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Why can't I use VPN in Tim Hortons Free WiFi?

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  • Apr 4th, 2016 11:32 am
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Mar 30th, 2016 8:37 pm
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Feb 27, 2011
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Toronto

Mar 30th, 2016 8:37 pm

Why can't I use VPN in Tim Hortons Free WiFi?

I have a subscription to proXPN. I was able to turn on proXPN to enable VPN when I was at MacDonalds or other local coffee shops offering free WiFi hotspots. Recently, I was at Tim Hortons and found that I was unable to turn on VPN when using its free WiFi. There was no error or warning messages. The VPN connection just got refused. Is Tim Hortons blocking VPN use? Does it make a difference if I use PPTP (which proXPN uses) or OpenVPN?

Need advice... Thanks in advance.
11 replies
Mar 30th, 2016 9:18 pm
Newbie
Jan 29, 2016
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Milton, ON

Mar 30th, 2016 9:18 pm

PPTP is a different VPN than most, in that it needs a TCP port to be allowed through a firewall (port 1723 to be specific) and protocol 47. Whereas OpenVPN uses UDP ports for traffic. Send Tim Hortons wifi customer service an email and maybe it was an oversight and they can allow PPTP through their guest wifi. It's worth a try.

In years gone by I've used PPTP too and found some hotels guest wifi didn't allow it through either.
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Mar 30th, 2016 10:32 pm
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Feb 27, 2011
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Toronto

Mar 30th, 2016 10:32 pm

Thanks, Jayy905. This is very helpful.

Does it mean that I can use any VPN service that supports OpenVPN to access Tim Hortons because OpenVPN relies only on UDP so that any TCP port blocking done by Tim Hortons will not cause a problem?
Jayy905 wrote: ↑PPTP is a different VPN than most, in that it needs a TCP port to be allowed through a firewall (port 1723 to be specific) and protocol 47. Whereas OpenVPN uses UDP ports for traffic. Send Tim Hortons wifi customer service an email and maybe it was an oversight and they can allow PPTP through their guest wifi. It's worth a try.

In years gone by I've used PPTP too and found some hotels guest wifi didn't allow it through either.
Mar 30th, 2016 10:50 pm
Newbie
Jan 29, 2016
16 posts
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Milton, ON

Mar 30th, 2016 10:50 pm

Tim Hortons may not be blocking TCP or UDP but just isn't setup to be forwarding protocol 47, which is most likely why PPTP isn't working. Even some home routers aren't by default setup for this.

You will most likely not have an issue with OpenVPN based VPNs, but if you want to be sure find one that sends its traffic over port 443 which is used for HTTPS traffic.
Mar 30th, 2016 11:30 pm
Deal Expert
Aug 22, 2006
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Mar 30th, 2016 11:30 pm

Some places just block VPN via one means or another.
I've had a few hotels block it too which is a pain in the butt.
BC Ferries also blocks it.

Nothing you can really do about it.
Mar 31st, 2016 7:03 pm
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Nov 7, 2013
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the 604

Mar 31st, 2016 7:03 pm

death_hawk wrote: ↑BC Ferries also blocks it.
hotels and ferries are the worst. so many ppl sharing naked WiFi ... ripe for all sorts of abuse by unscrupulous types
Mar 31st, 2016 7:07 pm
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Mar 31st, 2016 7:07 pm

McDs, Walmart and Dufferin Mall also block vpn.
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Mar 31st, 2016 11:29 pm
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Aug 22, 2006
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Mar 31st, 2016 11:29 pm

AMRadio wrote: ↑hotels and ferries are the worst. so many ppl sharing naked WiFi ... ripe for all sorts of abuse by unscrupulous types
It's actually kind of hilarious how many people will just connect to random wifi access points.
At least with HSTS sites can enforce (for lack of better words) out of band HTTPS.

Although this is weird too since HSTS breaks captive portals sometimes.
You just get an error when you type google.com into the browser now when it wants to redirect you.
Good thing I set up a website that's specifically not secure so I can get the redirect right.
Apr 2nd, 2016 12:25 pm
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Alpha Centauri

Apr 2nd, 2016 12:25 pm

death_hawk wrote: ↑It's actually kind of hilarious how many people will just connect to random wifi access points.
Because of hackers and their tools of wifi eavesdropping from their laptops, you just cannot trust someone sitting there looking innocuous.
Unfortunately too many ignorant kids oblivious to being spied on by their table neighbor.
Apr 2nd, 2016 12:30 pm
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Aug 22, 2006
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Apr 2nd, 2016 12:30 pm

Stupid Ferries.
I'm on it right now and VPN is still blocked.
Back to my own hotspot I guess....

EDIT: Also RFD apparently doesn't like one of my VPNs either.
Apr 4th, 2016 10:37 am
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Jun 8, 2005
3161 posts
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Toronto

Apr 4th, 2016 10:37 am

death_hawk wrote: ↑Some places just block VPN via one means or another.
I've had a few hotels block it too which is a pain in the butt.
BC Ferries also blocks it.

Nothing you can really do about it.
I believe you can configure OpenVPN to use TCP over port 443 and most proxies should treat it like web traffic. It might be caught if there's DPI going on. There may be smarter ways to tunnel through "actual" HTTPS traffic.
+1
Apr 4th, 2016 11:32 am
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Oct 12, 2006
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Alberta

Apr 4th, 2016 11:32 am

�� wrote: ↑I believe you can configure OpenVPN to use TCP over port 443 and most proxies should treat it like web traffic. It might be caught if there's DPI going on. There may be smarter ways to tunnel through "actual" HTTPS traffic.
I have that as an alternate set up on my VPN, but it's also blocked at my work camp. They're running some Fortiguard filtering service.
Actually, I can't say for sure. I've never tested my system where my regular port is blocked but my TCP 443 one works.

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