For many years now Netflix users have been able to use VPNs on the streaming service, and quite easily too. But unfortunately it seems that those days are numbered, and Netflix are thinking seriously about stamping out VPN use.
Have you ever heard about a great show and popped it on you Netflix list only to find that it's no longer on the site when you come round to watch it? Yes, highly infuriating. But if it was in the Netflix system once then you can rest assured Netflix are still hosting it in another region. Long story short, they have to pay for the right to host in each individual country, so they move the TV shows and Movies around within their network constantly. People were once able to 'beat' this and get the full catalogue. Now that's changing.
What's A VPN? And, Why Do People Use VPNs With Netflix?
Here's a short little refresher course upfront. VPNs or virtual private networks, encrypt your connection over the Internet from a device to a network. More importantly in this context, they can allow your traffic to be routed via another location before going to a given destination. So you can make it seem as though your traffic is originating from somewhere other than your actual location. Basically, you can appear to websites as though you're accessing their network from a country of your choosing.
Why would you use that for Netflix? Well, Netflix have different content available for each country - so users in Canada might have the next season of Love Island, but patrons in Djibouti might need to wait for it etc. But with a VPN, the Love Island fan in Djibouti could send their internet traffic via Canada to get access to the next season.
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What Are Netflix Doing About VPNs?
While Netflix were once famously okay with people using VPNs on their service, now Netflix have started issuing bans to users caught using VPNs. Well, not complete bans but they users with a notification that tells them they know about the VPN usage, and that at least temporarily, they will only be able to access Netflix Original content.
This is truly a sad day for the VPN Netflix community, and that's a group I proudly count myself among. Let's hope the VPN providers start wising up, because Netflix is one of the biggest reasons they exist.
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