands here to defend your rights to privacy.

TrueDome comes with lots of benefits, from bypassing VPN blocking to Protect your data from being intercepted by Deep Packet Inspection.

Normally, TrueDome will be activated automatically whenever needed. However, you can turn it on manually from TrueVPN options as well.

Do i Need TrueDome?

For some reasons, specifically for people who look for security overall, Here’s a list of what TrueDome feature can help you with.

• Protects you from Deep Packet Inspection
• Protects you from sudden VPN drops
• Can even help your connection to bypass VPN’s Firewall blocking.
• Protects your data from being leaked.

How to Turn ON TrueDome?

Now, Here’s how to safeguard your VPN by enabling TrueDome

Where to Find a VPN with TrueDome?

As mentioned, TrueDome is built by TrueVPN team and built with every single release of TrueVPN app across supported platforms.

If you don’t have TrueVPN installed on your device, You should start to protect your device now by downloading TrueVPN from AppStore.

So how TrueVPN Uses AI in Cybersecurity Research and Why?
We will talk about it in a minute, Keep reading.

Background

Cyber criminals pose a threat to all manner of organizations and businesses, and the customers and consumers who use them. Some of the numbers involved in the largest data breaches are staggering, with personal data concerning hundreds of thousands of individuals being leaked – each one potentially a new victim of fraud and other cybercrime.

Networking Security

Cyber crimes are not just limited to softwares installed on your computer or your smart-phone, Take traffic cameras in development countries as example, These cameras are powered with AI-based facial recognition software, of course the operation of these kind of systems depends on syncing data between cameras, software in the cloud, and here’s the issue.

What if these cloud infrastructures got hacked? Whoops!.
Of course, These systems are secured enough against criminals, but it’s really hard for ITs to track each packet passes through the network and of course more security means less functionality, and less security means more functionality!

Not to mention the risks of using a public WiFi network, And we already talked about The Risks of using a public WiFi network in other article

Privacy

For example, If you reading this you been tracked and you probably don’t even know it.
You probably thinking, Who cares? i’m not important. They can watch what they wants ..etc

That is what they wants you to believe. but the truth is. What if it’s for more than just ads or sales? What if there’s much larger scheme in place? That’s carefully put together to manipulate what you see, what you hear, and believe. In other words, You’re being brain watched.

Your data is being sold is not the only problem.

It’s also being sold for other reasons, worst reasons, You’re being profiled.
Wether it be political persuasion or what the men in black suits want people of your type to be looking at. But online is .. It’s Ultimate control, Rule of our society, Censorship and manipulation.

AI in Cybersecurity

Artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) are playing an increasing role in cybersecurity, with security tools analyzing data from millions of cyber incidents, and using it to identify potential threats — an employee account acting strangely by clicking on phishing links, for example, or a new variant of malware or a bad behavior on a network.

Today, TrueVPN started to use an AI based algorithm to improve network security and user’s privacy, and of course the functionality of the algorithm only works on the device.

If you haven’t heard about TrueVPN, Click to Learn more about TrueVPN

By using AI-based algorithm, we can secure our users from cyber threads, fraud, hackers and even data leaks, we will talk about how TrueVPN Uses AI in Cybersecurity Research in this article.

TrueVPN’s AI

TrueVPN AI is powered by Skytells’s DeepBrain AI as built-in feature included with every version of TrueVPN app, With TrueVPN AI your Internet traffic will be even more secure: A neural network based on the device continuously analyzes current Internet routing. Based on this our algorithm determines the most secure route through the Internet.

Benefits from TrueVPN’s built-in AI

• Chooses the VPN server closest to the destination
• Increasing TrueVPN’s Firewall protection.
• Identifying anomalies in network traffic or user behavior.
• Traffic stays in the encrypted VPN network as long as possible
• External VPN IP changes depending on the destination
• In the best case, the traffic is not exposed to the Internet at all
• The number of attack points is greatly reduced
• Tracking users is more difficult
• Mitigating the cybersecurity skills gap
• Detecting online and other fraud
• Dynamic: The algorithm learns and reacts if routing changes

Your data is sent encrypted from one VPN server to the next. That means that the traffic outside the strongly encrypted VPN network is minimized. Additionally, since routing on the Internet is dynamic and changes regularly, TrueVPN AI automatically analyzes the current routing and determines the shortest route to the target server. Because of this, it is also not easily possible to predict which routes your traffic is using.

Download TrueVPN

TrueVPN App is available for the following platforms

• Mac OS X
• iPhone
• iPad
• iPod Touch

Conclusion

AI is very useful in cybersecurity, If you looking for a VPN with high-end encryption and premium features, TrueVPN is your best choice, You must use a VPN to protect your online activity, A VPN is a big must these days specially for people who uses public WiFi networks.

FAQ

The government will totally control the people’s behavior over the internet by using the technology that won’t allow them to exercise their online privacy rights or personal freedom on the internet. One of the methods used by the restrictive government to block your online traffic is by using a system called DPI or Deep Packet Inspection.

What the DPI system is doing is that it will analyze the internet traffic that is coming through your ISP. It will identify your traffic type and either allow the traffic to reach the internet or block it. If you are using the regular ISP traffic, the system will allow you to access the internet, while if you are using the VPN traffic, the system can recognize it and block your connection from reaching the internet. This is an advanced traffic monitoring system installed by the restrictive government to prevent people from using private connections and force them to follow the government’s internet regulations.

Background

As TrueVPN focuses on security and privacy, It’s clear that DPI is a huge issue!
When talking about privacy and security, We must consider that DPI that performed by some countries for VPN blocking or any other political reason comes against user’s privacy.

Why we consider it as a huge privacy issue?
Alright, to answer that, we need to understand how Deep Packet Inspection works.

Well, Deep packet inspection evaluates the data part and the header of a packet that is transmitted through an inspection point, weeding out any non-compliance to protocol, spam, viruses, intrusions, and any other defined criteria to block the packet from passing through the inspection point.

Deep packet inspection can examine the content of messages and identify the specific application or service it comes from. In addition, filters can be programmed to look for and reroute network traffic from a specific Internet Protocol (IP) address range or a certain online service like Facebook.

So by looking to the image above, We can see that DPI acts like MITM Attacks, So the encrypted user’s traffic has to be decrypted to read its data then re-encrypt it again and re-send the encrypted data to the CA. So we MUST consider that this is a huge issue of user’s privacy.

HOW TRUEVPN SOLVED THE ISSUE?

Ok, At TrueVPN we believe deeply in security and user privacy, Every user has rights to privacy, because we believe that privacy is a human right and it should be respected.

All human beings have three lives: public, private, and secret.

Gabriel García Márquez

For a long while, TrueVPN was trying to solve this issue and bypassing DPI without redirecting user’s traffic or missing with CA. If you do not know what is that means, So you must have a little knowledge of Networking.

TRUEVPN RESEARCH

Based on our Research, We’ve developed an AI tool to analyze the ISP’s connection policies before establishing the connection, by performing that, we can check if the ISP blocks the used VPN protocol by the user or recently performed Deep Packet Inspection or Bandwidth Throttling based on analytics data. This tool is powered by Skytells’s latest AI, and its powerful enough to analyze these policies.

Of course these tools are deployed on TrueVPN’s iOS App for version 2.5 and later.

HOW IT WORKS?

When you Enable Policy Checks on TrueVPN, The app will perform some checks before establishing the VPN connection, And try to solve any detected issues regarding the ISP or the living country if possible.

Lets give it an example, Imagine of a user named Doe, lives in country X, while country X is performing a Deep Packet Inspection targeting VPN providers to crack em down, So, When the users opens the VPN app and taps connect, Here’s what’s going to happen in the background

1. User Taps or Clicks (Connect to a VPN)
2. The VPN app will choose the VPN protocol if it not set by user.
3. The App chooses iKEv2 or IPSec
4. The app begins to connect using IKEv2 or IPSec
5. The App receives connection timeout message

And here’s why, When the App tries to choose the protocol on the 2nd step, it doesn’t check if the protocol has an issue regarding VPN Blocking in the current location or not, so it may ends up with connection timeout if it fails to connect.

But, by using an analytics tools based on research such as Policy Checks Mechanisms TrueVPN will perform the following steps regarding the connection.

1. User Taps or Clicks on (Connect to a VPN)
2. TrueVPN performs some checks on user’s connection
3. If there’s an issue regarding the connection (See Image), The app tries to solve it first.
4. After solving the issue, The app will choose an obfuscated protocol
5. The app begins to connect using obfuscated protocol powered with proxy tunnel
6. The App receives success response from server.

So by performing that, TrueVPN will only use a custom obfuscated protocols when needed, and these protocols are empowered by proxy tunnel to prevent DPI detection, And finally the app can bypass the VPN Blocking.

POLICY CHECKS FAQs

Here are some answers related to this feature.

Is Policy Checks Feature Free?
Yes, This feature is free.

Should in use TrueVPN with Policy Checks?
If you’re living in a country cracks down VPN connectivity or recently performed DPI, You must enable this feature.

Will This Decrease or Increase Connection Speed?
Of course no, This feature are just a mechanisms, designed to perform some analytics on ISP and connection before you connect to a VPN.

Conclusion

If you live in one of the countries who have issues with VPN Providers and tries to crack them down by blocking VPN protocols or performing DPI, Then TrueVPN is your best choice, because the app can bypass that easily.

We’ve previously talked about Deep Packet Inspection including it’s usage, Today we’re going to talk about VPN blocking.

VPN BLOCKING

VPN blocking is a technique used to block the encrypted protocol tunneling communications methods used by virtual private network (VPN) systems. Often used by large organizations such as national governments or corporations, it can act as a tool for computer security or Internet censorship by preventing the use of VPNs to bypass network firewall systems.

Blocking VPN access can be done a few different ways. Ports that are used by common VPN tunneling protocols, such as PPTP or L2TP, to establish their connections and transfer data can be closed by system administrators to prevent their use on certain networks. Similarly, a website can prohibit access to its content by blocking access from IP addresses that are known to belong to VPN providers. Some governments have been known to block all access to overseas IP addresses, since VPN use can involve connecting to remote hosts that do not operate under that government’s jurisdiction.

HOW VPNs ARE BLOCKED?

Firewalls use advanced software to perform Deep Packet Inspection (DPI) which can analyze the type and destination of every data packet traversing the network.

DPI is what allows your ISP to tell the difference between youtube, web browser, VPN, skype or any of 1000+ other types of traffic. DPI is how a network can throttle, restrict, or even block certain types of traffic.

But here’s the key: If you can disguise your VPN traffic as regular web browser traffic, you can make it impossible for a network to block your VPN unless they’re willing to block all https browser traffic. Not likely.

COUNTRIES BLOCKED USAGE OF VPNs

As organizations have ramped up efforts to block VPN access which bypasses their firewalls, VPN providers have responded by utilizing more sophisticated techniques to make their connections less conspicuous. For instance, as the Chinese government began using deep packet inspection to identify VPN protocols, Golden Frog began scrambling OpenVPN packet metadata for its popular VyprVPN service in an attempt to avoid detection.

1. China

Chinese internet users started reporting unstable connections in May 2011 while using VPNs to connect to overseas websites and services such as the Apple App Store. 
Universities and businesses began issuing notices to stop using tools to circumvent the firewall.

In late 2012, companies providing VPN services claimed the Great Firewall of China became able to “learn, discover and block” the encrypted communications methods used by a number of different VPN systems. In 2017, telecommunications carriers in China were instructed by the government to block individuals’ use of VPNs by February 2018.

2. Iran

The government of Iran began blocking access to non-government sanctioned VPNs in March 2013, a few months prior to the 2013 elections, to “prosecute users who are violating state laws” and “take offenders to national courts under supervision of judiciary service”. Use of VPNs approved by the government reportedly led to surveillance and inspection of private data.

3. Russia

In July 2017, the State Duma passed a bill requiring the Internet providers to block websites that offer VPNs, in order to prevent the spreading of “extremist materials” on the Internet. It’s unclear exactly how Russia plans to implement their new regulation; though it seems like both the Federal Security Service (FSB) and ISPs will be tasked with identifying and cracking down on VPNs.
Russian internet users have also reported a block on the ExpressVPN VPN service. In November, 2017 BBC made it clear that Russia has not banned VPN usage entirely. VPN usage is only banned when attempting to access sites already blocked by Roskomnadzor or Russia’s governing body for telecommunications and mass media communications, Using a VPN for business or personal reasons to access legal sites in Russia is permitted.

4. Syria

The government of Syria activated deep packet inspection after the uprising in 2011 in order to block VPN connections. The censorship targeted different VPN protocols like OpenVPN, L2TP and PPTP.

BYPASS VPN BLOCKING

VPN providers are aware that some ISPs/networks are blocking VPN traffic. That’s why they invented ‘Stealth’ VPN technology.

A stealth VPN can disguise/scramble your VPN traffic so it’s either not identifiable as VPN traffic, or even better — disguised as regular TLS encrypted web traffic.

Here are the two tried and true techniques to unblock your VPN service on almost any network:

#1 – Run OpenVPN on port 443

Port 443 is the port commonly used by SSL/TLS encrypted web traffic. This is a standard internet encryption protocol that you use every time you access a website with sensitive account data, like your bank, credit card, or tax account.

Since OpenVPN already uses the SSL encryption library, simply by switching the port # to 443, it will easily slip through all but the most rigorous DPI firewalls.

How to use port 443

Most high-quality, paid VPN services will allow you to switch the port # (or have dedicated server locations that access port 443). If you need help setting it up, just contact tech support for you VPN provider.

#2 – StealthVPN / Obfuscation

Even if you use port 443, most VPN protocols still have a data packet ‘header’ which is like a fingerprint that can potentially allow a firewall to recognize traffic as VPN traffic.

By using a VPN service that has Obuscation or ‘Stealth’ technology, your VPN connection can rewrite or obscure the packet headers (smudge the fingerprint) so it’s unrecognizable.

VPN with stealth/obfuscation technology:

• TrueVPN (Score: 4.9 out of 5)

#3 – Use WireGuard Protocol

Use a VPN that supports WireGuard protocol, such as TrueVPN

WireGuard is a security-focused virtual private network (VPN) known for its simplicity and ease of use. It uses proven cryptography protocols and algorithms to protect data. Originally developed for the Linux kernel, it is now deployable on Windows, macOS, BSD, iOS and Android.
Why to use WireGuard? We’ve talked about why you should use it in this article.

Summary

We’ve learned 3 different ways to unblock your VPN on any network, and get through any firewall.

The easiest solution is often the best, and you’ll find 90%+ success by using either OpenVPN on port 443, or a VPN with built-in obfuscation technology.

And if after exhausting all options you still find yourself blocked, then go with obfsproxy and Tor as the ultimate unblocker.

Deep packet inspection is also used to decide if a particular packet is redirected to another destination. In short, deep packet inspection is able to locate, detect, categorize, block, or reroute packets that have specific code or data payloads that are not detected, located, categorized, blocked, or redirected by conventional packet filtering. Unlike plain packet filtering, deep packet inspection goes beyond examining packet headers.

HOW DEEP PACKET INSPECTION WORKS?

Deep packet inspection is a form of packet filtering usually carried out as a function of your firewall. It is applied at the Open Systems Interconnection’s application layer.

Deep packet inspection evaluates the contents of a packet that is going through a checkpoint. Using rules that are assigned by you, your Internet service provider, or the network or systems administrator, deep packet inspection determines what to do with these packets in real time.

Deep packet inspection is able to check the contents of these packets and then figure out where it came from, such as the service or application that sent it. In addition, it can work with filters in order to find and redirect network traffic from an online service, such as Twitter or Facebook, or from a particular IP address.

DPI VS. CONVENTIONAL PACKET FILTERING

Conventional packet filtering only reads the header information of each packet. This was a basic approach that was less sophisticated than the modern approach to packet filtering largely due to the technology limitations at the time. Firewalls had very little processing power, and it was not enough to handle large volumes of packets. In other words, conventional packet filtering was similar to reading the title of a book, without awareness or evaluation of the content inside the cover.

With the advent of new technologies, deep packet inspection became feasible. As it became more thorough and complete, it became more comparable to picking up a book, cracking it open, and reading it from cover to cover.

USE CASES FOR DPI

There are several uses for deep packet inspection. It can act as both an intrusion detection system or a combination of intrusion prevention and intrusion detection. It can identify specific attacks that your firewall, intrusion prevention, and intrusion detection systems cannot adequately detect.

If your organization has users who are using their laptops for work, then deep packet inspection is vital in preventing worms, spyware, and viruses from getting into your corporate network. Furthermore, using deep packet inspection is based on rules and policies defined by you, allowing your network to detect if there are prohibited uses of approved applications.

Deep packet inspection is also used by network managers to help ease the flow of network traffic. For instance, if you have a high priority message, you can use deep packet inspection to enable high-priority information to pass through immediately, ahead of other lower priority messages. You can also prioritize packets that are mission-critical, ahead of ordinary browsing packets. If you have problems with peer-to-peer downloads, you can use deep packet inspection to throttle or slow down the rate of data transfer. DPI can also be used to enhance the capabilities of ISPs to prevent the exploitation of IoT devices in DDOS attacks by blocking malicious requests from devices.

Mobile service operators and other similar service providers also use deep packet inspection to tailor-fit their offerings to individual subscribers allowing them to differentiate data usage as “all you can eat,” wall garden, or value added. Record labels and other copyright holders can also request ISPs to block their content from being downloaded illegally – a process achieved through deep packet inspection.

Other times, deep packet inspection is used to serve targeted advertising to users, lawful interception, and policy enforcement. Deep packet inspection can also prevent some types of buffer overflow attacks. 

Lastly, deep packet inspection can help you prevent anybody from leaking information, such as when e-mailing a confidential file. Instead of being able to successfully send out a file, the user will instead receive information on how to get the necessary permission and clearance to send it.

As with other technologies, deep packet inspection can also be used for less than admirable purposes, such as eavesdropping and censorship. In fact, the Chinese government has been known to use deep packet inspection to monitor the country’s network traffic and censor some content and sites that are harmful to their interests. This is how China has been able to block out pornography, religious information, materials concerning political dissent, and even popular websites such as Wikipedia, Google, and Facebook.

While DPI has many potential use cases, it can easily detect the recipient or sender of the content that it monitors, so there are some concerns around privacy. This is primarily a concern when DPI is used in the context of marketing and advertising, through monitoring the behavior of users and selling browsing and other data to marketing or advertising companies.

DEEP PACKET INSPECTION TECHNIQUES

Two primary types of products utilize deep packet inspection: firewalls that have implemented features of IDS, such as content inspection, and IDS systems that aim to protect the network rather than focus only on detecting attacks. Some of the main techniques used for deep packet inspection include:

● Pattern or signature matching – One approach to using firewalls that have adopted IDS features, pattern or signature matching, analyzes each packet against a database of known network attacks. The downside to this approach is that it’s effective only for known attacks, and not for attacks that have yet to be discovered.
● Protocol anomaly – Another approach to using firewalls with IDS features, protocol anomaly uses a “default deny” approach, which is a key security principle. Using this technique, protocol definitions are used to determine which content should be allowed. This differs from the approach of simply allowing all content that doesn’t match the signatures database, as occurs in the case of pattern or signature matching. The primary benefit of protocol anomaly is that it offers protection against unknown attacks.
● IPS solutions – Some IPS solutions implement DPI technologies. These solutions have similar functionality to in-line IDS, although they have the ability to block detected attacks in real-time. One of the biggest challenges in using this technique is the risk of false positives, which can be mitigated to some extent through the creation of conservative policies.

Some limitations exist with these and other DPI techniques, although vendors offer solutions aiming to eliminate the practical and architectural challenges through various means. Additionally, DPI solutions are now offering a range of other complimentary technologies such as VPNs, malware analysis, anti-spam filtering, URL filtering, and other technologies, providing more comprehensive network protection.

CHALLENGES OF DPI

No technology is perfect, and deep packet inspection is no exception. It has three distinct weaknesses:

1. Deep packet inspection is very effective in preventing attacks such as denial of service attacks, buffer overflow attacks, and even some forms of malware. But it can also be used to create similar attacks. 

2. Deep packet inspection can make your current firewall and other security software you use more complicated and harder to manage. You need to be sure that you constantly update and revise deep packet inspection policies to ensure continued effectiveness.

3. Deep packet inspection can slow down your network by dedicating resources for your firewall to be able to handle the processing load.

Aside from privacy concerns and the inherent limitations of deep packet inspection, some concerns have arisen due to the use of HTTPS certificates and even VPNs with privacy tunneling. Some firewalls are now offering HTTPS inspections, which would decrypt the HTTPS-protected traffic and determine whether the content is permitted to pass through. However, deep packet inspection continues to be a valuable practice for purposes ranging from performance management to network analytics, forensics, and enterprise security.

GOVERNMENTAL USE OF DPI

In addition to using DPI for the security of their own networks, governments in North America, Europe, and Asia use DPI for various purposes such as surveillance and censorship.
Many of these programs are classified.

United States

FCC adopts Internet CALEA requirements: The FCC, pursuant to its mandate from the U.S. Congress, and in line with the policies of most countries worldwide, has required that all telecommunication providers, including Internet services, be capable of supporting the execution of a court order to provide real-time communication forensics of specified users. In 2006, the FCC adopted new Title 47, Subpart Z, rules requiring Internet Access Providers to meet these requirements. DPI was one of the platforms essential to meeting this requirement and has been deployed for this purpose throughout the U.S.

China

The Chinese government uses Deep Packet Inspection to monitor and censor network traffic and content that it claims is harmful to Chinese citizens or state interests. This material includes pornography, information on religion, and political dissent. 
Chinese network ISPs use DPI to see if there is any sensitive keyword going through their network. If so, the connection will be cut. People within China often find themselves blocked while accessing Web sites containing content related to Taiwanese and Tibetan independence, Falun Gong, the Dalai Lama, the Tiananmen Square protests and massacre of 1989, political parties that oppose that of the ruling Communist party, or a variety of anti-Communist movements  as those materials were signed as DPI sensitive keywords already. China previously blocked all VoIP traffic in and out of their country but many available VOIP applications now function in China. Voice traffic in Skype is unaffected, although text messages are subject to filtering, and messages containing sensitive material, such as curse-words, are simply not delivered, with no notification provided to either participant in the conversation. China also blocks visual media sites such as YouTube.com and various photography and blogging sites.

Iran

The Iranian government purchased a system, reportedly for deep packet inspection, in 2008 from Nokia Siemens Networks (NSN) (a joint venture Siemens AG, the German conglomerate, and Nokia Corp., the Finnish cell telephone company), now NSN is Nokia Solutions and Networks, according to a report in the Wall Street Journal in June, 2009, quoting NSN spokesperson Ben Roome. According to unnamed experts cited in the article, the system enables authorities to not only block communication but to monitor it to gather information about individuals, as well as alter it for disinformation purposes.

Russian Federation

DPI is not yet mandated in Russia. Federal Law №139 enforces blocking websites on the Russian Internet blacklist using IP filtering, but does not force ISPs into analyzing the data part of packets. Yet some ISPs still use different DPI solutions to implement blacklisting. For 2019, the governmental agency Roskomnadzor is planning a nationwide rollout of DPI after a pilot project in one of the country’s regions, at an estimated cost of 20 billion roubles (US$300M).

Singapore

The city state reportedly employs deep packet inspection of Internet traffic.

Syria

The state reportedly employs deep packet inspection of Internet traffic, to analyze and block unallowed transit.

Malaysia

The incumbent Malaysian Government, headed by Barisan Nasional, was said to be using DPI against a political opponent during the run-up to the 13th general elections held on 5 May 2013.

The purpose of DPI, in this instance, was to block and/or hinder access to selected websites, e.g. Facebook accounts, blogs and news portals.

Egypt

Since 2015, Egypt reportedly started to join the list which was constantly being denied by the Egyptian National Telecom Regulatory Authority (NTRA) officials. However, it came to news when the country decided to block the encrypted messaging app Signal as announced by the application’s developer.

In April 2017, all VOIP applications including FaceTime, Facebook Messenger, Viber, Whatsapp calls and Skype have been all blocked in the country.