Ive tried anything, dns, switching protocols, using open vpn, anything, my nord is not working on my schools wifi network. What else could i do?
Obfuscated servers or the NordWhisper protocol could be helpful in this case, I’d suggest giving those a try. As a last resort, IKEv2 setup with NordVPN servers may help too, there is a guide for it here.
If the network admins have done their job, you may not be able to get any commercial VPN to work.
You could try setting up a VPN server at home.
You could try setting up your own VPN server in the cloud - a rented VPS, or a free-tier AWS or Oracle server, depending on how much you would use it.
Or, you could try Tor, or Tor with a bridge.
But, again, if the admins have done their job, none of those will work.
Turn off threat protection and connect to openvpn.
This will help.
If you weren’t on VPN when you joined the network then it probably won’t work. You haven’t said where in the world you are.
Why would a rented vps not work?
Try a connection that uses TCP 443, typically this is allowed outbound
Well, for starters, most VPN protocols and obfuscation methods can be detected, especially in the closed environment of a school or corporate network. Too much traffic to one IP Address from one user device is a big clue, and actually quite difficult to conceal. Not enough local DNS traffic from a device is another big clue. IDS systems are designed specially to look for such indications.
It is easy to block all the IP Addresses used by low-cost VPS providers, especially on school and corporate networks. Nothing actually useful to students or needed by employees at work would be using a VPS. And there are “data center” IP Address block lists that are quite complete, since most of the cloud companies publish their IP Address lists.
And big websites have their own IP Address space (which you can use even if your servers are in AWS or Azure or GC), or their CDN has their own IP Address space. For example, Reddit servers are in AWS, but you connect to a Fastly IP Address to access Reddit. Same for CNN - the IP Address you connect to for CNN is also a Fastly IP Address.
We block all that shite outbound at work. Schools do the same.
Ah, OK. I was going to say that if you are in the UK then the school IT networks are hard to bypass with Nord as the admins really do have to monitor what the kids are looking for online. I would imagine though that there are similar restrictions in the states. Either you’ll have to say that the network is safe (it will be in terms of security!) but bear in mind that EVERYTHING you search for, will go through their filters and be monitored even if you’re using your own personal device or not use their network at all and use a mobile network instead. I got so fed up with our restrictions that I no longer use the education network as there is absolutely zero privacy!
Interesting I tried this using Open TCP and Obfuscated servers and was able to get my VPN going. Thanks for the tip y’all.