VPN vs Cloud Computers for connecting to home from Thailand

[KhunHeineken]

18 hours ago, Salerno said:

Your sisters computer is not involved, just her router. You in Thailand > your sister's router in the states > the website. Your computer will be on her IP address so geolocation is somewhat covered.

 

But you may hit problems if the sites causing you problems are using browser fingerprinting (see https://pixelprivacy.com/resources/browser-fingerprinting). 

 

To see the kind of info they can possibly have on you visit https://www.deviceinfo.me/ (or the two options in the link above).

 

 

There are browser extensions to get around that.

 

There are many, but here's one.

 

https://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/canvas-fingerprint-defend/lanfdkkpgfjfdikkncbnojekcppdebfp?hl=en

[WaveHunter]

All you folks sure like to give me a lot to think about LOL!  It's all appreciated though.

 

So, if both @KhunHeineken and @gamb00ler can agree, please let me know if my understanding is correct:

 

When I connect to my sister's router, I will be using MY computer in Thailand (not my sister's) to connect to websites, and I will be using her IP address to do that, correct?

 

Now if that is true, then doesn't that mean that my computer in Thailand can indeed be interrogated by the server I'm trying to connect to, and it will be able to determine my geographic location is Thailand, not the US by cookies, and by this "browser fingerprinting?

 

If this is so, then there is no difference from me trying to connect directly from Thailand.  I'm no better off.  I still have a problem.

 

This puts me back to the idea of connecting to my sister's computer through TeamVIewer or AnyDesk and using BOTH her computer and her IP connection. 

 

After thinking about this option, I realized I will only be doing it maybe once a week, so I abandoned the idea of buying a computer of my own to set up at her house.  I would only be using her computer during the daytime here in Thailand which is when she'd most likely be asleep, so it would be no inconvenience to her, and I guess all she would have to do is leave the computer on overnight on the nights I want to use it...right???

 

If I've misunderstood this problem with the Dongle approach, please let me know, but I read up on fingerprinting a little and I don't see anyway to really protect against it.

[Salerno]

7 minutes ago, WaveHunter said:

I read up on fingerprinting a little and I don't see anyway to really protect against it.

There are various ways to combat the techniques used as mentioned in the link I posted and plenty other links out there. Until you try to access the sites in question you can't be sure they are even using browser finger printing.

 

A virtually full proof way would be to set up a VM on your computer purely for using when you need to use the sites causing you problems and setting it to be local time, location etc. with your sister's location. It wouldn't carry across tracking from your current set up.

 

https://www.macworld.com/article/668848/best-virtual-machine-software-for-mac-2022.html#:~:text=Virtualization programs such as Parallels,as Linux – on the VM.

[WaveHunter]

7 minutes ago, Salerno said:

There are various ways to combat the techniques used as mentioned in the link I posted and plenty other links out there. Until you try to access the sites in question you can't be sure they are even using browser finger printing.

 

A virtually full proof way would be to set up a VM on your computer purely for using when you need to use the sites causing you problems and setting it to be local time, location etc. with your sister's location. It wouldn't carry across tracking from your current set up.

 

https://www.macworld.com/article/668848/best-virtual-machine-software-for-mac-2022.html#:~:text=Virtualization programs such as Parallels,as Linux – on the VM.

Hi @Salerno,  Sorry I didn;t mention you as one who has helped me so much.  I do in fact have a virtual machine set up on my mac.  I use VMWare Fusion to run Windows 10.

 

How would that be any different though from just using my Mac?  The virtual machine is still running from within my Mac?

[gamb00ler]

There are two completely separate issues that you may want to resolve to hide the fact that you're in Thailand.

 

You understand the IP address issue and the easiest solution is a pair of the dongles.

 

The other issues is that the computer you're using in Thailand will provide clues about your location.  Those clues are primarily the timezone you have configured.  I'm not sure what other clues that may exist but they will probably be less convincing than the timezone.  You can resolve this second issues by several methods.  You can diligently remove the clues from your everyday computer but that is not as easy as it sounds and certainly not that convenient.  Another method is to use a different computer that is permanently configured to appear to be located in the US.   As you had earlier suggested you could buy another computer, configure it appropriately and install it in your sister's house for you to use it via Teamviewer or another remote access software.  There is no need for that extra computer to be located in the US.  It doesn't even need to be an actual computer, it could be a VM that is running on your everyday computer in Thailand.  The VM will have a completely independent copy of an OS, browser, cookies, etc (everything else) from its host computer.  The separate computer/VM will be connected via the dongle to your sister's network in the US.  Just as on your everyday computer, you are in complete control of everything on the separate computer/VM.

Edited February 4, 2023 by gamb00ler

[gamb00ler]

27 minutes ago, WaveHunter said:

How would that be any different though from just using my Mac?  The virtual machine is still running from within my Mac?

The VM has its own copy of the operating system and all user files.  They are completely independent of the host system (your Mac).  There is no transfer of data between the host and the VM except that which you do by copying it yourself.

 

However, you may have an issue in connecting the VM to a different network than the host.  I can't recall how VMWare handles access to the network.

 

What I chose to do is have an extra computer sitting on my network which performs a few different tasks.  I have a headless (no screen, keyboard or mouse attached) Raspberry Pi.  I use it to filter out ads from my home network and I also use it as a seed box for torrenting.  In the near future it will also be handling home automation and some home security.  Such a setup would work well for you as long as you don't mind learning how to use Linux a little.  Pi's are cheap (or will be once the chip shortage is over) and uses only sips of juice.

Edited February 4, 2023 by gamb00ler

[Salerno]

28 minutes ago, WaveHunter said:

I do in fact have a virtual machine set up on my mac.  I use VMWare Fusion to run Windows 10.

Excellent, so familiar with the process already.

 

28 minutes ago, WaveHunter said:

How would that be any different though from just using my Mac?  The virtual machine is still running from within my Mac?

Because if you set up a brand new VM, with all the settings set to correspond with your sister's location, then if the sites are using browser finger printing that's what it will be based on - there would be no existing data to base it on. For all intents and purposes you would be someone in Wisconsin (or wherever) running Win 10 with an unusual sleeping pattern (or working night shift) ???? 

 

The issue is the data collected over a period of time leads to the "finger print". Hence trying to clean it up manually could be a pain, cookies, settings, canvas etc. and easy to slip up.

 

If you use a VM it's basically a clean start but you will need to ensure you use it and only it for mission critical websites e.g. it will look like you've moved back to the States so you don't want to slip up. Use it for work or whatever it is causing you problems and go back to the standard Mac for here, YouTube, social media etc. especially services you have to log into so as not to open up other tracking avenues that could compromise the new finger print.

 

28 minutes ago, WaveHunter said:

Sorry I didn;t mention you

No worries.

Edited February 4, 2023 by Salerno
Typo

[KhunHeineken]

15 hours ago, WaveHunter said:

All you folks sure like to give me a lot to think about LOL!  It's all appreciated though.

 

So, if both @KhunHeineken and @gamb00ler can agree, please let me know if my understanding is correct:

 

When I connect to my sister's router, I will be using MY computer in Thailand (not my sister's) to connect to websites, and I will be using her IP address to do that, correct?

 

Now if that is true, then doesn't that mean that my computer in Thailand can indeed be interrogated by the server I'm trying to connect to, and it will be able to determine my geographic location is Thailand, not the US by cookies, and by this "browser fingerprinting?

 

If this is so, then there is no difference from me trying to connect directly from Thailand.  I'm no better off.  I still have a problem.

 

This puts me back to the idea of connecting to my sister's computer through TeamVIewer or AnyDesk and using BOTH her computer and her IP connection. 

 

After thinking about this option, I realized I will only be doing it maybe once a week, so I abandoned the idea of buying a computer of my own to set up at her house.  I would only be using her computer during the daytime here in Thailand which is when she'd most likely be asleep, so it would be no inconvenience to her, and I guess all she would have to do is leave the computer on overnight on the nights I want to use it...right???

 

If I've misunderstood this problem with the Dongle approach, please let me know, but I read up on fingerprinting a little and I don't see anyway to really protect against it.

I wrote a lengthy post about how they work, perhaps read it again. 

 

All your sister does is plug it in to power, and a port on the back of her router.  Nothing to do with he computer.  She can throw her computer in the bin and your dongles will still work.  Nothing to do with when she sleeps.  Nothing to do with when she goes out.  Nothing to do with when she has dinner.  There is nothing else for her to do, ever again. 

 

I have explained that people have been doing what these dongles do for years, using other hardware. This needs configuring. 

 

The dongles are pre configured and work straight out of the box.   Like I said in my post, you plug your dongle in to power and into the back of your router in Thailand, and then connect to its WiFi signal, and you are now on your sister's network.  It's that easy.

 

Your are being scared off with the use of words like "fingerprinting."  I understand what these members are saying, but these dongles just work. 

 

I tested mine extensively.  I tested it with "vanilla" browsers, and browsers with extensions.  I accessed movie streaming, sports streaming, radio streaming, banking, online shopping, gambling websites etc, and even tested it from the Thailand side and accessed porn sites.  I could access all websites I tried.   Speed tests were good.  The dongles handled everything I threw at them.  What more can I say?  

 

You have a basic youtube video showing how it works.  The company has a website with information about them on there.   

 

For me, Foxtel with Fox Sports was a difficult website for me to access in Thailand, particularly on Android.  I have a paid Foxtel subscription.  I believe Foxtel use the phone's location services to get around you using a VPN, that's on top of them blocking most of the commercial VPN servers on the market.  Turn off location services in your phone and the Foxtel App says you must turn on location services to access your account.  I tried location spoofing apps and many other work arounds, none of them worked.  I tried with the dongles and I have Foxtel on my big screen in Thailand.  Don't ask me about the technical side of why, because like I said, they just work. 

 

 

I think a simplified way to explain these dongles is to think of them as an imaginary 14,000 kilometer ethernet cable between your sister's router in America and your computer in Thailand.  If you look at it that way, you will see that however these dongles work, it's as good as sitting in your sister's house on her internet. 

 

I would be surprised if your experience was different to mine.

 

 

[spongeworthy]

Also with regards to "covering your tracks" when using a Thailand based computer through a VPN is latency. It's trivial via javascript to test the latency between your computer(browser) and the web server. The typical latency (ping) within the continental US would be sub 30ms. Your latency from Thailand would be over 200ms (round trip) and that is not something you can easily defeat.

 

And a generic "VPN while banking" issue to add to the existing madness - one of my banks specifically asked me if I was using a VPN when speaking with the fraud department trying to clear some wire transfers to my Thai account I had placed online. This wasn't with a commercial VPN, but a VPN to my computer on a residential ISP. It probably threw them off that I was telling them I'm in Thailand while my website sessions from hours earlier were showing as coming from the US. Just another thing to keep in mind with regards to "fooling the banks"... at some point you may need to tell them you're actually in Thailand.

Edited February 5, 2023 by spongeworthy

[Strange Phenomenon]

I didn't have time to read the whole thread, but the solution is very simple.

 

There are basically two options here:

Option 1 which involves a one-time cost and have the prerequisite that OP (or a friend) already has a decent internet connection at home.

OP buys a cheap router (like TP-Link Archer C7), or any other small single-board computer supported by OpenWrt. OP changes the stock firmware to OpenWrt by following a very simple instruction and then install the Wireguard package. Here OP set up one peer for each of OP's devices, set the AllowedIPs to tunnel all internet traffic through the routers WAN internet connection. Then OP send the config file to each one of his devices through a secure channel like a encrypted chat app (or by scanning a QR code with his phone if he has physical access to the router).

He then installs on his devices the Wireguard app and add the configuration files (or scans the QR code) generated by OpenWrt.

The outcome of this is that every time he wants to connect to a service that requires OP to have a non-shared IP adress, he estabilish VPN tunnel through the wireguard app. That way the server OP connect to will see OP's home IP adress and cannot determine OP's physical location. This is also good if connecting on public wifi-hostpots while not using any other encrypted protocol like HTTPS or encrypted DNS.

 

The drawback of this is that residential internet connections have most often higher latency and lower speed than datacenter internet connections. All traffic has to be tunneled from Thailand, to say, USA if that is OP's home country, and then to the destination server. If the destination server is in Asia it introduces severe latency.

 

OP can also rent a cheap VPS with a dedicated public IP that is located somewhere else (or his home country) and use the same process there. Install Wireguard on a Linux distribution (there are automatic scripts for this) and create your own private VPN tunnel that is not on a IP range that is known to be associated with publc VPN providers.

 

But as stated by other members, be aware that sites can track you with other tracking methods than just IP address. The most serious is browser fingerprinting which can be mitigated by using a separate device, a Linux OS on a live-USB or a virtual machine.

Edited February 8, 2023 by Strange Phenomenon

[WaveHunter]

1 hour ago, Strange Phenomenon said:

I didn't have time to read the whole thread, but the solution is very simple.

 

There are basically two options here:

Option 1 which involves a one-time cost and have the prerequisite that OP (or a friend) already has a decent internet connection at home.

OP buys a cheap router (like TP-Link Archer C7), or any other small single-board computer supported by OpenWrt. OP changes the stock firmware to OpenWrt by following a very simple instruction and then install the Wireguard package. Here OP set up one peer for each of OP's devices, set the AllowedIPs to tunnel all internet traffic through the routers WAN internet connection. Then OP send the config file to each one of his devices through a secure channel like a encrypted chat app (or by scanning a QR code with his phone if he has physical access to the router).

He then installs on his devices the Wireguard app and add the configuration files (or scans the QR code) generated by OpenWrt.

The outcome of this is that every time he wants to connect to a service that requires OP to have a non-shared IP adress, he estabilish VPN tunnel through the wireguard app. That way the server OP connect to will see OP's home IP adress and cannot determine OP's physical location. This is also good if connecting on public wifi-hostpots while not using any other encrypted protocol like HTTPS or encrypted DNS.

 

The drawback of this is that residential internet connections have most often higher latency and lower speed than datacenter internet connections. All traffic has to be tunneled from Thailand, to say, USA if that is OP's home country, and then to the destination server. If the destination server is in Asia it introduces severe latency.

 

OP can also rent a cheap VPS with a dedicated public IP that is located somewhere else (or his home country) and use the same process there. Install Wireguard on a Linux distribution (there are automatic scripts for this) and create your own private VPN tunnel that is not on a IP range that is known to be associated with publc VPN providers.

 

But as stated by other members, be aware that sites can track you with other tracking methods than just IP address. The most serious is browser fingerprinting which can be mitigated by using a separate device, a Linux OS on a live-USB or a virtual machine.

I know this has turned into a long thread and I appreciate the time you took to write such a detailed reply but you really should have read the thread  first.  

 

On 2/5/2023 at 9:39 AM, KhunHeineken said:

I wrote a lengthy post about how they work, perhaps read it again. 

 

All your sister does is plug it in to power, and a port on the back of her router.  Nothing to do with he computer.  She can throw her computer in the bin and your dongles will still work.  Nothing to do with when she sleeps.  Nothing to do with when she goes out.  Nothing to do with when she has dinner.  There is nothing else for her to do, ever again. 

 

I have explained that people have been doing what these dongles do for years, using other hardware. This needs configuring. 

 

The dongles are pre configured and work straight out of the box.   Like I said in my post, you plug your dongle in to power and into the back of your router in Thailand, and then connect to its WiFi signal, and you are now on your sister's network.  It's that easy.

 

Your are being scared off with the use of words like "fingerprinting."  I understand what these members are saying, but these dongles just work. 

 

I tested mine extensively.  I tested it with "vanilla" browsers, and browsers with extensions.  I accessed movie streaming, sports streaming, radio streaming, banking, online shopping, gambling websites etc, and even tested it from the Thailand side and accessed porn sites.  I could access all websites I tried.   Speed tests were good.  The dongles handled everything I threw at them.  What more can I say?  

 

You have a basic youtube video showing how it works.  The company has a website with information about them on there.   

 

For me, Foxtel with Fox Sports was a difficult website for me to access in Thailand, particularly on Android.  I have a paid Foxtel subscription.  I believe Foxtel use the phone's location services to get around you using a VPN, that's on top of them blocking most of the commercial VPN servers on the market.  Turn off location services in your phone and the Foxtel App says you must turn on location services to access your account.  I tried location spoofing apps and many other work arounds, none of them worked.  I tried with the dongles and I have Foxtel on my big screen in Thailand.  Don't ask me about the technical side of why, because like I said, they just work. 

 

 

I think a simplified way to explain these dongles is to think of them as an imaginary 14,000 kilometer ethernet cable between your sister's router in America and your computer in Thailand.  If you look at it that way, you will see that however these dongles work, it's as good as sitting in your sister's house on her internet. 

 

I would be surprised if your experience was different to mine.

 

 

I agree with what you are saying, but as @gamb00ler pointed out, there will be "tracks" or breadcrumbs" back to my Thai-based computer (I  suspect) that the fingerprinting software could possible detect.  I'm certainly no expert ut from what I've read this fingerprinting technology is pretty robust.  Perhaps (based on your own experience) I'm overly concerned, and I hope you're correct because your solution is by far the best sounding one.

 

It's been suggested that if I use a "virtual computer" such as VMWare (which I have on my Mac so I can run Windows), I can configure it so that location and time stamps can be set to US....so maybe I should just set it up that way.  What do you think?

 

[Strange Phenomenon]

24 minutes ago, WaveHunter said:

I know this has turned into a long thread and I appreciate the time you took to write such a detailed reply but you really should have read the thread  first.  

 

I agree with what you are saying, but as @gamb00ler pointed out, there will be "tracks" or breadcrumbs" back to my Thai-based computer (I  suspect) that the fingerprinting software could possible detect.  I'm certainly no expert ut from what I've read this fingerprinting technology is pretty robust.  Perhaps (based on your own experience) I'm overly concerned, and I hope you're correct because your solution is by far the best sounding one.

 

It's been suggested that if I use a "virtual computer" such as VMWare (which I have on my Mac so I can run Windows), I can configure it so that location and time stamps can be set to US....so maybe I should just set it up that way.  What do you think?

 

No worries. Your initial question was how to make sure the online services (government, banks?) you are using can not easily see that you are located in Thailand, right?

 

By using the method I described along with doing your browsing from inside a virtual machine there are literally no realistic way the services you use can see that you are browsing from a computer in Thailand, unless you have a skilled forensic team analyzing your activities with exotic methods. If you want to be really sure you tunnel your traffic through a residential internet connection as I described, so the services cannot see you are connecting from a cloud-provider's IP range or a commercial VPN.

 

Make sure you use a common browser inside the VM, one that millions of people use, like a recent updated version of Google Chrome with minimal configuration done. That way your browser fingerprint blend in to the crowd and you will not stand out like a sore thumb. Of course you must isolate your activities so that this VM only is used for sensitive activities and not anything else.

[WaveHunter]

On 2/4/2023 at 2:30 PM, KhunHeineken said:

There are browser extensions to get around that.

 

There are many, but here's one.

 

https://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/canvas-fingerprint-defend/lanfdkkpgfjfdikkncbnojekcppdebfp?hl=en

I really did a deep-dive into this fingerprinting technology since I first here of it here.  Extensions such as the one you listed, and even a TOR browser (which I use on occasions) are pretty good at defending against fingerprinting BUT everything I've read suggests It’s probably not possible to protect yourself completely against fingerprinting.

 

So, I think the dongle solution ou suggest is still the best solution so I think that's how I will proceed.  I'll play around with it.  Maybe I'll use my VMware virtual "machine" that I installed on my Mac, and just see what happens.  It's a relatively simple and economical solution...and I think you again for suggesting it.

[WaveHunter]

5 minutes ago, Strange Phenomenon said:

No worries. Your initial question was how to make sure the online services (government, banks?) you are using can not easily see that you are located in Thailand, right?

 

By using the method I described along with doing your browsing from inside a virtual machine there are literally no realistic way the services you use can see that you are browsing from a computer in Thailand, unless you have a skilled forensic team analyzing your activities with exotic methods. If you want to be really sure you tunnel your traffic through a residential internet connection as I described, so the services cannot see you are connecting from a cloud-provider's IP range or a commercial VPN.

 

Make sure you use a common browser inside the VM, one that millions of people use, like a recent updated version of Google Chrome with minimal configuration done. That way your browser fingerprint blend in to the crowd and you will not stand out like a sore thumb. Of course you must isolate your activities so that this VM only is used for sensitive activities and not anything else.

Sorry my reply was actually intended for @KhunHeineken, but I a appreciate your input as well.  Just to clarify...the sites I have the most problems with (believe it or not) are not financial institutions.  They rely mostly on 2 part authentication that use authenticator apps (which I absolutely love!!!), so none of that silly SMS short codes, or endless capcha things and all of that nonsense. 

 

The sites I have the most issues while here in Thailand are sales platforms (for your merchant accounts) like Amazon and eBay, and also social media sites like Facebook and Instagram.  It is a NIGHTMARE!  an asian IP address is a MAJOR red flag to them since most scamming originates in SE Asia.  I have been red flagged on those four sites repeatedly, and with all four, my accounts were locked and it took days to get them unlocked again...only to have it happen a few weeks later, and my Instagram account which I had been posting on for years with hundreds of posts, and a huge following was first locked, and then deleted permanently, with no opportunity for me to appeal it!

 

It took me years to to develop that Instagram account engagement which played a big role in my business, only to have it totally wiped out in a second with no way to appeal it!  That's why finding a solution to this nonsense is so important to me.

[KhunHeineken]

17 hours ago, WaveHunter said:

Perhaps (based on your own experience) I'm overly concerned,

Yes, you are overly concerned. 

 

17 hours ago, WaveHunter said:

t's been suggested that if I use a "virtual computer" such as VMWare (which I have on my Mac so I can run Windows), I can configure it so that location and time stamps can be set to US....so maybe I should just set it up that way.  What do you think?

As I have said previously, your idea of using Team Viewer / Any Desk will work.  You have also been told of other methods that will work.  

 

Your method, and some of the others, are costly, involves your IT guy configuring hardware, are energy inefficient, unreliable (HDD's etc) and are reliant on your sister's ongoing assistance.  

 

I offered AlwaysHome as a cheap, factory pre configured, energy efficient, reliable, and independent solution that does not rely on an IT guy or your sister.  They are plug and play.   I gave you an example of one of the hardest sport streaming geo blocked apps I have had to deal with, and AlwaysHome worked for me for Foxtel.  Do Instagram and the other sites you mentioned have harder geo blocking than Foxtel, I don't know. 

 

This thread has been running for two months, with over 190 posts.  You have been given many solutions.  Can anyone guarantee they will work 100% for you, not really.  Can anyone guarantee they will work 100% for you next week, not really.  You may have to be prepared to try multiple solutions before you get one working for you. On that basis, why don't you start with the cheapest and easiest option for you?     

[KhunHeineken]

17 hours ago, WaveHunter said:

I really did a deep-dive into this fingerprinting technology since I first here of it here.  Extensions such as the one you listed, and even a TOR browser (which I use on occasions) are pretty good at defending against fingerprinting BUT everything I've read suggests It’s probably not possible to protect yourself completely against fingerprinting.

 

So, I think the dongle solution ou suggest is still the best solution so I think that's how I will proceed.  I'll play around with it.  Maybe I'll use my VMware virtual "machine" that I installed on my Mac, and just see what happens.  It's a relatively simple and economical solution...and I think you again for suggesting it.

What makes you think the platforms you use are blocking you due to their fingerprinting? 

 

Out of interest, I have no problem accessing Ebay and Amazon in Thailand.  I use both platforms to have gifts sent to people back home for birthdays etc. 

 

I have no problem accessing Facebook here, neither do millions of tourists that are constantly uploading there holiday photos to Facebook.  

 

I don't have an Instagram account, but I am sure many expats and tourists do, and I have never been in a discussion where I have heard complaints Instagram will not work for them in Thailand.  

 

Perhaps you are breaching some other T & C of these platforms, rather than being out of The USA. Are you selling counterfeit goods online? 

Edited February 9, 2023 by KhunHeineken

[KhunHeineken]

17 hours ago, WaveHunter said:

Sorry my reply was actually intended for @KhunHeineken, but I a appreciate your input as well.  Just to clarify...the sites I have the most problems with (believe it or not) are not financial institutions.  They rely mostly on 2 part authentication that use authenticator apps (which I absolutely love!!!), so none of that silly SMS short codes, or endless capcha things and all of that nonsense. 

 

The sites I have the most issues while here in Thailand are sales platforms (for your merchant accounts) like Amazon and eBay, and also social media sites like Facebook and Instagram.  It is a NIGHTMARE!  an asian IP address is a MAJOR red flag to them since most scamming originates in SE Asia.  I have been red flagged on those four sites repeatedly, and with all four, my accounts were locked and it took days to get them unlocked again...only to have it happen a few weeks later, and my Instagram account which I had been posting on for years with hundreds of posts, and a huge following was first locked, and then deleted permanently, with no opportunity for me to appeal it!

 

It took me years to to develop that Instagram account engagement which played a big role in my business, only to have it totally wiped out in a second with no way to appeal it!  That's why finding a solution to this nonsense is so important to me.

As I just posted, why do you think these platforms shut you down just because you were in Thailand?  Could it be whatever business you are conducting breaches their T & C's? 

[WaveHunter]

4 hours ago, KhunHeineken said:

As I just posted, why do you think these platforms shut you down just because you were in Thailand?  Could it be whatever business you are conducting breaches their T & C's? 

Never any violations of TOS.  The messages from them clearly focused on identity verification.

[WaveHunter]

4 hours ago, KhunHeineken said:

What makes you think the platforms you use are blocking you due to their fingerprinting? 

 

Out of interest, I have no problem accessing Ebay and Amazon in Thailand.  I use both platforms to have gifts sent to people back home for birthdays etc. 

 

I have no problem accessing Facebook here, neither do millions of tourists that are constantly uploading there holiday photos to Facebook.  

 

I don't have an Instagram account, but I am sure many expats and tourists do, and I have never been in a discussion where I have heard complaints Instagram will not work for them in Thailand.  

 

Perhaps you are breaching some other T & C of these platforms, rather than being out of The USA. Are you selling counterfeit goods online? 

It's a little different if you are trying to log in as a buyer versus logging into your merchant account or your professional social media account.  I completely understand the need for super stringent ID verification as a merchant (for Amazon or eBay), or a professional social media account.  That's why I have 2-part authentication set up in all of those type of accounts, and use an authenticator app.

 

Authenticator apps make it IMPOSSIBLE for for anyone else to hack into accounts protected by that technology unless they happen to get ahold of your smartphone and are able to break your authenticator app password.  These apps eliminate the need for all the nonsense formerly associated with ID verification strategies like Capcha codes, SMS short code text messages, etc...BUT for some reason, I get red-flagged anyway with those four sites.  They are the ONLY ones that give me this grief!

 

They make it very clear why they are locking my account, and it is always for ID verification, never for violating terms of service.  It is ENTIRELY becuase I am in Thailand, and my accounts are based in the US.

[WaveHunter]

4 hours ago, KhunHeineken said:

Yes, you are overly concerned. 

 

As I have said previously, your idea of using Team Viewer / Any Desk will work.  You have also been told of other methods that will work.  

 

Your method, and some of the others, are costly, involves your IT guy configuring hardware, are energy inefficient, unreliable (HDD's etc) and are reliant on your sister's ongoing assistance.  

 

I offered AlwaysHome as a cheap, factory pre configured, energy efficient, reliable, and independent solution that does not rely on an IT guy or your sister.  They are plug and play.   I gave you an example of one of the hardest sport streaming geo blocked apps I have had to deal with, and AlwaysHome worked for me for Foxtel.  Do Instagram and the other sites you mentioned have harder geo blocking than Foxtel, I don't know. 

 

This thread has been running for two months, with over 190 posts.  You have been given many solutions.  Can anyone guarantee they will work 100% for you, not really.  Can anyone guarantee they will work 100% for you next week, not really.  You may have to be prepared to try multiple solutions before you get one working for you. On that basis, why don't you start with the cheapest and easiest option for you?     

No reason to get bent out of shape here.  Yes, this may have been a long thread but it was only towards the end of it when you suggested the dongles which I think is the best solution.  Everything before that required high costs and technical expertise.

 

Early on I tried solutions which were "guaranteed" to work just fine like VPN, and yeah, it was while using the Nord VPN that Instagram took the extreme measure of not only locking my account but informing me that my account was now permanently locked and no further appeals could be made to reverse their decision!

 

So, yeah...I now want to be as sure as possible that the next solution I try stands a good chance of REALLY working.

 

I'm not looking for a 100% guarantee that it will work, which I made clear in my reply to you the other day.  I just don't want to waste my time or money if there is an obvious issue that will prevent a solution from possibly working.

 

So...if the dongles solution coupled with using VmWare can work together, then I think I have a viable solution that is easy to deal with, economical, and probably reliable.

Edited February 9, 2023 by WaveHunter

[Jimjim1]

On 12/14/2022 at 6:30 PM, WaveHunter said:

So, I would love to get feedback from some of you that are much more tech savvy than I am about what would be the best way to go about this.

Check out Express VPN ask them as many questions as you want before buying it, you can even get 30 days free trial.

I have used this VPN for over 5 years and never had a problem, it also has switch out should your internet get problematical, which means no one can see your info.

They have multiple servers all over the world and none of them collect and store any info about you so they can not supply any info to prying authorities (Governments ) in your country.

I am able to watch content from any country including U.K. television simply by logging into an London server.

 

Finally, if you have a bank account and address in your own country use your own credit card bank account to set it up because you will then get IP addresses outside of Thailand and do it during your 30 day free trial to protect your info from spying eyes.

Also should you get any problem with using the VPN you can advise your bank that you will be using one although I have never had a problem with mine.

 

For your info, if you sign up and give them my email I will get 3 months extra for free on top of my subscription as you would if you introduce someone, but I will not give you my email as a way of proving the contents of this reply are genuine and carry no attempt at gains.

Just go check it out they have a reputation second to none.

 

Best wishes

[WaveHunter]

9 minutes ago, Jimjim1 said:

Check out Express VPN ask them as many questions as you want before buying it, you can even get 30 days free trial.

I have used this VPN for over 5 years and never had a problem, it also has switch out should your internet get problematical, which means no one can see your info.

They have multiple servers all over the world and none of them collect and store any info about you so they can not supply any info to prying authorities (Governments ) in your country.

I am able to watch content from any country including U.K. television simply by logging into an London server.

 

Finally, if you have a bank account and address in your own country use your own credit card bank account to set it up because you will then get IP addresses outside of Thailand and do it during your 30 day free trial to protect your info from spying eyes.

Also should you get any problem with using the VPN you can advise your bank that you will be using one although I have never had a problem with mine.

 

For your info, if you sign up and give them my email I will get 3 months extra for free on top of my subscription as you would if you introduce someone, but I will not give you my email as a way of proving the contents of this reply are genuine and carry no attempt at gains.

Just go check it out they have a reputation second to none.

 

Best wishes

Thanks for the suggestion but VPN was the first thing I tried and it was a miserable failure.  It might have been a good strategy in the past but these days most big company servers can easily detect you are using a VPN, and when it comes to identity verification, that's one of the biggest red-flags of all and just as suspicious to them as having a US based account and signing in from a foreign country IP address address.

 

I'm not discounting the value of VPN.  It still has many benefits while l abroad like lessening the likelihood of getting hacked, having access to streaming media, etc, but if you are trying to log into a sensitive account like your merchant account on Amazon, or managing a professional accountant on social media, using a VPN will do more harm than good.

 

Edited February 9, 2023 by WaveHunter

[KhunHeineken]

17 hours ago, WaveHunter said:

Never any violations of TOS.  The messages from them clearly focused on identity verification.

Ok, so how are they verifying your identity? 

[KhunHeineken]

17 hours ago, WaveHunter said:

It's a little different if you are trying to log in as a buyer versus logging into your merchant account or your professional social media account.  I completely understand the need for super stringent ID verification as a merchant (for Amazon or eBay), or a professional social media account.  That's why I have 2-part authentication set up in all of those type of accounts, and use an authenticator app.

What authentication app are you using? Is it Google Authenticator?  Perhaps that app is linked to Google Location Services and / or IP Address.  

 

Have you tried 2 Step Authentication with a US sim card phone number? 

 

17 hours ago, WaveHunter said:

Authenticator apps make it IMPOSSIBLE for for anyone else to hack into accounts protected by that technology unless they happen to get ahold of your smartphone and are able to break your authenticator app password.  These apps eliminate the need for all the nonsense formerly associated with ID verification strategies like Capcha codes, SMS short code text messages, etc...BUT for some reason, I get red-flagged anyway with those four sites.  They are the ONLY ones that give me this grief!

So you might have to be prepared to put up with a bit of "nonsense" verifying yourself, after all, you are trying to circumvent their security measures.

 

17 hours ago, WaveHunter said:

They make it very clear why they are locking my account, and it is always for ID verification, never for violating terms of service.  It is ENTIRELY becuase I am in Thailand, and my accounts are based in the US.

Have you tried a different method of ID verification? 

 

What are others that are doing similar business to you doing to get around this ID verification? 

 

As I said, what's wrong with a US sim card and receiving a code by text message every  time you want to sign in? 

[KhunHeineken]

17 hours ago, WaveHunter said:

No reason to get bent out of shape here.  Yes, this may have been a long thread but it was only towards the end of it when you suggested the dongles which I think is the best solution.  Everything before that required high costs and technical expertise.

I am not getting bent out of shape.

 

You have been informed of many solutions.  You just need to make a start chose one.  It's been over 2 months now.  

 

17 hours ago, WaveHunter said:

Early on I tried solutions which were "guaranteed" to work just fine like VPN, and yeah, it was while using the Nord VPN that Instagram took the extreme measure of not only locking my account but informing me that my account was now permanently locked and no further appeals could be made to reverse their decision!

As I said, what works today, may not work next week.  You are trying to circumvent their security.  

 

Whatever method/s you tried, you will still be in Thailand.  These companies have some smart guys working on trying to lock out people, such as yourself, who are accessing these platforms from abroad.  

 

Why do they care where you sign in from? If it's not a breach of their T & C's, is it a taxation issue?  

 

17 hours ago, WaveHunter said:

So, yeah...I now want to be as sure as possible that the next solution I try stands a good chance of REALLY working.

 

I'm not looking for a 100% guarantee that it will work, which I made clear in my reply to you the other day.  I just don't want to waste my time or money if there is an obvious issue that will prevent a solution from possibly working.

 

So...if the dongles solution coupled with using VmWare can work together, then I think I have a viable solution that is easy to deal with, economical, and probably reliable.

The dongles work for me, for all the sites that geo block me, and speeds are good.  As you are, I also did my research before buying them.  There was a risk I bought them and Foxtel still had  a way of detecting I was outside my home country, but after trying many things, I gave it a go, and they worked for me.   

 

I know you don't want to waste money on a solution that does not work, but the dongles are your cheapest solution to start with. 

 

I think the dongles will work, without VmWare, but it's the ID verification that is interesting.  If you are using Google Authenticator, in an android phone, with a Thai sim card, on a Thai ISP for internet, with location services turned on, maybe that's your issue, not the VPN and the IP Addresses you are using.   

 

Let us know what method you decide to start with, and the outcome, but possibly try a different method of authentication first.  I mean, to my knowledge, a US telco doesn't tell Ebay, Instagram and Amazon where their text message was received.  

[Jimjim1]

On 2/9/2023 at 1:33 PM, WaveHunter said:

Thanks for the suggestion but VPN was the first thing I tried and it was a miserable failure.  It might have been a good strategy in the past but these days most big company servers can easily detect you are using a VPN, and when it comes to identity verification, that's one of the biggest red-flags of all and just as suspicious to them as having a US based account and signing in from a foreign country IP address address.

 

I'm not discounting the value of VPN.  It still has many benefits while l abroad like lessening the likelihood of getting hacked, having access to streaming media, etc, but if you are trying to log into a sensitive account like your merchant account on Amazon, or managing a professional accountant on social media, using a VPN will do more harm than good.

You are welcome to the suggestion however I do most of what you mention including my Amazon account but with the exception of certain social media who have a vested interest in looking up your proverbial rectum, I have never had any problems in the area you mention possibly because I refuse point blank to have certain social media apps anywhere near my iPad and I leave location services turned off.

Even Google does not know where I am as it sends me ads from an location more than 350 miles from my actual location and all thanks to my VPN.

But at the end of the day it is horses for courses, most of what I look for and at are legal anyway so maybe that is why I get to the finishing line and others get found out.

 

Good luck anyway but I don’t think anyone has come up with exactly what you look for possibly because it only exists in the realm of government.

Personally I would not trust anything out of Russia but you could try looking in Jewish sites they have some pretty strong encrypted apps which don’t come cheap but if you want it you have to pay the price.or you could purchase your own server somewhere exclusively for your own use.

[WaveHunter]

On 2/10/2023 at 4:17 PM, Jimjim1 said:

You are welcome to the suggestion however I do most of what you mention including my Amazon account but with the exception of certain social media who have a vested interest in looking up your proverbial rectum, I have never had any problems in the area you mention possibly because I refuse point blank to have certain social media apps anywhere near my iPad and I leave location services turned off.

Even Google does not know where I am as it sends me ads from an location more than 350 miles from my actual location and all thanks to my VPN.

But at the end of the day it is horses for courses, most of what I look for and at are legal anyway so maybe that is why I get to the finishing line and others get found out.

 

Good luck anyway but I don’t think anyone has come up with exactly what you look for possibly because it only exists in the realm of government.

Personally I would not trust anything out of Russia but you could try looking in Jewish sites they have some pretty strong encrypted apps which don’t come cheap but if you want it you have to pay the price.or you could purchase your own server somewhere exclusively for your own use.

 

On 2/10/2023 at 6:54 AM, KhunHeineken said:

I am not getting bent out of shape.

 

You have been informed of many solutions.  You just need to make a start chose one.  It's been over 2 months now.  

 

As I said, what works today, may not work next week.  You are trying to circumvent their security.  

 

Whatever method/s you tried, you will still be in Thailand.  These companies have some smart guys working on trying to lock out people, such as yourself, who are accessing these platforms from abroad.  

 

Why do they care where you sign in from? If it's not a breach of their T & C's, is it a taxation issue?  

 

The dongles work for me, for all the sites that geo block me, and speeds are good.  As you are, I also did my research before buying them.  There was a risk I bought them and Foxtel still had  a way of detecting I was outside my home country, but after trying many things, I gave it a go, and they worked for me.   

 

I know you don't want to waste money on a solution that does not work, but the dongles are your cheapest solution to start with. 

 

I think the dongles will work, without VmWare, but it's the ID verification that is interesting.  If you are using Google Authenticator, in an android phone, with a Thai sim card, on a Thai ISP for internet, with location services turned on, maybe that's your issue, not the VPN and the IP Addresses you are using.   

 

Let us know what method you decide to start with, and the outcome, but possibly try a different method of authentication first.  I mean, to my knowledge, a US telco doesn't tell Ebay, Instagram and Amazon where their text message was received.  

I am definiitely going with the dongles.  It makes the most sense out of any of the options I've explored.

[KhunHeineken]

45 minutes ago, WaveHunter said:

 

I am definiitely going with the dongles.  It makes the most sense out of any of the options I've explored.

Please report back the results, with some speed tests also.  Get your sister to speed test, and then you speed test off the dongle and let us know how it goes.  Of course, you need to know what speed your sister is paying for. 

 

Remember, you must buy a home proxy dongle, and a companion dongle.  You can't just buy the home proxy dongle to put at your sister's place and access it through their app, because the app is hosted in another country.  You need the two dongles to make that 13,000 km ethernet cable. 

 

Home proxy dongle at your sister's house. Companion dongle at you house in Thailand.  Don't mix these up. 

 

These dongles are nothing super special.  You could buy two small travel routers and configure them to do what these dongles do, as others have mentioned, but these come pre configured, so no IT guy needed.  They are plug and play. 

 

Just on the point of VPN's.  I went to the trouble and expense of finding a VPN provider that offered a dedicated IP address in my home country.  That's an IP address on there server only used by me, so it couldn't be blacklisted.  Foxtel didn't work on that dedicated IP address.  Only the dongles worked on android. 

 

Like I said, I don't know exactly how they do it, but they work well for me, and I think you will have the same experience, but like another member said, you may have a problem not related to geo blocking.  I suggested it may be the way you are using 2 Step authentication.  I would suggest when you are signing in to these platforms, make sure your computer and your phone (for 2 Step authentication) are both connected to the dongle's WiFi, which is your sister's network, and turn off location services and GPS in your phone.  I think using a US sim card for an OTP would be better because it does not rely on location services, and any other way Google tracks a phone. 

 

Good Luck. 

[WaveHunter]

On 2/12/2023 at 9:58 AM, KhunHeineken said:

Please report back the results, with some speed tests also.  Get your sister to speed test, and then you speed test off the dongle and let us know how it goes.  Of course, you need to know what speed your sister is paying for. 

 

Remember, you must buy a home proxy dongle, and a companion dongle.  You can't just buy the home proxy dongle to put at your sister's place and access it through their app, because the app is hosted in another country.  You need the two dongles to make that 13,000 km ethernet cable. 

 

Home proxy dongle at your sister's house. Companion dongle at you house in Thailand.  Don't mix these up. 

 

These dongles are nothing super special.  You could buy two small travel routers and configure them to do what these dongles do, as others have mentioned, but these come pre configured, so no IT guy needed.  They are plug and play. 

 

Just on the point of VPN's.  I went to the trouble and expense of finding a VPN provider that offered a dedicated IP address in my home country.  That's an IP address on there server only used by me, so it couldn't be blacklisted.  Foxtel didn't work on that dedicated IP address.  Only the dongles worked on android. 

 

Like I said, I don't know exactly how they do it, but they work well for me, and I think you will have the same experience, but like another member said, you may have a problem not related to geo blocking.  I suggested it may be the way you are using 2 Step authentication.  I would suggest when you are signing in to these platforms, make sure your computer and your phone (for 2 Step authentication) are both connected to the dongle's WiFi, which is your sister's network, and turn off location services and GPS in your phone.  I think using a US sim card for an OTP would be better because it does not rely on location services, and any other way Google tracks a phone. 

 

Good Luck. 

I will report on results; that's the least I can do for all the support you folks have provided.

 

Ya know, if all of the website adopted the use of "authenticator apps", none of these draconian ID verification issues would exist!  All of my banks and credit card companies now use them, and so does Facebook.  Ever since I began to use them on those sites set up for them I have not gotten a single ID verification challenge, not even a Capcha request!

 

Even Instagram started using them, and so I no longer have any issues with existing accounts (only when I try to create a new account).  Unfortunately eBay and Amazon (Seller Central) are not yet set up with them.  I expect that soon every website will use them though, and all of this ID verification nonsense will be history.

 

These authenticator totally eliminate the need to receive SMS short-code texts (which are impossible to get here in Thailand for US cell phones, and most website will not send SMS texts to foreign cell numbers).  The authenticator apps work so well that I have not received one single ID verification challenge with any website that allows me to set it up with.

 

If you're sick of the hassles of ID verification and Captchas, check it out:  https://support.lastpass.com/help/lastpass-authenticator-lp030014

 

 

 

Edited February 14, 2023 by WaveHunter

[tontotoronto]

This is the one and only mobile device app I have tried that successfully circumvents GPS based geo-location & blocking from my bank and other US and international sites I frequent. It's cheap too, a couple of bucks per month. There is a PC, OSX option as well.