Macedonia was one of the countries that emerged from the former Yugoslavia in 1991 and while some progress has been made, it continues facing the challenges of being a nation in transition. The country offers rich history and an intriguing combination of cultures, in addition, its capital, Skopje is considered ans one of the most vibrant cities in the Balkans. Despite the appeal and the fact that the Republic of Macedonia is gaining popularity as a touristic destination, the infrastructure is still underdeveloped and there are still occasional political clashes that threat to disrupt the stability of the country. Although the Macedonian constitution protects freedom of the press, media outlets face threats and political pressure, which has resulted in self-censorship.
In 2015, it was revealed that the government of former prime minister Nikola Gruevski sponsored a wiretapping and surveillance program, which lead to months of protests and political crisis. Currently, Macedonia is listed as Partly Free in the Freedom House report and according to the Association of Journalists of Macedonia (ZNM), there were over 20 attacks against journalists in recorded between the beginning of 2016 and April 2017 in Macedonia. International organizations have expressed concern about the situation of media freedom in Macedonia , particularly given that there is a lack of commitment from the government to promote an ideal environment for free and independent journalism. Bloggers and independent commentators are not recognized or protected under law.
In Macedonia, journalism is seen by many as a way to give exposure to prominent politicians and government officials. There are not optimal conditions for investigative reporting and the market is dominated by media outlets that support the government. Given that over 69% of the population in Macedonia use the internet, this technology offers an alternative for independent journalists. However, it is crucial that those who want to share their opinion and offer another option for the general public, take the necessary measures to remain safe from possible attacks. This is why it is advisable to use a VPN in Macedonia. VPNs encrypt your online traffic, preventing third parties from seeing what you do on the internet. Since your IP address is also disguised, you get a layer of anonymity that allows you to enjoy online freedom.
It is also worth keeping in mind that some gambling websites are restricted and that geographical blocks also affect the browsing experience of internet users in Macedonia. Some of the most popular online content is available in countries like the United States and the United Kingdom and with the help of a VPN, it is possible to bypass geo-restrictions in order to get access to a wider selection of options. You can connect to a server located in the US or the UK and unblock popular streaming websites or YouTube videos that are not available in Macedonia. Simply sign up for a VPN to enhance your security and protect your right to privacy and online freedom.
Here are the best options for Macedonia.
NordVPN
NordVPN has one of the strongest standards of protection as it is a zero logs provider that support advanced features like double hop encryption and Tor over VPN. If your main concern is to keep your identity hidden and keep your traffic protected from eavesdroppers, NordVPN is the ideal solution. Since they are based in Panama, they are not subject to the surveillance and laws that affect other providers. NordVPN uses a high level of encryption to keep your privacy protected. You can connect to servers in over 60 countries.
ExpressVPN
Apart from being one of the most popular providers in the industry, ExpressVPN is also recognized as a high quality solution thanks to the impressive speed and reliability that it offers. With ExpressVPN, you can enjoy superb software for multiple platforms, outstanding speeds and strong security. Since customers in Macedonia need a high level of protection for their online traffic, as well as flexibility to bypass geo-blocks and restrictions, ExpressVPN is an excellent choice because it offers all this and more. They have servers in 94 countries including Macedonia. No logs are kept of your online activities.
VPNArea
VPNArea stands out for its wide range of security features that will ensure that your real IP address remains concealed. They support anti-DNS leaks, anti-IPv6 leaks protection, as well as protection against the WebRTC issue that affects some browsers and that can reveal your real IP address. In addition, VPNArea offers kills switch and fast performance so you will be able to stream or download content without hassle. The VPN client is easy to use and there are servers in nearly 70 countries around the world. VPNArea doesn’t keep logs.
Buffered
Buffered is a very popular solution for users who want to bypass online restrictions, while keeping their privacy protected. Apart from applying strong encryption, the service is also very fast so you will be able to access international streaming services and enjoy content without annoying delays. It is an effective option to bypass censorship and keep your online traffic protected with strong encryption. At the moment, Buffered has servers in over 40 countries and its network is constantly growing. In addition, no logs are kept of your online activities.