---
title: "Access blocked Sci-hub"
subtitle: "The science of sharing."
lang: en
excerpt: "In March 2019, the Paris Regional Court ruled in favour of the publishers of scientific articles Elsevier and Springer Nature by ordering internet service providers to block access to these two websites. Here is how to access them if they are blocked in your country anyway."
tags: ["Internet", "Science"]
pubDate: "2019-10-18T07:47:36.000Z"
---

The current sci-hub address is: <a href="https://sci-hub.se" rel="noreferer noopener">sci-hub.se</a>

## What is this about?

Not being a researcher myself, here’s an [extremely well done explanatory video](https://youtu.be/rcgxY__YXEc) on the subject of scientific publication (french audio with auto subtitle).

> “This is outrageous!”​

I noticed that my ISP was indeed blocking access. I have not yet been able to check for the other suppliers, but I imagine that they have all complied with the court decision.
The restriction in place is quite basic. This is a “DNS” block. A DNS is a server that is used to link a domain name: _www.sci-hub.tw_ to an IP address: _186.2.163.90_
It is, in a way, the Internet phone book. Without the address, it is impossible to contact the domain. What ISPs have certainly done: block requests to the sci-hub domain name. As a result, no IP address is returned and the site is not accessible.

## How to bypass this?

- Either by using a VPN
- Either by modifying the DNS servers of your computers/Internet box

I would recommend the second solution because it allows you to protect yourself against future blockages/filtering/censorship from your ISP and does not require any financial compensation.
I will focus on change from a computer because it will be effective wherever you are and not only from your home.

### MacOs

Go to:

1. System Preferences
1. Network
1. (wi-fi or ethernet)
1. Advanced
1. DNS

From there, you can add DNS servers by clicking the + icon. Click ok and apply the new settings. You might need to restart your computer for the changes to work.

<nuxt-img
    src="https://assets.nardu.in/ef5a4b8e82a046e6a466c73c2fd9e99e.jpg"
    sizes="sm:100vw xl:728px"
    width="728"
    height="1060"
    alt="MacOS network and DNS settings"
    loading="lazy">
</nuxt-img>

### Windows (10)

Go to:

1. System Settings
1. Network & Internet
1. Change adapter options
1. Right click your adapter then “properties”
1. Select “internet protocol version 4” (and/or 6)
1. Properties
1. Use the following DNS server addresses

From there, you can add DNS servers. Click save. You might need to restart your computer for the changes to work.

<picture width="728" height="319">
   <nuxt-source
      src="https://assets.nardu.in/sci-hub-settings.webp"
      sizes="sm:100vw xl:728px" >
   </nuxt-source>
   <nuxt-img src="https://assets.nardu.in/sci-hub-settings.jpg"
   sizes="sm:100vw xl:728px"
   alt="Windows system settings"
   loading="lazy" >
   </nuxt-img>
</picture>

<picture width="728" height="803">
   <nuxt-source
      src="https://assets.nardu.in/sci-hub-network.webp"
      sizes="sm:100vw xl:728px" >
   </nuxt-source>
   <nuxt-img src="https://assets.nardu.in/sci-hub-network.jpg"
   sizes="sm:100vw xl:728px"
   alt="Windows network settings"
   loading="lazy" >
   </nuxt-img>
</picture>

<picture width="728" height="327">
   <nuxt-source
      src="https://assets.nardu.in/sci-hub-adapter.webp"
      sizes="sm:100vw xl:728px" >
   </nuxt-source>
   <nuxt-img src="https://assets.nardu.in/sci-hub-adapter.jpg"
   sizes="sm:100vw xl:728px"
   alt="Windows network connections settings"
   loading="lazy" >
   </nuxt-img>
</picture>

<picture width="728" height="434">
   <nuxt-source
      src="https://assets.nardu.in/sci-hub-adapter-settings.webp"
      sizes="sm:100vw xl:728px" >
   </nuxt-source>
   <nuxt-img src="https://assets.nardu.in/sci-hub-adapter-settings.jpg"
   sizes="sm:100vw xl:728px"
   alt="Windows network adapter settings"
   loading="lazy" >
   </nuxt-img>
</picture>

## Which DNS?

There are many DNS servers available. The best known are Google, Cloudflare and OpenDNS. If you really want to use Google’s, I’ll let you look up their address. Here are my recommendations in order of preference.

### [FDN DNS](https://www.fdn.fr/actions/dns/)

My favorite since it is a [french association](https://www.fdn.fr/)

1. IPV4
   - 80.67.169.12
   - 80.67.169.40
2. IPV6
   - 2001:910:800::12
   - 2001:910:800::40

### [Cloudflare DNS](https://1.1.1.1/)

For those who want the [“fastest DNS servers in the world”.](https://www.dnsperf.com/#!dns-resolvers)

1. IPV4
   - 1.1.1.1
   - 1.0.0.1
2. IPV6
   - 2606:4700:4700::1111
   - 2606:4700:4700::1001

## That's it.

By changing these settings, you are free from your ISPs and their content filtering rules.

For the moment, these restrictions are almost symbolic because if Sci-hub were to change its url, the block would no longer work. But the publishers’ victory in court shows that they have not had their last word. We are therefore not immune to a wider and stronger block in the future.

If you want to learn more about the struggle of the people who fight to ensure that research is not a paid commodity, I recommend [this documentary](https://youtu.be/y_CQATGOX2w) on Aaron Shwartz. Or [this article](https://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2016/04/a-spiritual-successor-to-aaron-swartz-is-angering-publishers-all-over-again/) about the founder of Sci-hub.

In the meantime, good readings to all of you. We stand with you!
