F-Secure Freedome Not Working With Netflix? Here Is How to Fix It – 2024 Edition

You’re enjoying your new assignment in Germany, but you do miss your home back in the States. An occasional Netflix binge of American television shows and movies makes you feel less homesick. So, you sit down with your iPad, fire up your F-Secure Freedome VPN connection and:

“Oops, something went wrong…Netflix Streaming Error. You seem to be using an unblocker or proxy. Please turn off any of these services and try again.”

Aw, man.

At a Glance

You purchased an F-Secure Freedome VPN subscription because you had heard that a VPN would open up access to American Netflix content while you’re outside U.S. borders.

However, F-Secure has proven to be quite unreliable when it comes to accessing U.S. Netflix content. What can you do?

Many VPN users are finding that their VPN provider can no longer reliably provide the Netflix unblocking power it once did.

F-Secure Freedome was, once upon a time, a reliable way to gain access to Netflix content from other regions. However, in recent times the provider has lost its ability to power through Netflix geographical roadblocks.

Pop quiz, F-Secure hotshot: what do you do? What. Do. You. Do?

Why Netflix Blocks a VPN Provider

A VPN was, for a long time, the best way to access Netflix and other streaming content from other countries. However, since early 2016, Netflix has been waging a battle designed to block VPN users from accessing their streaming content from outside the region where they’re physically located.

I’ll explain why Netflix does this. First, let me clarify that the streaming giant doesn’t block VPNs out of spite. No, they are required to prevent access from outside designated viewing areas due to the contracts they have signed with the movie and television studios that supply the content they stream to their audiences.

Unfortunately, these contracts are the reason that the movies and shows you can access while in the U.S. might not be available when you’re in another country.

Many VPNs have been forced to give up offering Netflix access to users outside a particular viewing area, as they simply don’t have the resources available to break through Netflix’s virtual roadblocks.

The Best Alternative When F-Secure Freedome Fails

When a user connects to a VPN server, their internet connection is routed through one of the VPN provider’s servers, along with numerous other customers of the service.

When these users connect, they receive a new IP address, which makes their location appear to be that of the server to which they connected. For example, although they may physically reside in Los Angeles, it can look as if they’re in London.

The users who are connected to the same server all receive the same IP address. This makes it appear as if all of the users are connecting from the same location. While this enhances their online security, it also makes it easier for Netflix to detect that they are using a VPN.

If Netflix sees a large number of users connecting to their servers from identical IP addresses, this tells the streaming service that these users are using a VPN to connect to the service, possibly from outside of their contracted region.

Once Netflix confirms that a VPN service owns the IP address, they will block that address from being able to connect to their streaming servers. This results in the users no longer having access to the content, and they will instead receive the “Whoops, something went wrong” error message.

When Netflix blocks an IP address, and customers discover they no longer have access to their favorite movies and television shows, they’ll likely complain to their VPN’s customer service folks.

Naturally, the support people will check into things and confirm that the server’s IP address is blocked, and they’ll set up new addresses. Once the new IPs are in place, customers will once again have access to Netflix.

Well, at least until Netflix discovers those and blocks them, making it once again your VPN provider’s move in this never-ending game of chess.

It takes a good amount of resources for a VPN provider to keep up with Netflix in this back-and-forth fight. Many VPN providers don’t have enough resources to keep up, so they drop out of the game entirely. There goes your Netflix access. Some VPN providers try to hang in there, but limit Netflix access to only a few regions.

Sadly, all indications are that F-Secure has pulled the plug on Netflix access.

Luckily, there are still VPN providers that are hanging in there and still fighting the good fight. In the next section, I’ll provide extensive information about one of the top VPN providers that still offers wide access to Netflix.

Best Blocked-Netflix Workaround

NordVPN

NordVPN has for years provided some of the best Netflix access in the VPN industry. Of all of the VPN providers that I have tested over the years, NordVPN provides the best service of any of them.

This provider delivers consistent Netflix access in numerous areas of the world, quickly responding with new IP addresses when current IPs have been blocked. While I have run into IP addresses that stopped working with Netflix, trying another VPN server location usually yielded continued Netflix access.

NordVPN not only does an excellent job of keeping the lines open to Netflix, they also provide a goodly amount of helpful information to improve your Netflix experience while using their service. NordVPN offers tips and tricks for using the service.

The provider also offers streaming-optimal connection speeds, excellent global server coverage, 24/7 support, native apps for the popular platforms, and a 30-day money-back guarantee.

Connection Speed

Since you now have reliable access to Netflix content, you don’t want to wait “forever” for the show to begin.

NordVPN delivers top-notch connection speeds, allowing even 4K HDR content to begin playing quickly (of course, NordVPN’s connection speeds depend on what you usually receive from your ISP, so your mileage may vary).

Multi-Platform Support

You may have noticed that Netflix is available on nearly every available connected device in your home or office. This includes your Smart TV, game console, set-top box, computer, and mobile device. It isn’t available yet on your refrigerator, but give it time.

NordVPN offers support for all popular device platforms, with apps for Windows, iOS, macOS (with native Apple Silicon support), Linux, Android, Android TV, and Amazon Fire devices. Also available are browser extensions for the Chrome, Edge, and Firefox platforms.

The provider has a limit of six simultaneous connections to their service on the same login. However, router support for numerous makes and models of routers means you can protect every connected device in your home or office at one central connection point. Pre-configured routers can be purchased from FlashRouters.com.

Pricing

NordVPN’s subscription pricing is quite reasonable when compared to other providers in the VPN industry.

At the time of this article, paying monthly for your subscription will take an $11.95-sized chunk from your bank account each month. A one-year subscription will run you to $4.99 per month ($59.88 annually), and a two-year deal will run to $3.99 per month ($95.76 for the first payment).

Currently, you can get three free months tacked onto the end of an annual subscription by clicking the link below to visit the NordVPN website.

A 30-day money-back guarantee will give you plenty of time to run the provider through its paces.

For more information, visit the NordVPN website.

Customer Support

I always hope my readers have plenty of bandwidth and a connection that always behaves. However, the odds are good that no matter which VPN you use, you’ll have the need to contact their customer service department occasionally.

NordVPN delivers some of the best customer support in the VPN industry. Email support, a searchable support library, 24/7 online chat, and a trouble ticket system all add up to above-average support.

The provider’s support team has always been ready to help out whenever I’ve needed them (not that it’s been that often). I received fast and informed replies, and answers were easy to find if I wanted to find a solution on my own.

Global Server Coverage

A VPN is only as good as its global server coverage, and NordVPN provides plenty of oomph in this category. With 5,200+ servers currently stationed in 60 countries, the provider supplies all the unlocking power you’ll likely need to access Netflix and other types of streaming content around the globe.

Privacy Protection

5,200+ servers stationed in nearly 60 countries also excels when it comes to the matter of protecting your privacy. The provider follows a strict no-logs policy. No logs, no evidence to be used against their users.

Your payment information can be kept private too, thanks to the provider’s willingness to accept Bitcoin in return for their fine services.

The VPN for Netflix: NordVPN

NordVPN is my top pick for the best VPN to use to keep access to Netflix open, no matter where you’re located. The provider reacts quickly when new IP addresses are required, keeping the access path open to Netflix.

The provider offers speedy connections, kill-switch protection, top-notch global server coverage, industry-standard privacy protections, and customer support. All of these things add up to the best way to not only access Netflix but also to protect all of your online activities.

While no VPN service bats a thousand when it comes to Netflix access, NordVPN’s batting average is easily one of the best in the industry today. The VPN service offers reliable access to Netflix, both inside and outside of U.S. borders.

For more information or to purchase a subscription, visit the NordVPN website.

Methodology for Assessing a VPN For Netflix

Not all VPN providers offer reliable access to Netflix around the globe. It’s important to choose a VPN that offers the features you need for accessing Netflix’s geo-blocked content.

The factors listed below are the most critical features to consider when choosing which VPNs work best for Netflix:

• Speed: When you’re streaming Netflix and other streaming content, fast connections are a must. Otherwise, you’ll face lengthy buffering times and lower-resolution video streams. NordVPN provided the second-fastest download speeds in my most recent testing, making it an excellent choice for Netflix
• Streaming: If you subscribe to Netflix, there is a good chance that you subscribe to other streaming services. NordVPN offers reliable access to not only Netflix, but numerous other streaming services, including Amazon Prime Video, Disney+,  Hulu and other popular streaming services
• Server Network: If you’re looking to access geo-blocked content from Netflix around the globe, a VPN with numerous servers stationed around the globe is an absolute must. Luckily, most VPN providers have servers located around the globe. Look for a provider that has a large number of servers in each country, as it helps prevent having a single server hit with too many users at once, slowing the server’s performance
• Value:  A VPN’s value is determined by comparing its feature offerings to its asking price. If a provider asks for a much higher subscription rate than what is deserved by the services they offer, forget about that VPN. I only recommended VPN providers that offer a high value for the asking price
• Ease of Use: All of the VPNs I recommend in my articles offer apps that even first-time users will have no issues in using. However, some VPNs offer apps that are simpler to use than others. In addition, providers should also offer apps for as many device platforms as possible. NordVPN’s easy-to-use apps are available for a large range of popular connected devices
• Security and Privacy: A VPN’s online security and privacy are arguably the most important factors to consider, no matter what online activity you are looking to use it with. Banking-grade encryption, an automatic kill switch, and DNS/IP leak protection are the minimum security features that you should accept from any VPN, and any provider worth its salt should offer more protection than that. A strict no-server-logs-ever policy is also a requirement, as it leaves no evidence behind any of your online antics. NordVPN offers comprehensive all-around security and privacy protections

Please don’t think that our research ends here. Actually, evaluating the factors above is just a small part of our total VPN testing methodology. This comprehensive, data-driven approach helps us better understand the VPN provider’s offerings, so we can recommend only those that are a good fit for our reader’s needs.

F-Secure Freedome Netflix FAQs

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