How does BBC iPlayer know I'm not in UK despite logging into UK server via VPN?
I use NordVPN on my iOS 14 and I want to watch some entertaining series aired on the BBC.
Earlier I used Sweden server on NordVPN but then I changed to UK since BBC shows are only available to people geographically situated in the UK. Even though browser and websites detect change in location and start throwing tons of CAPTCHA, I circumvent this (or I'd like to think I do) by deleting all cookies and caches from all browsers I have installed, beginning with Safari.
However, the problem here is this → the BBC iPlayer website somehow figures out that I am still logged in from a non-UK country and doesn't let me watch videos, despite clearing all my caches and cookies, after I have recently changed my NordVPN to login from UK. The workaround I have found for now is stay logged in from UK NordVPN server for around 2-3 days and then access BBC iPlayer content (streaming videos/ series), then it works. Patience is not one of my virtues and waiting for a 2-3 days is a lousy workaround.
Is there a quicker workaround for this? I know deleting just cache and cookies ain't gonna work so easily.
Should I go for a network reset? That will have the added complexity of re-entering my WiFi password which I wanna avoid.
My thinking here is that the web server Session Affinity (Sticky bit) is cookie based, as opposed to IP based and hence this keeps on happening.
Would someone please help me out here?
Thanks
PS → the BBC iPlayer website does ask its users to turn off VPN, if they are using any.
28 comments
[ 2.9 ms ] story [ 24.1 ms ] threadI use the browser. Today I watched using Chrome on my iOS.
The same databases that allow you to resolve geoip location typically also would get you ASN for free and then you can try to filter out obvious non-residential IP blocks. Just looking for M247 alone (major bulletproof hoster frequently used by VPN companies) would probably detect at least half of all commercial VPN IPs including most of Nordvpn's.
I read up on ASN (Autonomous systems numbering) and M247 as well.
Is there a way I can camouflage my IP headers so that BBC won't detect M247? Would using different protocols which NordVPN offers do any different - SOCKS, P2P?
Thanks for your suggestion again.
Try a different VPN and pay close attention to server IPs and their whois. There are some real shady ones whose "server" pool is essentially malwared unsuspecting internet users, that should get you a residential-looking IP rather than datacenter.
You can't write the wrong address on a letter and expect it to arrive at its intended destination. You're already doing the most you can, routing wise, but a direct line still has to be made back to you... be it behind a proxy or not.
1. Making all my DNS requests are going through my VPN? (My VPN is on, 24*7)
2. Testing my VPN connection for WebRTC leaks? (I use NordVPN)
I am in a UK address and getting many details out of which I am posting just these, posting others might be extraneous -
“Your IP addresses - WebRTC detection
DNS Address - 1 server, 1 errors.
If you are now connected to a VPN and between the detected DNS you see your ISP DNS, then your system is leaking DNS requests.”
Ergo, I believe I can safely rule out WebRTC Leaks.
Also, the page gives some details on how to switch off WebRTC for every browser. I don’t need to switch off my WebRTC, right? It’s necessary. NordVPN should be taking care of WebRTC leaks, unless I am mistaken.
What is your system time? If it's not British time you're somewhere else.
What is your actual IP? Where is that IP based?
What is the return-time between a ping (or similar) from the BBC to you and back? If it's over a certain number of microseconds, you're 'no longer in Kansas, Toto'.I am not based in UK. Do you think I should be changing my iPhone timeline to UK? It will be a clunky workaround but doable.
>>What is your actual IP? Where is that IP based?
Would you please tell me how do I use the above command to run in my iPhone to find my actual IP? Please note that I keep my VPN on 24 * 7 so that my real IP is never sent out on the web.
>>What is the return-time between a ping (or similar) from the BBC to you and back?
It should be around 18-20msec when I last did a speedtest with the VPN on. How can I check my ping time to the BBC iPlayer site? Is there a website which will help me do this?
High latency can be legitimately expected over mobile or satellite connections, it's not a strong signal of a non-local user by itself. UK has real shitty broadband in most places in comparison to 4G/5G, I'd expect a pretty large share of mobile users there.
You could also be using an app like youtube-dl or streamlink to record the stream from a nearby VPS with low latency.
Try changing system timezone and language settings and restart machine.
Ta.
I never switch off my VPN. Are you suggesting -
1. I switch off my VPN.
2. Then turn on my VPN.
3. Then delete my cache and cookies
4. Then visit BBC iPlayer?
I think I have been doing this since a long time but hasn’t really worked. I need to wait for a few days on UK server VPN before BBC iPlayer thinks I am a legit visitor. I tried converting this in my above post as well, through I am afraid I don’t portray a clear picture.
There are many ways out there to check if you're in the country you say you are but this is one of the "easy" ones.
For what it’s worth, the exact same container setup running on Digital Ocean did not work - I think whatever IP block I had been given must be black listed. My elastic IP on AWS has been fine though.
Here’s a Docker Compose example you can deploy to a VPS: > https://github.com/IAmStoxe/wirehole
Make sure the VPN is the default gateway.