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Netflix steps up proxy blocking to celebrate Oscars weekend
What else gets you in the inclusionary spirit of the Oscars like your favorite streaming service blocking you from accessing it? That's the reality many woke to this weekend when Netflix stepped up its efforts to block those using VPNs and other region unlocks from viewing shows and movies.
PayPal shoots self in foot while 'white knighting' for Netflix
With the recent rollout of Netflix Everywhere, the company has been on a tear trying to track down and lock out users who rely on VPNs to bypass its regional restrictions and access the US programming list -- or any other country's local selection of shows. Doing so hasn't been as easy as Netflix initially anticipated so it called in PayPal for backup.
Congress to investigate US involvement in Juniper's backdoor
Congress announced plans on Friday to investigate the backdoor recently found in Juniper Networks software and whether it was intentionally placed there for the National Security Agency's benefit. The investigation is being led by the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, which has already sent more than two dozen letters to various agencies asking for documentation regarding their use of Juniper's ScreenOS software. The company announced in December that ScreenOS had been compromised using a technique that has widely been attributed to the NSA.
Why the war on VPNs is one Netflix can't win
Netflix has started blocking users who try to bypass country-based content restrictions by using a VPN, beginning its enforcement last week with Australian subscribers. The problem is, by forcing customers to turn off their VPN, Netflix is putting them at risk of being maliciously hacked.
Netflix is blocking Australian users who access US content
Last week, Netflix said it would be bringing down the hammer on people who use VPNs (or other similar means) to access geo-restricted content. And, by the looks of it, the streaming titan isn't wasting any time. According to uFlix, a paid service that lets anyone in Australia change their IP address and DNS settings for entertainment purposes, Netflix has started blocking users from viewing its US-only videos. "You seem to be using an unblocker or proxy. Please turn off any of these services and try again," Netflix reportedly told some Australian customers.
Netflix is cracking down on proxy users
The practice of using VPNs to spoof one's location to the Netflix servers has long allowed those outside the US to watch American content that was not available locally. But in the wake of the launch of Netflix Everywhere, the company's new global service initiative, that practice is kaput. Netflix announced on Thursday that it is cracking down on users that use VPNs to get around the company's geographic content restrictions.
Juniper will release another patch for its backdoored firewalls
A couple of weeks after announcing it found "unauthorized code" in firewalls that could've let someone spy on secure VPN traffic, Juniper Networks has another update on the issue. Despite the release of a patch that it says makes the firewalls secure, Juniper will go a step further with another update that swaps out the flawed Dual_EC random number generator in the affected ScreenOS software for newer technology, which will arrive in the first half of 2016. It has also completed an investigation of the source code for that product, and its newer Junos OS-powered devices, and have not found any evidence of similar code.
CNN: FBI is investigating the Juniper Networks security hole
Yesterday's news of "unauthorized code" that could enable untraceable backdoor access to VPN traffic on certain Juniper Networks firewalls is now being investigated by the FBI. That news comes from CNN, which said that a US government official described the vulnerability as "stealing a master key to get into any government building." There's no word yet on which government agencies or private companies may have been using the specific ScreenOS-powered devices affected, but that's what the Department of Homeland Security is now trying to find out.
Juniper Networks finds backdoor code in its firewalls
One of the reasons corporate users and the privacy-minded rely on VPNs is to control access to their networks and (hopefully) not expose secrets over insecure connections. Today Juniper Networks revealed that some of its products may not have been living up to that standard, after discovering "unauthorized code" in the software that runs on its NetScreen firewalls during a code review. Pointed out by security researcher "The Grugq," the backdoor has been present since late 2012 and can only be fixed by upgrading to a new version of software just released today.
Your VPN may be worthless
You may have heard that VPN provider Perfect Privacy found a massive security hole in most services -- one can de-anonymizes users, thus rendering it useless.Two weeks have passed and most affected providers still haven't fixed the problem, called "Port Fail."Perfect Privacy told Engadget via email, "We have not tested this again after the fact so we can make no definite statement on the current number of affected VPN providers." This means that the majority of VPN users may as well not be using one, which is bad news for people whose safety and security rely on keeping their IP address private -- or those who just want to safely use public wi-fi.Perfect Privacy urges "anyone using a VPN service to ask their support desk whether this issue has been fixed."
VPNs may not protect your information as well as you think
VPNs (virtual private networks) are a popular choice for sidestepping censorship and geographic restrictions on services like Netflix with more than 20 percent of Europeans using them. However, researchers at the Queen Mary, University of London recently examined 14 of the region's most popular VPN providers and found nearly all of them leaked information about their users to some degree. These leaks ranged from minor, ie what site you visited, to major infractions including the actual content of your communications.
Opera Max for Android starts saving data when you're on WiFi
Opera's data compression was originally meant to get the most out of thimble-sized cellular plans, but you'd probably agree that WiFi matters, too. After all, you've likely had that moment when you were struggling to visit websites on a lousy public hotspot. Mercifully, relief is in sight: an updated version of Opera Max for Android now squeezes app data even when you're on WiFi, helping you save bandwidth no matter what connection you're using. You can manage cellular and WiFi data separately, and there's an equally new blocking option if you need to put a particularly greedy app on ice for a while. Snag the upgrade today if you find that fast, unfettered internet access is sometimes hard to come by.
The latest version of Android could keep your data safe on public WiFi
Android 5.1 has been available to Nexus devices for a little while now, and it looks like one of its neatest features - sorry HD Voice and Device Protection - isn't quite ready for public consumption yet. Thanks to a little bit of sleuthing by Pocketables editor-in-chief John Freml, it looks like you'll eventually be able to log into a Google VPN when you connect to one of those potentially sketchy open WiFI networks out there.
Google fights rule that would let the US hack devices worldwide
The US is already snooping on computers around the world, but Google is worried that it might be sneaking in a rule change that would sanction more nosy behavior. The search firm has filed comments protesting an advisory committee proposal that would let the government get warrants for "remote access" to phones and PCs when their locations are hidden "through technological means." While the change is ostensibly targeted at American suspects masking their connections or running botnets, Google is worried that the proposal is worded such that it would allow law enforcement to hack into devices worldwide without any real political debate on the subject. After all, someone on a virtual private network could easily be in another country -- you might not know until you've broken in.
Netflix clamps down on attempts to dodge its regional restrictions (updated)
Netflix can only stream the videos that studios make available in a given country, which has led to a booming business in workarounds (such as proxies and virtual private networks) that let you see the company's catalogs in other nations. Heck, one New Zealand internet provider practically built a service around it. However, you might not get to count on that unofficial solution for much longer. VPN operators claim to TorrentFreak that Netflix recently started blocking some users who use these technological loopholes to watch videos that would normally be verboten. The effort isn't widespread and mostly appears to focus on connections with many simultaneous Netflix sign-ins (that is, they're obviously being used for circumvention), but it's a surprise to viewers who were used to having unfettered access.
Canadian internet providers now have to forward warnings to pirates
Watch out, Canada: you now have to deal with anti-piracy notices, much like your American friends. The country has just implemented a copyright law provision that requires internet providers to forward copyright violation warnings to customers caught downloading allegedly pirated material. The networks aren't obliged to punish you, so accusations shouldn't lead to disconnections or throttling. However, there's nothing dictating what those messages are allowed to say. There's a concern that the law lets copyright settlement firms run rampant, like they have in the US -- they may try to scare you into making an expensive payment rather than defending yourself in court. Also, virtual private network hosts will have to keep six months' worth of activity logs on hand, so your privacy is at greater risk even if you're squeaky clean. It'll be a while before Canucks know the full effect of this measure, but there is a chance that it'll create more problems than it solves. [Image credit: Samuel Chambaud/AFP/Getty Images]
Opera Max can now save Android mobile data in 16 more regions
Over the last few months, Opera's been slowly rolling out Max across the world to save mobile data -- apparently by up to 50 percent, including images and videos -- on Android devices, and its recent collaboration with MediaTek is no doubt a big boost to the service's street cred. But the Norwegian company isn't done yet. While Opera Max is already available to users based in most parts of the Americas, all European Union countries, Russia and others, today Opera added 16 more regions to the list. Just to name a few, these include Australia, Cambodia, Hong Kong, Japan, Myanmar, New Zealand, Singapore, South Korea and Taiwan. You can see Opera's full list after the break, and then head to Google's Play Store to grab the Android Lollipop-ready data compression app.
TunnelBear VPN lets you surf, securely
TunnelBear VPN is a simple app that works beautifully to let you securely surf online using your iPhone or iPad (and there's a Mac version as well). A VPN (Virtual Private Network) is an encrypted connection to a server that permits you to be online without worrying about anyone stealing your passwords or watching your private communications. It also helps to defeat software that tracks your movements online. VPNs are handy for anyone who is concerned about their privacy. Because VPNs hides your location, you can easily connect to a VPN server in another country, which will have the effect of making servers in that country think you are local. This lets you get around restrictions that might be in place. More on that in a minute. Using TunnelBear is pretty straightforward. After you create a free account, you are walked through the steps to get it set up and working. This involves installing a network profile onto your iPhone or iPad but TunnelBear makes it as easy as it can be. You are given the choice of one of two ways to connect to the VPN. The first is through the app itself. The second is using the Settings App on your iPhone or iPad. The latter approach provides faster connecting but may be more technical than some people would like. The app's interface is quite entertaining and also easy to use and understand. You can always try one and then switch to the other by choosing "Reinstall Profile" from TunnelBear's menu in the app. Once you are set up then you can connect. Connecting to the country you live in is the best plan unless you specifically need to appear as if you are in a different country. In my tests, using TunnelBear's VPN is noticeably slower when tunneling to, say, the United Kingdom from the United States. There is a slowdown tunneling locally as well but it is nowhere near as great as it was going across the pond, as it were. TunnelBear claims you should see about 80%-90% of your normal speed and my tests showed that when tunneling within the United States. When I connected to the United Kingdom, that speed dropped as low as 50% at one point. All tests were done using Ookla's Speedtest App. If you are new to the concept of the VPN you might wonder when you would want to use it. Generally, I do whenever I find myself on a public WiFi network. You really don't know who's running it or who might be lurking around on it. For me, the killer feature is the ease with which you can appear to be in a foreign country. During the London Summer Olympics a while back, I heard that some people (cough) made good use of TunnelBear in watching the live, unedited, and un-ruined-by-NBC-commentary feeds from the BBC rather than waiting for prime-time. I have heard others have used it for Downton Abbey or Doctor Who purposes as well. I can neither confirm nor deny the veracity of these statements. (Technically, doing anything like this is not allowed and is frowned upon.) I may or may not have used it to watch the live results in the UK of the historic vote on Scottish independence at 1AM. TunnelBear VPN takes the mystique and technogeekery out of the VPN and does so with a delightful and whimsical user interface. I've tried a few of these types of apps and this is the one I come back to again and again. The app is designed for both iPhone and iPad and requires iOS 7 and up. It provides 500MB free data per month (which is hardly enough to do much of anything) and offers in-app purchases of data plans including US$2.99/month, $7.99 every 3 months, or $29.99 for a full year. Note that if you get the free Mac version and buy a plan through it or through TunnelBear's website, the prices are $4.99/month or $49.99 per year but that gives you unlimited use on your Mac and up to two mobile devices (including Android). For many, that will be the better deal. The iPhone and iPad in-App plans are only for a single device. Finally, you can get 1 free gigabyte of data by tweeting them and asking for it. Instructions are in the app and on their website.
Ask TUAW Live is on the air at 5 PM ET today!
"Ask TUAW Live" happens today, Tuesday, May 06, 2014 at 5:00:00 PM EDT. You can check here for showtimes in your area. We're taking your questions now via the Ask Tuaw feedback form, Twitter, Facebook or Google+. We will be joined by special guest Dave Peck, developer of Cloak, the ever-popular Virtual Private Network (VPN) app designed specifically for Apple devices. To watch the live feed and participate in the chat, jump over to the TUAW page on Google+. There you will find links to this Google Hangout. Bring your questions, ideas, tips and tricks, or recipes for craft cocktails to share with the rest of the TUAW community. NOTE: Due to the way Google handles Hangouts for Pages, you will need to add the TUAW page on Google+ to your circles so we can circle back. Is that what they call it these days? Panel Dave Peck (Cloak) Shawn Boyd (Host) Patrice Brend'amour Mikel Potts Hal Sherman Charles Akimoto Kelly Guimont Cloak & Security Cloak OpenVPN Wifi Pineapple Cloak and Heartbleed Imperial Violet 1Password Watchtower 1Password 4 Keychain Design Dropbox (LA Times) Paranoia for beginners Diceware OverCloak in the Settings (Mac) Pick Chuck: Samsung 840 EVO 1TB Dave: Monument Valley Hal: Scio (Kickstarter) Kelly: Star Wars Cantina Band Auditions Mikel: Tales of Honor: The Secret Fleet Patrice: Mortified Nation Doc: Logitech Anywhere MX for PC and Mac
Hulu attempts to block international viewers who use VPNs
It's no secret that many use virtual private networks (VPN) to dodge Hulu's ban on TV streaming outside of the US, and the company is now clamping down on these surreptitious international viewers. TorrentFreak reports that Hulu has started blocking anyone trying to access its service from commonly used VPN services, whether or not they're stateside. If you're from the US, you're told to "disable your anonymizer." We've reached out to Hulu for its official response, but there's no doubt that it's giving foreigners the boot.