      SmartStreaming is a unique Smart DNS More info
      VPN versus Smart DNS comparison More info
      Our ProxyPAC solution now supports Netflix More info

VPN versus Smart DNS

A comparison of features

VPN

The only parameter that characterizes a VPN is it's ip.
If the ip is "good enough" it can unblock the channel.

VPN's only handle packets - they know nothing about ports, domains, protocols etc.

To watch a channel from another country you have to change VPN settings.

VPN's encrypt all traffic and the encryption overhead reduces the bandwidth with around 15% which means that you get a lower quality stream.

50% of the streams are not geoprotected but the VPN will still encrypt and transfer the stream. In these cases the VPN might do a lot of harm. Without VPN the channel will use it's CDN to deliver the stream resulting in a super high quality stream but with VPN the result might be a low quality stream.

VPN's tell you that they have lots of servers in each country. They lie - they have very few servers, but they make it look like they have a lot of servers. Typically they split one server into 16 servers, so when you think that you have 48 servers to choose from you are actually trying the same 3 servers again and again.

VPN's are sitting ducks. When channels, which they do regularly, decide to go "killing unblockers" it's a few minutes work and the VPN is blocked. They simply signup with the VPN and register which ip's they are given - that's it.

VPN's have spent millions of $ brainwashing users into believing that being on the Internet without a VPN is totally irresponsible.

What can a VPN really protect you against?

A VPN does not protect you from being infected by a virus from an evil website.

Very creatively the VPN's have invented the concept 'DNS-leakage' - it's a complete hoax. The definition is simply "If you don't send your DNS requests to a VPN then you are subject to DNS-leakage".

The truth is exactly the opposite. If you send your DNS requests to a VPN they will sell the info but if you just send the DNS requests to your ISP you will be perfectly safe.Read more

Smart DNS

Smart DNS does not introduce an encryption overhead. Therefore it performs better than VPN.

Streams that aren't geoprotected will get delivered direct by the channels CDN - resulting in excellent quality.

Domains that aren't geoprotected will get delivered directly by the channels CDN - pages will load faster.

With SmartStreaming all switching from country to country is automatic.

When a Smart DNS wants to unblock a channel it can choose between all servers in the country thereby creating an customized solution for the individual channel.

Smart DNS'es can hide the servers they use for unblocking.

When channels try to block Smart DNS'es they are in for a challenge. They signup, but that doesn't help them - they cannot see the servers that are being used for unblocking.

Instead the channels are forced to go back and look in their own logfiles, generated by millions of users, to see if they can track us down.

The keyword about Smart DNS is flexibility. Smart DNS'es can make a lot of tricks - VPN's can do no tricks.

Smart DNS'es can modify protocols, ports, ips, routes and make sure that the streams are delivered optimally - and at the same time Smart DNS can hide, making it very difficult for the channels to block them.

The channels are targeting Smart DNS'es - they introduce new geoprotection domains and make all kinds of protocol tricks to momentarily disrupt the service. (VPN's only know packets - so VPN's are not vulnerable to these tricks)