How to bypass ORF encryption - 2 methods
ORF is also popular abroad, which is why many people want to bypass ORF encryption. Especially in Germany, many are looking for ways to receive Austrian broadcasting. Understandable, because the ORF channels show movies without commercial breaks, many different sporting events and offer first-class news programs.
Unfortunately, the ORF is encrypted. This means that you can only receive the channel with a smartcard. The online offers also have a geowall. Therefore, it is difficult to access ORF TVthek outside of Austria.
In the following guide, we will show you how to bypass ORF encryption. It is not too complicated. At ServusTV it's the same game in green: You can therefore also use these instructions to ServusTV encryption bypass.
NordVPN is the most popular provider for Austrian TV abroad.
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Why is the ORF encrypted?
When a TV broadcaster buys rights for a program, they usually apply only to the licensed region. For example, if ORF has the right to broadcast the Champions League, it can only do so in Austria. So that one in Germany not so easy Formula 1 or watch any other transmission, the Austrian Broadcasting Corporation encrypts its stations.
Online, too, the so-called "TVthek", where you can watch on-demand offers and livestreams, is "geo-blocked". This means that an error message appears when the website is accessed from abroad. Users from other countries therefore do not have the option of watching the livestream.
In principle, ORF encrypts its programming for licensing reasons.
What are the methods to bypass encryption?
Fortunately, nowadays there are some variants to bypass ORF encryption - on TV and online.
1. ORF TVthek
The best "gateway" for viewers from other countries is ORF TVthek. It is equipped with a geo-blocker, but this can be bypassed very easily.
Geoblocking works by means of IP recognition. ORF's servers check where the user comes from. If the IP is Austrian, the livestream is started. If it is a foreign IP, the geoblocker blocks access.
Meanwhile, there are methods to change your own IP without any problems. The simplest variant is a VPN service. The VPN changes the user's IP and thus makes it possible to bypass ORF encryption.
We recommend the VPN provider NordVPN. NordVPN is fast, secure and offers Austrian proxy servers. On the other hand, if you want to use the VPN also for services like Netflix or AmazonPrime you should go to ExpressVPN grab. This is because Express can unlock difficult-to-unlock libraries like Netflix USA better, as we have seen in the comparison. NorthVPN vs ExpressVPN have determined.
Bypass ORF encryption: With NordVPN it is possible in 3 simple steps:
- Select VPN offer & Download program
- Select Austrian server
- tvthek.orf.at call and enjoy ORF worldwide
The whole process takes less than 10 minutes on average and makes it possible to watch ORF programs live, no matter where you are.
All you need: A streaming-capable device (for example, a Smartphone or a Laptop) and the VPN program. By the way, NordVPN is also available as an app for TV or smartphone. With this VPN tunnel you can then also in Germany Watch Formula 1 without Sky.
Bypass ORF encryption and watch ORF in Germany
Accessing the ORF TV-Thek from Germany can be possible without any problems. Unfortunately, this is not always the case and some programs are only released for users from Austria due to licensing reasons. To bypass this geo-blocking, you can use a VPN service like NordVPN use
Via the VPN service you connect your PC / laptop or cell phone in Germany with a Server in Austria. Through this way you can Bypass ORF encryption.
NordVPN offers you servers 33 locations in Austria with high speed. If a server should not work, there are enough alternatives to still watch the ORF from Germany, Switzerland, Croatia or another country. The large server selection of NordVPN makes the bypassing of the country block of the ORF thus to the Kids game. Meanwhile, NordVPN's lightweight Wireguard protocol ensures a viewing experience without any judder.
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| We recommend NordVPN to bypass the encryption of Austrian TV channels from Germany or other countries |
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| Austrian server: Servers at 33 locations in Austria |
| >> Visit NordVPN now >> |
Can you use the Bypass ORF encryption for free?
There are two ways to bypass online locks like ORF encryption for free:
- The use of the free TOR browser
- The use of free VPN
Bypass ORF encryption for free with TOR browser
The ORF encryption can not can be bypassed with the free TOR browser. The Tor Browser is only suitable for ServusTV encryption bypass. You can find out how to configure the Tor Browser in the linked article.
ORF encryption free of charge with Free VPN bypass
Alternatively, ORF encryption can also be used by Free VPN can be bypassed. However, watching shows via free VPN comes with some hurdles.
Thus, with free VPN Server change more often than for payment services. In addition Bandwidth, Speed and latency of free VPN is limited, so that it can be used for Jerking while watching TV can come.
Nevertheless, free VPNs are a way of ORF encryption free of charge to bypass. However, due to the limitations in server availability, bandwidth and latency, free VPNs are suitable at most for sporadic and short watching of the ORF. Who regularly Full length broadcasts such as Formula 1 races on ORF is better off with a more performant service like NordVPN better served.
2. buy ORF card in Germany
If you want to receive ORF not only online, but also via TV, you need an "ORF Digital" card. However, these cards can only be purchased in Austria. According to the broadcaster's own information, the cards are only issued to people who are based and have a GIS location in Austria.
However, the ORF and the GIS (the equivalent of the GEZ) will issue multiple cards upon request.
So if you know someone in Austria, you can ask them to request an ORF card and then send it to Germany. Although this is not welcomed by the Austrian Broadcasting Corporation, we are not aware of any case where this would have any consequences. Via SAT-TV, it is also not possible to track from where someone watches the TV channel.
Also on eBay there are rows and rows of ORF cards. These are resold online at a high price - one card costs between 200? and 300? If you don't have any acquaintances in Austria who are allowed to request a card, this would also be an option.
What does a VPN do? Is this the best option?
The easiest and cheapest way to bypass ORF encryption is to use a VPN service. You could also use the Tor browser to bypass geoblocking and configure it so that the last node is in Austria. However, the Tor Browser only works around the Servus TV encryption to bypass. ORF, however, recognizes the TOR browser and does not allow access to the media library. Instead, you receive the following error message:
When the ORF despite inserted and active card is still encrypted, there can be several different reasons for this. We show you in this article 6 quick fixes that can be implemented quicklyhow you can receive ORF if it remains encrypted despite the card.
But how does a VPN actually work in detail?
If you want to bypass the ORF encryption to access the online TVthek, you will not get around a VPN. A VPN encrypts and anonymizes the connection between the user and the server.
If you connect to a VPN server, all incoming and outgoing data will pass through this server from this point on. If the server is located in Austria, the called website thinks that you are calling it from Austria - even if the actual user is in Peru, Croatia or Germany, for example.
However, a VPN is not only recommended to avoid geoblocking - VPNs are also used to surf securely and spy-free. Many Internet users surf permanently with a VPN to increase their online privacy.
Theoretically, ORF can detect VPN traffic. If there is significantly more traffic coming from a certain IP address than from other IP addresses, traffic from multiple users is probably bundled through a VPN. However, ORF is not very good at detecting this. In addition, powerful VPNs like NordVPN very many servers and IP addresses ready. Therefore, it is difficult for ORF to know and block all IP addresses from NordVPN. In addition, the VPN can constantly register new IP addresses if a server is detected. As a user, you then switch to another Austrian server in the VPN app.
More Tarifgigant.at articles on the topic of VPN:
- Receive Austrian television abroad
- Austrian IP address for abroad
- Detailed comparison of 3 recommended VPN providers
- Hide IP address: Guide
- How to get a German IP
Is it allowed to bypass ORF encryption?
Circumventing geoblocking is basically a legal gray area. It's not usually welcomed by rights holders, but it's hard to prosecute and there are no legal consequences to fear. Moreover, in the free EU single market, there is nothing against watching the livestreams of another EU country. Using VPNs or other IP obfuscation tools to bypass ORF encryption is common practice.
It gets a bit more complicated when using an ORF card abroad. This is not desired by ORF, but has no legal consequences. Should ORF (however) notice that someone is using an ORF card in Germany, the card can be blocked. As mentioned above, SAT-TV technology nowadays does not allow the broadcaster to find out from where you watch ORF. So here it doesn't matter if you are in Vienna, Graz, Munich or Hamburg.
Bypass ORF encryption on the smartphone: Is it possible?
We live in a time when many people watch a livestream more often via smartphone than via PC. But is it possible to watch ORF on a smartphone while abroad?
With VPN technology, there is basically nothing to be said against it. Providers like NordVPN offer apps for Android and iOS devices. After downloading, you can select an Austrian server in the app (as with the PC software) and then watch the live streams of the Austrian public broadcasters via the ORF TVthek app or via tvthek.orf.at.
However, for the stream to work without judder, the smartphone must have a fast enough Internet connection.
Conclusion: Bypass ORF encryption
As you can see in this guide, there are several ways to bypass the encryption. The easiest way is to use the ORF TVthek and a VPN service. It is a bit trickier with an ORF card, since it is difficult to get hold of these abroad.
Legally, this topic is a gray area. However, it can be assumed that there are people all over the world who watch ORF using one of these methods without any problems.
