Why VPNs Can Cause Big Problems in Surveys

Hi again, it's Anna! In my last post, I shared some handy browser tips to help you avoid survey errors. Today, I want to dive deeper into something that’s one of the biggest hidden issues in survey-taking: VPN connections.

Many people think using a VPN isn't a big deal—after all, it's just a way to connect to the internet securely, right? But when it comes to market research and online surveys, VPNs can actually create a lot of problems. Let me explain why.

Market research is all about collecting opinions from a very specific group of people. If a company wants to hear from Australians about a new product, they need to make sure the survey responses are coming from people in Australia.

When you're connected to a VPN, your IP address—which is like your computer's street address on the internet—is hidden. Instead, it shows the location of the VPN server you're connected to. So, even if you’re sitting in your living room in Sydney, the survey company might see an IP address from a server in Peru or Nigeria. This immediately tells them you're not a valid participant for their Australian survey, and you'll be disqualified.

Many survey companies and fraud prevention services keep an eye on known VPN IP addresses. Think of these as public phone booths—they're used by many different people, and for a wide variety of reasons. Unfortunately, some of those reasons are not legitimate, like trying to cheat the system.

Because of this, these IP addresses are often 'blacklisted' or flagged as suspicious. When you connect to a survey using an IP address that’s on this list, the system will immediately see it as a high-risk connection and block you from continuing. It's an automated security measure to protect the integrity of the survey data, and it means you won't be able to participate, no matter how honest you are.

Using a VPN goes against the Terms and Conditions of most survey panels, including ours. We need to provide our clients with high-quality, authentic data. When someone uses a VPN, it compromises the accuracy of that data.

If our system or a survey provider's system detects that you’re using a VPN, it can lead to more than just a survey disqualification. It can result in a warning, or even worse, the suspension of your account. We don't want to see that happen to anyone, which is why it's so important to be aware of this.

H3|The Bottom Line}

I know it can be a little confusing, but when it comes to surveys, the best thing you can do is turn off your VPN. By connecting directly from your home network, you can ensure that your location is accurately identified and that your connection is seen as legitimate. This simple step will save you from a lot of frustration and help you have a much better experience earning rewards.

B|Happy surveying}, and here's to a smooth, uninterrupted connection!