Hi would like to watch some Australian TV and need a VPN. What are the cheapest options I can get away with that won’t give me a headache?
Cheap VPN for watching Australian TV?
nzsaver on 15/01/2022 - 17:56
Comments
NordVPN, there's always a cash back offer from Cashrewards AU, sometimes up to 96% back.
Thanks so much. I know I’m outing myself as not a true cheapie but waiting months and months with no guarantee makes me a bit nervous.
My view is that I only buy something on its own merits, and never for the (potential) cashback.
If I get the cashback, that's a bonus.
I've had about 10+ transaction through Cashrewards, every one of them was counted for.
+1 for NordVPN. Signed up for the 2 year plan when there was 95% cashback on cash rewards. The cashback paid out fine after a few months so it worked out something like $20-30 for 2 years.
You can run a nice browser extension to quickly switch between countries.
Regularly watch SBS Australia and BBC iPlayer in UK with no issues. VPN Speeds are great.
Have a look at DNS 4 ME
This is the answer, smart DNS (We use Getflix) is the best option for streaming.
How will a different DNS provider make any difference to whether the 'service' allows you to connect?
You would still need a VPN or proxy, else NetFlix (or BBC or SBS Australia) will know where you are connecting from (at least that you are within NZ)?
Thanks,
Alan.
I thought the same as you Alan.
However, looks like it would work with the advantage of faster speeds than you often get with a VPN.
Here’s the explanation on Getflix.
https://www.getflix.com/faqs/@bigcheese: Okay - Looks like they are selling a proxy? The DNS stuff sounds like snake-oil, but a proxy would work regardless of whether you use their DNS? Sounds like the web-proxies we were using in the nineties.
However, I suspect that means that any connection you put through them will be insecure at least with respect to them (they will be able to see everything, including your username and password) as they will be decrypting your connection to their server, then re-encrypting your traffic to the end point.
It also means that, if you use their DNS, they can see everywhere you are going?
Am I missing something?
Alan.
@Alan6984: On the FAQ page they state they don't log or track any of your data even though in theory they could see all your traffic - I guess you have to decide whether to believe this statement as I can't see anything else in regards to this.
I do like the concept of not reducing your connection speed.
However, I don't know enough about the technical aspects on this and your points seem valid so I'll just sit this one out.@bigcheese: Fair enough :-)
It just sounds a bit too dodgy for my liking, and you won't know until its too late.
I think I'll stick with a VPN that just tunnels a connection - no additional security risk that way.
Alan.
@Alan6984: 100% not a proxy the way we used to use them.
It is definitely redirecting DNS queries through regional servers to spoof your location to the service provider, I'm using it right now.
They could see the DNS queries you are making, yes, no different than an ISP supplied DNS server in that regard, but that doesn't immediately mean they are acting maliciously. Of course they could be directing you to a fake Netflix.com to harvest your credentials, but so could any VPN, proxy, or DNS provider. SSL and HTTPS is probably the best way of checking that.
I'd argue that a rogue VPN provider is potentially much more damaging than a bad DNS one.
@Kiwi: The GetFlix FAQ seems to imply that your connection is going through GetFlix's server, and then being passed on to the endpoint (say, NetFlix.com)?
That sounds like a proxy to me?
Does the endpoint (say, NetFlix.com) see GetFlix's server as the originating connection? Do you see, say, NetFlix.com as the endpoint you are connecting to (in terms of hostname)? If so, do you get any certificate errors? If not, how have they achieved that (apart from the truly dodgy option of installing their own certificate into your store)?
@Alan6984: This probably describes it better:
SmartDNS: Redirects your DNS queries when you access a website. All other traffic directly accesses the internet and does not receive extra encryption, but the DNS request makes it look like you’re in a different location.
So the server thinks you are from whatever location the server is based in and serves that locations content directly to your device.
DNS4ME is what I use and recommend.
I have a "lifetime" subs with Getflix but have given up using them, I got sick of having to "jump thru hoops" when reporting problems with certain countries when the service went down.Getflix works fine for me.
dns4me are great. Just a couple of guys in Aussie running it for run.They are often on geekzone and offer excellent support. There's nothing nefarious about them. I agree that simply changing your DNS server shouldn't work, but it most definitely does.
There is nothing to install. No proxies. No certificates. The ONLY traffic they see are your DNS requests. Your user names and passwords are safe.
Maybe you get a different IP address is you request a hostname lookup from a different location (provided via DNS4Me's DNS Server), and once you have that IP, NetFlix don't then check your originating IP?
Quite interesting how it is working from a technical perspective!
Surfshark work well accessing 7Plus content for me in NZ. Learn more in this guide https://www.wheretowatchinnz.com/watch-7plus-in-nz/
Not wanting to hijack your post but am looking for similar but to watch British tv. I am not tech savvy so needs to be simple to use.