VPN is harming the future of content producers and this will end

[Matrix]

Our prediction is that the days of this use case for VPNs are numbered

 

VPNs have been around almost as long as the internet itself. From the earliest of days, the desire for security within the enterprise market created a market within enterprise solutions for end-to-end connections on the internet that went through their own encrypted tunnel; rather than the open internet.

This “Virtual Private Network” system, as it became known, not only provided secure end-to-end connections, it also had two features which gave rise to its popularity. 

The first is the ability to shield your browsing behaviour from outside eyes (for example your ISP, who may go on and sell it to the highest bidder to help tailor ads, etc).

The second is being able to “spoof” geo-filtering systems by having an end -point within a region that gives you access to content not available in your home territory. 

Where is the harm in that you might ask? Certainly, in the case of the former, the desire for privacy would suggest it made sense to use a VPN if you can’t trust your ISP (assuming of course you can trust the VPN!).

In the case of the latter, the issue is much more debatable. There is sympathy in many quarters for browsers in more repressive territories to be able to beat the censor by accessing more objective news about what is happening in their home or even around the world.

Foreign online streaming

However, this noble cause is also often used as a smoke screen for probably the most common reason that anyone signs up for a VPN: the desire to watch content from a foreign online streaming service more conveniently / cheaper than is available at home.

Data from GlobalWebIndex back in 2015 (yes 2015) indicated that Netflix has 100 million users from China, without their even having a Chinese service! (ed: Netflix has just under 104 million active users as of Q2 2017).

Although that number may well have been inflated as a result of Chinese users signing up multiple times for the free two week trial (theoretically for US-based viewers!) there can be no question that VPN usage to beat geo-filtering systems and thus access content from abroad, has become very common.

As bandwidth has increased, the quality and popularity of online streaming sites has grown and for the same reason (better bandwidth) so has the popularity of VPNs to enable viewers to sign into their digital global passports to browse the world’s OTT content.

 

The consequences of "Geo-piracy"

Due to the importance to the monetization of content of “windowing” or selling of content exclusively on a territory-by-territory basis, the harm that is being done to the creative industries from this abuse cannot be just brushed under the carpet. 

The Sony Hack back in 2014 made it clear just how damaging the studios found this “Geo-piracy” and the eventual clamp down that Netflix made in early 2016 shows just what is possible to ensure that content can be made more resistant to VPN based “leakage” across borders.

However, apart from a handful of the best operators, nearly all OTT sites remain very vulnerable to being spoofed by a VPN and, as such, very popular to many VPN users! 

However, as the damage to content producers becomes better understood, and awareness that solutions exist to stop it grows, our prediction is that the days of this use case for VPNs at least, are numbered.

 

source

[nonspin]

Honestly, using a VPN to spoof/fake your location in order to access VideoStreams

or geo-restricted content is not only unnecessary on so many levels - it is simply the

wrong choice.

I'm using the sane DNS-Proxy (service)  for over 4 years now and i've yet to

encounter a restriction - it also has _NO_ impact on your speed.

The Iser-Backend let's you configure every single service (Netflix, Amazon, YouTube ..)

and if you come across a new service that you want added, they'll do it within a day.

.. The service also come with a full VPN (optional).

 

 

[steven36]

 

Looks like a commercial  from the MPAA and this not news its FUD  .

 

And  this is  bullshit

Quote

However, this noble cause is also often used as a smoke screen for probably the most common reason that anyone signs up for a VPN: the desire to watch content from a foreign online streaming service more conveniently / cheaper than is available at home.

 

The reason people started VPNs happen way back in 2012 the ISPs  started sending out warnings to people who torrent and we started using them . Most people i talked too in the Kodi Community  tells there users not to worry about a vpn unless they fool with torrents , Some people in Europe and other countries  buy vpns to bypass blocks with  websites for streaming but the vpn movement started before the streaming rage did  . People in the EU , AU and other places can just as easy use a webproxy , TOR   and other ways and torrent , download  or stream. In the USA really we dont need a VPN yet to stream or download because the USA have never blocked any websites yet, We only need a vpn if we torrent.

 

And it is and it is  a avert for  geoguard   because it is written by

• David Briggs is the Chairman of GeoGuard

 

Quote

With one in four internet users around the globe using VPNs on a daily basis, the need for detecting location fraud is compulsory to ensure proper identification.  Whether for complex regulatory compliance or product marketing needs, GeoGuard’s spoofing detection has over 1600 checks to mitigate risk from all types of users who attempt to mask their location.

 

Its not news it's a ad to sell  you and app for Media Piracy Protection for the  Film Industry that they claim can detect if you use  a vpn to acess  leagl streaming  sites like Netflix , Hulu,   Networks ,etc. Netflix and Hulu have been blocking vpns for years so its not nothing new.

 

VPNs and proxy providers can get around this by giving there customers  a dedicated ip no one else has and some do..

 

Netflix Cracks Down on VPN and Proxy “Pirates”  January 3, 2015

https://torrentfreak.com/netflix-cracks-down-on-vpn-and-proxy-pirates-150103/

 

 

Quote

 

GeoGuard and Skyhook Pioneer Media Piracy Protection for Film Industry

Precise Location Data Enables Studios and Networks to Securely Pre-Release Content Without the Threat of Piracy

 

https://www.skyhook.com/blog/geoguard-and-skyhook-pioneer-media-piracy-protection-for-film-industry

 

This app suppose to let the film industry release media without it being copied  and p2p and the scene copies it all , Netfilx , Amazon , the networks and BLU-Ray , DVD  so the app is not working.   IPTV from shady providers   is not even Geo blocked by the way .

 

There is nothing that can't be streamed  or downloaded  on demand worth watching after it  airs .

 

Even if they could block users from legal streaming sites. If someone from the USA , UK , AU  , EU , ASIA , etc , copy something without using a vpn  ,and post on p2p or a filehost  it still can be streamed and downloaded.  Tools like this just makes piracy worse  because it blocks users who pay so they will just go to Piracy site to get it.

 

Most every site i ever tested  i can get still get around geo blocks  with my vpn by just changing the ip tell i find one that works. They ban ips and vpns get new ones that work . Whack A Mole

[Appline]

Oh, cry me a river, will ya? Our profits won't be as big as we want, boo hoo. They don't realize that people will get the content either way. If it is too expensive they will just pirate it. And with cheaper subs they still make more money compared if people just arrr'd it. But no let's be greedy. Of course, Netflix, Hulu and the like are constantly banning VPNs, but premium ones like NordVPN, ExpressVPN or GooseVPN always try to bypass the restrictions. If there is a demand, there will be a supply. Works for everything.