The solution: bypass the restrictions from your current location. You may do this by:

• Using a hide IP tool that changes your IP address to a United States or United Kingdom IP.
• Subscribing to a VPN service that provides access to a US/UK server
• Connecting to your home computer via VPN and access the Internet as you were home. The elegant, safe, and cheap solution as you don’t have to pay anything. So let’s see how this can be done.

How to build your own VPN network

So you want to create a VPN network of your own? Well, here are a few facts and guidelines to help you out either way.

First, the basics. VPN or Virtual Private Network is a network that is constructed by using public wires to connect nodes. This type of network provides secure and remote access to another enterprise network. If you make a VPN connection of your own, this enterprise network would be yours.

The ownership of the network will be public, but since security-wise, private considerations are prioritized, this type of network provides a safe and secure connection. You will be able to access your own computer from anywhere on the internet like as if you were on your own network.

You can create your own Virtual Private Network using a number of systems and software, some of which will be discussed here. One of the most popularly used methods is via Hamachi (aka LogMeIn) setup. I will show how to set up Hamachi on your home computer and then how to access it from a remote location.

How to set up Hamachi/LogMeIn on your home computer

Here are the steps you need to perform:

1. Go to https://secure.logmein.com/US/products/free/
2. Click on Download button (Download PC version or Download Mac version)
3. Create a user account. You need to provide an email address and a password.
4. Activate your account from your email. A link is sent to you by email. Just click on it and your account is activated.
5. Log in to your account.
6. Click on Add this computer
7. Download and install LogMeIn. Click on the Install LogMeIn button.
   
8. You may get a security warning. Just click Run.
9. The process of the installation of this software started. Press Next and accept the terms. Next, choose the typical installation.
10. Choose a description for your home computer
11. In order to be able to access the computer anytime make sure the following options is checked. (It may not be shown for you!)
12. Choose the installation folder. You can keep it on C:\Program Files\LogMeIn. Click Next.
13. LogMeIn service will be then installed. You may experience some flickering and black screens. Don’t worry! It’s normal.
14. After the setup is finished, you are done!

How to access your home computer from a remote location

One the installation is done, you login back to the LogMeIn website, you will see your computer with the description.

When you need to access your home computer from a remote location you need to login to your LogMeIn account and click on Remote Control below your computer description.

You will be redirected to a page where you will be required to click ‘Install ActiveX Control…’ from the dropdown. Then click ‘Install’ when the security warning pops up.

Voila! Your new VPN is ready!

In the browser, you will be required to enter your Windows username and password (the credentials you are using to log in to your home computer).

Then, you will be able to control your home computer. In order to access restricted sites like Hulu or BBC iPlayer you just need to open a browser and get started as you were home.

What do you think about this method of accessing restricted content? Is it effective? Have you used it?

If you are a bit connected to social media (even if you don’t), I’m sure you’ve heard about Spotify – this online music streaming service that is only available for users in Finland, France, Norway, Netherlands, Spain, Sweden, United Kingdom and the US (at least by the time of this writing).

If you’re not in one of those countries, you won’t be able to listen for free to great music (they also have premium accounts, though). That’s too bad, especially when Spotify claims to have 13 million music available for listening,  and we’re not talking about indie artists, they have big guys and gals on their list if we only mention Beyoncé and Coldplay (just had a glance on their home page). Learn how to unblock Spotify.

If you are located in those countries …

So, you know that I am located in a place that is not part of those lucky countries. You are in the same situation too, I guess – otherwise, you wouldn’t be reading this article.

But anyway, I’m just thinking that if a VPN can have me pretend that I am in New Jersey, I guess there must be a way that I can tell Spotify that I’m in the US too … So let’s do it.

Unblock Spotify with my US VPN

I launched my VPN client, then I got a US IP address. Now I can create a free Spotify account. So I process, and … oops, I need to get an invitation code. While being a bit skeptical, I applied for being put on the waiting list of people who want to have an invitation to Spotify.

Looking for an invitation

I then browsed the Internet looking for some invitation code that people may have put on forums, but, as you may guess, they are all used-invite that are worthless.

Trying to be a bit smarter, I tweeted if some people would give me a #spotify (please notice the use of the hashtag), I had two unknown people who answered me that they could give me an invite. But the trouble happened when it came to sending the invite as they requested my e-mail address.

I didn’t want to give my e-mail address (well, I could have created a temporary one, but I was a bit lazy doing so), and those guys couldn’t DM me the invite, neither could I DM them as they aren’t following me on twitter – so it was a dead end (well, I could have been a bit insisting, and share a temporary address on twitter, but I didn’t want to be seen as an irresponsible twitter user who shares his e-mail address to the public).

Anyway, less than one week after I applied to the waiting list, ….surprise! I received my official Spotify invite. Great.

Unblock Spotify – Finally there …

I launched again my VPN client, got a US-based IP address, then clicked on the Spotify invite link, created my account, downloaded the Spotify client and… I could listen to the whole album of “3 doors down” that they just released a few days ago… Ain’t life VPN great? Yeah, I’ve got a Junk of the heart, and I’m happy.

Do you use it? How do you unlock Spotify? Let us know in the comments below.