I've been using Virtual Private Networks (VPNs) for so long that I remember when we called them "anonymizers." Today, with data breaches, malware, identity theft, and endless tracking by advertisers, millions of people run VPNs on their computers, phones, and tablets simply because they want a little security and privacy.
Using a VPN is one of the best ways to protect yourself from hackers.
Modern VPNs are pretty amazing. I can make it appear that I'm in New York, Los Angeles, Miami, London, or a hundred other cities around the world with a few clicks. The IP address changes, my real location is hidden, and I have one more layer between me and the bad guys. I've used Express VPN and many other commercial products in recent years.
Apparently, Hostinger thinks that makes me suspicious. Here is an article about it: https://tech.yahoo.com/vpn/articles/why-websites-block-vpns-214700312.html
Cheap Hosting Has Hidden Costs
Hostinger has attracted millions of customers by offering very inexpensive entry-level hosting. There's nothing wrong with that. Everybody likes a bargain, especially small businesses and people just getting started online.
But sometimes you discover where the corners are being cut.
After noticing strange behavior on some websites, I eventually figured out that many of my sites hosted on Hostinger were refusing connections from VPN addresses. Not because I was attacking the sites. Not because I was sending spam. Simply because I was coming in through a VPN.
And it isn't just me.
Many hosting companies subscribe to databases that contain lists of VPN nodes, shared IP addresses, proxies, and data center networks. Instead of performing more advanced behavioral analysis, they simply block entire groups of addresses. It's cheap and easy.
I communicated with Hostinger about it and confirmed that they DO block huge swaths of "shared IP" addresses. There can be a million people on a single shared IP now. That's like saying Oh there is a hacker in India so we will block all traffic from India. Unfortunately, that's a pretty blunt instrument.
Your Visitors Might Be Blocked Too
Do they block 10% or 90% of my users ? I don't know !! The percentage of internet users running VPNs depends on where you look, but it's a lot higher than most people realize. Privacy-conscious users, travelers, remote workers, business people, and security-minded folks often leave VPNs running all day long.
That means if your hosting provider decides to block VPN traffic, you're potentially turning away legitimate visitors without even knowing it.
The visitor sees an error message or gets blocked and simply moves on. They don't email you. They don't complain. They just disappear.
As website owners, we spend countless hours trying to attract visitors. Why would we want our hosting company silently pushing some of them away?
SiteGround Handles It Better
I host some sites at SiteGround, and I don't see this problem there. Their security system appears to be more sophisticated. Instead of blindly blocking huge lists of shared IP addresses, they seem to focus more on actual malicious behavior.
That approach probably costs more money.
But security should be about identifying bad actors, not assuming everybody using a VPN is guilty.
Because let's face it—using a VPN today is about as suspicious as locking your front door.
Time to Move Important Sites
I've reached the point where anything important is going to have to move off Hostinger.
Cheap hosting is great until it starts costing you traffic, readers, and potential customers. Then suddenly those low introductory rates aren't such a bargain anymore.
The irony is almost funny. Millions of people use VPNs because they care about security, and some hosting companies respond by treating those people like hackers.
Maybe someday they'll figure out that privacy-conscious users aren't the enemy.
They're just customers trying to lock their front doors.