In transient: TechSpot lists VLC Player as a vital app to put in on a PC or Mac, however one of many world’s most populous international locations has tried to ban it. The try could also be as a consequence of regional tensions, but it surely’s doubtless inconceivable to dam all entry to a bit of PC software program.
The official web site for VLC Player has been inaccessible in India for a couple of months now. The Indian authorities banned it, probably after a safety incident, however that will not essentially cease Indian customers from getting it.
Right now, it seems that Indian ISPs are blocking VideoLAN’s web site in addition to cell downloads of VLC Player, although some ISPs have not restricted Google Play Store downloads. Those who have already got VLC Player put in can nonetheless use it. VideoLAN advised India Today that the ban began in February, however many customers in India are nonetheless discovering they cannot obtain the famously versatile media participant by official channels.
India’s Department of Telecommunications hasn’t defined the restriction, but it surely could possibly be out of worry of Chinese hackers. In April, safety researchers found that Chinese hackers had been utilizing VLC to ship malware loaders that would spy on customers and steal credentials. Indian authorities have been cautious of any software program linked to China for a few years as a consequence of border conflicts between the 2 international locations.
If you might be in India, please assist us.
— VideoLAN (@videolan) August 12, 2022
In 2020, India banned over 100 apps and video games linked to China – lots of them very fashionable, together with TikTok, PUBG, WeChat, Baidu, AliPay, and Sina News. The transfer got here after disputes between China and India over a Himalayan border turned violent.
However, blocking the official web site for a PC app solely stops customers from reaching the app’s major secure obtain location. Many will doubtless search for various obtain mirrors that would unfold malware much like the sooner assaults.
Furthermore, VideoLAN patched the vulnerability which led to these assaults, making India’s present ban meaningless. Alternate downloads might comprise older variations of VLC Player which are nonetheless susceptible.
Fortunately, many websites preserve secure and up-to-date downloads of in style PC software program like VLC, together with TechSpot. If you might be in India and might’t entry VideoLAN’s obtain web page, you may get VLC Player right here for Windows, Mac, Linux, and Android.
