VPNs are widely used to connect restricted or banned endpoints on the Internet. Whether it is used for corporations to ensure secure tunneling across their network or whether Internet users all around the world for accessing restricted content, it is an essential element for secure connections.

While VPNs can be used in your favor, your ISP, government, or even websites can build a wall by using a VPN block for various reasons. These reasons are likely to be government censorship, copyright, school and workplace restriction, and location restrictions. For example, an internet provider in China performs Deep Packet Inspection for detecting and blocking VPN traffic.

VPN blocks are essentially tools that can detect VPN usage and deny access. It is a technique for blocking encrypted protocol tunneling. There are various methods for building a VPN block and even more for bypassing them.

Types Of VPN Block

Whether you want to use it across your corporate network or you are casually surfing on the Internet, a VPN block can either deny your access or help to restrict unwanted, unauthorized access. There are various reasons for VPN block usage.

Essentially, it is used as a prevention method for blocking access to certain restricted or banned endpoints across a network. And there are different types of constructing a VPN block to do so. The main methods of VPN blockage include IP blocks, Deep Packet Inspection (DPI), and Port blocking.

IP blocks restrict IP addresses that VPN providers use directly. So, certain VPNs are blocked straightforwardly. When an internet service provider or a website detects internet protocol addresses and identifies them as blocked ones, you cannot get access to restricted endpoints with a VPN whatsoever.

Another method of blocking a VPN is Deep Packet Inspection. DPI is a method of detailed packet filtering to examine the traffic of a network. While a regular packet inspection analyzes the headers of the data flow solely, a deep packet inspection analyzes the codes and details of data packets and determines what to do with them.

Additionally, DPI can detect applications, data usage behaviors, and even VPNs. So, the moment deep packet inspection detects certain codes and data of VPN usage, it blocks access or stops the activity.

Another method of VPN block is port blocking. As its name suggests, port blocking restricts certain ports from accessing to Internet. VPNs are using specific ports of UDP and TCP  when establishing an Internet connection. So basically, ports can be monitored for filtering out VPN connections.

Methods Of Bypassing VPN Blocking

Although VPNs are instruments to gain access to restricted areas on the Internet, internet service providers, the government, or even websites can block VPNs. While there are various methods to stop a VPN from accessing specific endpoints, numerous bypassing methods also exist.

Additionally, to guarantee VPN connections are undetected, the methods include getting a static IP address, using obfuscated VPN servers, port switching, changing VPN protocols, and simply changing servers.

1. Static IP Address

A static IP address is a unique address that identifies a device with a 32-bit number on the Internet. A static IP address is also known as dedicated IP or fixed IP address. This static IP helps users to ensure an encrypted and safe connection since it is for individual use.

Static IP addresses grant fixed addresses for individuals, so it doesn’t change according to the server. This helps you to pass IP address blocklists and ensure gaining connection as it attracts less attention.

2. Obfuscated VPN Servers

Obfuscated VPN servers use special encryption methods to conceal your identity and the data packets, making them seems like regular packet. So, it makes the user look like they are not using a VPN. These obfuscated servers are used for bypassing VPN blocks and firewalls especially. Note that not every VPN provider offers obfuscated servers, and each provider uses different methods to obfuscate the data.

3. Port Switching

Port switching is an alternative method for bypassing blocks. VPN providers use more than one port to establish an Internet connection. Sometimes internet providers or networks ban VPNs that use specific ports. When this is the case, it is possible to gain access by simply changing ports. But if your port switching is not in discretion, your ISP or the network can block each port you are using.

Sometimes applications offer port switching in their setting directly, but in case it doesn’t have an in-app option to do so, you have to manually switch ports that you are using the VPN on. Additionally, different VPN tunneling protocols each have default ports that they use. If you want to use other ports, again you need to switch them manually.

On top of these, you need to be aware of which tunneling protocols are compatible with the port you will be using. For example, L2TP (Layer 2 Tunneling Protocol) has a single port UDP reliance.

4. Changing VPN Protocols

One of the simpler methods includes switching VPN protocols in use. Sometimes firewalls of networks can block the use of certain VPN tunneling protocols. If that’s the case, the solution would include using different protocols for gaining access. You can do this by going to your VPN’s settings and changing your tunneling protocol there. So, using the latest and less-used VPN tunneling protocols like Wireguard can help you solve blocking issues.

For instance, L2TP (Layer 2 Tunneling Protocol) is a protocol that establishes secure tunneling for connections. Layer 2 tunneling protocol is often paired with IPsec to ensure data encryption and security. IPsec uses a 256-AES variant that makes data packets extremely difficult to read.

Wireguard is the latest VPN protocol developed. This tunneling protocol has tight encryption primitives and it offers secure tunneling for agile connections and roaming. It is widely used for helping users to bypass VPN blocks.

5. Changing Servers

Simply changing servers can do you wonders. VPN providers offer a ton of servers for establishing a connection. It is the easiest way to bypass a VPN block in the first place. If switching servers seem to not work, you can also switch your VPN provider and see if that works.

The parties that are blocking VPNs sometimes focus on specific more popular VPN options. So, switching VPNs and therefore servers might work in your favor as well. If not, you can resort to other methods to bypass restrictions and ensure encrypted connections.

Final Remarks

VPN blocks are tools preventing encrypted protocol tunneling that VPNs are using. While corporations use VPN blocks for productivity, governments and ISPs can use them for extreme measures or security reasons. After all, VPN blocks are used for various reasons, and there are numerous ways of bypassing them. Whatever the reason is, you need to understand its construction to bypass it.