The greater the demand, the higher the chance that someone will scam and cheat you." How Russia’s gray market for specialists helping bypass blocks works

"The greater the demand, the higher the chance that someone will scam and cheat you." How Russia’s gray market for specialists helping bypass blocks works Against the backdrop of sweeping internet restrictions in Russia, a gray market for goods and services that help bypass bans has emerged. Verstka analyzed dozens of listings on Russian marketplaces offering access to blocked resources. As a rule, the price is up to 5,000 rubles, though some help for free out of principle.

To get through moderation, these handymen often use vague wording in their listings:

“sеtting up sеcurе internet accеss,” “bypassing slowdowns,” “quality internet for all devices,” “computer assistance.”

But even such listings can also be blocked. Some listings deliberately emphasize that this is NOT a VPN:

“Help with connecting only to permitted resources (YouTube, for example), without extremism. Not a VPN and not VPN advertising.”

Some offer dubious schemes: for example, for 500 rubles they will install an unknown app for stable Telegram operation, and its name will be revealed only after payment. Scammers may either “take the money and give nothing,” or provide a solution that “will work for one or two days and then stop working.”

Read on Verstka’s website about who is helping Russians fight internet censorship, why they do it, and what limitations these handymen face (with VPN):

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Verstka

Agents of the Free Internet: who helps Russians bypass Roskomnadzor’s blocks

Dozens of marketplace listings may be hiding fraudulent schemes