Anyone else have internet that's very slow right now? Anyone know why? Also your vpn working or not?

Maybe they are targeting you for being an extremist trying to provoke tensions, Captain Matt. :)

Anyone have real answer?

There is a real answer. Every September there is an important meeting, plus there will be celebrations for the 70th anniversary War commemoration. Around that time, til after the National holiday, the gov. don't want any disturbances online, or watching bad stuff, in their opinion, so they usually slow down the internet, and block western sites.

Ok thanks.

Exactly.

Well if that's true it explains a lot, didn't think they'd stoop that low still though.

So they basically flooding servers with fake requests or do they have a slow button ;) ?

It's always been this way. They have to keep harmony and stop certain people and groups from causing chaos and social unrest.

In addition the GFW is targeting and shutting down VPN connections (IPSec VPNs) using auto-learning technique. Hopefully they will end that operations after the big parade, but probably they do because it's a shitload of traffic (money) they produce using that technology. It will also slow down the net, since packets going trough their hands searching for the boogie-man.

@marcuschen: Since you're the law abiding chinese citizen, you should know that private use of a VPN is considered illegal in China. Companies using VPN have to register them with the PSB (Internet Squad). You should add that to your friends thread "How to be careful in China...."

Have fun, but better just within the great chinese intranet!

Best speed up by the time footie is on letv tonight lol