Robot caption everytime I google while VPN is on

Why do I keep getting this message when I google something while the VPN is on? I already changed the protocol to Wireguard

Comments

  • When using Bitdefender VPN (or any VPN), Google may trigger the "Robot Check" (CAPTCHA) for a few reasons:

    Why VPNs Trigger Robot Checks:

    • Shared IP Addresses:
      • VPNs route your internet traffic through their servers, meaning many users share the same IP address.
      • If a large number of requests originate from a single IP, Google (and other websites) may flag it as suspicious, suspecting automated bot activity.
    • Suspicious Traffic Patterns:
      • VPNs can mask your location, and if the location of the VPN server is drastically different from your usual browsing habits, it can raise red flags.
      • Unusual spikes in traffic from a VPN server can also trigger security measures.
    • Blacklisted IP Addresses:
      • Some VPN IP addresses may have been used for malicious activities in the past, leading to them being blacklisted by websites like Google.
    • VPN Detection:
      • Websites and search engines are becoming increasingly sophisticated at detecting VPN usage. When a VPN is detected, extra security measures, such as CAPTCHAs, may be implemented.

    Why Changing Protocols May Not Solve It:

    • While WireGuard can offer speed and security improvements, it doesn't fundamentally change the fact that you're using a shared IP address.
    • The core issue lies with how websites detect and respond to VPN traffic, not necessarily the specific protocol being used.

    What You Can Try:

    • Change VPN Servers:
      • Try connecting to different VPN servers within Bitdefender. Some servers may have less traffic or "cleaner" IP addresses.
    • Clear Browser Cookies and Cache:
      • Sometimes, stored cookies and cache can interfere with website security checks.
    • Temporarily Disable the VPN:
      • If you need to perform a lot of searches, consider temporarily disabling the VPN.

    If the issue persists, kindly contact Bitdefender support by visiting https://www.bitdefender.com/consumer/support/help/

    Select, How to's & Troubleshooting Bitdefender productsTroubleshootingI don't knowContact Support→ You will get the option of chat, call or email.

    To get immediate update, make use of the chat option. Bitdefender support may require logs and will assist you in generating them.

    Also, ensure you do not have any ad-blocker or privacy-blocker extensions enabled, as they might prevent the chat window from appearing.

    Regards

    Life happens, Coffee helps!

    Show your Attitude, when you reach that Altitude!

    Bitdefender Ultimate Security Plus (user)

  • Thanks for the detailed explanation…it's very helpful in understanding this issue.

    If you could please clarify one thing: "Change VPN Servers"…" Is this done simply by turning off and on the VPN? Or do I manually have to select a different server? Thanks

  • Alexandru_BD
    Alexandru_BD admin
    edited March 14

    Hello,

    I'll jump in here as well. So, there is indeed a problem where that captcha appears more often than it should, but to some extent this is normal when you use a VPN. The development team is aware of this and they are working on some improvements in this area.
    Changing servers is possible only with the Premium VPN version, so if you have this one, you can simply choose from the list of countries and cities available in the VPN app. The server list includes 54 countries across the globe.

    Regards

    Premium Security & Bitdefender Endpoint Security Tools user

  • Thanks for the reply. Yes, premium user here. Thanks for the suggestion.

    Also, for now, I'm seeing this robot caption less frequently. Thanks