UltraSurf for Windows

UltraSurf 21.32 is a free internet censorship circumvention program for Windows from UltraReach Internet Corp. People in countries with heavy online filtering download UltraSurf to reach blocked news sites and services without installing complex software.

Specifications

What UltraSurf does

UltraSurf was created in 2002 to help users in China reach information that was blocked, and its Chinese name, 无界浏览 ("browsing without borders"), reflects that goal. The program runs without installation: you start the executable, it finds a working connection to UltraReach's network of proxy servers, and it sets itself as the proxy for your browser. Traffic from the browser then goes through that network, which lets you open sites that the local network or the country blocks. When you close UltraSurf, the proxy settings are removed. Because it is a single small file, it can be carried on a USB stick and run on computers where you cannot install software. The developer publishes new builds as blocking methods change; the release page lists them.

How to use it

1. Download UltraSurf from one of the official sites or the download page.
2. Run the executable; no installation is needed.
3. Wait until the status shows a successful connection.
4. Browse in the browser that UltraSurf configures; close the program to restore normal settings.

Limits and privacy

UltraSurf is a circumvention tool, not an anonymity tool. Independent reviewers have criticised aspects of its design: traffic passes through servers run by one company, which can see where you connect, and it mainly covers browser traffic rather than every app. Use HTTPS sites, avoid logging into sensitive accounts through any proxy you do not trust, and check local laws before using circumvention software.

Who uses it

UltraSurf is aimed at people who live under strict internet filtering and need quick access to blocked news, social networks or search engines, often on shared or public computers where installing a full VPN is not possible. Journalists, students and travellers sometimes keep it on a flash drive as a backup method. It is less suitable for streaming, games or tasks that need a stable, fast connection for all apps, where a full VPN works better.

Tips

Keep a copy of the latest version from the official sites, because older builds may stop connecting when blocking methods change. If the program cannot connect, try another network, check that antivirus software is not blocking it, and make sure the system clock is correct, since wrong time can break secure connections.

Price

UltraSurf is free.

Pros and cons

• Pro: tiny and portable.
• Pro: no configuration needed.
• Pro: long track record against censorship.
• Con: not designed for anonymity.
• Con: covers mainly browser traffic.
• Con: all traffic passes through one provider.

Alternatives

Other circumvention and VPN tools on our site include Psiphon, Freegate, Proton VPN, Mullvad VPN and Windscribe VPN.