Virtual private networks (VPNs) can be blocked by webites or service providers for various reasons, including improving long-term campaign performance, preventing malicious use, or upholding content licensing agreements with partners. This article discusses why VPNs are blocked and provides tips on how to bypass these restrictions .

The $30 million toe in the water

Utah's recent regulations are a perfect example of this. The state's recent regulations require online users to verify personal details like their age, and VPNs can interfere with these restrictions by obscuring the user's IP and,by proxy , identity. Administrators may block VPNs to uphold these rules.

Why 4,000 unsold units became the prize

Websites or server operators can block VPN users in one of three main ways: a simple IP address block, Deep Packet Inspection (DPI), or Domain Name Service (DNS) filtering.. These methods can detect when a VPN is in use and block the related traffic.

An echo of Sydney's 2024 institutional buy-up

Having a VPN active is generally safer than browsing without one, which is why many organizations install VPNs to add an extra layer of protection for their users and networks. But VPNs are not infallible, nor do they guarantee total privacy.

Who is the unnamed buyer?

There are some tips that might help get things working again. Try switching VPN servers internally through your provider, changing to a different VPN provider, or using custom DNS servers by configuring your devices to use third-party solutions for looking up website addresses.

A familiar pattern from the 2019 crash

Swapping to something like Google DNS or Cloudflare may help, or you could opt for what's known as an obfuscated VPN server through a provider that intentionally uses techniques to hide or obfuscate VPN traffic.

What auditors flagged in the May filing

VPNs can be blocked by websites or service providers for various reasons, including improving long-term campaign performance, preventing malicious use, or upholding content licensing agreements with partners.