Using VPN Results in Ban?

Long story short, I use VPN’s for work as a Database Security Engineer and Penetration/Stress Tester.

Often times I leave my VPN on as I do work, and play many blizzard titles as I wait for certain things that basically just need me to monitor them. (No I don’t notice lag from VPNs, maybe an extra 4-10 ping in game).

Because of this, My account has been locked out, accused of account sharing / being boosted, etc.

I have mobile authentication, and every time I log in, I give it the one time code, yet I am still being punished.

“Why don’t you just stop using VPN’s or playing while you work?”
Even when I am not ‘working’ I still use separate VPN’s for personal protection.

The reason this bugs me is I have been locked out of the last couple of comp seasons for OW, I have enough time to do placements, and that is about it.

Anyone else experience something like this?

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  1. Don’t play Overwatch at work.
  2. Don’t do it.
  3. Contact Blizzard and explain.
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I work from home most days, and as I said, sometimes I just watch progress bars or hope one of my attacks finds something after running for hours.

I have tried making tickets, talking to support, etc… the only reply I ever got was “Account was not compromised”

Don’t really have a good answer.

That said, if the ports that Overwatch uses are specific to Overwatch, maybe try routing those to not use VPN?

Well, except for port 80, but that’s probably for the YouTube videos on the launcher.

Ah, okay.
That’s different.
I thought you worked at the company.

Have you shown them proof of what is happening?

It depends on the VPN you use.
Theres some things you need to be careful about too.

Blizzard actually bans boosters and boosted accounts, the way they do this is by looking at which accounts have changed IP addresses over a large distance in a short amount of time and play regularly.

So if you are playing with a VPN, always use the VPN to play. Dont change servers at all either.

back to the VPN choice, some vpn services change the location depending on the connection strength/speed there, you should find one that wont auto change.

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@GreyFelcon I have tried that, it still pings me being else where. Good suggestion though:3

@Neopets I have sent them videos of my game play to prove that I am not “boosted” at least. They confirmed my account has not been compromised so I think the “Boosting / Sharing account” fall into the same pool

@AK1174 My personal VPN is usually between 2, which ever has the better ping for that day. But when I use ones at work 40% of the time im connected to a South Cal. Server about 1600 miles away from me. The other 60% of the time, depends on the server, business, etc that I am trying to “attack” that day.

Yeah I think Blizzard’s heard that same story over a hundred times now.

you would think they would do something about it?
Is verifying my account with SMS protect not good enough?

Are the gaming machine and the work machine, the same machine?

have you tried contacting support?

I usually use my own computer as its much faster, and I usually am just Remote desktop-ing into things, but to have accesss to those desktops I have to be on a specified network.

@Alexis! Yes, all they said was my account was confirmed 'Not Compromised" and that they will do nothing about the suspension for comp. play

Don’t play with VPN so can’t comment.

Why are you running long jobs on your desktop? I don’t do your kind of work… but as a computational person that strikes me as odd. Long jobs are for clusters/servers/cloud/w/e.

As for “personal protection” while playing… I don’t get it. OW is server-client architecture. Do you have a static IP or something? Even then… who cares if Blizzard has that.

Edit: you answered the first point while I wrote it. As @GreyFalcon mentioned… if it’s a thin client I’d just work on a laptop or something…

If you are using a thin client for work, maybe use a different computer for work?

To be fair, this doesn’t mean you don’t account share or have someone boost your account… You could give someone your one time code at the time they login. Now I’m not saying you do but just pointing out that having this security feature on your account doesn’t mean you can’t do those.

Also a lot of people use VPN’s and don’t get banned. It’s possible your VPN provider and IP’s have had a lot of abuse from them, that is unless your’re using a private VPN that you setup at your work which you should in your jobs case.

Most of my work ones are pretty private, but I do use personal ones after work. I use Tunnel Bear and Unlimited VPN, I try and stay away from the largest server near me (Chicago) but I suppose there could be other abuse on smaller IPs as well.

its nothing new that blizzard bans vpn user… the boosting and hacking is going wild.

Yeah I understand that, and I would totally understand being banned or flagged for that… but they should have some way for people who just want to use VPNs to protect them selves and appeal this poor misrepresentation of their account…

It’s 2019 and Blizz penalize users for having responsible internet practices loooool

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considering you have a job, just buy new game and don’t make same mistake again.