Nooblabs & Webupd8 BLOCK AirVPN

[freedom23 3]

http://www.noobslab.com/

http://www.webupd8.org/

 

...are now also blocking AirVPN (To visit these sites, I must TURN-OFF AirVPN)

*an alarming number of web-sites are beginning to block airVPN!
*plus I must also fill out an AWFUL LOT of Captcha forms when I click on links while web-surfing...

 

Why is this happening?

–Presently using Netherland AirVPN-Servers

 

EDIT:

Marking this as answered.
Best Answer:

sheivoko

https://airvpn.org/topic/13451-nooblabs-webupd8-block-airvpn/?p=24585

 

Maybe all that can be done is to report directly to said websites that block VPN servers and request them to reconsider?

Yes. Make your point in a friendly manner. Tell them how and why their anti-spam/ddos measures are inefficient and what side effects they cause for privacy-aware users like yourself. If they don't react at least sympathetically to your cause, find a better resource for what you're looking for - they obviously don't care about their users so why should you care abot them?

 

So, what I will do is:

—another very nice Feature of the excellent AirVPN software is the ability to white-list servers. So I will just keep an eye on what servers work best for me, and simply white-list them all, and continue to let the AirVPN software automatically choose the best server for me from my while-list. And also attempt requesting a more practical, better solution to spam on websites I really like, like Webupd8... (*its a very valuable resource if you like Ubuntu!)

 

Tor servers behind AirVPN - https://airvpn.org/topic/12340-stop-running-tor-servers-behind-airvpn/

Mission - https://airvpn.org/mission/

IPLEAK - http://ipleak.net/

 

EDIT:
I read another idea somewhere here in the forums, worth mentioning,
that you can also protect cookies from websites you really trust, and avoid CAPCHAs.

*it seems to help sometimes… *just remember the cookies will probably track you!

 

—little browser helpers:
Last Pass - https://lastpass.com/
Https-everywhere - https://www.eff.org/Https-everywhere

NoScript - https://noscript.net/

Ghostery - https://www.ghostery.com/en/

Disconnect - https://disconnect.me/

Adblock plus - https://adblockplus.org/

 

EDIT:

successfully logged into to webupd8 today (Fri the 30th of Jan 2015) software chooses best server; Netherlands—most servers seem to be working!

Lets hope it stays this way! 

[InactiveUser 188]

A few notes and corrections:

1. Very few sites actually block AirVPN, however, some sites block Tor IPs. The issues you had with some NL servers are probably related to people unfortunately running Tor exits through AirVPN.
https://airvpn.org/topic/12340-stop-running-tor-servers-behind-airvpn/

2. You do not have to turn off AirVPN, just try a different server.
I have tried the sites you mentioned, they don't block AirVPN in its entirety.

 

3. If you want to know whether your current AirVPN server is also being used as a Tor exit, you can check http://ipleak.net/

[freedom23 3]

Thank-you for the useful information!

—It has indeed helped me understand better what is going on here!

 

After reading through those links, this is what I think about it all:

Using AirVPN and Tor together is a legitimate use of AirVPN and there are many official guides here on the AirVPN forum on how to set this up. My point is, there is nothing wrong with this & thus no need to block AirVPN servers for doing so! I think after the Snowdon leaks, – https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edward_Snowden – we are all rightly very apprehensive about our online security and privacy, which is why many of us use services like AirVPN and/or TOR. (This is a useful link for AirVPN customers who might not know what TOR is?) – http://lifehacker.com/what-is-tor-and-should-i-use-it-1527891029 – >>Tor is short for The Onion Router (thus the logo) and was initially a worldwide network of servers developed with the U.S. Navy that enabled people to browse the internet anonymously. Now, it's a non-profit organization whose main purpose is the research and development of online privacy tools<< –People who pay for a VPN service I think, take Internet privacy seriously, so it will occur that AirVPN customers use TOR to various degrees. (and I really feel in this day and age of online spying; this is to be encouraged!)
 
I have checked out that link you provided. – http://ipleak.net/ –
*There is presently nobody running a TOR exit node on this server, yet the listed websites remain blocked. (*automatic best server choice using AirVPN software, country: Netherlands)
Reading through that Forum Link – https://airvpn.org/topic/12340-stop-running-tor-servers-behind-airvpn/ – it looks like AirVPN servers are not only being blocked because of TOR exit nodes; it seems that the REAL problem is not the TOR exit nodes, but that some AirVPN users abuse the service to spam these websites, and then these websites block those Spammers, also blocking in end effect, the complete AirVPN server! I think that this problem lies more with these websites who block VPNs, they really need to set up better anti-spam measures! Blocking whole VPN servers is NOT a viable solution to their forum spam problems! 

 

–I don't know; it is indeed a complex problem!   
Maybe all that can be done is to report directly to said websites that block VPN servers and request them to reconsider? –yes, I know, reporting: one thing, websites responding: another thing! :-/

 

P.S. 

as a Linux user, I am very happy that AirVPN has provided us with a NATIVE Linux software! Thank-you!
I like to use the software in this way; I choose a country (presently, Netherlands) and allow the AirVPN software to automatically detect the best server for me. Cycling through AirVPN servers in the hopes of finding one where a particular website has not been blocked is tedious and spoils the usefulness of the software and its best server detection function. Besides just because I find one AirVPN server that is not blocked by one particular website, that same server may indeed be blocked by another website I wish to visit, causing the need to yet again cycle AirVPN servers to find one that is not blocked! so AirVPN server cycling is not really a viable solution here in my humble opinion...

[OpenSourcerer 1435]

Successful connections with Seginus, DE.

[InactiveUser 188]

Using AirVPN and Tor together is a legitimate use of AirVPN and there are many official guides here on the AirVPN forum on how to set this up. My point is, there is nothing wrong with this & thus no need to block AirVPN servers for doing so!

You have to differentiate between using Tor and running Tor server infrastructure:

Using Tor cannot and will not lead to sites blocking AirVPN servers. It is, as you said, a legitimate use of AirVPN.

However, running Tor servers through AirVPN is nonsensical.

Not only does it cause disruption for other Air users, AirVPN already runs/sponsors dedicated Tor exits which are much faster than any of the exits that have been run by users through AirVPN.

https://airvpn.org/mission/

 

 

I think that this problem lies more with these websites who block VPNs, they really need to set up better anti-spam measures! Blocking whole VPN servers is NOT a viable solution to their forum spam problems!

 

Besides just because I find one AirVPN server that is not blocked by one particular website, that same server may indeed be blocked by another website I wish to visit, causing the need to yet again cycle AirVPN servers to find one that is not blocked! so AirVPN server cycling is not really a viable solution here in my humble opinion...

It's the only solution available.

No matter what VPN provider / proxy / onion routing service you use, it always means that you're using a shared connection to the internet. You will always face these kinds of problems.

 

Maybe all that can be done is to report directly to said websites that block VPN servers and request them to reconsider?

Yes. Make your point in a friendly manner. Tell them how and why their anti-spam/ddos measures are inefficient and what side effects they cause for privacy-aware users like yourself. If they don't react at least sympathetically to your cause, find a better resource for what you're looking for - they obviously don't care about their users so why should you care abot them?

[freedom23 3]

Yes, I am privacy-aware user…  but I don't live in a freedom repressed country or anything like that. So this is only a general purpose VPN account for me. I wanted an always on VPN to add a small layer of privacy and security to my online social networking and surfing activity. I have checked Facebook, Twitter and Google+ accounts and used Google search whilst connected to the VPN, so obviously my VPN account will be connected with my social networking identity and activity (but like most people, I also use a pseudonym for social networking). Social Networks will of course remember what VPN server you use to log-in with... If I wanted a higher level of privacy, I would need to take a LOT more steps… But this medium level of privacy I have is adequate for my needs...

 

Like you said, when we enter into world of spammers and what-not, then yes, they will play with all sorts of methods and ploys, that abuse the TOR network and VPN service providers (and what they stand for.) But I am sure, there are a few misguided individuals included also, who might think they are helping and supporting TOR, but lack the technical knowledge to implement this properly and end up causing more harm than good. I agree with you here, this kind of activity is NOT a legitimate use and is disruptive for the rest of us. But I do respect their freedom to act this way…

So, yes, that does leave us with only limited solutions when dealing with CAPCHA annoyances and over zealous anti-spam webmasters…

 

So, what I will do is:

—another very nice Feature of the excellent AirVPN software is the ability to white-list servers. So I will just keep an eye on what servers work best for me, and simply white-list them all, and continue to let the AirVPN automatically choose the best server for me from my while-list. And also attempt requesting a more practical, better solution to spam on websites I really like, like Webupd8... (*its a very valuable resource if you like Ubuntu!)

 

Thanks for all advice and information

[freedom23 3]

apologies, this was an accidental double post and can be deleted!
as a new user to this forum, your first 4 posts vanish into some moderator que to be proof read…
you are left with no way of seeing if the post indeed landed in the que, or if you pressed the wrong button!   

Edited ... by follow freedom

[ofiris 15]

Yes, I am privacy-aware user…  but I don't live in a freedom repressed country or anything like that. So this is only a general purpose VPN account for me. I wanted an always on VPN to add a small layer of privacy and security to my online social networking and surfing activity. I have checked Facebook, Twitter and Google+ accounts and used Google search whilst connected to the VPN, so obviously my VPN account will be connected with my social networking identity and activity (but like most people, I also use a pseudonym for social networking). Social Networks will of course remember what VPN server you use to log-in with... If I wanted a higher level of privacy, I would need to take a LOT more steps… But this medium level of privacy I have is adequate for my needs...

 

Like you said, when we enter into world of spammers and what-not, then yes, they will play with all sorts of methods and ploys, that abuse the TOR network and VPN service providers (and what they stand for.) But I am sure, there are a few misguided individuals included also, who might think they are helping and supporting TOR, but lack the technical knowledge to implement this properly and end up causing more harm than good. I agree with you here, this kind of activity is NOT a legitimate use and is disruptive for the rest of us. But I do respect their freedom to act this way…

So, yes, that does leave us with only limited solutions when dealing with CAPCHA annoyances and over zealous anti-spam webmasters…

 

So, what I will do is:

—another very nice Feature of the excellent AirVPN software is the ability to white-list servers. So I will just keep an eye on what servers work best for me, and simply white-list them all, and continue to let the AirVPN automatically choose the best server for me from my while-list. And also attempt requesting a more practical, better solution to spam on websites I really like, like Webupd8... (*its a very valuable resource if you like Ubuntu!)

 

Thanks for all advice and information

 

AirVPN uses shared IPs, so I'm not sure if what's in bold is true. They will not know it's you, they'll just know that an AirVPN user has access to that facebook account. 

[freedom23 3]

AirVPN uses shared IPs, so I'm not sure if what's in bold is true. They will not know it's you, they'll just know that an AirVPN user has access to that facebook account. 

 

Hi ofiris, in theory maybe, but with a normal PC set-up and standard VPN set-up, its my opinion that you haven't a hope against a huge surveillance-network like Facebook!

One mistake and they have your real ip-address and identity recorded on their servers!

 

To stand any kind of chance, you would need a clean OS like Tails, TOR, socks proxy, pay for your VPN with clean non-traceable bitcoins… etc. *you know where I am going with this… (loads of guides & tutorials here on the AirVPN forums!) But that all takes a lot of technical know how and effort… Most of us are just too lazy to do all that, or put up with the annoying internet slowness such measures cause…   

 

*By mistakes I mean, for example If your VPN drops the connection and are you are still logged into Facebook, they have your real IP-address, or If you decide to switch VPN servers… DNS leaks… Log-in into Facebook, then log in other forums on the same browser, (like AirVPN Forum for example!) Facebook will track the other sites you log in to! :-S There are a TON of mistakes one can make… Plus Facebook has all kinds of information grabbing cookies…

 

Believe me, if you regularly use Facebook (or any other social network or google services) while using your VPN, you WILL have made a mistake (I know I have!) and then they know who you are; should they need/want to know it...

[OpenSourcerer 1435]

your real ip-address and identity

 

People seem to forget that an IP address is nothing personal. It is a simple number representing a node in a global network which other nodes can communicate with. An IP on its own is not your property and thus cannot be used to identify you.

 

if you regularly use Facebook (or any other social network or google services) while using your VPN, you WILL have made a mistake and they know exactly who you are

 

They will know exactly that another IP address seems to be logged in which is just another node in that global network. They might link it to accounts, but accounts are also data entities identified through a number or a name. They simply can't know that your name is Johnny Depp without you or someone else saving your correct real name somewhere into a database and linking it somehow to that particular identifier. Don't publish your real name, address or telephone numbers anywhere and you are safe, it's that simple.

 

But.. tell me - how can you call yourself a privacy-aware guy when you use Facebook, Twitter and Google+?