Looks like it's happening: VPN apps disappear from App Store
Original image: Flickr/Pablo Romeo
It's time to lose all sense of restraint and run round tearing your hair out: Apple have removed all the major VPNs from their Mainland China app store. Alas, poor Astrill, we knew ye well.
For those of us that live in (you guessed it) Mainland China and who haven't been savvy enough to sort out a long-term VPN solution in anticipation of a catastrophe just like this, the VPNaggedon could mean no Facebook, no Instagram and therefore no way to humblebrag about our Bund-side brunches to friends, family and fans on the world wide web.
Earlier this month, there were conflicting reports about whether or not a ban on personal VPNs would be coming into force. It seems for now that the doom-mongers were right.
Android users don't need to worry about such issues, since the Google Play Store is already blocked and Android systems permit installing apps independently (in .apk formats), so those devices will likely be unaffected.
Of course, if you are an affected iPhone user there are ways around this new speed-bump. If you have a payment method based in another country, simply changing the App Store settings to that country will allow you to download any of these apps. Unless they get banned in that country too, naturally.