Have you ever tried watching your favorite show on Netflix only to see that dreaded "Proxy Error" message pop up? Or perhaps you couldn‘t access your preferred news site while traveling abroad because it was geo-blocked in that country.
We‘ve all been there – VPN and proxy blocks can be super frustrating when you just want to access content freely and securely. But don‘t pull your hair out just yet!
In this comprehensive guide, I‘ll show you 10 easy tips to bypass VPN blocks, unblock geo-restricted sites, and regain access to the open internet. I‘ve been writing about cybersecurity and privacy for over 5 years – so you can trust these are the most effective ways to get around VPN blocking in 2023 and beyond.
Let‘s get started!
Why You Should Be Using a VPN in the First Place
Before we get into the different ways to bypass VPN blocks, let’s quickly go through what a VPN is and why virtual private networks are so important for protecting your privacy and accessing restricted content online.
What is a VPN?
A VPN, or virtual private network, encrypts your internet connection and routes it through a remote server run by the VPN provider. This does two main things:
- Hides your IP address – Websites will see the IP address of the VPN server rather than your personal IP address. This prevents snoops, hackers, your internet provider, or even government agencies from tracking your online activities.
- Changes your virtual location – By connecting through a VPN server in another city or country, you can appear to be accessing the internet from that location. This allows you to bypass geographic restrictions.
Essentially, a VPN provides an encrypted tunnel for your data and masks your true identity. It’s like having an incognito invisibility cloak for browsing the web!
Why Use a VPN?
There are two major reasons to use a virtual private network:
1. Enhanced privacy – VPNs encrypt your internet traffic and mask your IP address, preventing spies and snoops from tracking your online activities. Your personal data is much harder for advertisers, your ISP, or government agencies to monitor or collect when you use a VPN.
2. Access restricted content – VPNs allow you to change your virtual location and bypass geographic restrictions to access content not available in your country. For example, you can use a VPN to stream shows on Netflix that are only available in other countries.
VPNs provide a critical layer of privacy and freedom in an age of widespread data harvesting and online censorship. That‘s why VPN blocking can be so annoying – but the good news is there are proven ways to get around these restrictions.
Now let‘s jump into the meat of this guide…
10 Ways to Bypass VPN Blocks
It can be super frustrating when you fire up your VPN only to see the dreaded "proxy detected" messages on Netflix or other sites.
The good news is VPN blocking doesn‘t have to stop you – there are ways around it. After extensive testing, I‘ve found these 10 tips to be highly effective at bypassing VPN blocks:
1. Choose a Top-Tier VPN Provider
The most important factor in reliably bypassing VPN blocking is using a top-quality VPN service designed specifically for unblocking.
I would avoid free VPNs – they often lack security, have slow speeds, and won‘t have robust unblocking abilities.
Based on hands-on testing, the highest-rated premium VPNs for getting around VPN blocks include:
ExpressVPN
With 3,000+ servers in 94 countries, ExpressVPN succeeds at unblocking Netflix, Hulu, BBC iPlayer and other major sites. It uses blazing-fast Lightway protocol. Privacy features include 256-bit AES encryption, a no-logs policy, and a kill switch.
NordVPN
NordVPN earns top marks for security with advanced features like Double VPN and Obfuscated Servers. It boasts over 5,700 worldwide servers and is reliable at unblocking popular streaming platforms.
Surfshark
Surfshark offers over 3,200 servers across 65 countries and provides "stream-optimized" servers for major sites like Netflix and Hulu. Its Camouflage Mode disguises VPN activity to avoid blocks.
The key is finding a VPN expressly designed to circumvent blocks – look for lots of servers, fast speeds, and obscuring features.
2. Switch Server Locations
Each VPN server has a unique IP address. If one isn‘t working, simply connect to a different server in the same country or try switching locations entirely. Often changing countries will allow you to bypass VPN blocking.
3. Change the VPN Protocol
Most VPNs allow you to switch between protocols in their settings:
- OpenVPN – Offers a good balance of speed and security. Can bypass simple IP blocks.
- IKEv2 – Very secure but faster than OpenVPN. Harder for networks to detect.
- Wireguard – Uses state-of-the-art encryption. Extremely fast speeds make it tough to block.
Keep switching up protocols until you find one that provides smooth, uninterrupted access.
4. Enable Obfuscated Servers
VPN providers like NordVPN and Surfshark offer "obfuscated servers" that disguise your VPN traffic as regular HTTPS traffic. Activating obfuscation makes it much harder for networks to identify and block VPN use.
5. Use a Dedicated IP Address
Having a dedicated IP address from your VPN often prevents blocks compared to sharing an IP with other users. A dedicated IP helps avoid blacklists of shared IPs getting detected and banned.
6. Change Ports
Most VPN connections rely on standard ports like 80, 443 or 1194. Switching to different ports makes it harder for networks to identify and block VPN traffic.
7. Adjust Your DNS Settings
Using alternative DNS servers like 1.1.1.1 or 8.8.8.8 instead of your ISP‘s servers can sometimes bypass VPN interference. That said, it‘s better to use your VPN‘s own DNS for privacy. Only change as a last resort.
8. Enable a Proxy Inside the VPN
For an extra layer of disguise, enable your VPN’s built-in proxy feature like ExpressVPN’s TrustedServer or NordVPN‘s Obffuscated Servers. A proxy tunnel hides the fact you‘re using a VPN at all.
9. Use Mobile Data or Public Wi-Fi
If your home or office Wi-Fi is aggressively blocking VPN access, switch to mobile data on your smartphone or connect from public Wi-Fi instead. This bypasses the network restrictions.
10. Try a Proxy Site or Tor Browser
While it‘s best to use a robust VPN, two other options can potentially circumvent VPN blocks:
- Proxy sites act as intermediaries to bypass blocks. Free proxies have slow speeds and poor security though.
- The encrypted Tor browser bounces connections through volunteers‘ servers for anonymous browsing. It may allow access but can be very slow.
So in summary, a combination of changing your VPN setup, switching networks, and using proxies/Tor provide your best chance of overcoming those pesky VPN blocks.
Unblocking Streaming Sites like Netflix with a VPN
One of the biggest reasons people use VPNs is accessing streaming content available in other countries by spoofing your location. However, streaming platforms actively block VPNs to enforce geographic rights.
Through extensive testing, these VPNs have proven most reliable for unblocking major streaming platforms:
Netflix – ExpressVPN, NordVPN, Surfshark
Hulu – ExpressVPN, NordVPN
Amazon Prime – ExpressVPN, CyberGhost, Surfshark
Disney+ – ExpressVPN, NordVPN
BBC iPlayer – ExpressVPN, CyberGhost
The key is using VPNs with dedicated streaming servers optimized specifically to avoid blocks. For example, ExpressVPN has MediaStreamer SmartDNS built-in to its apps.
According to data from VPN testing site VPNpro.com, these are the top 5 VPNs for unblocking Netflix worldwide as of October 2022:
| VPN | Unblocked Netflix |
|---|---|
| ExpressVPN | 97% success rate |
| NordVPN | 93% success rate |
| Surfshark | 89% success rate |
| CyberGhost | 85% success rate |
| Private Internet Access (PIA) | 82% success rate |
So while no VPN can guarantee 100% uninterrupted access, your best bet is going with a top provider expressly configured for streaming access across various platforms.
Why VPNs Get Blocked in the First Place
Now that you know how to bypass VPN obstructions, let’s discuss why VPN blocking happens in the first place:
Censorship
Countries like China, Russia, Iran, and others use VPN blocking to prevent citizens from accessing content the government deems inappropriate through censorship filters like China‘s Great Firewall.
Streaming Geo-Restrictions
Netflix, BBC iPlayer, and other streaming platforms block VPNs to enforce geographic licensing restrictions. They want to ensure video content is only available in certain regions.
Network Security Policies
Schools, businesses, and public Wi-Fi networks often block VPNs as part of their security policies. They want to limit access to websites and prevent people from circumventing filters.
Fraud Prevention
Banks may block VPNs because masked IP addresses make it harder to detect and prevent fraud. Strict "know your customer" regulations require validating locations.
Copyright Enforcement
Copyright holders sometimes try to block VPNs to stop people from pirating content. But VPNs have many legitimate uses beyond piracy.
The good news is effective VPNs use advanced techniques like we‘ve covered to reliably bypass these blocks. Now let‘s examine exactly how VPN blocking works on a technical level.
The 3 Main Types of VPN Blocking
From a technical standpoint, there are three primary methods used to obstruct VPN access:
1. IP Blocking
With this blunt-force technique, networks maintain a blacklist of known VPN server IP addresses. Any traffic from those IPs is automatically dropped or blocked.
However, VPN providers frequently change server IPs, so IP blocking is easier to bypass than more advanced tactics.
2. Deep Packet Inspection (DPI)
DPI scans the contents of data packets across a network, analyzing traffic for telltale signs of VPN usage like specific protocols or encryption. Identified VPN traffic can then be throttled or terminated.
But VPN encryption hides the contents of your traffic. Advanced protocols like Wireguard encrypt packet metadata to avoid DPI snooping.
3. Port Blocking
This blocks traffic on common VPN ports like 80, 443, 1194 while allowing other port traffic to pass normally. However, VPNs can be configured to use just about any port.
The most effective blocking combines these technical restrictions with actively searching and terminating VPN connections. But the tips we‘ve covered allow you to bypass each of these methods.
Now let‘s answer some common questions about unblocking VPNs:
FAQs on How to Bypass VPN Blocks
Can schools actually detect and block VPN usage?
Yes, schools and colleges often use specialized firewall appliances that can identify VPN traffic and terminate connections. Certain VPN protocols like OpenVPN and IPsec are easier for school networks to detect and block.
What‘s the best VPN protocol for bypassing blocks?
Wireguard is extremely fast, secure, and difficult to block since it hides metadata from DPI systems. NordVPN‘s NordLynx and ExpressVPN‘s Lightway are two excellent VPN protocols based on Wireguard technology.
Why does Netflix block VPN access?
Netflix actively blocks VPNs to enforce geographic licensing restrictions. They want to ensure videos are only available in certain countries based on region-specific content deals. However, VPNs like ExpressVPN use advanced techniques to avoid detection.
Can I get around VPN blocks without using a VPN?
You can try using proxies or Tor to bypass VPN blocking, but these options provide much less security and privacy versus a dedicated VPN. A top-tier VPN is the most reliable way to maintain privacy while accessing restricted content.
The key takeaway is that while VPN blocking can be frustrating, there are proven ways to get around these restrictions by using the right VPN service and connection strategies. Don‘t let VPN blocks stop you from accessing content freely and securely!
Closing Thoughts
I hope this guide has provided you with a complete overview of the best ways to bypass VPN blocks in 2023 and beyond. The tips I‘ve shared here are the result of extensive hands-on testing and analysis as an experienced cybersecurity writer.
The main strategies to remember are:
✔️ Use a top-rated VPN designed specifically for unblocking
✔️ Switch servers and protocols until you find one that works
✔️ Enable obscuring features like obfuscated servers
✔️ Change ports and DNS settings to avoid detection
✔️ Use mobile data or public Wi-Fi to bypass network blocks
✔️ Consider proxies and Tor browser as a last resort
While VPN blocking can be annoying, a bit of patience combined with the right VPN and settings can help you regain access.
Here‘s to freely and securely accessing all your favorite content from anywhere in the world! Never let VPN blocks stop you from experiencing the open internet.
