As Iran-Israel war rages, VPN-assisted downloads spike by 95% in Tehran

As the war between Iran, Israel and the United States continues to escalate, internet downloads have surged in Tehran, as per the analysis of tech analysis firm Softonic. The analysis was based on data gathered by Softonic over the course of two four day periods in order to measure the metrics before and after the war.

The first period was June 6-9 and the second was June 13-16. During this period, downloads increased from 11,400 to 22,200, signifying a 95% spike. Downloads in Israel also registered a spike of 25% (from 14,100 to 17,700) in the same analysis.

Iran¡¯s downloads focused on circumventing censorship

The internet is a critical information lifeline for tens of millions of Iranians. Since Wednesday, the Iranian government has significantly increased online censorship and network interference to prevent Iranians from accessing information about the conflict. (1/6)

¡ª Open Technology Fund (@OpenTechFund) June 23, 2025

The increased downloads in Tehran were done using VPN applications such as Viva VPN, Psiphon and Binwiz, alongside other Farsi-language tools. The heavy use of VPNs points to Iranian netizens trying to circumvent the widespread online censorship in the country, which has long drawn scrutiny for the actions of its theocratic regime. While current Supreme Leader Grand Ayatolla Khameni has remained in power since 1989, his regime has often faced attempted upheavals both from within and without.

While Israel and the United States are openly signaling their desire for a regime change, Khameni also had to endure mass protests within his own country on multiple occasions, with a recent notable example being the protests against the death of Mahsa Amini in police custody in September 2022. With the Khameni¡¯s regime once again under fire, the analysis indicates that Iranian citizens are eager to learn the truth of what is going on, and will not be content with the censored news and propaganda disseminated by their Government.

Israel¡¯s downloads focused on productivity and entertainment

Google Classroom was often downloaded in Israel | Credit: X

By contrast, the analysis showed that Israel¡¯s spike in downloads was driven by increased use of productivity and entertainment apps, including Roblox, Among Us, Google Classroom and Anydesk. The spike in downloads was also a less dramatic 25% compared to Iran¡¯s 95%. This analysis signified that Israel¡¯s download preferences focused more on supporting work and study routines, prioritizing adaptation and resilience.

Israel¡¯s population has been in a heightened state of anxiety ever since the October 7 terror attacks in 2023, but unlike Iran, the regime¡¯s censorship is much less severe, resulting in a lower demand for VPNs, and more focus on adapting to a more digital lifestyle. With wartime disruptions that show no signs of abating in the short-term, the reactions from Iran and Israel¡¯s citizens will continue to be matters of interest for the foreseeable future.

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