Virgin Media: Difference between revisions
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| Name = Virgin Media | | Name = Virgin Media | ||
| Type = Public | | Type = Public | ||
| Founded = 2007 | | Founded = 2007 | ||
| Industry = Telecommunication | | Industry = Telecommunication | ||
| Official Website = https://www.virginmedia.com/ | | Official Website = https://www.virginmedia.com/ | ||
| Logo = Virgin Media.svg | | 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> 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>https://www.dnsperf.com/</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>https://www.virginmedia.com/help/list-of-court-orders</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> | ||
There are also privacy implications that come with allowing the company to access your DNS queries,<ref>https://www.howtogeek.com/664608/why-you-shouldnt-be-using-your-isps-default-dns-server/</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 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}} | ||
====Mitigation==== | ====Mitigation==== | ||
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==References== | ==References== | ||
{{reflist}} | {{reflist}} | ||
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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]
- ↑ "Hello, we're Virgin Media O2". Virgin Media O2. Retrieved 15 Mar 2025.
- ↑ Slazanger (27 Sep 2024). "Custom DNS or Modem Mode on the Hub5X". Retrieved 15 Mar 2025 – via Virgin Media Forum.
- ↑ "DNS Performance Analytics and Comparison". DNSPerf. Retrieved 15 Mar 2025.
- ↑ "Virgin Media court orders". Virgin Media. Retrieved 15 Mar 2025.
- ↑ Heddings, Anthony (14 Apr 2020). "Why You Shouldn't Use Your ISP's Default DNS Server". How-To Geek. Retrieved 15 Mar 2025.