Netflix is blocking VPNs and proxies

If you've been used to accessing Netflix's vast library of North American content while living outside of the continent, by using a proxy or VPN, you may be out of luck, as the streaming media company has now begun blocking methods of circumventing its geographical limiters.

This is a real shame, as Netflix is a brilliant example of how internet based content streaming could be. It offers a huge collection of films, TV shows and other media to enjoy near instantly, in often high definition and beyond, for a low, monthly subscription. However that's not really the case if you live outside the US. Our cousins in the Americas have a much bigger library of content than anywhere else and if you live in Australia or New Zealand, you can't access it at all.

Despite those two latter countries and many others being hotbeds of piracy due to content pricing and availability though, many people use those VPN, proxy and DNS changing services in order to pay for the content that others are given access too just because of where they live. Traditionally Netflix doesn't seem to be that bothered by it, as after all, it is getting paid, but the movie studios aren't and they've now pressured the streaming service into doing something about it.

To start with, Netflix is now forcing Google DNS through its android application, which means regardless of what DNS settings you put in your system settings, you will be stuck with your own region's content, which for some people means nothing. As TorrentFreak reports, some TorGuard VPN users have also been noting that they haven't been able to access US based Netflix content recently either. However in some cases that block appears to have been temporary, perhaps suggesting a wider roll out in the future.

While a lot of these services have offered workarounds to consumers, Netflix is purportedly looking into using other methods such as a checking the user's system time and comparing it to their IP address, as well as a few other non-described methods of detecting known proxies and anonymising services.

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KitGuru Says: Do any of you use a VPN or proxy service to access overseas content? If so, what effect will Netflix's crack down have on your usage?

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