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'''[[Wikipedia:Virgin Media|Virgin Media Limited/Virgin Media O2 Limited]]''' is a telecommunications company from Britain, founded in 2007, which provides telephone, television and internet services in the United Kingdom.
{{InfoboxCompany
| Name = Virgin Media
| Type = Public
| Founded = 2007
| Industry = Telecommunication
| Official Website = https://www.virginmedia.com/
| Logo = Virgin Media.svg
}}
'''[[wikipedia:Virgin Media|Virgin Media Limited]]/[[wikipedia:Virgin_Media_O2|Virgin Media O2 Limited]]''' is a telecommunications company from Britain, founded in 2007, which provides telephone, television and internet services in the United Kingdom.{{Citation needed}} In 2021 it merged with [[wikipedia:O2_(UK)|O2]].<ref name="about">{{Cite web |title=Hello, we’re Virgin Media O2 |url=https://news.virginmediao2.co.uk/about-us/ |access-date=15 Mar 2025 |website=Virgin Media O2}}</ref>


=== Anti Consumer Practices ===
==Anti-consumer practices==


==== Forced DNS Usage ====
===Forced DNS usage===
Users of virgin media's routers aren't allowed to set their own DNS servers<ref>https://community.virginmedia.com/discussions/Wireless/custom-dns-or-modem-mode-on-the-hub5x/5571095</ref>, being forced to use Virgin media's provided DNS servers, which are almost always slower and less reliable than using Cloudflare or Google dedicated DNS (1.1.1.1/8.8.8.8 respectively)<ref>https://www.dnsperf.com/</ref>
Users of Virgin Media's routers aren't allowed to set their own DNS servers.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Slazanger |date=27 Sep 2024 |title=Custom DNS or Modem Mode on the Hub5X |url=https://community.virginmedia.com/discussions/Wireless/custom-dns-or-modem-mode-on-the-hub5x/5571095 |access-date=15 Mar 2025 |via=Virgin Media Forum}}</ref> Instead, they must use Virgin Media's provided DNS servers, which are almost always slower and less reliable than Cloudflare's or Google's dedicated DNSes (1.1.1.1 and 8.8.8.8, respectively).<ref>{{Cite web |title=DNS Performance Analytics and Comparison |url=https://www.dnsperf.com/ |access-date=15 Mar 2025 |website=DNSPerf}}</ref> The reason for Virgin Media forcing its own DNS servers isn't known, but the servers are used primarily to block sites deemed "inappropriate" by the company.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Virgin Media court orders |url=https://www.virginmedia.com/help/list-of-court-orders |access-date=15 Mar 2025 |website=Virgin Media}}</ref>


The reason for Virgin Media forcing their own DNS servers isn't known, but they are used primarily to DNS block sites deemed "inappropriate" by them<ref>https://www.virginmedia.com/help/list-of-court-orders</ref>.
There are also privacy implications that come with allowing the company to access your DNS queries,<ref>{{Cite web |last=Heddings |first=Anthony |date=14 Apr 2020 |title=Why You Shouldn't Use Your ISP's Default DNS Server |url=https://www.howtogeek.com/664608/why-you-shouldnt-be-using-your-isps-default-dns-server/ |access-date=15 Mar 2025 |website=How-To Geek}}</ref> as normally it would only be able to see what IPs you are connecting to, but DNS queries also provide exact subdomains.{{Citation needed}}


There are also privacy implications that come with allowing them access to your DNS queries<ref>https://www.howtogeek.com/664608/why-you-shouldnt-be-using-your-isps-default-dns-server/</ref>, as normally they'd only be able to see what IPs you are connecting to i.e. google servers, but DNS queries also provide exact subdomains i.e. secret.youtube.com
====Mitigation====
Set your DNS servers manually on each of your devices to 1.1.1.1 or another reputable DNS provider.{{Citation needed}}


===== Mitigation =====
==References==
Set your DNS servers manually on each of your devices to 1.1.1.1 or another reputable DNS provider.
{{reflist}}
 
[[Category:Virgin Media Limited]]
[[Category:Internet service providers]]

Latest revision as of 12:17, 15 March 2025

Virgin Media
Basic information
Founded 2007
Type Public
Industry Telecommunication
Official website https://www.virginmedia.com/

Virgin Media Limited/Virgin Media O2 Limited is a telecommunications company from Britain, founded in 2007, which provides telephone, television and internet services in the United Kingdom.[citation needed] In 2021 it merged with O2.[1]

Anti-consumer practices[edit | edit source]

Forced DNS usage[edit | edit source]

Users of Virgin Media's routers aren't allowed to set their own DNS servers.[2] Instead, they must use Virgin Media's provided DNS servers, which are almost always slower and less reliable than Cloudflare's or Google's dedicated DNSes (1.1.1.1 and 8.8.8.8, respectively).[3] The reason for Virgin Media forcing its own DNS servers isn't known, but the servers are used primarily to block sites deemed "inappropriate" by the company.[4]

There are also privacy implications that come with allowing the company to access your DNS queries,[5] as normally it would only be able to see what IPs you are connecting to, but DNS queries also provide exact subdomains.[citation needed]

Mitigation[edit | edit source]

Set your DNS servers manually on each of your devices to 1.1.1.1 or another reputable DNS provider.[citation needed]

References[edit | edit source]

  1. ↑ "Hello, we're Virgin Media O2". Virgin Media O2. Retrieved 15 Mar 2025.
  2. ↑ Slazanger (27 Sep 2024). "Custom DNS or Modem Mode on the Hub5X". Retrieved 15 Mar 2025 – via Virgin Media Forum.
  3. ↑ "DNS Performance Analytics and Comparison". DNSPerf. Retrieved 15 Mar 2025.
  4. ↑ "Virgin Media court orders". Virgin Media. Retrieved 15 Mar 2025.
  5. ↑ Heddings, Anthony (14 Apr 2020). "Why You Shouldn't Use Your ISP's Default DNS Server". How-To Geek. Retrieved 15 Mar 2025.
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