The forum doesn't allow Nord VPN?

[paulears]

Just realised you get blocked if you use Nord on the forum - but if the forum detects a VPN is in use, how come the services that are region specific (like watching CBS from the UK) don't?

 

[Ethan39]

Morning,

VPNs interfere with our ability to detect spammers.

We have a number of tools in play on the site that allow the system itself to prevent users with a history of spam on this site and others from creating posts. When a user uses a VPN these tools become less effective.

Last summer the decision was made to ban specific VPNs from accessing the site. This doesn't ban your user account, it simply prevents access when using the VPN.

Our intention is not to have this measure last forever, but until our teams can take a look at the spam detection tools and improve them to work regardless of the presence of a VPN the ban will remain in place to ensure a higher quality of post content on the site.

 

[paulears]

Morning,

VPNs interfere with our ability to detect spammers.

We have a number of tools in play on the site that allow the system itself to prevent users with a history of spam on this site and others from creating posts. When a user uses a VPN these tools become less effective.

Last summer the decision was made to ban specific VPNs from accessing the site. This doesn't ban your user account, it simply prevents access when using the VPN.

Our intention is not to have this measure last forever, but until our teams can take a look at the spam detection tools and improve them to work regardless of the presence of a VPN the ban will remain in place to ensure a higher quality of post content on the site.

Totally get it, but it's a shock when you get the message! Switching it off, like I just did, restores normality - but as somebody who got a ransomeware attack last year and lost huge numbers of files spread across 5 computers (I have a NAS) I've been using Nord ever since then. UKBF is the only forum I visit that has done this? I understand but it's just a bit blunt as a protection tool?

 

[NickGrogan]

Totally get it, but it's a shock when you get the message! Switching it off, like I just did, restores normality - but as somebody who got a ransomeware attack last year and lost huge numbers of files spread across 5 computers (I have a NAS) I've been using Nord ever since then. UKBF is the only forum I visit that has done this? I understand but it's just a bit blunt as a protection tool?

It doesn't block all VPNs.

 

[Paul Kelly ICHYB]

@Ethan39 rather than a flat block, can the users be redirected to a info page?

 

[Ethan39]

@Ethan39 rather than a flat block, can the users be redirected to a info page?

We will set aside some time in the next week to discuss how we move forward.

We need to do one of the following:

1. Schedule time to improve the spam detection tools
2. Update the block messaging to be less menacing
3. Remove the block completely

Watch this space.

 

[paulears]

Swap the message for this one.

 

[Nico Albrecht]

I've been using Nord ever since then.

I am quite curious how a VPN is preventing you from another ransomware attack. Never heard of that method before. Can you explain?

 

[StevensOnln1]

I've never understood the point of using a VPN at home either (other than for remote access to another network etc). Nobody other than your internet provider has any means of knowing anything about your browsing/internet traffic and virtually all websites use HTTPS now so all anybody could see is encrypted garbage.

 

[DontAsk]

The VPN traffic is only secure as far as the VPN providers servers.

 

[Kerwin]

I've never understood the point of using a VPN at home either (other than for remote access to another network etc). Nobody other than your internet provider has any means of knowing anything about your browsing/internet traffic and virtually all websites use HTTPS now so all anybody could see is encrypted garbage.

Even with HTTPS people can know what websites you visit and track you around the internet. A VPN keeps your browsing history safe from your ISP / government / other nasty people.

 

[paulears]

and the rotten people at NORD VPN are refusing to refund me - they took a payment as a recurring one, and I had forgotten, so as it was paid up 365 + 6 days, I tried to cancel, and the buggers said I had to give 30 days notice, so that was then less than a year, so tough! I've gone from liking them to a very different view. Totally without any thought. They simply don;t care - so I have wasted an entire years subscription!

 

[Kerwin]

Rather than just blanket banning all IPs from VPN providers just implement hCaptcha for say the first 10 or 20 posts a user makes ensuring they are not going to spam the forum.

Edit: Or if that is not an option place posts from new users in the moderation queue to make sure that only users who have shown they post sensible content will be able to post in the future.

The best option is probably going to be both combined so you have an hCaptcha to allow posting and have a moderation queue for new users.

 

[Just Some Guy]

I have seen this on at least one other CloudFire site and it is annoying. I am working away from home using the WifI provided by my AirBnB host which I have no way to verify is secure. Equally, their WiFi blocks certain (not dodgy!) sites and I so I rather need a VPN - I've anyway got into the habit of using it all the time and I imagine a lot of business owners are the same.

I am curious that you can determine who the VPN is I'm using - surely the point of a VPN is to hide this, otherwise every service you want to use a VPN for will just block them all?
I'm with Nord too, are there any ways to use it without sites knowing I am on a VPN?

I don't think I can even control it to be off for certain sites, like AdBlocker allows.

The solution to use captcha or similar sounds quite a good one, if it could be feasible.

EDIT: the NordVPN browser extension (on Chrome at least) let's you specify certain websites to exclude. So that is a big help.