IP ban sounds dangerous and highly undesirable but actually, you might be experiencing it more than you realize. It can be caused either by users’ actions (e.g. by violating website policies), or external factors they have little control over, like geolocation. Let’s take a closer look at what IP bans are, how they work, why we need them, and how to bypass these restrictions.
IP address stands for Internet Protocol address. This is a unique identifier assigned to any device by an Internet service provider. To put it simply, it is like an ID that shows where the machine is from. So, when a device sends a request to a targeted website, there is a clear path to return data to the right recipient. This makes IP addresses essential for the proper functioning of the Internet.
If we go into more detail, there are two forms of Internet Protocol in use today – the older IPv4 version and the newer IPv6. In the first version, the IP address is defined as a 32-bit number and presented as a numerical label that looks like this: 123.4.5.6. The latter uses 128 bits and is transcribed with the combination of numbers and letters, like 2001:db8:0:1234:0:567:8:1. IP addresses on the global scale are managed by Internet Assigned Numbers Authority (IANA) and five regional Internet registries (RIRs). They then assign IP addresses to local Internet registries, that include Internet service providers and other end users. When the device goes online, it is assigned with either static (also called fixed or permanent) or dynamic IP.
This is a method of access restriction to websites or applications based on IP addresses. It can be targeted against specific IP or a range of addresses. It is used by Internet providers, websites, and businesses for security, prevention of abuse, and control of network access. It can be set up automatically based on specific criteria, like geolocation and the reputation of IP, or manually. Banned IPs don’t gain access to websites, forums, email, or game servers.
In the majority of the cases, when users send requests to websites, they first reach the firewall. There their IPs get checked against the blocklist. If the address appears on the list, the device receives an access denial.
Having such a restrictive mechanism in place is not always bad news. There are a few reasons why it makes the internet safer and better functioning.
Social and political issues: it can be set up to prevent access to particular media outlets, social media platforms, or even entire areas of the internet. In this case, Internet censorship is in place. It can also be set up to protect against DDoS attacks and hackers.
Even though there are few good and legitimate reasons for IP restrictions, there are also many instances when you would want to avoid them. Here are the potential solutions for such cases:
An account ban is different from an IP ban. It usually means that the rules of the community, such as a forum or a game, have been violated. It is worth investigating with the service provider what went wrong and then abiding by those rules in the future. There are a few ways to bypass the account ban in a short term:
Though there are good reasons for IP bans’ existence, nobody wants to be on the wrong side of it. This means knowing the ways around it is always useful.