Blocked for Using a VPN
Have you ever tried to protect your privacy with a VPN, only to be met with "VPN usage detected" or "Access blocked"? Why do some websites dislike VPNs?
Why Websites Block VPNs
Streaming Services (Netflix, Disney+, etc.)
Streaming rights for movies and TV shows are licensed on a country-by-country basis. Content that isn't licensed in Japan can't be accessed from Japan. Since routing through a VPN server in another country would grant access to that country's content, streaming services detect and block VPNs.
Netflix is the most aggressive in combating VPNs, constantly updating its list of known VPN server IP addresses.
Banks and Financial Services
To prevent unauthorized access, they block VPN connections or require additional authentication. Access from an unusual country is flagged as a potential sign of unauthorized login.
Online Games
Using a VPN can increase latency, unfairly affecting other players. It also serves to prevent the illegitimate acquisition of region-locked events and items.
Ticket Sales Websites
They block VPNs to prevent scalper bots from making bulk purchases while rotating IP addresses.
How VPNs Are Detected
- IP address blacklists: Server IP addresses of well-known VPN services are cataloged in databases. If an IP address is on the list, it gets blocked
- Mass connections from a single IP: VPN servers are shared by many users, resulting in an unnaturally high volume of access from a single IP address
- IP address and geolocation mismatch: Your browser's location (GPS) says the US, but your IP address says Japan - this contradiction reveals VPN usage
- DNS leaks: Even when using a VPN, DNS queries may bypass the VPN and be sent directly to your ISP. The likelihood of leaks depends partly on which VPN protocol you use and how it handles DNS routing
Is Using a VPN Illegal?
In most countries, including Japan, using a VPN itself is legal. However, if the activity you perform through a VPN is illegal, that activity is naturally still illegal.
- Legal: Privacy protection, security on public Wi-Fi, remote work
- Gray area: Accessing geo-restricted content (may violate the service's terms of use)
- Illegal in some countries: VPN usage itself is restricted or illegal in countries like China, Russia, North Korea, and Iraq
Summary
VPNs get blocked because service providers have legitimate reasons - protecting distribution rights, preventing unauthorized access, and combating bots. Using a VPN is legal in Japan, but it may violate a service's terms of use. When you check your IP address on IP Check-san while connected to a VPN, you'll see the IP address of the VPN server's location.