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    Need your help will pay 20$: PIA on pfsense Netflix detects proxy

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    • johnpozJ
      johnpoz LAYER 8 Global Moderator
      last edited by

      You can use whatever vpn want for your vpn stuff, but for netflix you just route that out your normal wan, without vpn... Which is what he linked too, and what brought up 22 days ago.. Policy Routing..

      If you insist on sending your netflix traffic through your vpn then its going to be wack-a-mole.. It may work, it may not - as soon as they block that vpn it will stop, etc. etc.

      An intelligent man is sometimes forced to be drunk to spend time with his fools
      If you get confused: Listen to the Music Play
      Please don't Chat/PM me for help, unless mod related
      SG-4860 24.11 | Lab VMs 2.8, 24.11

      asphalt3A 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
      • GertjanG
        Gertjan
        last edited by Gertjan

        Netflix over a blocked - by Netflix - VPN can be made working ....

        The concession will be : look out for a second VPN that is accepted by Netflix - or run your own on a VPS or something like that. Or : run a VPN server at your neighbours house ^^

        Now, you must be willing to hook up your TV set - using a HDMI - to your PC - or use the Window 10 trick : stream your PC image to your TV set.

        Initial setup : pfSense tunnels everything - your entire LAN - through your initial VPN service.
        From your PC : before looking Netflix, launch a VPN to your own VPN server, the one that Netflix accepts. Throw the image on your TV set.
        You created a tunnel in a tunnel !
        This works !
        ( I tested it ones )

        Netflix works now .... but your new problem might be the black helicopters over your house. There are agencies that get nervous when you make tunnels in tunnels ... (darknet etc).

        No "help me" PM's please. Use the forum, the community will thank you.
        Edit : and where are the logs ??

        1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
        • asphalt3A
          asphalt3 @JeGr
          last edited by

          @JeGr said in Need your help will pay 20$: PIA on pfsense Netflix detects proxy:

          @asphalt3 said in Need your help will pay 20$: PIA on pfsense Netflix detects proxy:

          Well I don’t wanna compromise my gigabyte speed using a slower vpn neither lose money on a vpn I already purchased before starting this thread

          Understandable, but if Netflix has anything from PIA listed it is pretty much useless for your usecase in running Netflix over it. That's just the way it is with Geo- and VPN-Blocking. Either you exclude Netflix/AWS/Amazon things from the VPN or you (mostly) get blocked for using a VPN. Nothing we can do about that if you don't want to either switch VPNs nor run Netflix "unencrypted" via your normal WAN.

          That’s exactly what I want to do “exclude Netflix/AWS/Amazon ” maybe I wasn’t clear

          1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
          • asphalt3A
            asphalt3 @johnpoz
            last edited by

            @johnpoz said in Need your help will pay 20$: PIA on pfsense Netflix detects proxy:

            You can use whatever vpn want for your vpn stuff, but for netflix you just route that out your normal wan, without vpn... Which is what he linked too, and what brought up 22 days ago.. Policy Routing..

            If you insist on sending your netflix traffic through your vpn then its going to be wack-a-mole.. It may work, it may not - as soon as they block that vpn it will stop, etc. etc.

            What do you mean by “route that out your normal wan”? Right now I’ve assigned a static ip to my smart tv that I route through wan. I am not sure to understand what you’re saying. You mean that by using policy routing there’s another way around... I don’t understand

            bmeeksB 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
            • bmeeksB
              bmeeks @asphalt3
              last edited by bmeeks

              @asphalt3 said in Need your help will pay 20$: PIA on pfsense Netflix detects proxy:

              @johnpoz said in Need your help will pay 20$: PIA on pfsense Netflix detects proxy:

              You can use whatever vpn want for your vpn stuff, but for netflix you just route that out your normal wan, without vpn... Which is what he linked too, and what brought up 22 days ago.. Policy Routing..

              If you insist on sending your netflix traffic through your vpn then its going to be wack-a-mole.. It may work, it may not - as soon as they block that vpn it will stop, etc. etc.

              What do you mean by “route that out your normal wan”? Right now I’ve assigned a static ip to my smart tv that I route through wan. I am not sure to understand what you’re saying. You mean that by using policy routing there’s another way around... I don’t understand

              That is a policy-based rule. It selects an outbound gateway using conditions defined in the rule. In your case, you have a static IP assigned to your Smart TV, and when the rule detects traffic from your Smart TV outbound to the Internet that matches the ports/protocols you may have specified, the rule triggers and routes the traffic out the normal WAN interface instead of out on the VPN.

              You have two options for handling how you route. You can assign static IP addresses to your streaming devices that you want to use for Netflix and then use your existing policy-based rule. The other option is to create an alias containing all the known IP addresses for the CDN that make up the Netflix distribution chain. The pfBlockerNG package helps with that because it can download lists of IP addresses and maintain the aliases for you. The only difference in this case is that your policy rule would change so the source IP was "any" instead of your assigned Smart TV static IPS and the destination IP would be the alias (or aliases) containing all the CDN IP addresses for Netflix.

              I personally would recommend the option you are already using with static IP addresses for your streaming devices. That alias option is going to have hiccups because the list of CDN (content distribution network) IP addresses is ever-changing. Sometimes the third-party maintainer of those free IP lists falls behind on updates. If that happens and your alias containing all the Netflix CDN IP addresses gets out of date, then Netflix could get erroneously routed out via your VPN (because the destination IP that a client looked up via DNS happened to not match any of the IPs in the "Netflix Alias" configured in pfBlockerNG).

              K 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
              • K
                Konstanti @bmeeks
                last edited by Konstanti

                @bmeeks
                Hi
                I had a similar problem and I had to separate the traffic of Netflix on the streaming device (Apple TV) from all other traffic and to put it on my desired direction.
                Because the ip addresses of the servers Netflix is constantly changing (and a lot of them) , I have created a module in PFSense+Netgraph+parser DNS responses (written in C)
                Now I can catch all dns responses that have text Netflix, nflxvideo or nflxso ,and put the ip addresses of these responses in the table PF .
                And with the help of this table and PBR send the traffic where I need to go
                It looks like this (the part of the log)

                Sep 17 13:46:18 daemon started
                  Found file /usr/local/tmp/dns_parser/ip.db, restore table netflix_ip 
                  Successfully restored 291 ip-addresses
                Sep 17 13:50:39 Get DNS response for server: cast-uiboot.prod.http1.netflix.coM
                  Alias name(CNAME):  prod.http1.geo.netflix.coM
                  Alias name(CNAME):  prod.http1.eu-west-1.prodaa.netflix.coM
                  Domain name(ANAME):  prod.http1.eu-west-1.prodaa.netflix.coM
                   IP address 34.252.211.92 will be added to table
                  Domain name(ANAME):  prod.http1.eu-west-1.prodaa.netflix.coM
                   IP address 52.17.137.54 will be added to table
                  Domain name(ANAME):  prod.http1.eu-west-1.prodaa.netflix.coM
                   IP address 52.214.57.81 will be added to table
                  Domain name(ANAME):  prod.http1.eu-west-1.prodaa.netflix.coM
                   IP address 52.214.167.17 will be added to table
                  Domain name(ANAME):  prod.http1.eu-west-1.prodaa.netflix.coM
                   IP address 54.77.61.253 will be added to table
                  Domain name(ANAME):  prod.http1.eu-west-1.prodaa.netflix.coM
                   IP address 34.242.54.142 will be added to table
                  Domain name(ANAME):  prod.http1.eu-west-1.prodaa.netflix.coM
                   IP address 34.251.119.18 will be added to table
                  Domain name(ANAME):  prod.http1.eu-west-1.prodaa.netflix.coM
                   IP address 34.251.249.50 will be added to table
                  Total ip addresses to add 8, Succefully added 8 ip addresses  to table netflix_ip
                Sep 17 13:50:40 Get DNS response for server: occ-0-38-2773.1.nflxso.neT
                  Domain name(ANAME):  occ-0-38-2773.1.nflxso.neT
                   IP address 23.246.26.150 will be added to table
                  Domain name(ANAME):  occ-0-38-2773.1.nflxso.neT
                   IP address 23.246.26.157 will be added to table
                  Total ip addresses to add 2, Succefully added 2 ip addresses  to table netflix_ip
                Sep 17 13:50:45 Get DNS response for server: ipv4-c079-arn001-ix.1.oca.nflxvideo.neT
                  Domain name(ANAME):  ipv4-c079-arn001-ix.1.oca.nflxvideo.neT
                   IP address 23.246.26.156 will be added to table
                Total ip addresses to add 1, Succefully added 1 ip addresses  to table netflix_ip
                

                This part of the table and rule for it

                fe13e8b4-a41b-4fc7-bd84-3f1ca7939189-image.png

                c03dd3b6-2df5-4990-a0ad-16215fdb24fe-image.png
                a774230e-4d31-4a39-b7d3-db8acec2fea1-image.png

                bmeeksB 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                • JeGrJ
                  JeGr LAYER 8 Moderator
                  last edited by

                  One can also use pfBlockerNG for that. Import the Netflix AS delegations etc. and put that into an IP alias. Some of our customers are doing it like that without much problems. Netflix + AWS AS and a few minor IPs and you have a pretty solid working base.

                  Don't forget to upvote 👍 those who kindly offered their time and brainpower to help you!

                  If you're interested, I'm available to discuss details of German-speaking paid support (for companies) if needed.

                  1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                  • bmeeksB
                    bmeeks @Konstanti
                    last edited by bmeeks

                    @Konstanti:

                    Yes, there are a couple of different ways to "skin this cat" so to speak. My personal preference would be either static IP addresses (or DHCP reservations) for my streaming devices. But using an IP list containing the Netflix or Amazon or Hulu, etc., IP addresses can work as well. I just know that from time to time those IP addresses are likely to change, and your streaming connection might hiccup if the destination IP the client obtained from its DNS lookup did not match an IP in your streaming provider alias list. That would then result in your streaming client being routed out via the VPN tunnel instead of your normal WAN IP and thus getting blocked.

                    Of course it is a hassle to assign static IP addresses, and especially so for "roaming" devices such as say your grandkids mobile devices (if you have grandchildren yet) or the mobile devices of other guests in your home. So I can definitely see the appeal of using the CDN list concept via pfBlockerNG or rolling your own solution.

                    In the end, though, I admit to being a huge non-fan of VPNs. I see them as required for only two scenarios: (1) to connect remote offices together into a company-wide LAN or (2) for secure remote access into my own LAN. I'm not a fan of the whole "privacy" thing so much. First of all, as has been stated here many times, you really have no meaningful guarantee of privacy from some of these VPN providers. Most certainly if you are doing something shady or patently illegal behind a VPN you don't have the protection you think you do. A subpoena or search warrant from a government law enforcement agency carries a lot of weight, and just about any VPN provider would cave (especially if they are located within your country of residence). Finally, for what little benefit you may convince yourself you are getting by hiding your web traffic behind a VPN, you also get a good bit of PITA (pain in the a**). Just do a search here on the pfSense forums for "vpn" and see how many folks have issues connecting to various services. You will find that most of the time the cause turns out to be their VPN configuration. In fact, just look at the origin of this very thread. The OP was having streaming issues trying to use the VPN.

                    K 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 1
                    • johnpozJ
                      johnpoz LAYER 8 Global Moderator
                      last edited by johnpoz

                      static is not all that hard, just set a reservation - once this mobile client has connected once.. Just set reservation for it from the dhcp lease listing, just click the little button and assign it an IP.. Next time it gets IP from dhcp it would get the reserved one..

                      edit: Isn't that what PIA vpn name stands for? Pain In Ass ;) hehehehe

                      An intelligent man is sometimes forced to be drunk to spend time with his fools
                      If you get confused: Listen to the Music Play
                      Please don't Chat/PM me for help, unless mod related
                      SG-4860 24.11 | Lab VMs 2.8, 24.11

                      bmeeksB 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                      • bmeeksB
                        bmeeks @johnpoz
                        last edited by bmeeks

                        @johnpoz said in Need your help will pay 20$: PIA on pfsense Netflix detects proxy:

                        static is not all that hard, just set a reservation - once this mobile client has connected once.. Just set reservation for it from the dhcp lease listing, just click the little button and assign it an IP.. Next time it gets IP from dhcp it would get the reserved one..

                        edit: Isn't that what PIA stands for? Pain In Ass ;) hehehehe

                        Probably need to edit my acronymn to be PITA instead... ☺ . Still only one coffee down the hatch this morning ...

                        And by "hassle" I mean you have to login to the firewall, find the device's MAC and set the IP and reservation. True you won't have to repeat that again, though. I was mainly referring to that first time encounter with a particular device. It's difficult to concentrate on getting the static IP and reservation set up with a panicked 4 year-old in your ear who's "Dora the Explorer" show won't play on the iPad ... 😁 .

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                        • K
                          Konstanti @bmeeks
                          last edited by

                          @bmeeks
                          My program updates the list of ip addresses of servers netflix dynamically based on the responses of the DNS server , and the list is constantly increasing in size . So at the moment I have ensured that I was able to split the traffic HBO and AMAZON PRIME traffic from NETFLIX on the same device.And the program is quite stable for 2 weeks.
                          I use VPN because HBO doesn't work in Russia , and I want to watch it )))

                          bmeeksB 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                          • bmeeksB
                            bmeeks @Konstanti
                            last edited by

                            @Konstanti said in Need your help will pay 20$: PIA on pfsense Netflix detects proxy:

                            @bmeeks
                            My program updates the list of ip addresses of servers netflix dynamically based on the responses of the DNS server , and the list is constantly increasing in size . So at the moment I have ensured that I was able to split the traffic HBO and AMAZON PRIME traffic from NETFLIX on the same device.And the program is quite stable for 2 weeks.
                            I use VPN because HBO doesn't work in Russia , and I want to watch it )))

                            Your situation is a bit different. You are then, in fact, using the VPN to bypass HBO's geo-restriction policy.

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                            • johnpozJ
                              johnpoz LAYER 8 Global Moderator
                              last edited by

                              @Konstanti said in Need your help will pay 20$: PIA on pfsense Netflix detects proxy:

                              I use VPN because HBO doesn't work in Russia , and I want to watch it )))

                              Well that is the actual real reason for vpn's as we all well know, circumvention of geo restrictions.. Not that silly nonsense about any sort of privacy ;)

                              An intelligent man is sometimes forced to be drunk to spend time with his fools
                              If you get confused: Listen to the Music Play
                              Please don't Chat/PM me for help, unless mod related
                              SG-4860 24.11 | Lab VMs 2.8, 24.11

                              1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                              • W
                                william333
                                last edited by

                                Very important discussion started here which help me to fix my problem.

                                1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                                • GertjanG
                                  Gertjan
                                  last edited by

                                  Well, yeah, content suppliers can't supply without knowing your real geographical position, they stop supplying you when you 'mystify' your location.
                                  When you use a VPN, you're hiding your real 'view point' position.
                                  Solution : don't use a network that is considered as a VPN.

                                  Netflix, etc, they all mention this in their "selling conditions".

                                  No "help me" PM's please. Use the forum, the community will thank you.
                                  Edit : and where are the logs ??

                                  1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 1
                                  • johnpozJ
                                    johnpoz LAYER 8 Global Moderator
                                    last edited by

                                    just google wack a mole vpn ;)

                                    An intelligent man is sometimes forced to be drunk to spend time with his fools
                                    If you get confused: Listen to the Music Play
                                    Please don't Chat/PM me for help, unless mod related
                                    SG-4860 24.11 | Lab VMs 2.8, 24.11

                                    1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 1
                                    • H
                                      habanavee
                                      last edited by

                                      This thing works on Netflix but not for Amazon prime, do you any solution for that too?

                                      bmeeksB 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                                      • bmeeksB
                                        bmeeks @habanavee
                                        last edited by bmeeks

                                        @habanavee said in Need your help will pay 20$: PIA on pfsense Netflix detects proxy:

                                        This thing works on Netflix but not for Amazon prime, do you any solution for that too?

                                        Yep! Disconnect the VPN and Amazon Prime will work just fine (and as a bonus, Netflix will work, too!).

                                        H 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 1
                                        • H
                                          habanavee @bmeeks
                                          last edited by

                                          @bmeeks But Amazon doesn't work in the country where I am right now (Pakistan) and even with VPN which I tried but no success.

                                          Any suggestion?

                                          bmeeksB 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                                          • johnpozJ
                                            johnpoz LAYER 8 Global Moderator
                                            last edited by johnpoz

                                            Not sure how many times have to say this - its going to be a wack a mole game... Find a different vpn service that it works on - good luck.. And few hours, days, weeks it will stop working and you will have to find a different vpn server or even service... ie Wack-A-Mole!!

                                            wackamole.png

                                            The term "Whac-a-mole" (or "Whack-a-mole") is used colloquially to denote a repetitious and futile task: each time a task is finished or a problem is dealt with, yet another task/problem appears elsewhere. In a military context, the term is used to refer to ostensibly inferior opposing troops who keep re-appearing. In a programming/debugging context it refers to the fact that fixing a bug has a certain chance of creating a new bug which itself needs to be fixed. In a web context, it refers to the process of fending off recurring spammers, vandals or miscreants. It has also been used of fake news stories.

                                            So you can either continue to play the game with netflix,amazon,hulu, etc. Or find a better solution - do you have buddy/friend in a country that allows watching the services you want to watch? If so vpn to them, or use something like a slingbox or something that allows you to view programs off their TV, etc. If you vpn through them, since they are not a major vpn service, and would have just a normal residential IP address - its unlikely they would get blocked.

                                            Other option would be to get your own vps somewhere and use that as your vpn server.. Since its not part of a major players vpn service ip space - it might be missed as they wack a mole the vpn services IP space..

                                            An intelligent man is sometimes forced to be drunk to spend time with his fools
                                            If you get confused: Listen to the Music Play
                                            Please don't Chat/PM me for help, unless mod related
                                            SG-4860 24.11 | Lab VMs 2.8, 24.11

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