Anti-filtering software in Iran

Shahhrzadnews: Internet users in Iran have to install anti-filtering software on their computers if they want to access scientific material, biographies or social networks. This invariably slows down connections, making it virtually impossible for users who still use dial-up systems to go online while using the software.

Most of the available software is written using open-source technology, making it easy for anyone with technological know-how to create and distribute it themselves. This is to some extent unsafe for the user, details of whose activities will be stored on the logging system, possibly to be accessed at a later date.

The two main anti-filtering programs are Freegate and VPN.

Freegate: This low-volume software is free, and can quite easily be downloaded from another system. It is not entirely safe however, and users are constantly warned that they should monitor their own personal data and identity details. That said, no-one who has installed it has ever reported any abuse. Freegate comes in various forms, and will usually be emailed by Iranian television stations to anyone who wants it.

VPN: These accounts are not free, costing on average 1.4% of an Iranian’s salary. Those who buy for longer periods get a discount. The price also varies according to the number of users sharing the software. Many internet users – who believe Iranian intelligence-gathering organisations are constantly monitoring their activities – regard VPN as being much safer than Freegate.

Despite the low price of anti-filtering software, the large number of customers they attract mean they are still a lucrative business in Iran. Many websites’ prime activity is selling them, and they benefit further by selling the email addresses of customers to promotional and advertising campaigns.