VPN/Geo Location

[TJ]

Need some advice about VPN/Geo Location stuff. We are going to Europe for 3+ weeks in June/July. My wife does utilization review cases for medical insurance companies (basically, handling insurance appeals from patients). In order to do those, she has to be in the states.

I threw out the idea of installing a VPN, but I've also heard that places can still see where you are based on your geo location.

My question is: Is there a reliable way to use a computer or phone outside of the country and make it look like you're physically in the states?

 

[Devilmaycare]

Need some advice about VPN/Geo Location stuff. We are going to Europe for 3+ weeks in June/July. My wife does utilization review cases for medical insurance companies (basically, handling insurance appeals from patients). In order to do those, she has to be in the states.

I threw out the idea of installing a VPN, but I've also heard that places can still see where you are based on your geo location.

My question is: Is there a reliable way to use a computer or phone outside of the country and make it look like you're physically in the states?

A VPN will do that for you. Just make sure to connect before loading any of the web pages or anything to not tip your hand. The geolocation is based off of the IP that you connect with. So if you're using a VPN server in the state then it should show as that location. Like my work VPN server is located in Portland. So when I'm connected to it everything looks like I'm in Portland and not Phoenix or SF (our office). That goes for out of country too. This morning I switched mine to a Japanese server because there was an anime ad that I wanted to watch and they had it region restricted.

One thing to watch out for though is if the VPN IPs are known if her org is super tech savvy. They might block servers. For example, MLB blocks access from all of the big VPN providers so that you can't get around their blackout rules. I've had luck with smaller VPN companies with them though.

I'm currently using both PIA and Adguard VPN due to that type of stuff. Out of the two I lean towards Adguard these days. Cheaper and I've had better luck getting around geo blocks. Check out StackSocial for a deal on them. It's a lot cheaper. Code "TAKE20" might get you another 20% off too. I don't have a deal for PIA but here's my referral code if you want to go with them. It gives both of us 30 extra days.

 

[gimpy]

I received my adguard from Gadget Hacks.


I use it for ad blocking. Don’t know about the vpn.

 

[Devilmaycare]

I received my adguard from Gadget Hacks.


I use it for ad blocking. Don’t know about the vpn.

FYI, AdGuard has 4 (3?) different products but uses "AdGuard" in all of their names to make it confusing.

AdGuard: Their ad blocker. It's what I use for Safari and on iOS since it'll filter all traffic.
AdGuard DNS: DNS service that does DNS level ad filtering.
AdGuard Home: Home is their home version of AdGuard DNS. Similar to a PiHole.
AdGuard VPN: Their VPN service, I believe it includes AdGuard DNS. This is the one I was linking to above.

 

[gimpy]

All over my head.

 

[dreamcastrocks]

So, use a VPN, that then connects to a computer on your home network, that then remotes in to a place might where you might need to do some work.

Use something like Chrome Remote Desktop to make your work believe you are actually at your house.

Some prep would need to be done beforehand, but it is possible...