When India cut off access to messaging app Telegram for a week amid concerns over exam fraud, users turned in droves to virtual private networks (VPNs) and rival apps. Major VPNs like Proton and Nord saw significant spikes in downloads, with Proton witnessing a 113% jump on Apple’s App Store.

The surge extended beyond just app store data: Proton reported daily registrations from India rising by 120%, while first-time downloads of its iOS app soared 89%. Meanwhile, alternative messaging apps like Signal and Viber also saw increased usage post-ban. Yet, Telegram’s daily active users in India actually rose on the day of the restriction, a trend that has played out in other countries facing similar measures.

While the ban aimed to stop fraud, it seems to have only spurred more interest in privacy tools and circumvention methods. The rush highlights how tech-savvy users are becoming—quickly finding ways around restrictions almost as soon as they’re imposed.