steven36 Posted January 3, 2015 Share Posted January 3, 2015 Netflix is starting to block subscribers who access its service using VPN services and other tools that bypass geolocation restrictions. The changes, which may also affect legitimate users, have been requested by the movie studios who want full control over what people can see in their respective countries.Due to complicated licensing agreements Netflix is only available in a few dozen countries, all of which have a different content library.Some people bypass these content and access restrictions by using VPNs or other circumvention tools that change their geographical location. This makes it easy for people all around the world to pay for access to the U.S. version of Netflix, for example.The movie studios are not happy with these deviant subscribers as it hurts their licensing agreements. Previously entertainment industry sources in Australia complained bitterly that tens of thousands of Netflix “VPN-pirates” were hurting their business.Over the past weeks Netflix has started to take action against people who use certain circumvention tools. The Android application started to force Google DNS which now makes it harder to use DNS based location unblockers, and several VPN IP-ranges were targeted as well.Thus far the actions are limited in scope, so not all VPN users may experience problems just yet. However, TorGuard is one of the VPN providers which noticed a surge in access problems by its users, starting mid-December.“This is a brand new development. A few weeks ago we received the first report from a handful of clients that Netflix blocked access due to VPN or proxy usage. This is the very first time I’ve ever heard Netflix displaying this type of error message to a VPN user,” TorGuard’s Ben Van der Pelt tells us.In TorGuard’s case the users were able to quickly gain access again by logging into another U.S. location. It further appears that some of the blocking efforts were temporary, probably as a test for a full-scale rollout at a later date.“I have a sneaking suspicion that Netflix may be testing these new IP blocking methods temporarily in certain markets. At this time the blocks do not seem aggressive and may only be targeted at IP ranges that exceed too many simultaneous logins.”Netflix is reportedly testing a variety of blocking methods. From querying the user’s time zone through the web browser or mobile device GPS and comparing it to the timezone of their IP-address, to forcing Google’s DNS services in the Android app.TorGuard told us that if Netflix continues with a strict ban policy, they will provide an easy solution to bypass the blocks. Other services, such as Unblock-us are also suggesting workarounds to their customers.Netflix’ efforts to block geoblocking circumvention tools doesn’t come as a surprise. TF has seen a draft of the content protection agreement Sony Pictures prepared for Netflix earlier this year. This agreement specifically requires Netflix to verify that registered users are indeed residing in the proper locations.Among other things Netflix must “use such geolocation bypass detection technology to detect known web proxies, DNS based proxies, anonymizing services and VPNs which have been created for the primary intent of bypassing geo-restrictions.”Blocking VPN and proxy “pirates” has become a priority for the movie studios as streaming services have failed to introduce proper countermeasures. Early 2014 the movie studio looked into the accessibility of various services through popular circumvention tools, including TorGuard, to find out that most are not blocked.In a follow-up during the summer of 2014 Sony Pictures conducted research to identify the IP-ranges of various VPNs and proxies. These results were shared with Netflix and other streaming services so they could take action and expand their blocklists where needed.Based on the above it’s safe to conclude that Netflix will continue to roll out more aggressive blocking tools during the months to come. As with all blocks, this may also affect some people who use VPNs for privacy and security reasons. Whether Netflix will factor this in has yet to be seen.TF contacted Netflix for a comment on the findings and its future plans, but a few days have passed and we have yet to receive a response.Netflix is not the only streaming service that’s targeting VPN and proxy users. A few months ago Hulu implemented similar restrictions. This made the site unusable for location “pirates,” but also U.S. based paying customers who used a VPN for privacy reasons.Source:https://torrentfreak.com/netflix-cracks-down-on-vpn-and-proxy-pirates-150103/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cerberus Posted January 3, 2015 Share Posted January 3, 2015 Thank you for sharing that info....I am cancelling my acct and using XBMC/Kodi totally from now on. Forget them! They are screwing themselves in the long run for there are free alt. out on the net. ;) I "was" a paying customer, now I wont pay at all, get all for free online. All this does is creates pirates out on the net...they are cutting their own throats. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
knowledge-Spammer Posted January 3, 2015 Share Posted January 3, 2015 may help not tested yethttp://www.site2unblock.com/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cerberus Posted January 3, 2015 Share Posted January 3, 2015 But why should a paying customer have to use tools like that since they pay for the services? If we wish to protect ourselves using what ever means, it should not matter....if you pay you should be able to access without sharing info...that is none of their business. I give them less the 5 yrs and they will be out of business. ;)This is exactly why I don't do FB...they have to have your real ip in order to login. No thank you. Its all about privacy even if you are not a pirate...some like myself like to protect against other things. Not everyone who uses a vpn is a dang pirate. I use my vpn plus encryption on all outgoing data. You can never be too safe. I take what ever means needed to protect my privacy....if they don't like it, tough.This is why I try my best to hide my id:-identity theft.Has anyone ever went through "trying" to clear their name? It's like pulling teeth to correct it....if you can. I will do what ever needed to protect myself...period. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
steven36 Posted January 3, 2015 Author Share Posted January 3, 2015 Hulu started doing this a few months ago they not yet block all vpn servers yet ether they offer a free and a pay service . You take for example someone who even lives in US that just wants privacy . They have find a working server . Its just going get worse as time passes blocking more and more vpns and proxies . Then they wonder why people pirate . I can find most every thing from a day to weeks before they appear on legal video streaming services and not have hunt a server from torrent , file-lockers and pirate streaming sites . :P Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cerberus Posted January 4, 2015 Share Posted January 4, 2015 Yeah I use to have an acct with them a month ago but cancelled because of this. I will not play their game when there are other alt. ;) I have 117 different vpn servers to choose from so I have options for a while but will cancel my acct with Netflix because of their practices, like hulu. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gravity Posted January 4, 2015 Share Posted January 4, 2015 there are other methodshttp://bestfreestreaming.blogspot.in/2013/09/best-sites-watch-free-movies-online.html Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HJSC Posted January 4, 2015 Share Posted January 4, 2015 The boycott is the only weapon and the most effective one with which to we can use to our advantage in situations like this.I've been a customer of NetFlix now for almost two years, and whenever I can, I like to see something new in the American version of the NF. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Helio2k Posted January 4, 2015 Share Posted January 4, 2015 And again they are screaming that even paying customers now are branded Pirates because we want little bit more contents Ex: i live in Canada and we don't have all the great shows that US have on Netflix is that OK? to charge us $8/Month and have 1/3 of their contents? I don't think so that is why Screw you Netflix and any other company that on every turn you call legit Users Pirates and Thief's what about your self! have you tough that rapping us at the BOX office for Tickets $13-$17 it's OK for an mediocre movie NO that is why 2014 was the worst frequented year in Movie Theater. Sorry I am a bit pissy today :( Cheers. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ugurano Posted January 4, 2015 Share Posted January 4, 2015 fail, thx netflix most users using stream illegal why?? easy its working best, Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nIGHT Posted January 5, 2015 Share Posted January 5, 2015 Legit paying customers who wants to view US version = pirate :lol: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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