Netflix Will Not Crackdown on VPNs
The service officially denied rumors that it is cracking down on those users who use VPNs to watch shows not intended for their country. In the meantime, some virtual private network providers reported access problems by its customers, calling it “a brand new development”. The VPN providers say they received reports from a handful of clients that Netflix blocked access due to VPN or proxy usage. However, they had to admit it was the very first time Netflix displayed this type of error message to a VPN user.
It is widely known that Netflix users often use VPNs in order to watch shows that are not licensed in their country. For example, the American version of the streaming video service offers such shows as Friends, Twin Peaks and Broad City, none of which are accessible to British customers.
The popular way to surpass these restrictions is to use a VPN service in order to make a connection look like it originates in the desired country. Although this way is not technically illegal, the use of such a system usually violates the terms of service for the streaming provider.
After a handful of users complained that their VPN connections are now being blocked by the service, Netflix officially claimed that it never changed the way it handled such connections. At the same time, the company pointed out that it had always blocked VPNs when possible, and continues to do so, using industry standard methods to prevent unauthorized VPN use.
In the meantime, many users of VPN services report no issues with Netflix so far. However, they are still worried that Netflix may start blocking them too, especially people from countries where Netflix don’t operate at all – for example, in Australia.
It is perfectly known that commercial VPN providers are used for many purposes, and not all of them are legal. Lots of users appreciate the security and privacy benefits of the virtual private networks, as those mask a visitor’s true IP address from the accessed website, and therefore prevent connections from being tracked. Finally, VPNs help circumvent content filters at workplaces and educational institutions.
Despite all those purposes, it is also known that VPNs are also popular in protecting people against legal restrictions on their Internet use, including viewing video intended for other nations and downloading content from cyberlockers.
