How to Prepare for a Possible Internet Outage or Interruptions

Install a VPN

The first thing to do is to install a VPN on all the devices you use: smartphone, tablet, PC or laptop. There are many free services that provide a secure encrypted connection to the Web. For instance, Windscribe.

We talked about many of these VPN tools in a separate article. Some of them offer favorable connection conditions per device, but if your work is highly dependent from the Web, you should think about buying paid plans and subscriptions for a stable connection on several gadgets.

Use block bypass services

In addition to a VPN, it is worth installing tools to bypass blocking based on

proxy servers - they will help restore access to closed sites while maintaining privacy.

One of these tools is Lantern. It automatically detects the blocked resource you are visiting and opens it through its own servers or access points of other users.

The second useful service is Censor Tracker from Roskomsvoboda. It not only allows you to bypass blocking, but also reports if the visited site is included in the register of prohibited resources in Russia.

The third instrument is Psiphon. It uses a combination of secure communication technologies and obfuscation, that is, masking and obfuscating your traces on the Web.

Install a reliable messenger

If there is at least some kind of Internet, certain instant messengers can be selectively blocked, which will become a problem for communication with relatives and colleagues. To bypass the ban on access to the Network through Telegram, our old article.

IN signal you can also use a proxy server to make the traffic opaque. For this, a simple instruction on the website of the service itself.

For iOS there is a free secure messenger ChatSecure, which implements strong OTR encryption over XMPP, commonly recommended for eavesdropping protection.

For Android there is Briar, which does not rely on a central server in the cloud, but synchronizes all messages directly between users' devices. In the presence of the Internet, it works through the Tor network, maintaining the anonymity of users.

In the complete absence of the Internet, instant messengers that can work via Bluetooth or Wi-Fi points can help out. These tools include the previously mentioned Briar, as well as fireside messenger, also only available for Android.

Both mobile platforms have Bridgefy, which works via Bluetooth with a range of about 100 meters from the user. This is the last resort option.

Don't forget to tell relatives, friends and colleagues which messenger they need to set up for emergency communication with you.

Download Anonymous Tor Browser

Tor Browser, based on a system of proxy servers, provides an anonymous exchange of information when all data is repeatedly encrypted and then sent through several network nodes. It also guarantees protection against traffic analysis mechanisms.

In Russia, even the Tor browser site is now blocked, but download program on a PC can be through VPN. After installation you will need get bridges and lead them through the browser settings in the Tor section.

Use a lightweight search engine

In case of interruptions with the Internet or a drop in the speed of access to the Network, it is worth looking for information with the easiest possible search engine. It's even better if it's anonymous, which it is. DuckDuckGo Lite. Its blank page is only 5 KB, so it will run as fast as possible.

Install offline maps

Without a web connection, navigation can become a real problem if you haven't downloaded the maps to your smartphone first.

In Google Maps, you can do this by clicking on your profile and going to the Offline Maps menu item. Next, you can select the zone that you want to save for offline access.

In "Yandex. Maps" you also need to click the profile icon and select "Download maps". Through the search by name, find the desired region and activate the download.

Services can become a convenient alternative Maps.me, OsmAnd And Organic Maps. All of them have convenient mobile apps and detailed maps that were created with an emphasis on offline.

Get your data off the web

If you are afraid that due to a complete shutdown of the Internet you may lose important personal data, it is better to download everything you need right now.

Users of Google services who want to upload all files from the "Disk", letters from the mail and, for example, photos, can use the official tool called "Google Archiver». There it is enough to select the data and the method of obtaining them.

iPhone and iPad owners can too request copies of all data associated with their Apple ID account. To copy information from a cloud service to a computer, there is a special instruction on the company's website.

Yandex users can also receive an archive of personal information by requesting it through page personal data.

Similarly, you can download the message history and other information in instant messengers and social networks:

• in Telegram via PC client: “Settings” → “Advanced settings” → “Export data from Telegram”;
• in WhatsApp on a smartphone: "Settings" → "Request account information" → "Download report" after receiving (more);
• on Facebook: in the settings, open the item "Your information on Facebook" → "Download information";
• on Instagram, this is done through a special page service (choose HTML format);
• in VKontakte, click on the "Request archive" button on this page;
• on Twitter: go to "Settings and privacy" → "Your account" → "Download archive of your data".

In addition, you can completely delete all information about yourself from the Internet, if this is an urgent need.