Links and VPNs

[Ken555]

FYI, whenever I use a vpn to access TUG (which is often, since I use one when traveling) I am unable to access any of the links from TUG posts. Many services are now blocking use of VPNs, and it seems that’s now true for TUG as well.

 

[jp10558]

I don't think TUG is blocking the links, it would be the end link location. I almost always browse with a VPN and what I usually find more annoying is regional blocks or assumptions. It's OK if I can easily say, no I do want the US / english site, but Google for instance can be tenacious that you must want whatever its default is for the country you're exiting from.

I'll also say that the blocking really does vary by VPN provider and service level. I pay for a backup dedicated IP which tends to avoid the "this is a VPN endpoint IP" blocks, but of course is more closely tied to me.

 

[TUGBrian]

i know of no configuration or setting on TUG that would identify or block your access using a VPN.

about the only thing i could think of would be an IP based block for known spammer/scammer subnets/ips/etc...perhaps that vpn assigned you one of those?

specifically what links are you clicking on and what message does it give you instead of loading the page?

do you mean via the newsletter? or just browsing within the forum? does the main forum page load?

 

[Ken555]

Yes, it varies by VPN provider. When I use my own servers VPN I’m fine… but when using a commercial VPN provider any link within a TUG post is prevented from proceeding.

 

[TUGBrian]

im still not quite sure what you mean by "link within a tug post"? on the forum? via the newsletter? external links outside of tuG?

 

[Ken555]

Yeah, a post on tugbbs. A link that anyone includes in their comment.

 

[Ken555]

Ok… I just tested again and isolated it to Tapatalk. So this is not a TUG issue, sorry, I’ll pursue over at Tapatalk and see if they know.