HackTheBox and TryHackMe VPN Issues: Packet Loss Solutions

Technical Issues with HackTheBox and TryHackMe: Common Problems and Solutions

Problems with HackTheBox and TryHackMe are indeed common among many users, and your difficulties are not unique. Technical issues with VPN connections, packet loss, and virtual machine problems regularly occur on both platforms, but they can be exacerbated by regional restrictions and sanctions.

Table of Contents

• Prevalence of Technical Problems
• Specific VPN Issues
• Impact of Sanctions and Regional Restrictions
• Solutions and Workarounds
• Recommendations for Beginners

Prevalence of Technical Problems

Technical difficulties with both platforms are quite common. According to user reports from various sources, including official forums and Reddit, many beginners and experienced professionals face similar issues:

• VPN connection problems: Many users report difficulties when setting up and using OpenVPN connections
• Virtual machine issues: Many encounter VMs that don’t work properly without VPN or when connected through VPN
• Machine access problems: Even with a shown VPN connection, access to target machines may be unavailable

“Some users cannot use Zenmap/Nmap against deployed instances, even though they appear to be connected” - TryHackMe Help Center

This confirms that your problems are not individual but rather typical for these platforms’ ecosystems.

Specific VPN Issues

HackTheBox: Packet Loss and Connection Problems

On HackTheBox, users often encounter serious issues when working through VPN:

• Packet loss: In forum discussions, users report 100% packet loss when trying to ping target machines
• Nmap problems: Even with VPN connected, scanning may not work properly
• Server switching issues: VIP servers need to be used to access certain machines

“When I ping the host, in this case the ‘Youknow 0xDiablos’ machine, I get 100% packet loss” - HackTheBox Forum

TryHackMe: Slow Connections and VM Issues

TryHackMe also has its specific problems:

• High latency: Users report 200-400ms latency with periodic packet loss
• Virtual machine problems: Many users note that VMs barely function without VPN
• VPN requirements: Some machines require additional time after startup before connection

“I’ve encountered an extremely frustrating problem with TryHackMe VPN. Although all settings seem correct, connecting to THB machines is painfully slow to the point of complete non-functionality” - Reddit r/tryhackme

Impact of Sanctions and Regional Restrictions

Regional factors and sanctions do play a significant role in the availability and performance of these platforms:

Sanctions Against Russia

In March 2022, HackTheBox officially suspended its operations in Russia:

“In light of recent events, as of today, March 9, 2022, HackTheBox has decided to temporarily suspend and cease its operational activities, sponsorship, and any other commercial efforts in the Russian Federation” - HackTheBox Blog

Russia’s Plans to Block VPNs

Russia plans to block VPN services starting March 1, 2024:

“From March 1, 2024, an order to block VPN services that provide access to websites blocked in Russia will come into force” - Reuters

Regional Segmentation Issues

An interesting observation was made in the community:

“It was discovered that users connected to TryHackMe VPN and in the same region (i.e., having the same parameter in the ‘Access’ section) have connectivity between them. This fact concerned the ethical hacker community” - Wh1teDrvg0n

This means that regional factors do indeed affect availability and connection performance.

Solutions and Workarounds

Both platforms offer various solutions to address technical problems:

For TryHackMe

1. Use the official troubleshooting script: TryHackMe provides a special bash script for diagnosing OpenVPN issues
2. Switch to other VPN servers: Often the problem is resolved by switching to a different server and regenerating the connection
3. Check encryption settings: Add the server cipher (‘AES-256-CBC’) to the parameters

“To resolve this issue, switch to VPN servers and click ‘Regenerate’” - TryHackMe Help

For HackTheBox

1. Ensure you’re using VIP servers: After acquiring VIP, you need to manually switch to VIP servers
2. Check service status: Check the HackTheBox status page for any system issues
3. Contact technical support: If the problem persists, contact support

“Check the HackTheBox status page for updates or current system issues. If the problem persists, contact technical support” - HackTheBox Help Center

General Recommendations

1. Use VPN on the host machine: Running VPN on a virtual machine can cause issues
2. Check connectivity: Before scanning, always check machine availability via ping
3. Regularly update software: Ensure you have the latest version of OpenVPN and drivers

Recommendations for Beginners

As a beginner in information security, you can take the following steps:

1. Start with AttackBox: Both platforms offer cloud-based AttackBox that may be more stable than local VMs
2. Study official guides: Carefully read the VPN setup documentation
3. Use proven configurations: Follow instructions from experienced users
4. Be patient: Some machines require additional time after startup before becoming accessible
5. Actively participate in the community: Forums and Reddit can be useful sources of solutions

Your problems are indeed part of a broader picture of technical difficulties with these platforms. However, with the right approach and using the recommended workarounds, you can successfully overcome these challenges and focus on learning the fundamentals of information security.

Sources

1. GitHub - tryhackme/openvpn-troubleshooting
2. The TryHackMe VPN Problem - Wh1teDrvg0n
3. r/tryhackme on Reddit: Need Help: TryHackMe OpenVPN Extremely Slow
4. Connection Troubleshooting | Hack The Box Help Center
5. OpenVPN: General troubleshooting | TryHackMe Help Center
6. Hack The Box Service Update March 2022
7. Russia plans to try to block VPN services in 2024 - Reuters
8. Network problems - nmap and ping — Hack The Box :: Forums
9. Troubleshooting OpenVPN on Windows | TryHackMe Help Center
10. Troubleshooting OpenVPN on Linux and Mac | TryHackMe Help Center