Sites still know my location despite using a VPN

John Galt wrote:

Didn't India's government recently order Apple to install a surveillance app on iPhones, and Apple very politely told them to pound sand? Or am I misremembering that.

You're not misremembering. I believe India backed down rather quickly.

KiltedTim wrote:

Kathill7 wrote:

I am not looking for privacy or protection. I try to source goods and information needed by my outfit. Sometimes it is useful to be somewhere else, as some places assume everyone in India is doing something nefarious. Which I am not.

Actually, you are.

What you are attempting to do is a violation of Netflix terms and copyright law.

A user who I respect a lot recommended NordVPN as they seemed to be more reliable that most of the others. It's also free.

Kathill7 wrote:

India's government recently demanded that all new phones sold in India have a surveillance app installed. There is less pushback than you would think. https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2025/12/1/india-orders-phone-makers-to-pre-install-state-owned-web-safety-app-report

There was enough push back that they rescinded the demand.

Old Toad wrote:

A user who I respect a lot recommended NordVPN as they seemed to be more reliable that most of the others. It's also free.

NordVPN is not free, and also not secure. They were recently hacked and their customer database stolen.

They are one of the few commercial VPNs that does not sell your browsing data (at least I think they don’t), and, if you joined after the hack your data are secure: until the next time they are hacked.

VPN: What you need to know - Apple Community

Kathill7 wrote:

Thank you all for your time and attention. I am outside the US. I am not trying to break any laws. I am trying to watch movies and shows in a place where choices are deeply circumscribed. If using a VPN is not the answer, does anyone know what is? Aside from leaving the country, which alas is beyond the realm of possibility for me?

Buy them on DVD or BluRay & take them with you.

Even if you have purchased physical copies, ripping them to your SSD is a gray area as well.

As others have mentioned the corporate behemoth of media companies have become too paranoid & full of themselves chasing $$ and increased sales (decent profits are not enough these days). They won't even allow me to stream anything in HD above 720p on my systems (Linux) through a browser (many times not even allowing 720p).....some don't even provide an app for macOS & won't even allow AirPlay to a home receiver/amplifier even if they do provide an app (sometimes not even to the TV directly). I'm willing to pay, but they treat me a paying customer as a criminal, but they make criminals look like the smart ones which seems counterproductive to me, but they prefer to make things more complicated for themselves & their marks/prey.

I'm just about to rip out all media except for the physical media I possess. Most of the new stuff these companies produce is utter trash anyway which is making it even easier to cut all cords.

Using a VPN to access the Internet does nothing to protect your privacy or secure your data.

Exactly the opposite.

If some sites see that you are using a VPN to try to hide your location, they will intentionally deny service to you, whether they can figure out your real location or not.

That's a violation of Netflix terms of service and potentially illegal.

Netflix, will block know VPN relays.

There is no VPN that I would recommend because they are not needed and don't protect you as expected.

Why do you need a VPN?

Would these “goods and information” be related to your previous statement “Trying to watch good movies on Netflix. Its offerings are very country-specific.”?!?!?

Didn't India's government recently order Apple to install a surveillance app on iPhones, and Apple very politely told them to pound sand? Or am I misremembering that.