Hungary is a magnetic country where thermal spas and beautiful architecture can be found everywhere. The variety of fascinating buildings and the beautiful views that will impress you, not only in its capital, Budapest, but also in other cities, keep drawing visitors to this Eastern European country. Hungary is also a culinary hub where food lovers can find an amazing variety of options. After the fall of communism, people from all over the world started to discover the treasures that Hungary keeps and the country has become one of the most popular destinations in the region. However, while the country is currently listed as free by Freedom House, the implementation of policies that could potentially prevent the opposition from openly expressing ideas and participating in the political arena, threaten the democratic system.
Recent legislation that prohibits owners of billboards from offering lower prices to political parties. This places restrictions on the options that political oppositions have to advertise during elections. The measure affects the opposition significantly and on top of that, the media outlets that are supportive of the government, often publish content that paints political opponents in a negative light. The increasing attacks against the opposition, has also resulted in people feeling more uneasy about publicly expressing the opinions on political matters. Freedom of speech is protecting by the constitution, but there regulations on media are facilitating the politicization of the media. Although there are independent media outlets that are critical of the government, the majority of the media support the government.
There is also concern regarding the measures that have forced many NGOs to register as “foreign supported” for receiving funds from individuals and organizations outside Hungary, which could affect the support they receive locally. Although the government has not implemented measures that limit freedom of speech directly, the legislation on the media and NGOs, is opening the path to self-censorship. The anti-defamation laws prevent people from expressing opinions that are critical of the government. In spite of that, the internet is not subject to heavy restrictions and there are no indications of online monitoring programs being carried out by the government. Over 86% of the population use the internet and while overall, people can access information freely in Hungary, the situation is slowly heading towards biased media and restrictions to content that opposes the government’s policies, which is why using a VPN is recommended.
Using a VPN will help you to keep your identity and privacy protected thanks to the fact that when you connect to a VPN server, your real IP address is hidden and your data is encrypted. This means that others won’t be able to see what websites you visit, what you say in your private conversation or what content you access. VPN services are privacy protection tools and they also come handy when you need to connect to public WiFi networks that are weak in security. You can also rely on a VPN to overcome restrictions in order to access content that is not available in Hungary. For example, you can access the US version of Netflix if your VPN provider supports that option. All you need is to connect to a server in the US. Check our list of the VPN services that we recommend for Hungary and enjoy online freedom and privacy.
ExpressVPN
ExpressVPN offers servers in over 90 countries, including Hungary. This means that if you want to get an IP address in Hungary, or you want to keep your Hungarian IP, but with added security, ExpressVPN is one of the options you can consider. ExpressVPN is known as one of the fastest and most secure solutions available. It doesn’t keep logs of your online activities and it ensures that your information remains secure, thanks to the strong encryption that it uses. While the plans are more expensive than what other options charge, ExpressVPN offers high quality and a 30-day money back guarantee.
NordVPN
NordVPN is a highly secure solution due to the advanced security features that it supports and the fact that it is a zero logs provider. It doesn’t keep any records of any aspects of your connection or the way you use the service. Since NordVPN is based in Panama, it is not subject to mandatory data retention laws. You can connect to servers in over 60 countries. NordVPN offers options like double VPN encryption and Tor over VPN, which add strong security to your online traffic. NordVPN also has good software and excellent, knowledgeable customer support.
VyprVPN
VyprVPN is another fast and reliable solution. Since it manages its own network, you can expect them to have greater control over the speeds and performance of its servers. VyprVPN allows you to connect to servers in over 70 locations around the world. Although Hungary is not in the list of locations supported, VyprVPN is ideal for bypassing geographical restrictions. It is a fast, efficient and advanced solution that offers a unique protocol called Chameleon. This technology is designed to get around Deep Packet Inspection and firewalls, allowing you to hide the fact that a VPN is being used. VyprVPN doesn’t keep logs of your activities.
Buffered
Buffered is based Hungary and it has become popular thanks to a strong selection of features, as well as a strong commitment to help customers to protect the security of their data. It is fast and secure, allowing you to access your favorite content without delays, while keeping you protected with a high level of encryption. Buffered has servers in over 40 countries at the moment, but its network of servers is constantly being updated. You can enjoy great speeds and high protection, as well as excellent customer support. No logs are kept of your online activities and when you get a subscription, you ate covered by a 30-day money back guarantee.