pfSense stopping me from connecting to Netflix?

VPN
1

This is a bit different to the traditional “netflix won’t work with my vpn” post. I currently have an OpenVPN configuration using the ExpressVPN Sydney server, and route all of my network traffic through it. Today, Netflix started throwing the “you appear to be using an unblocker/proxy” error. My first thought was that Netflix had extended their blacklist to include the ExpressVPN server that I’m using, HOWEVER, out of interest I decided to connect to the same server using a vpn connection on a client directly, rather than pfsense. It was able to access Netflix without getting the unblocker/proxy error. Here are the characteristics of my issue:

  • Yesterday I was able to access Netflix on any client with no issues
  • Today every client throws the unblocking/proxy error.
  • When I connect to the same VPN server directly using a client, Netflix works.

I have DNS Forwarder disabled. I have DNS Resolver enabled. I’m new to this so I’m a bit stumped. Can anybody suggest some things to check/point me in the right direction?

Cheers

2

Use this website and make sure DNS is not leaking. If the results shows your country and ISP, then DNS is leaking and you’ll need to adjust your rules. https://www.dnsleaktest.com

3

Do you have a proxy installed? It’s likely that you’re not connecting the same VPN server. Are you connecting to an IP or fqdn ?

4

Thanks for the reply. Nope no leaks.

5

I have the exact same issue. I dont have a proxy installed and restarting the openvpn service hasnt worked for me. when going through expressvpn on pfsense, netflix it blocked. when using expressvpns own client everything is good.

6

Thanks for the reply, I just thought I’d post an update in case anyone else runs into an issue like this. I resolved the issue, and you were right; it turns out that for the server I use for Netflix, there are two (or more) IP address ranges assigned to clients. I’d restarted my router the day before which had triggered a new request, and it received an IP in the range that doesn’t have access to Netflix. Restarting the OpenVPN service a few times got me an IP in the right range and it’s been working since then.

I wish ExpressVPN had more servers with access to Netflix in Australia; I’m not trying to bypass geoblocking, it’s just too much of a pain in the ass to exempt Netflix from the VPN tunnel