Why Block VPNs and Proxies?
VPNs and proxies allow users to hide their true location and identity. While there are legitimate privacy uses, this anonymity is frequently exploited for:
- Payment fraud - Hiding real location from fraud detection
- Geo-pricing abuse - Accessing lower-priced regional stores
- Promotional abuse - Appearing as multiple different users
- Terms of service violations - Bypassing bans and restrictions
- Scraping and competitive intelligence - Anonymous data harvesting
How VPN Detection Works
SecurEcommerce uses ProxyCheck.io’s comprehensive detection system:
VPN Provider Database
Identifies connections from known VPN services:
- Consumer VPNs (NordVPN, ExpressVPN, Surfshark, etc.)
- Corporate VPN endpoints
- Smaller and emerging VPN providers
Data Center Detection
Most VPN traffic exits from data centers, not residential IPs. We identify:
- Known hosting providers
- Cloud service IPs (AWS, Google Cloud, Azure)
- Colocation facilities
Proxy Detection
Identifies various proxy types:
- Web proxies
- SOCKS proxies
- Residential proxy services
- Mobile proxy networks
Real-Time Updates
Detection databases are continuously updated as new VPN services launch and existing ones change infrastructure.
Setting Up VPN Blocking
Enable Detection
Turn on VPN/Proxy detection in your SecurEcommerce dashboard. All visitors are checked automatically.
Choose Your Action
When VPN/Proxy traffic is detected:
- Block completely - Show blocked message
- Warn and allow - Display message but let them continue
- Flag for review - Allow order but mark for manual review
Custom Messages
Create messages appropriate for your brand:
“For security reasons, we can’t process orders from VPN connections. Please disable your VPN to continue shopping.”
Performance Optimization
VPN detection adds a check to each visit. SecurEcommerce optimizes this:
24-Hour Caching
Detection results are cached in Redis for 24 hours. Repeat visitors from the same IP don’t require new lookups.
Fail-Open Design
If the detection service is temporarily unavailable, visitors are allowed through. Security shouldn’t break your store.
Minimal Latency
Detection typically adds less than 100ms to initial page load, cached thereafter.
When to Block vs Allow
Block When:
- You’ve experienced significant VPN-related fraud
- You offer geo-specific pricing that’s being exploited
- You run promotions being abused by VPN hoppers
- Compliance requires knowing customer location
Allow When:
- Your customers are privacy-conscious by nature
- You sell in regions where VPNs are used for safety
- Your fraud prevention handles VPN traffic well
- VPN traffic represents a significant customer segment
Flag Without Blocking When:
- You’re unsure about the impact
- You want data before making decisions
- You have manual review processes anyway
Combining with Country Blocking
VPN blocking and country blocking work together:
- Visitor connects from VPN appearing to be in the US
- VPN detection identifies the connection as anonymized
- Visitor is blocked based on VPN rules, regardless of apparent country
Without VPN blocking, country blocking is easily bypassed.
What VPN Users See
Blocked visitors see your custom message. Best practices:
- Explain clearly why VPNs are restricted
- Offer alternatives (contact support, disable VPN)
- Stay professional - Don’t accuse visitors of wrongdoing
- Provide help - Some visitors don’t realize they’re on VPN (corporate networks)
Enterprise and Corporate VPNs
Some legitimate customers browse from corporate networks that appear as VPNs. Options:
- Allowlist specific corporate IPs if you have B2B customers
- Use “flag” mode instead of blocking to identify these cases
- Provide customer service bypass for verified legitimate customers
Monitoring VPN Traffic
SecurEcommerce shows you:
- What percentage of traffic uses VPNs
- Which VPN providers are most common
- Geographic distribution of VPN users
- Conversion rates: VPN vs non-VPN traffic
Use this data to refine your policy. If VPN users convert well and don’t cause fraud, maybe blocking isn’t right for you.
Proxy Types Detected
| Type | Description | Risk Level |
|---|---|---|
| Commercial VPN | NordVPN, ExpressVPN, etc. | Medium-High |
| Data Center | Cloud/hosting provider IPs | High |
| Residential Proxy | Traffic routed through real homes | Very High |
| Mobile Proxy | Traffic through cellular networks | Very High |
| Web Proxy | Browser-based proxy services | Medium |
| TOR | The Onion Router network | Very High |
Residential and mobile proxies are particularly concerning as they’re designed specifically to evade detection.