4 best VPNs for Virgin Media to bypass web blocking

December 2022 · 24 minute read

Virgin Media is a British telecommunications company that offers broadband, television, landline, and mobile services to customers in the United Kingdom.

The company represents one of the top broadband providers in the UK based on the number of current subscribers. It is in close competition with other companies, such as BT, TalkTalk, and Sky.

Virgin Media also offers a streaming service called Virgin TV Go, which allows users to watch live TV and on-demand content on up to 4 devices. The service is available at no extra cost to all Virgin TV customers and can be accessed from all major devices, including computers, smartphones, or tablets.

Whether you have an Internet plan from Virgin Media or wish to watch Virgin TV Go from outside the UK, you may have thought about using a VPN service to bypass ISP throttling, geo-blocking, and censorship, as well as keep your devices secure and your online traffic private.

Unfortunately, Virgin Media blocks many VPN services and also restricts access to certain websites and services. As such, you need to get a very reliable VPN that is effective at circumventing both the Virgin Media VPN blocks as well as other geo-blocked content.

However, there’s no need for you to worry that much, as we provided a list of VPNs that are proven to work very well with Virgin Media, so all you need is to pick a service, and you should be all set.

BEST VPNS WE RECOMMEND

Why does Virgin Media block VPNs?

Virgin Media is known for blocking many VPNs, so more and more users are now becoming frustrated because they can’t enjoy the many benefits these services offer.

Although VPNs are not illegal in the UK, Virgin Media chooses to follow this approach as a matter of policy, thus preventing its subscribers from using VPNs through its network.

There are many VPN services that are blocked entirely by Virgin Media. Also, certain websites that review VPNs and promote Internet privacy are blocked as well.

Usually, when users try to access websites that are blocked by Virgin Media, they will see one of the following blocking messages: Web Safe parental control, SSL error message, or a connection reset message.

Apparently, Virgin Media blocks VPNs randomly, so there are no clearly-known criteria by which it selects the VPNs it chooses to block.

As such, while many VPN services are blocked, others are overlooked, so you’ll still be able to use some of them as long as you find the right ones.

One of the reasons why popular streaming services such as Netflix block the use of VPNs is because they have certain licensing agreements with local content distributors, and therefore are not permitted to allow users outside of the designated areas to stream their content.

Given that Virgin Media also includes online streaming services such as Virgin TV Go, it might be possible that it doesn’t allow users outside the UK to watch its content because of licensing reasons.

Why should I use a VPN for Virgin Media?

No matter if you’re a Virgin Media subscriber that uses a VPN or not, you should continue reading to find the main benefits of using a strong VPN solution.

VPNs perform differently and can have a wide range of features. The differences in performance and features will be the ones primarily counting when choosing a reliable service.

Consequently, we strongly encourage you to use an all-around VPN option for Virgin Media in order to enjoy the following main benefits:

Private Internet Acces (PIA) is based in the United States and managed by Kape Technologies. It’s one of the best VPN services existent on the market, so the fact that it’s our top recommendation for Virgin Media shouldn’t come as a surprise.

Its reliability, performance, and reputation are confirmed by a large number of users – more than 15 million worldwide – who trust it on a daily basis while carrying out their typical online activities.

PIA comes with an easy-to-use interface and is available on Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, and iOS operating systems. Added to that, it can also be used as a browser extension for Chrome, Firefox, and Opera.

Installing it directly on your router in order to protect every single device connected to the Wi-Fi network is also a possibility, so it only comes down to your preference.

Whether you want to bypass geo-blocking, browse the web anonymously and securely, or shield your private information or sensitive data, Private Internet Access will effectively help you achieve all of these with no effort on your part.

One of the important aspects that distinguish PIA from other VPN competitors is that it has the largest server network, offering servers across many locations all over the world.

Having so many possible server choices at hand is especially useful when it comes to avoiding geo-restrictions, as it allows you to connect from virtually anywhere.

In order to ensure your online security and privacy, Private Internet Access routes your entire Internet traffic through a secure tunnel, so you don’t need to worry about hackers, trackers, or advertisers collecting your data.

This is achieved through AES-128 (GCM) or AES-256 (GCM) military-grade encryption, which represents the industry gold standard and is used by governments, militaries, and intelligence agencies worldwide.

PIA routes data between your device and the VPN servers using the OpenVPN and WireGuard VPN protocols. The former has been around since 2001 and is open source, stable, and very reliable. The latter was launched in 2018, is faster, and has the chance of becoming the new standard.

Given all these powerful security and privacy features, you can rest assured that your devices, online identity, and browsing habits will be protected and concealed at all times.

PIA also comes bundled with many useful features that will significantly improve your online experience, the following being the most important.

The Kill Switch is a security feature that disconnects you from the Internet when the VPN connection drops unexpectedly. This way, your IP, identity, and data will stay secure and won’t leak online.

It has two options: VPN Kill Switch and Advanced Kill Switch. The former blocks traffic outside the VPN when the VPN is on, whereas the latter stops all Internet traffic when the VPN is off.

PIA MACE is PIA’s proprietary ads and malware blocker that will provide you with complete protection against ads, trackers, and malware.

Split Tunnel allows you to split your connection by excluding specific apps or IP addresses from going through the VPN tunnel.

For example, when you connect to a PIA server, all of your traffic is routed via the secure tunnel. However, some websites or apps are not VPN-friendly at all.

Therefore, with split tunneling, you can exclude them from the VPN and allow them to access the Internet openly with your ISP-assigned IP address.

Port Forwarding forwards Internet data going from a certain port to another port. In other words, it allows traffic to flow to a certain device faster and more efficiently.

With port forwarding, incoming connections are rerouted in such a way that they bypass the NAT firewall so that connection speeds are increased. It can be useful for torrenting as well as accessing your home devices remotely.

Multi-Hop adds extra encryption by rerouting your data twice: the first time via a VPN server and the second time via a proxy server (Shadowsocks or SOCKS5 proxy).

The feature is also called Multi-hop and Obfuscation. This means that, when you enable it, you will also hide the fact that you’re using a VPN by obfuscating your connection.

Connection Automation allows you to create rules to automatically connect or disconnect Private Internet Access when you join a particular network, such as a wired connection or a Wi-Fi.

A Dedicated IP option is also offered by PIA, but it comes as an extra price to your premium subscription. Usually, when you use a VPN, you will share the same IP address with other users on the VPN server. However, a dedicated IP will be only yours to use.

With a dedicated IP, you can work from home safely, easily access accounts for online banking, and protect your IoT devices. Also, you will see fewer CAPTCHAs since you no longer share your IP with others. Thus, protection systems are less likely to treat you as a bot.

More about PIA:

As you can notice from the above description, Private Internet Access is a strong, reliable, and feature-rich VPN, so if you like what it offers, then you should confidently try it out.

Since it comes with powerful security and privacy features, as well as effective unblocking capabilities, PIA can be a great VPN solution for Virgin Media, no matter if you want to bypass ISP throttling, stream online content available on Virgin TV Go, or access other geo-blocked websites.

Private Internet Access

Is your VPN blocked on Virgin? Check out Private Internet Access to get around any VPN blocks in no time.

CyberGhost VPN is operated by Kape Technologies – the company that also operates Private Internet Access (PIA). The service is headquartered in Bucharest, Romania, and is subject to its jurisdiction only, which is very good since the country is not a member of any signal intelligence alliances.

This VPN service is already a household name on the VPN market and boasts more than 36 million users worldwide, which is very impressive. This means that CyberGhost VPN does its job very well, so that is why we want to recommend it for Virgin Media as well.

It has user-friendly clients and is available for Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, iOS, Amazon Fire TV, Android TV, Apple TV, Samsung Smart TV, and LG Smart TV devices.

Also, it includes two browser extensions for Chrome and Firefox and can be configured on Roku TV, Google Chromecast, Xbox, and PlayStation gaming consoles.

CyberGhost VPN provides global servers coverage, granting you access to an open Internet without worrying about geo-restrictions anymore.

All you need to do is connect to them and you’ll manage to circumvent geo-blocks immediately regardless of your current location. Moreover, if you wish to stream Virgin TV Go, just pick a UK server, connect to it, and you’ll be able to watch your favorite content without limitations.

CyberGhost VPN’s global server infrastructure is simply state of the art. Its NoSpy servers are meant to protect you from mass surveillance and third-party meddling since they are located out of the jurisdiction of the Five Eyes or the Fourteen Eyes.

They are operated independently with the highest security standards in place, and since they are managed by the CyberGhost VPN team end-to-end, the highest security level is ensured all the time.

In addition to the many servers distributed globally, CyberGhost VPN also comes with dedicated servers that are optimized for certain online activities, such as gaming, torrenting, or streaming.

For example, there are dedicated servers for popular streaming services like Netflix, Hulu, or BBC iPlayer. Also, the servers for torrenting will allow P2P activities safely, anonymously, and without bandwidth limits.

CyberGhost VPN has the optimal servers for you and is a great option for Virgin Media in particular and a smoother online experience in general since it allows you to easily bypass geo-blocks and VPN blocks while also offering fast speeds without buffering or throttling.

Privacy, anonymity, and security are also key factors when picking a VPN service. CyberGhost VPN takes them very seriously by providing AES 256-bit military-grade encryption that represents the industry standard and is also resistant to brute-force attacks.

To ensure the routing of traffic via a secure tunnel, CyberGhost VPN uses the OpenVPN, IKEV2, and WireGuard VPN tunneling protocols. WireGuard is the newest addition in the industry, and is very fast and secure, being capable of increased performance.

Given all these powerful encryption and privacy features, you can fully entrust CyberGhost VPN with your online sensitive data without worrying about cyber-attacks, advertisers, trackers, or surveillance.

CyberGhost also includes the following important VPN features:

Block content protects your privacy and security by blocking domains used for ads, trackers, and malware. It functions as an ad and malware blocker and returns the IP addresses of unwanted domain names as an address that cannot be routed over the public Internet.

When you enable Prevent DNS leaks, your system will use the CyberGhost DNS (Domain Name Server) instead of those assigned by your ISP. This feature provides DNS leak protection and eliminates the risk of having your browsing activities tracked or monitored.

The Automatic Kill Switch is a feature that, when activated, will automatically shut down your entire Internet connection in case your VPN connection drops unexpectedly.

This will take proactive measures to maintain your online security and privacy at all times, even when the VPN experiences connectivity issues.

App Split Tunnel is the split tunneling feature available for Android only. It allows you to choose which apps will access the Internet via the VPN secure tunnel and which ones will have direct access to the Internet using the main connection.

You can use the feature by choosing one of the two available modes, namely, to either protect all your applications or establish custom rules to determine which ones of them will be protected.

CyberGhost VPN also allows you to get your own Dedicated IP address to stay protected and access IP-restricted networks while also maintaining the highest level of privacy and security. The dedicated IP is token-based and can be easily activated after the purchase.

Unlike shared, dynamic IPs, a dedicated, static IP will be used exclusively by you and will remain the same every time you connect.

While both give you the same level of privacy and security, a dedicated IP can give you access to IP-restricted networks and is also great for secure online financial activities.

More about CyberGhost VPN:

All in all, CyberGhost VPN is a very affordable VPN option for Virgin Media, no matter if you use their Internet service and want to get rid of throttling or VPN blocks, or you want to simply watch Virgin TV Go from outside the UK without restrictions.

Great server options, strong security, and privacy, as well as other features, are the things that make this VPN so attractive.

If you want to test it out and experience its performance firsthand before getting a subscription, you can use its 1-day all-features free trial and decide whether it’s worth your money or not.

CyberGhost VPN

Are you using Internet from Virgin Media or want to watch Virgin TV Go without limitations? Then, give CyberGhost VPN a try!

ExpressVPN is owned by Kape Technologies, which also owns two other respected VPN services on our list: Private Internet Access (PIA) and CyberGhost VPN.

The service is headquartered in the British Virgin Islands and operates under its jurisdiction. This is an optimal location for privacy since the country does not have mandatory data retention legislation.

Therefore, you can confidently entrust ExpressVPN with your online data, as they will be protected at all times, and no third-party meddling will be allowed while you’re connected to it.

More than 3 million users around the world have used ExpressVPN so far. Its outstanding reputation is based on positive customer feedback and reviews, which make it one of the top VPNs in the industry.

As such, if you need a reliable VPN option that isn’t blocked by Virgin Media, you can’t go wrong with ExpressVPN.

ExpressVPN comes with native VPN apps for all the major operating systems and devices, including Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, iOS, and Amazon Fire/Kindle Fire.

Also, you can use it on your smart TV to enjoy your favorite Virgin TV Go content without limitations both from the UK and outside the country.

The supported smart TV devices are:

ExpressVPN supports router configuration to protect all the devices connected to your home network. This will also allow you to use it on your PlayStation, Xbox, or Nintendo Switch gaming consoles.

Besides, it also offers browser extensions for Chrome, Firefox, and Edge that you can enable in your browser to access Virgin TV Go from the web version.

ExpressVPN includes many VPN servers spread across multiple locations and countries. Whether you use the Internet from Virgin Media and want to get around any VPN blocks or want to watch Virgin TV Go from outside the UK, just connect to a UK server, and you’ll be all set.

Not only is ExpressVPN an effective option for Virgin Media to evade VPN blocks but also for a restriction-free online experience on the whole.

It uses advanced anti-geoblocking technology that will allow you to watch Virgin TV Go or stream content available with popular streaming services from everywhere.

ExpressVPN uses AES with 256-bit keys next-generation encryption that is also used by the NSA and other intelligence agencies for securing classified information at the top-secret level.

In addition, it uses the OpenVPN (UDP and TCP), IKEv2, L2TP/IPSec, and Lightway (UDP and TCP) VPN protocols to determine how data routes between your device and the VPN server.

Lightway is a proprietary protocol developed by ExpressVPN. It is the recommended protocol since it’s more lightweight, runs faster, uses less battery, and can be easily audited.

This protocol is highly secure given its open-source wolfSSL embedded SSL library that was audited by third parties, including against the FIPS 140-2 standard.

Since ExpressVPN uses strong encryption and protocols to establish an encrypted connection between your device and the destination on the web, you can rest assured that your sensitive information and data will be protected at all times.

Consequently, your ISP will not be able to track your Internet activity anymore, hackers will be stopped from getting inside your devices to steal your data, and governments will no longer be able to carry out surveillance on you.

In addition to high-end security, strong privacy, and great unblocking capabilities, ExpressVPN also includes the following features:

Network Lock is the name ExpressVPN uses for the kill switch – a security feature that protects your devices by stopping any Internet connection outside the VPN.

For example, your VPN connection may drop unexpectedly for various reasons. However, when you turn on Network Lock, it will stop Internet traffic to prevent data leaks when the VPN disconnects.

Split tunneling allows you to select specific apps that can either go through the VPN or bypass it. Sometimes, when you want to access local content or websites you trust, it may not be necessary that all of your Internet connections be routed via the VPN tunnel.

So, this feature will let you add different apps to the list and choose from two options: allow the selected apps to use the VPN or disable the VPN for the selected apps.

The Speed Test is a built-in feature available with ExpressVPN apps for Mac and Windows. It allows you to test for performance metrics such as speed index, latency, and download speed so you can connect to the optimal location.

TrustedServer is a technology used by ExpressVPN which it uses servers that run entirely on volatile memory (RAM) instead of hard drives.

What this means is that anytime a server is powered off, all information stored on it will be erased, thus eliminating the risk of sensitive data ending up in hackers’ hands in case they hack the servers.

More about ExpressVPN:

Overall, ExpressVPN is an excellent VPN solution for Virgin Media that will help you evade VPN blocks, bandwidth throttling, restrictions, and censorship.

Last but not least, it will protect your devices against snoopers, hackers, and surveillance both at home and on public Wi-Fi, as well as allow you to watch Virgin TV Go outside the UK.

ExpressVPN

Secure your browsing activities and circumvent geo-restrictions from anywhere with the all-around ExpressVPN.

Owned by Surfshark Ltd., with headquarters in the British Virgin Islands, Surfshark VPN is already a well-established VPN service ever since its launch in 2018.

Surfshark is acknowledged by users worldwide as one of the most secure reliable VPNs that offer budget-friendly subscription plans.

This service is known and appreciated for the fact that it provides unlimited traffic data and lets users connect to an unlimited number of devices.

It has a large global server coverage, providing high-speed rates all across the world. Users can access any geo-restricted service and enjoy a private and unrestricted online experience. 

If you’re traveling or living outside the UK and want to watch Virgin TV Go, just connect to one of the available UK servers, and you’ll get around geoblocks in no time.

Surfshark is packed with performance and security-oriented features. It is compatible with all major platforms and you can also install it directly to your router and secure your household in one go.

The VPN service also offers browser extensions for Chrome and Firefox. These are free and proven to be highly reliable and secure, as opposed to other options on the market.

Surfshark VPN covers over 65 countries across the globe, ensuring high-speed traffic for all users. 

As you are well aware, Virgin Media content is blocked outside the UK, so it is important to note that this VPN provider is able to cover this area.

Surfshark has multiple server locations in the United Kingdom. You can connect to Lonon, Manchester, and Glasgow servers and access restricted content with no issue.

Plus, Surfshark offers a Multi-hop feature. This means that your traffic gets routed via VPN twice. It adds an extra layer of security and ensures that your ISP won’t be able to tell that you use a VPN.

This also eliminates the prospect of getting blocked by Virgin Media. Some platforms detect VPN users and block them, but this double protection removes the risk.

You will be able to consume online content without worrying about getting tracked down. Surfshark encompasses a set of security features called CleanWeb that ensure your connection is always private.

It includes an Adblocker that gets rid of intrusive popups and lets you get straight to the point. Besides, it may also boost loading rates as the page you want to access won’t be cluttered with banners or product listings. 

It is especially useful when you navigate on mobile, as it can save big on your data.

CleanWeb also removes and blocks trackers and malware, removing phishing and infections attempts from the get-go.

Such a well-rounded set of privacy and security features guarantees that you will be able to navigate freely without any information about your identity or activity being leaked.

Other notable Surfshark features include:

The Split tunneling feature (Bypasser) lets you divide your traffic and use two different IP addresses at the same time.

You can pick which apps get VPN traffic and which connect to your local IP. This can help you get better speed rates for your local pages whilst being able to access restricted content.

Private DNS on every server means that your connection has no risk of data leaks.  Note that Surfshark VPN lets you connect to multiple protocols, including IKEv2, WireGuard, and OpenVPN. DNS security is at its best when using the IKEv2 stack.

It is already clear that this VPN provides secure and private VPN connections with multiple strong privacy and performance implementations. It is also important to note that your data is secure even if the VPN connection is temporarily lost or disabled.

Surfshark is able to protect your traffic data even when the connection drops. If you activate the Kill Switch option, all traffic data gest blocked until the connection is restored.

NoBorders is a special Surfshark feature that allows you to bypass government censorship and use the Internet in restrictive areas with ease.

Every time Surfshark detects any restrictions on your network, it will enable the NoBorders mode and give you a list of servers that work well under network restrictions.

The Camouflage Mode feature ensures that your Internet Service Provider will not be able to tell that you use a VPN. You will get no restrictions on your traffic regardless of how much you use.

This feature activates itself automatically anytime you connect to a Surfshark VPN server using the OpenVPN (UDP or TCP) protocol.

More about Surfshark:

All things considered, we can say that Surfshark is a full-featured VPN service that allows users to use the Internet freely, without restrictions when it comes to data and bandwidth.

At a lower price than other similar services, it lets you access pages all around the world and enjoy true privacy.

Surfshark has three major subscription plans. You can get the best deal with the 2-year plan. Each plan comes with a 30-day money-back guarantee.

Surfshark

Watch Virgin TV Go from all around the world and keep your data completely private with this leak-proof VPN.

What should I consider when choosing a VPN for Virgin Media?

Many users complain that they can’t use VPNs with a broadband plan from Virgin Media, so finding the right one might be challenging.

Although we offer you the above recommendations that are proven to bypass Virgin Media’s VPN blocks successfully, there are a few factors that you should consider before getting a VPN.

Firstly, anonymity, privacy, and security are all of great importance nowadays given the many vulnerabilities that you may be exposed to on a daily basis while browsing the web.

As a result, you should look for a VPN service that takes them very seriously and provides advanced features for the best online protection.

Strong security is usually obtained through high-end encryption. For example, the Advanced Encryption Standard (AES) is the best military-grade encryption algorithm used by top VPN providers, as well as governments, militaries, and intelligence agencies worldwide.

Also, strong VPNs use fast and secure VPN protocols, such as the OpenVPN, IKEv2, or WireGuard to create a secure tunnel through which your data is routed.

Moreover, privacy-oriented VPN services usually have a strict no-logs policy, meaning that they do not log (collect or store) any information about you, whether it be personal details or browsing history.

Many of those services are based in countries that don’t have any data retention laws, nor are they members of international signal alliances such as the Five Eyes or the Fourteen Eyes.

VPN servers represent a key aspect when reviewing a VPN service. For instance, the number of servers available, how they are distributed and operated, as well as how frequently they are updated are all relevant indicators of the overall quality of the server network.

Top VPN providers have a global server infrastructure independently operated and offer many server locations distributed across multiple countries.

Also, two VPNs on our list (PIA and CyberGhost VPN) offer specialized servers for streaming, gaming, or torrenting. Thus, if you’re interested in such activities, you can connect to those servers.

Having access to many servers greatly increases the chances of bypassing geo-blocking. The more servers spread across different locations and countries, the more chances you have to access content that is unavailable in your location.

All things considered, if your VPN is blocked by Virgin Media, you should rest assured that the above VPN solutions will effectively help you get around any VPN blocks implemented by the broadband provider.

In addition to keeping your devices safe and your browsing private, you’ll also manage to circumvent geo-blocking by accessing content not available in the UK while in the country or by watching Virgin TV Go when you’re traveling or living abroad.

Finally, we do hope that our list of the best VPNs for Virgin Media will help you choose the right product for the broadband and streaming provider to enjoy its services without limitations.

Your connection is not secure - websites you visit can find out your details:

Companies can sell this information, alongside your location and internet provider name, and profit from it by serving targeted ads or monitoring your data usage.

We recommend Private Internet Access, a VPN with a no-log policy, open source code, ad blocking and much more; now 79% off.

ncG1vNJzZmivmaOxsMPSq5ypp6Kpe6S7zGitqaZdl7mwr8qem2aumae0qrqO