During the ruling of the Saddam Hussein regime, the internet access in Iraq was extremely strict. It was almost as strict as that of North Korea at the moment. After the falling of the Saddam Regime and the interference of US in the governing of the country, internet access has gradually become less restricted, yet the internet infrastructure in Iraq is still under development. Until this moment everything seems fine, however the current government has shown several signs that there will still be a high rate of online censorship in Iraq even after the internet infrastructure is fully developed. In addition to that, all signs point to the government imposing a strong online surveillance system. This poses a potential inconvenience to the growing number of internet users in Iraq. For that reason it is important for both Iraq residents and anyone traveling to Iraq to acquire a reliable VPN to be able to surf the internet freely, securely and privately. Now when it comes to online freedom and online security and privacy, we need to focus on 2 main points when choosing a suitable VPN; the level of security of the VPN service (level of encryption and security protocols supported) and the network of servers operated by the VPN provider. Accordingly, and after a thorough research, we have picked out the 3 best VPNs for Iraq.
Best VPNs for Iraq
VyprVPN
Owned by the online security giant, Golden Frog, VyperVPN is considered a beast in the field of online security, privacy and freedom. It is one of the strongest and most popular VPN providers in the market. Since its launch in Switzerland, it has been taking all the necessary measures to always maintain its place among its competitors. It was not a hard choice to recommend VyprVPN as one of the most reliable VPNs for Iraq.
Level of Security
- Network is secured with a military grade 256-bit encryption
- Both advanced and unique security protocols supported (OpenVPN, L2TP/IPSec, PPTP, and its very own Chameleon)
- An additional security feature is the NAT firewall
Network of Servers
- VyprVPN owns and operates more than 700 servers in more than 70 worldwide locations, spread across 6 continents
- This network provides users with more than 200,000 shared IP’s to hide their true online identity within
Additional Features
- Unlimited bandwidth
- Unlimited server switching
- VyprDNS Zero-Knowledge servers (no logs)
- Up to 5 simultaneous connections
- 3-day free trial
ExpressVPN
ExpressVPN is based in the British Virgin Islands and started operating back in 2009. Over the years it has grown to become a leading name in the VPN industry. From its impressive features to its extremely serious security measures, ExpressVPN has definitely proved its place in several occasions and numerous challenges. It is a well trusted provider worldwide and for that reason it is a highly recommended choice for Iraq.
Level of Security
- The entire ExpressVPN network is SSL secured with a 256-bit encryption
- Multiple advanced security protocols supported (OpenVPN with TCP/UDP, L2TP/IPSec, PPTP, and SSTP)
- An additional security feature is the Network Lock kill switch
Network of Servers
- More than 1000 servers in 141 cities, spread across 94 countries around the world
- These servers provide their users with a countless number of shared IP’s
Additional Features
- Unlimited bandwidth
- Unlimited server switching
- No logs kept
- Up to 3 simultaneous connections
- 30-day money back guarantee
Waselpro VPN
WaselPro is considered the most popular VPN provider in the Middle East. Recently it has merged with the Netherlands based BVPN allowing it to take a competitive position worldwide. Ever since it started and it has been striving to provide its users with the highest form of security and online privacy. Today it has become a well trusted VPN provider among its competitors and is definitely a highly considerable choice for Iraq.
Level of Security
- The network is secured with an advanced 256-bit encryption
- Multiple advanced and unique security protocols are supported (OpenVPN, L2TP/IPSec, SSTP and BVPN’s own Smoke Tunnel)
- An additional security feature is the WiFi Hotspot protection.
Network of Servers
- Network consists of over 20 worldwide server locations
- This might seem like a small number next to its competitors, however the servers are extremely strategically placed that they perform as efficient as larger networks.
- Regular additions and upgrades are made to the network
Additional Features
- Arabic speaking customer care available 24/7 (very important advantage in the Middle East)
- Unlimited server switching
- No logs kept
- 3- day free trial and 7-day money back guarantee
Conclusion
Iraq’s internet status at the moment is at a very unstable position and we cannot know for sure to which extent the online censorship will reach, hence for residents and travellers, it is always important to acquire a suitable VPN in Iraq to be able to browse the internet freely, securely and privately. What we can be sure of is that no matter how difficult the online challenge becomes in Iraq, there will always be a suitable VPN strong enough to overcome it.
