A complete guide to understanding VPN technology and why it matters in today's internet landscape.
A Virtual Private Network (VPN) creates an encrypted tunnel between your device and a remote server. All your internet traffic passes through this tunnel, so websites see the VPN server's IP instead of yours — giving you privacy, security, and free access to global content.
ShanHai uses the AnyTLS protocol, designed to bypass deep packet inspection (DPI) used by firewalls to block VPN traffic. This makes ShanHai particularly effective in regions with strong internet censorship where traditional VPNs fail.
A proxy redirects specific application traffic; a VPN encrypts all device traffic. ShanHai acts as a system-level proxy via clients like Clash, protecting all applications simultaneously with both proxy performance and VPN-grade privacy.
Internet freedom is declining globally. Governments implement more censorship, ISPs throttle streaming, advertisers profile your habits, and public Wi-Fi remains a security threat. ShanHai solves all these at once.
In most countries, using a VPN is completely legal and widely used by businesses, remote workers, and privacy-conscious individuals. ShanHai users across dozens of countries use it for legitimate privacy and access purposes.