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Hulu Blocks VPN Users

Posted by Soulskill on from the you-can't-get-there-from-here dept.

New submitter electronic convict writes: "Hulu, apparently worried that too many non-U.S. residents are using cheap VPN services to watch its U.S. programming, has started blocking IP address ranges belonging to known VPN services. Hulu didn't announce the ban, but users of the affected VPNs are getting this message: 'Based on your IP-address, we noticed that you are trying to access Hulu through an anonymous proxy tool. Hulu is not currently available outside the U.S. If you're in the U.S. you'll need to disable your anonymizer to access videos on Hulu.' Hulu may make Hollywood happy by temporarily locking out foreign users — at least until they find new VPN providers. But in so doing it's now forcing its U.S. customers to sacrifice their privacy and even to risk insecure connections. Hulu hasn't even implemented SSL on its site."

5 of 259 comments (clear)

  1. Not their fault by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Informative

    Oh I'm sure they think it's just as senseless, but if they don't restrict it, then Hollywood won't let them use their IP as cheaply as otherwise (or at all). I'm not associated with Hulu but I've worked for another internet streaming company, and trust us, we really hate Hollywood restrictions--they are shoved down our throats, we have no choice.

    Do you /really/ think devs in the industry would implement DRM if we didn't have to? It's a pain in the neck to code and it keeps some of our customer base from using it at all! Half of us are Linux users at home and are just as pissed as you are when things won't work with it.

  2. Use your own VPS instead by dejanc · · Score: 4, Informative

    1. Rent a cheap VPS
    2. Tunnel connection through it (e.g. via a SOCKS proxy) or set up your own VPN
    3. Keep the IP to yourself so you don't get flagged

    That's how I get to watch BBC's premiers at the same time people in London do, and if I care about something in the US, I just switch to another VPS.

  3. Cheap VPN Howto by goruka · · Score: 1, Informative

    1) Rent AWS or any other VPS provider in the US, or just ask a friend to give you an account in his box.
    2) ssh -D proxyport
    3) configure proxy on localhost:proxyport

    watch hulu

    1. Re:Cheap VPN Howto by Punto · · Score: 3, Informative

      AWS is one of the "VPN" services that were blocked.

      --

      --
      Stay tuned for some shock and awe coming right up after this messages!

  4. Hello, they are douchebags, what is the problem? by mauriceh · · Score: 3, Informative

    To quote from Wikipedia:
    "Hulu is a joint venture of NBCUniversal Television Group (Comcast),[5] Fox Broadcasting Company (21st Century Fox) and Disney–ABC Television Group (The Walt Disney Company),[6] with funding by Providence Equity Partners, the owner of Newport Television, which made a US$100 million equity investment and received a 10% stake.[7] In October 2012, Providence sold its 10% stake in Hulu.[8]"

    So why exactly are you surprised?

    --
    Maurice W. Hilarius Voice: (778) 347-9907