How to Bypass ChatGPT VPN Restriction on Linux Desktop (Ubuntu/Fedora/OpenSUSE)

 ChatGPT, the popular chatbot developed by OpenAI, is a powerful tool for getting answers to your questions using advanced AI/ML techniques. However, you might encounter a frustrating issue when using ChatGPT through a VPN (Virtual Private Network) like WireGuard or OpenVPN. ChatGPT often blocks access from VPN connections, displaying a message denying access.

This article provides a step-by-step guide on how to bypass this restriction and access ChatGPT while connected to a VPN on a Linux system. The method involves manipulating your Linux system's routing table to directly route traffic to ChatGPT's servers, bypassing the VPN interface.

Understanding the Problem

When you connect to a VPN, all your internet traffic is typically routed through the VPN server. This is a standard security measure to protect your privacy and online activities. However, some services, including ChatGPT, detect and block traffic originating from VPNs.

Solution: Direct Routing

The solution is to set up a specific routing rule for ChatGPT's domain (chat.openai.com) so that it bypasses the VPN and goes directly to your default router.

Step-by-Step Guide

1. Identify Your Default Gateway: While connected to your WireGuard or OpenVPN, open a terminal and run the following command to view your routing table:

         ip route show
       

   
   

   This command will display your network routes, including your default gateway. The default gateway is usually represented by the phrase "default via" followed by an IP address.

2. Find the chat.openai.com IP Address: Use the following commands to determine the IP addresses associated with chat.openai.com:

   d='chat.openai.com'
   dig +short A "$d" | grep -v '\.$'
   ips="$(dig +short A "$d" | grep -v '\.$')"
   echo "$ips"
       

   These commands use the dig utility to perform a DNS lookup and retrieve the IP addresses associated with the chat.openai.com domain.

3. Add Routing Rules for chat.openai.com:

   • Set variables: Define variables for your default gateway and desired metric value. The metric value determines the routing priority:

     my_gw="192.168.2.254"  # Default gateway (replace with your actual IP address)
     metric="10"            # Routing metric value
         

     
     

   • Add routing rules: Use a loop to add routing rules for each IP address retrieved in the previous step:

     for i in $ips
     do
       sudo ip route add "$i" via "$my_gw" metric "$metric"
     done
         

     
     

     This command adds a specific route for each chat.openai.com IP address, directing traffic to your default gateway with a lower metric, giving it priority over the VPN interface.

   • Verify routing: Confirm the routing rules were added correctly:

     ip route show
     ip route show | grep -w 'metric 10'
         

     
     

4. Test Access: Open a web browser and visit https://chat.openai.com/. If the routing was successful, you should be able to access ChatGPT without any restrictions.

5. Remove Routing Rules (Optional): When you no longer need to bypass the VPN for ChatGPT, you can remove the added routing rules using the following command:

         for i in $ips; do sudo ip route del "$i"; done
       

   
   

Automation with a Shell Script

To automate this process and handle potential IP address changes, you can create a shell script. This script can add, remove, and list routing rules for ChatGPT and other domains that may be blocked by your VPN.

Creating a Shell Script (routing.policy)

#!/bin/bash
# routing.policy - Main script to add, remove and list routing policy
# Author : Vivek Gite {www.cyberciti.biz} under GPLv 2.x+
# ----------------------------------------------------------------------
set -e

# Set metric and gateway as per your needs 
metric="10" 
my_gw="192.168.2.254"
domain="chat.openai.com facebook.com fbcdn.net static.xx.fbcdn.net www.facebook.com"
ips=""
me="${0##*/}" # who am I?

get_domain_ip_lists(){
    for d in $domain
    do
        ips="${ips} $(dig +short A "$d" | grep -v '\.$')"
    done
    ips="${ips/$'\n'/ }" # remove '\n'
    ips="$(tr ' ' '\n'<<<"${ips}" | sort -u | xargs)" # remove duplicate ips
}

is_route_exists(){
    local i="$1"
    out="$(ip route show "$i")"
    if [[ "$out" != "" ]] 
    then
        return 0  # True
    else
        return 1 # False
    fi

}
add_opneapi_route(){
    check_for_root_user
    echo "Adding ${ips/$'\n'/,} to routing table ..." 1>&2
    for i in $ips
    do
        if ! is_route_exists "$i"
        then
            sudo ip route add "$i" via "$my_gw" metric "$metric"
        else
            echo "$me route for $i already exists, skiping ..."
        fi
    done
}

remove_opneapi_route(){
    check_for_root_user
    echo "Removing ${ips/$'\n'/,} from routing table ..." 1>&2
    for i in $ips
    do
        if is_route_exists "$i"
        then
            sudo ip route del "$i" via "$my_gw"
        else
            echo "$me route for $i not found, skiping ..."
        fi
    done
}
show_openapi_route_status(){
    echo "Routing info for the '$domain' (${ips/$'\n'/,}) ..." # remove newline from the ${ips}
    for i  in $ips
    do
        ip route show "$i"
    done
 
}

check_for_root_user(){
if [[ $EUID -ne 0 ]]; then
   echo "$me script must be run as root" 1>&2
   exit 1
fi
}

## main ##
get_domain_ip_lists # set '$ips' 
case "$me" in
    routing.policy.add) add_opneapi_route;;
    routing.policy.delete) remove_opneapi_route;;
    routing.policy.remove) remove_opneapi_route;;
    routing.policy.show) show_openapi_route_status;;
    routing.policy.status) show_openapi_route_status;;
    *) echo "Usage: routing.policy.add|routing.policy.delete|routing.policy.status";;
esac
    

Creating Soft Links for Script Convenience

chmod +x -v routing.policy
ln -sv routing.policy routing.policy.add
ln -sv routing.policy routing.policy.remove
ln -sv routing.policy routing.policy.delete
ln -sv routing.policy routing.policy.show
ln -sv routing.policy routing.policy.status
    

Testing the Script

1. Add routing rules: sudo ./routing.policy.add

2. Check routing status: sudo ./routing.policy.status

3. Test connectivity: traceroute chat.openai.com

4. Remove routing rules: sudo ./routing.policy.delete

Important Considerations

• Root Privileges: The commands in this guide require root privileges. You will need to use sudo or log in as the root user.

• NetworkManager Integration: You can automate the script execution using NetworkManager. Add the script to the /etc/network/if-up.d/ directory (for when the VPN interface is online) or /etc/network/if-down.d/ directory (for when the VPN interface is offline) and make it executable. Refer to the NetworkManager manual page (man 8 NetworkManager) for more information.

• IP Address Changes: The IP addresses of ChatGPT's servers may change over time. Ensure you update the script or manually update the routing rules if necessary.

By following these steps, you can bypass ChatGPT's VPN restrictions and access it directly through your default router, enjoying a seamless experience while using your VPN for other online activities. Remember to carefully review the commands and scripts before execution to ensure compatibility with your specific Linux system and network setup.