[dactylic]

Hi I am looking to get an answer for this directly from the owners of the site.

So, I use a VPN to do my online work to protect myself from getting my IP leaked. So if I use a VPN on this forum I am wondering if I will ever get in trouble for my IP matching other members numerous times by logging in with a VPN.
I think it will not matter since the IP matching would be due to me using a VPN.

EDIT:

MY QUESTION: Will I get in trouble for having my IP matching other members due to me using a public VPN which other members might be using as well?

Thank you all for reading my question.

[petercraig]

Simple answer - you can try but the VPN IP will probably be blocked already.

[dactylic]

Is having IP matching other members going to automatically get me in trouble? Even though I use a VPN so I may have the same IP as another member using the VPN? Would this be an issue?

[Meow]

I've found this thread from 2013 where Omni talks about VPN's, not sure if it's the most up to date information tho.

https://hackforums.net/showthread.php?tid=3727388

[dactylic]

I should rephrase my question. Will I get in trouble for having my IP matching other members due to me using a public VPN which other members might be using as well?

[bοxxy]

Pretty sure the correct response from a while ago was use at your own risk.

[TheChaosKiller]

I'm using a VPN also and had that worry too, but the truth of the matter is if you can prove your legitimacy and worth to someone you're about to do business with on here, it doesn't matter either way. You could live in the same house as someone who's screwed up on HF and have matching info, doesn't mean you're a bad dude. You'll be fine.

[Xerotic]

No. Staff can usually tell if an IP is a VPN/proxy service. IP addresses are not the only way staff are able to find people with multiple accounts.

However... if another account on your IP is causing chaos on HF (scamming, black hat activity, etc) then your account may be looked at as well. It doesn’t mean that you will be banned as well, but it doesn’t mean that you won’t be either.

[dactylic]

Okay well I think my question is answered now. Thank you. You could now close this thread.

[SUI-3183372]

I've found this thread from 2013 where Omni talks about VPN's, not sure if it's the most up to date information tho.

https://hackforums.net/showthread.php?tid=3727388

I might be mistaken but I thought policy on this changed. I thought sometime over the last 2-3 years a lot of IP's / IP Ranges have been unblocked, including IP's that belong to [some(?)] VPNs.

[Vitani]

I might be mistaken but I thought policy on this changed. I thought sometime over the last 2-3 years a lot of IP's / IP Ranges have been unblocked, including IP's that belong to [some(?)] VPNs.

Correct. VPN IP ranges are no longer blocked and (all?) country blocks have been lifted since early this year if I remember correctly.

[Omniscient]

FYI, I had to block China, Russia, and Brazil again.