'Iranians want to reconnect with the outside world' — Proton VPN sees 6,000% signup increase as Iran's internet is partially restored | Tech Radar

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'Iranians want to reconnect with the outside world' — Proton VPN sees 6,000% signup increase as Iran's internet is partially restored

Iranian internet users have rushed to secure tools following a three-month blackout

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Proton VPN signups surged 6,000% as Iran partly restores the internet

Spike mirrors historic surges during past internet shutdowns

Iranians turn to trusted circumvention tools whenever access is restricted

Proton VPN has recorded a 6,000% increase in signups from Iran following the partial restoration of internet access after a three-month nationwide blackout.

The surge comes as Iran began lifting the near-total internet shutdown that had been in effect since January 2026 amid widespread protests and ensuing military conflict with the US and Israel.

As Iran's government allowed limited access to the internet starting on Tuesday, users flocked to the best VPN services to establish secure connections and bypass remaining filters.

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This latest spike is the most recent in a long line of surges Proton VPN has witnessed in the wake of censorship and political unrest in Iran.

The data, available via the Proton VPN Observatory, reveals a consistent pattern: whenever access is restricted, the demand for secure circumvention tools like Proton VPN explodes.

Internet users in Iran seize window of opportunity

While the internet in Iran remains limited, the volume of new signups indicates citizens' desire to bypass resisting censorship and access independent news sites and secure communication channels.

The transition from a “whitelist” system — where only pre-approved sites were accessible to some privileged few — to a partially restored network has created a window of opportunity for Iran’s internet users who are taking the chance to regain online access before restrictions potentially tighten again.

"This +6000%, and growing, spike shows how desperately Iranians want to reconnect with the outside world, access independent information, and communicate freely," said David Peterson, General Manager of Proton VPN, in a statement at Tech Radar.

Peterson also ensures that Proton will "continue expanding capacity and standing with the Iranian people in their fight for true digital freedom."

This is not the first time Proton VPN has seen extraordinary demand from Iran. The country has a long history of internet shutdowns and heavy censorship during periods of unrest. In each instance, Proton VPN has become a critical lifeline for Iranians seeking access to global news and secure communications.

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Following the outbreak of nationwide protests in October 2022, Iranian authorities imposed severe internet restrictions and blocked most social media platforms, which also resulted in a +6,000% increase in signups. More recently, in June 2025, a +5,500% increase was recorded when connectivity was partially restored after a near-total blackout imposed just eight days prior.

The volatility of Iran’s internet access was highlighted earlier this year as a January 7 +1,000% signup surge was recorded amid anti-government protests. This was followed by a staggering +400,000% spike on January 21 during a brief, chaotic window of restored access.

The current 6,000% surge suggests that despite the trauma of the recent three-month blackout, the appetite for an open internet remains undiminished.

Users consistently gravitate to Proton VPN as it offers one of the best free VPN apps on the market, alongside a strong reputation for privacy and its advanced obfuscation technologies. Features like Stealth mode and Tor over VPN are specifically designed to bypass deep packet inspection and strict firewalls, allowing users to hide their traffic from censors.

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Mark is a Tech Security Writer for Tech Radar and has been published on Comparitech and IGN. He graduated with a degree in English and Journalism from the University of Lincoln and spent several years teaching English as a foreign language in Spain. The Facebook-Cambridge Analytica data scandal sparked Mark’s interest in online privacy, leading him to write hundreds of articles on VPNs, antivirus software, password managers, and other cybersecurity topics. He recently completed the Google Cybersecurity Certificate, and when he's not studying for the Comp TIA Security+ exam, Mark can be found agonizing over his fantasy football team selections, watching the Detroit Lions, and battling bugs and bots in Helldivers 2.

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