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Help & Info about Psiphon for Windows

  • What does Psiphon do?

    Psiphon is a program designed to help avoid Internet censorship. In particular, it is used to avoid censorship based on country lines, in countries considered "enemies of the open Internet". It provides various means to do so.

  • Is Psiphon free?

    Yes. Both the VPN and the software itself are free to use.

  • Will Psiphon work in my region?

    Most likely. Psiphon is constantly updated to get around new censorship measures in various target countries. If it does not work once, you might try its other modes or try again later when the app is updated.

  • I've heard of malware called "Psiphone". Is Psiphon safe?

    A fake release of Psiphon 3 for Windows has been seen on various websites. The most common version is a zip file titled "pisphone3.zip" (sic) containing an executable of the same name. Softonic does not facilitate the distribution of malware and legitimate versions of Psiphon can be found via Softonic and elsewhere.

  • How do I know my version is safe?

    Safe versions of Psiphon for Windows have an identifiable SHA1 thumbprint. Right-click the executable, select Properties, then select Digital Signatures at the top. The Psiphon website lists further instructions as well as the correct thumbprint.

  • How do I start using Psiphon?

    When you launch the app, the app will automatically attempt to connect to its servers. From there, you will be able to use the Psiphon Browser to tunnel past country- or region-based firewalls. On Windows, once the icon in the main window is green, the software is active and all Internet traffic is tunnelled.

  • What is Whole Device Mode?

    While running in Whole Device Mode, the app will route all traffic on a phone or tablet through the app's own servers. This allows all apps on the phone, such as games or chat apps, to get around Internet censorship, not just the built-in browser. To activate Whole device Mode, click the check mark near the bottom menu next to "Tunnel Whole Device".

  • What do the options on the Windows version mean?

    By default, you are given three options for how to use the software: SSH, SSH+ and VPN. You can select which to use via the ratio buttons at the top, then click the icon on the left-hand side to reconnect. Some methods work better in certain countries or situations than others.

  • Can I set the app to tunnel only when necessary?

    Yes, on Windows. SSH and SSH+ (as opposed to VPN mode) allow you to click a check mark for "Don't proxy domestic websites". This means that the software will not intercept Internet traffic to or from within your country.

  • How do I check what websites my device is accessing?

    On mobile, click Logs at the top of the main view. On desktop, websites you visit and so forth will automatically be displayed on the main window. For a complete view of servers your data might be passing through, for maximum operational security, consider a second app such as WireShark.

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Laws concerning the use of this software vary from country to country. We do not encourage or condone the use of this program if it is in violation of these laws. The regulation about the use of VPN services varies per country; If the Law of your country forbids or limits its usage, don’t download. Any unlawful behaviour of this software is not permitted. You are solely responsible for any use of the service.
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Is Psiphon safe?

98/100

Score result: Clean

This file passed a comprehensive security scan using VirusTotal technology. It is safe to download.

  • Virus free
  • Spyware free
  • Malware free

  • Verified by Security Partners

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Scan Info

Last scan
Monday, February 24, 2025
Scan provider
VirusTotal · Full report

File Integrity

File
psiphon3.exe
SHA256
d87dde7f232e62c08fb3b92f6fe74da7e13e81bd6562fc8d8b9590f195c85e79
SHA1
1df09baf823f67d0917f5c0068e97a5f6456db36

Softonic security commitment

Psiphon has been thoroughly scanned by our advanced security systems and verified by industry-leading partners. This file comes from the official developer and has passed all our security checks, showing no signs of viruses, malware, or spyware. For more information, visit our Security and Trust Center