This is not a great start to the New Year...  Are you one of those Netflix users that try to out-smart the system by using virtual private networks or other tools to stream TV shows and films that aren't available here in Ireland? Well sad news folks, your clever ways have just been busted. The streaming giant has started to crack down on its subscribers who bypass geolocation restrictions following pressure from production and movie companies. According to Independent UK, Netflix is blocking international streamers who use proxies to access its US version. In an interview with TorrentFreak, Ben Van der Pelt from TorGuard, one of the leading VPN providers in America, said that certain users were experiencing problems in mid-December however it was rectified when they logged out and signed back in from location in the US. “This is a brand new development. A few weeks ago we received the first report from a handful of clients that Netflix blocked access due to VPN or proxy usage. This is the very first time I’ve ever heard Netflix displaying this type of error message to a VPN user”. “I have a sneaking suspicion that Netflix may be testing these new IP blocking methods temporarily in certain markets", he continued. "At this time the blocks do not seem aggressive and may only be targeted at IP ranges that exceed too many simultaneous logins”. We had great plans for our January weekends in... we're trying to remain calm and positive about the entire situation.