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Internet Censorship and Circumvention: Psiphon

Category: Media & Internet Censorship · Last updated: July 2026

Summary

Psiphon is a free, open-source censorship circumvention tool for Android, Windows and iOS. It routes traffic through encrypted tunnels to servers outside the censored network and automatically selects the transport protocol that is most effective against blocking.[1][2] During the nationwide internet shutdown that began in January 2026, Psiphon became one of the most important remaining gateways to the open internet in Iran: according to Iran International, the network peaked at around 9.6 million daily users inside the country.[3] This article covers the background, how the tool works, how to obtain it, and its limits.

Background: internet shutdowns in Iran

Iran maintains some of the most extensive internet censorship in the world. Major platforms such as YouTube, X (Twitter), Facebook, Telegram, Instagram and WhatsApp are blocked and can only be reached through circumvention tools. During crises, the authorities have additionally resorted to large-scale shutdowns: in November 2019 during the fuel-price protests[4], in 2022 during the JINA movement (see the article JINA Movement 2022)[5], and most recently from 8 January 2026, the twelfth day of the protests that had erupted in late December 2025.[6]

The January 2026 shutdown was documented by the monitoring organisation NetBlocks as a nationwide blackout and became the longest documented national internet shutdown worldwide; even after a partial relaxation in late January 2026, severe restrictions remained in place.[6] Amnesty International noted that the shutdown severely hampers the documentation of human rights violations during the crackdown on the protests.[7]

How it works

Psiphon establishes an encrypted tunnel between the device and rotating Psiphon servers outside the censored network. The software combines several techniques (including a VPN mode and obfuscated SSH connections) and automatically switches protocols when one method is blocked.[1][2] On Android, users can choose to tunnel either the entire device traffic (VPN mode) or only the browser.[2] On Windows, Psiphon is a single signed executable that requires no installation; the file's digital signature can be verified in its properties before running it.[1]

How to obtain it

Because counterfeit or tampered copies circulate widely, Psiphon should only be obtained from trusted sources. The official and documented channels are: the official website psiphon.ca, the email autoresponder (an empty email to get@psiphon3.com returns current download links), the official app stores, and the Persian-language platform Paskoocheh run by the organisation ASL19, which distributes Psiphon via a Telegram bot among other channels.[1][2] For the Windows version, the digital signature by "Psiphon Inc." should be verified.[1]

Psiphon Conduit: sharing bandwidth

The Psiphon Conduit app allows people outside Iran to share part of their internet bandwidth as an access point for users in censored countries. Traffic exits through Psiphon servers, so neither the IP address of the user in Iran nor that of the volunteer is directly exposed to the other side. According to Iran International, Conduit counted more than five million users in Iran in late February 2026; the network's capacity grows with the number of volunteers running a Conduit station.[3]

Limits and safety notes

Psiphon is a censorship circumvention tool, not an anonymity tool. An internet service provider can detect that Psiphon is being used, even though the content of the traffic is encrypted. Anyone who needs anonymity, for example when submitting sensitive reports, should additionally use the Tor Browser; see the notes on the Testimonials page.[1] During total shutdowns in which international connectivity itself is cut, circumvention tools also work only partially or not at all.[6]

References & Sources

  1. Psiphon Inc.: Frequently Asked Questions (official FAQ; a Persian copy is held in this archive).
  2. ASL19 / Paskoocheh: Guide "Psiphon for Android" (Persian; a copy is held in this archive).
  3. Iran International: Volunteers abroad deploy tech to pierce Iran's internet iron curtain, January 2026.
  4. NetBlocks: Internet disrupted in Iran amid fuel protests in multiple cities, November 2019.
  5. OONI: Technical multi-stakeholder report on internet shutdowns: The case of Iran amid autumn 2022 protests, 2022.
  6. Al Jazeera: Iran experiencing nationwide internet blackout, monitor says, 8 January 2026 (citing NetBlocks).
  7. Amnesty International: Iran: Internet shutdown hides violations in escalating protests, January 2026.

Linked testimonials

No linked testimonials yet. Anonymous reports can be submitted via the Testimonials page.