If you use a virtual private network (VPN) while browsing or streaming, you probably solve more CAPTCHAs than you care to. The number of “prove you’re not a robot” tests become almost unbearable.

But why does using a VPN so often trigger these checks? More importantly, is there any way you can avoid them?

Why Sites Think You’re a Robot

Websites implement protections, such as CAPTCHA tests, to protect themselves from manytypes of denial-of-service (DDoS) attacksand other cybersecurity threats. It’s not that they’re out to stop you from using a VPN. It’s about protecting the site, especially as using a VPN makes recognizing you or your intentions harder.

When you use a VPN, especially a free one, you’ll most likely share an IP address with many other concurrent users—some with good intentions and some bad. Let’s imagine you’re also hopping between VPN servers. Throughsession cookies,device fingerprinting, and other technologies, the site could notice your IP address changing quickly—similar to how bots behave.

With yournormal home IP address, which you can easily find on your phone, sites can easily trust you unless your address has been flagged for wrongdoings. However, they become suspicious when you’re exhibiting bot behavior and sending requests simultaneously as many other people from the same IP address. And some of these requests may, in fact, be malicious or suspicious.

After all, flooding a site with an overwhelming number of requests, otherwise calleda DDoS attack, is one way to ruin sites. So, it’s understandable that websites put up defenses against such threats. Of course, not all websites implement these defenses, and some have other ways to identify and authenticate people. So you might get more checks on some sites than on others.

Even though you keep getting more and more CAPTCHAs to solve, the underlying site will probably be unaware that you’re using a VPN. All they’ll detect is that numerous supposed unique visitors share the same range of IP addresses—a sign that something funny might be going on.

7 Ways to Avoid Multiple CAPTCHAs While Using a VPN

For now, frequent CAPTCHAs are an unavoidable side effect of using VPNs. However, you can avoid this troublesome test of your humanity in several ways.

By understanding why websites suspect you’re a robot when you use a VPN, you may adopt strategies that satisfy the sites and allow you to browse or stream without constant interruptions.