This topic

Are BT trying to block VPNs

Mystery57 — Sat, 04 Mar 2023 10:43:35 GMT

Are BT attempting to block VPN useage ?

This morning had a call from 02081122864 advising different IPs monitored using our broadband

We refused to discuss on phone and requested email contact for security reasons after requesting this several times a by now irate person on the line hung up mumbling something we could not identify

In the UK the use of VPNs is not illegal and is recommended to help maintain security

Anyone else had this issue and is the number genuine as we never phone a number back for security reasons

Re: Are BT trying to block VPNs

Keith_Beddoe — Sat, 04 Mar 2023 10:51:38 GMT

@Mystery57

Its simply a scam caller, possibly trying to persuade you download something onto your computer.

If you get a lot of these sorts of calls, then buy a call blocking phone, and the problem will go away.

Re: Are BT trying to block VPNs

Mystery57 — Sat, 04 Mar 2023 10:56:28 GMT

Thanks Keith - the behaviour suggested scam to me

But have just received a "proper" email from BT giving me another PIN - the message said Hello <my name> Here is your PIN, you can use it once

It does not say what for.

The other issue is for a Health reason I never speak on a phone, and cannot use Live Chat as both make me anxious and subsequently ill, and have requested BT only to ever email me - another reason I am suspicious, also my wife answered the phone and was not asked to confirm her identity at all

All very strange

Re: Are BT trying to block VPNs

Les-Gibson — Sat, 04 Mar 2023 11:05:58 GMT

Any 020 number is best treated with suspicion.

Yes I know it's the code for London and I Know there are many companies operating out of London who I may have dealings with but how many of them actually advertise their 020 number? the vast majority of them use 03 or 08 numbers.

On top of that, how many of these companies are likely to contact you by phone without you first initiating the contact in some way.

As a rule of thumb 020 = Scam

Re: Are BT trying to block VPNs

Keith_Beddoe — Sat, 04 Mar 2023 11:09:26 GMT

The PIN is just a scam, as they are trying to access your account by using the "forgotten password" , take no action. I assume you have never logged into your account using a link that was sent to you?

Re: Are BT trying to block VPNs

Mystery57 — Sat, 04 Mar 2023 11:11:46 GMT

Definitely not

I heard them ask my wife which email address to send to, she started giving it and I had to stop her

We give nothing out, never follow links etc and use VPNs for secure transactions etc

Re: Are BT trying to block VPNs

Carlusha — Sat, 04 Mar 2023 11:22:03 GMT

@Mystery57

BT only ever contact me via email (or SMS) at my request because I am almost totally deaf. This works fine, any problems, then there's this brilliant community and BT's small but efficient team of Moderators to help.

The caller you mention :

https://who-called.co.uk/Number/02081122864

Re: Are BT trying to block VPNs

Keith_Beddoe — Sat, 04 Mar 2023 11:33:21 GMT

@Mystery57

Read this thread, as there is an explanation.

https://community.bt.com/t5/The-Lounge/Unrequested-PIN/td-p/2246988

Re: Are BT trying to block VPNs

Mystery57 — Sat, 04 Mar 2023 12:05:51 GMT

Super link Keith

Totally clarifies everything

- these people when caught should be hung, drawn and quartered for the distress they create

Re: Are BT trying to block VPNs

markpalmos — Wed, 14 Jun 2023 11:29:33 GMT

It seems your call is bogus, but I am sure BT are blocking traffic via my ExpressVPN connection.

When I connect to any country via the VPN, my IPTV service stops working. When I disconnect the VPN and watch IPTV it works fine...

So it seems clear that BT are blocking VPNs, or at least MY ExpressVPN!!!

Re: Are BT trying to block VPNs

Mystery57 — Wed, 14 Jun 2023 12:00:31 GMT

thats strange as I use ExpressVPN and its still working although I dont use IPTV

Re: Are BT trying to block VPNs

countrypaul — Wed, 14 Jun 2023 12:26:37 GMT

Not all VPNs are setup the same way - it can depend on the server. If the VPN is not setup to allow split-tunnelling then ALL traffic from the VPN client will be sent via the VPN server, this can result in some software not working as expected - nothing to do with BT.

If when using MY Express VPN your IPTV stops working that does not sound like BT blocking your VPN but more that your IPTV is being blocked by your VPN.

Re: Are BT trying to block VPNs

markpalmos — Wed, 14 Jun 2023 13:33:50 GMT

Thanks for the response, but my IPTV suggested ExpressVPN... so they wouldn't be blocking it.

I just spoke to tech support but wasn't at my hub to follow instructions. He said I should disable internet filtering or something, but the only thing I can find related is firewall, which when off, makes no difference to this blocking phenomenon.

Do you know what else I could try on the BT hub that might be doing this?

Re: Are BT trying to block VPNs

licquorice — Wed, 14 Jun 2023 13:36:33 GMT

There are no settings you can change in the hub that would affect it and BT don't block VPNs although I have absolutely no idea why people use them other than to obtain unavailable content.

Re: Are BT trying to block VPNs

markpalmos — Wed, 14 Jun 2023 13:45:13 GMT

Hmm, so it seems you know more than the support person I spoke to, though you seem unfamiliar with the many functions of a vpn...

as I said, the iptv works fine with BT when I am NOT using the vpn. It does not work when I am using the VPN. The iptv provider recommended expressvpn. So that leads me to think there must be something about the way BT deals with this iptv when it is going through a vpn that causes the problem.

I was not looking for your judgment thank you.

Re: Are BT trying to block VPNs

licquorice — Wed, 14 Jun 2023 13:59:41 GMT

There's a lot FUD propagated about VPNs.

Re: Are BT trying to block VPNs

gg30340 — Wed, 14 Jun 2023 14:41:02 GMT

@markpalmos

In view of the fact that have now jumped on this thread it would appear that your own thread is no longer needed and as such I will remove it to avoid duplication and wasting forum users time unless you can offer a need to keep it.

https://community.bt.com/t5/Home-setup-Wi-Fi-network/BT-blocking-ExperssVPN-activity-on-my-account/m-p/2298210#M202841

Re: Are BT trying to block VPNs

countrypaul — Wed, 14 Jun 2023 15:25:04 GMT

Try using tracert to your IPTV address with both the VPN inactive and active. You should see a set of addresses for each path (or route) that might give you an idea where things are going awry. Also try nslookup for the IPTV with the VPN active and inactive that might help show if there is a possible issue with split DNS.

Post the results of both back here.

Re: Are BT trying to block VPNs

markpalmos — Wed, 14 Jun 2023 17:04:08 GMT

@countrypaul thanks,

So I suppose to tracert my pc I have to do that from another device, like my android phone? And then I should enter the ip for the pc, ie 192.168.x.xxx yep? (or is it the gateway, DNS or broadband IP I should enter?
Sorry, but my searches haven't found any simple explanation to follow...

Re: Are BT trying to block VPNs

countrypaul — Wed, 14 Jun 2023 17:12:01 GMT

I meant from your PC use tracert to the IPTV host, that way you should see whether the path makes sense of whether it stalls for some reason. For example: tracert www.bbc.co.uk

Similarly using nslookup to check the ipaddress of the IPTV host might highlight any split DNS issue. For example: nslookup www.bbc.co.uk

Both need to be run from a command prompt (just in case its not obvious!)