Canadian Telcom Chief Details How Netflix VPN Spoofing is “Stealing”
As more and more multimedia content providers are making their products available online, there are many users across the globe who are unable to access this content because of your physical location. For instance, if you wanted to watch the latest episode of Mad Men, Netflix users in the US will see the content weeks or even months before Netflix users in the UK or elsewhere because of licensing agreements that Netflix has in place. Essentially, a fully paying Netflix user can be Geo-Blocked if they are in the wrong country or region. A popular way to get around this Geo-Blocking has been to use of specific applications Hola or the use of DNS-Trick.
The Hola service makes use of a collaborative internet that routes your network traffic through other peers in the Hola network. With Holas peer-to-peer network, you then have access to information and products not normally available in your home geographic network getting around any blocking that you might run in to. [Edit: As many people have pointed out, the Hola app is quite controversial and many have even called it “dangerous”. It is not our intention to promote its use, but rather report that services such as Hola exist. Please do your homework before you install and use any “spoofing” applications!]
Another service, DNS-Trick, allows all your connected devices to masquerade your real location with no bandwidth loss. Once you create a free account, you change your DNS on your router and your browsing will automatically appear like you are in the preferred location for un-blocked content viewing.
While these sites, and other like them, seem to be the answer for those outside of the United States looking to gain content to US content providers like Netflix (USA) or HBO Now, it is also beneficial to those inside the States looking to gain access to content in the UK or Asia.
Not everyone is happy about the progression of technology that allows users to be Geo-Free though. Canadian Bell Media head Mary Ann Turchke said those who get around copyright laws using these services are not only hurting Canadian jobs, but they are stealing. She says, Like throwing garbage out of your car window, you just dont do it. We have to get engaged and tell people theyre stealing.
While this might seem extreme, there have been numerous reports on how content providers like Bell Media, Netflix, and HBO are cracking down on VPN and Proxy Pirates. Only time will tell how effective these efforts are to those viewers who demand to watch what they want, when they want, and where they want.