I use ProtonVPN for everything, and I’ve started noticing more and more sites simply blocking me if I try to connect to them through ProtonVPN. As much as it sucks, I’ve more or less become acclimated to having to deal with an increased number of captchas while using a VPN; but I’m pretty angry about being blocked outright. There are at least two broad blocking tactics. First, some sites will say that my network traffic looks suspicious and/or that they simply block traffic from certain IP addresses. But second, and far more maddeningly, some sites tell me that my username and password combo are incorrect when I’m using a VPN. But I know this to be a blatant lie because (1) I use a password manager that auto-fills login forms with credentials that match the domain name, and (2) such sites accept my credentials when I visit them without the VPN connection.
What the hell can we do about this shit? Do I have to run my own VPN to avoid sharing an IP address with other people and thus getting blocked? I really don’t want to do that because I have neither the time nor expertise, and I like that connecting through a VPN provider makes my IP address much less significant. I’m aware that this is connected to the broader conversation about WEI and other methods for determining whether requests are legitimate or not, and I’m sure that businesses of all sizes are reeling from massive increases in bot and AI activity. But solutions that end up punishing legitimate users are not good or valid solutions.
We need laws that prevent companies from discriminating by how you look. Websites should only be able to deny customers based on how they act. A simple innocent GET from a user with a VPN IP should not be legally permissible reason to deny them.
That thing where they claim the username/password combo is wrong?
That sounds like a really good idea if the site thinks the reason they’re a lot of different lock-on attemps from that one ip is because its a hacker with a list of stolen credentials.
Basically just tell them their list is fake and “go away and stop bothering our customers, please.”
I’ve had this exact scenario happen with my Amazon account. One the one hand its annoying, but on the other I don’t want them to make it easier for someone in another country to order stuff using my account and credit card.
Thats not a good idea because these systems false-positive all the time.
If my first login attempt has the correct username, correct password, and correct totp token, then I should always be let in. That’s literally how auth works.
Yes! 100% agree with this and your law proposal!
You’re right!
(Still think they might be doing just that, some of them.)