Your IP Has Been Flagged - Why it Happens & How to Fix it

Have you ever received a message that says “Your IP has been flagged”? If you have, you might be wondering what it means and what is the cause of the error.

Flagging of IP is common on sports, betting, and advertisements websites like Craiglist. Social media apps like Instagram also block users’ IP addresses when there is any hint of suspicious behavior.

If they detect anything out of the ordinary, they may blacklist your IP address to protect themselves and their users. But, what implications does this have for your online activities? Let’s find out together.

Why has your IP been flagged?

Your IP has been flagged because it is associated with cybercrime, too many login attempts, or just a technical issue.

If a website blacklists your IP address, maybe the IP was used for cybercrime in the past. Assuming you are using a VPN that shares IP addresses, another user may have used your IP for spamming or DDoS attacks.

Also, too many attempts to log in to a particular account could cause the website or app to blacklist your IP address. This is because they would assume that you are trying to gain unauthorized access to another person’s account.

Lastly, some websites, apps, and several online media do not accept the use of VPN or proxy. So, if they detect you use a VPN they may block you.

In some cases, websites can flag IP addresses mistakenly or it may happen as a result of a technical error. In this case, customer support can help you rectify this issue.

What to do if your IP has been blacklisted?

First, figure out from the website or app where your IP was flagged why they took the action against you. This is usually done by sending an email or calling customer support; whichever works best for you.

By making this inquiry, you’ll be able to avoid future occurrences or confirm if it’s a technical error.

However, the easiest way to fix this error is to hide your IP address and below we’ll show you a few ways to do that.

1. Use a VPN 

Virtual Network Providers has been around for quite some time and it’s a go-to tool to mask your real IP address.

Once you connect, the traffic is routed through the VPN server, and your real IP is replaced with the VPN’s IP.

To do that effectively, you need a VPN that has a decent number of servers. This way, you’ll have a lower chance of landing on a blocked IP address. Moreover, VPNs with good security are more difficult to block.

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2. Use a SmartDNS 

You can also use a SmartDNS to change your IP address. As opposed to VPN, it doesn’t feature encryption, so your traffic information will be visible.

But it can pass for a quick tool to switch addresses.

Follow the guidelines below to set up SmartDNS on PC:

1. Signup for a SmartDNS Proxy account.
2. Go to the location list and pick a server address of your choice. Keep the tab open.
3. On your PC, right-click on the Start button.
4. Click on Network Connections.
5. Click on Advanced Network Settings.
6. Select Change adapter options.
7. Right-click on your active connection and choose Properties.
8. Uncheck the Internet Protocol Version 6 (TCP/IPv6).
9. Double-click on Internet Protocol Version 4 (TCP/IPv4). Click on Properties below this window.
10. In the General tab, click on Use the following DNS server addresses.
11. Enter the Preferred address and Alternative address from the server list from step 2.
12. Check the box beside validate settings upon exit.
13. Click OK.
14. If the Windows diagnostics runs, allow it. Restart your computer after that.
15. Go back to the website and try to access it again. You should have access by now.

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3. Use the Tor browser 

Although you can use the Tor browser without any configuration, the following setup will prevent any website from blocking you in the future.

To set a specific country’s IP in a Tor Browser, you need to follow these steps:

1. Download the Tor browser to your device.
2. Launch the Tor Browser on your device.
3. Click on the folder on your device where the Tor browser is located to open.
4. Inside this folder, double-click on the TorBrowser folder.
5. Click on the data folder inside the TorBrowser folder.
6. Then double-click on the Tor folder you find.
7. Scroll down to the torcc file. This is a configuration file that you can make changes to.
8. Click on the file to open it. Ensure to select a text editor like Notepad. Then click Ok.
9. Place your cursor below the last line of the text in the document, then type in EntryNodes { } StrictNodes 1 and press Enter to go to the next line.
10. Type ExitNodes { } StrictNodes 1 in the current line.
11. Visit the Online Browsing Platform website and pick the 2-digit codes for the two countries of your choice.
12. Enter those codes individually inside your entry and exit codes.
13. Disable the entry and exit nodes by replacing the 1 with 0 if you want the Tor browser to use other countries if the connection fails.
14. Click on File, and select Save to update the changes. Exit the document.
15. Go back to the website that flagged your IP and try to gain access again.

That’s it! You have successfully set a specific country in your Tor Browser. 

Depending on the app or website you want to access, you may need to use the IP address from a specific country, so make sure you pick a location that’s not blocked.

Summary

It is common on some websites for your IP to be flagged. Naturally, this happens if your IP has been used in the past for scamming, phishing, and other cyber crimes.

By using a VPN, a SmartDNS, or Tor browser, you can change to a different server location which in turn substitutes your IP address. Then you’d be able to bypass any blocks.