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Virmach VPS IP flagged by Google and requires CAPTCHA for VPN, other providers with this issue?
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Virmach VPS IP flagged by Google and requires CAPTCHA for VPN, other providers with this issue?

I'm curious which VPS providers have IP address blocks that are being flagged by Google and other sites as requiring additional human verification when used as a VPN endpoint. I ran across this for the first time when trying out Virmach's NL location - Google searches require a CAPTCHA (frequently, perhaps several times an hour), and even sites like AliExpress detect an issue and require a sliding button type of human verification. Tested over both Wireguard and OpenVPN.

I've previously used RamNode's Netherlands location without this issue, currently testing OwnWeb's Germany location and not seeing this issue, and finally have been using BuyVM's Las Vegas location for many years without this issue.

As far as support, Virmach support stated that they would need to bill for any changes as they would need to manually switch out IP addresses and test them to assign an IP address that isn't blocked. Caveat emptor if you are considering Virmach's NL location for VPN usage.

Thanked by 2CasualCanvas Nick_A

Comments

  • Start using duckduckgo

  • Basically happens with every provider, just use a different search engine.

    From what I have seen, Google have their own 'IP Reputation' system, and it would flag that you are suspicious if your IP address is searching from many different timezones etc.

  • @TerensM said:
    Start using duckduckgo

    @HyperK9 said:
    Basically happens with every provider, just use a different search engine.

    What I find interesting is that it's not just Google that's flagging the IP, I also saw this with AliExpress as a specific example. A search provider is easy to change, an e-commerce provider is a bit more of an annoyance. I also haven't done an exhaustive test to see which other sites have flagged the IP. I do know it wasn't tied to a specific client, I saw this over both desktop and mobile devices.

    It makes sense that it's possible for this to happen with any provider - though as I mentioned this is the first provider that I've actually run into it personally. It'd be handy to have a list of provider locations where this is a known issue.

  • hzrhzr Member

    @taligentx said: What I find interesting is that it's not just Google that's flagging the IP, I also saw this with AliExpress as a specific example. A search provider is easy to change, an e-commerce provider is a bit more of an annoyance. I also haven't done an exhaustive test to see which other sites have flagged the IP. I do know it wasn't tied to a specific client, I saw this over both desktop and mobile devices.

    Aliexpress port scans you and will permanently ban you if you have server-like ports open.

    This bypasses firewall because it will also port scan you locally using <img onerror>.

  • defaultdefault Veteran
    edited October 2020

    Stop using Google if you care about your privacy. And please do not blame Virmach for whatever stupid things Google company does.

    And to answer your concern: I use Virmach as VPN. I also use VPN in other providers with VPS within ColoCrossing data centers. Everything works great, but please note I am not using Google (except for the Android on my mobile phone). F*ck Google and their visitor profiling.

    Thanked by 3ariq01 zenki umi
  • @hzr said:
    Aliexpress port scans you and will permanently ban you if you have server-like ports open.

    This bypasses firewall because it will also port scan you locally using <img onerror>.

    Good to know, though I haven't experienced this personally either at a residential IP (which has several well known ports open with active services - 80, 443, etc) or at any of the previously mentioned providers (including several with port 25 running Postfix). I'll update this post if I encounter an account ban.

    @default said:
    Stop using Google if you care about your privacy. And please do not blame Virmach for whatever stupid things Google company does.

    As I mentioned, it makes sense that this can be an issue with any provider, and it's not just about Google, other sites also flagged the IP.

    To be clear, it's not about blame - I can understand it being a frustrating issue for providers as they have little control over their IPs getting flagged. As a consumer, however, it's useful to know in advance of purchasing services if other users are currently encountering the same issue with a particular provider's location if VPN is going to be among the use cases.

  • @hzr said: Aliexpress port scans you and will permanently ban you if you have server-like ports open.

    Since when?

  • If something works now there is no guarantee that i will after a few days

  • hzrhzr Member

    @serv_ee said: Since when?

    There's a chain of scripts that start loading, entrypoints are something like https://g.alicdn.com/sd/pointman/js/pt2.js and https://aeis.alicdn.com/AWSC/WebUMID/1.72.0/um.js (that then load dozens more dynamically off generated filenames)

    Depending on loaded chain you might see things like this in console:

    WebSocket connection to 'wss://127.0.0.1:3389/' failed: Error in connection establishment: net::ERR_CONNECTION_REFUSED

  • I'm having a similar issue on Hetzner. Some websites including Google require captcha, even websites on Cloudflare like whatismyip.com

  • @hzr said:

    @serv_ee said: Since when?

    There's a chain of scripts that start loading, entrypoints are something like https://g.alicdn.com/sd/pointman/js/pt2.js and https://aeis.alicdn.com/AWSC/WebUMID/1.72.0/um.js (that then load dozens more dynamically off generated filenames)

    Depending on loaded chain you might see things like this in console:

    WebSocket connection to 'wss://127.0.0.1:3389/' failed: Error in connection establishment: net::ERR_CONNECTION_REFUSED

    Don't know maybe it's country restricted? I've never had this before on fiber nor now on 4g with static - both ports opened.

  • Btw duckduckgo never asks for CAPTCHA.if you want to stick to your current solution. Getting captcha on YouTube is really really hard.I mean if i were google i would be more concerned with people downloading YouTube video then search result scrapers

  • Sign into your Google account in chrome and the prompts will stop. Might also help to acknowledge when you get a gmail security login alert from a new location.

    Thanked by 1dustinc
  • Many sites including google know if given IP belong to hosting company or ISP. Not known/small datacenter = less problems with google.

  • I've been having the same issue with google. It started about a week or so ago on two servers with Virmach.

  • Tor exit nodes usually trigger this, because they're like free public toilets...

  • @DanSummer said:
    I've been having the same issue with google. It started about a week or so ago on two servers with Virmach.

    It can come and go. Same for me on Virmach.

  • @TimboJones said:
    Sign into your Google account in chrome and the prompts will stop. Might also help to acknowledge when you get a gmail security login alert from a new location.

    Bah. Got prompted today despite being logged in. Oh, the two second inconvenience is annoying.

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