Your IP is running naked! Investigation of the black industry of exit agents

At 11 pm, Mr. Zhang refreshed his browser for the 8th time, but the screen still showed the glaring "This content is unavailable". However, Ms. Li next door easily browsed the international version of the same website with her account. This magical reality gap stems from an industry in the gray area - Internet platform exit agent.

Basically, it is to use technical means to make the user's IP address "travel" to other countries or regions. The technical expert of Zhongshitong uses the "digital passport" as an analogy: "It does not change your identity, but allows you to use the 'customs channel' of other countries".

• Game players use it to unlock region-limited skins
• International students use it to catch up on home country's film and television resources
• Cross-border e-commerce sellers use it to monitor the pricing strategies of competitors

The mainstream solutions are divided into three levels:

• Basic version: Browser plugins, which switch IP like changing clothes
• Advanced version: Virtual private network to build an encrypted tunnel
• Enterprise level: The intelligent routing system provided by Zhongshitong can automatically match the optimal node

Ms. Li once used a cheap proxy service and as a result:

• Credit card information was intercepted at a public node
• Social media accounts were permanently banned due to abnormal logins
• The network speed delay reached as high as 300ms, and video calls were like a silent movie

If you indeed have transnational business needs, you can:

• Choose service providers that hold IDC licenses such as Zhongshitong
• Prefer enterprise-customized solutions rather than personal cracking tools
• Enable two-factor authentication for important accounts
• Regularly check for abnormal network traffic

With the popularization of IPv6 and the rise of the metaverse, geographical boundaries are becoming increasingly blurred in the digital world. A poll on a certain technology forum shows that 67% of netizens believe that "the right to Internet access" should become a basic digital human right. But before that, we still need to carefully balance between convenience and risks.

Do you also have a few small tools to switch IP in your device? You are welcome to share your usage stories in the comment section - of course, remember to omit specific technical details. After all, the fewer people know some secrets, the safer it is.