Anti-VPN: The Ultimate Shield for Your Minecraft Server
Running a Minecraft server is a rewarding experience, but it comes with its fair share of headaches. One of the most persistent problems is players using VPNs, proxies, or datacenter connections to bypass bans, evade IP-based restrictions, or launch attacks anonymously. If you have ever watched a banned player waltz right back in with a different IP, you know the frustration. The Anti-VPN plugin by SqidgeonStudios is a no-nonsense, key-free solution that slams the door on these unwanted connections. It combines multiple open-source blocklists into a lightning-fast detection engine, giving you full control without any recurring fees or API keys.
How Anti-VPN Detection Works
At its core, Anti-VPN merges four free, community-maintained blocklists into a single in-memory CIDR matcher. Every time a player attempts to join, the plugin checks their IP address against this massive dataset in microseconds. There is zero login lag because the entire matching process runs in RAM, not on disk. The lists cover a wide range of threats:
- firehol_level1.netset – Blocks known attacks, malware sources, and bogon IP ranges.
- firehol_anonymous.netset – Covers Tor exit nodes, open proxies, and other anonymizers.
- x4bnet_vpn.netset – Targets commercial VPN services like ProtonVPN, Mullvad, NordVPN, and ExpressVPN.
- x4bnet_datacenter.netset – Flags hosting providers such as AWS, OVH, Hetzner, and DigitalOcean.
On first startup, Anti-VPN downloads these lists from GitHub and stores them in the plugins/AntiVPN/firehol/ folder. After that, it works perfectly offline, using cached local copies. The plugin also keeps dated backups every time a fresh download succeeds, so you can always roll back if needed. An optional reverse-DNS heuristic adds a secondary layer of protection by checking PTR records against known VPN and hosting hostname patterns.
What makes this plugin truly stand out is its simplicity. There are no external services to sign up for, no monthly subscriptions, and no API keys to manage. The entire detection system is powered by freely available blocklists that update automatically on a configurable schedule. You can force an update at any time with a simple command, or let the plugin refresh the lists every 24 hours by default.
Key Features That Put You in Control
Anti-VPN is packed with features that make server administration smooth and flexible. Here is what you get right out of the box:
- Key-free detection – No paid APIs, just free open-source blocklists.
- SQLite and MySQL support – Use the built-in local database or connect to your own external server.
- Auto-updating lists – Fresh data downloaded on startup and on a schedule you define.
- Local list caching – Works offline after the first download, with dated backups.
- Zero login lag – In-memory CIDR matching is microsecond-fast per connection.
- LuckPerms integration – Full permission node support with per-group and per-player bypass.
- Fully customisable messages – Every player-facing string lives in
messages.yml. - In-game management – Add, remove, and inspect IPs and players without touching any files.
For server owners who want a hassle-free setup, the plugin’s default SQLite database requires no configuration at all. It creates antivpn.db automatically on first start. If you prefer a centralised database for a network of servers, simply switch to MySQL in the config and provide your credentials. The transition is seamless.
Database and LuckPerms Permissions
Anti-VPN stores all blocked IPs, allowed IPs, and bypass players in a real database, not flat files. This makes lookups fast and management consistent across server restarts. The default SQLite setup is perfect for small to medium servers, while MySQL or MariaDB suits larger networks. The configuration is straightforward:
database:
type: sqlite # or "mysql"
mysql:
host: your.db.host
port: 3306
database: antivpn
username: antivpn_user
password: "yourpassword"
If you use LuckPerms, Anti-VPN integrates with it out of the box. Without LuckPerms, it falls back to standard Bukkit permissions. The permission nodes are clean and logical:
antivpn.admin– OP by default, grants all permissions including bypass.antivpn.bypass– false by default, allows a player to skip all VPN checks.antivpn.allow– OP, use/ipallow.antivpn.block– OP, use/ipblock.antivpn.list– OP, use/iplist.antivpn.user– OP, use/ipuser.antivpn.update– OP, use/ipupdate.
Granting a bypass to a VIP group is as easy as running /lp group vip permission set antivpn.bypass true. This way, trusted players never get caught in the VPN net, while everyone else is screened.
Commands and In-Game Management
Anti-VPN gives you a full suite of commands to manage the blocklist, allowlist, and player exemptions directly from the server console or in-game chat. You never need to edit files manually unless you want to tweak messages. Here is a quick overview:
/ipblock – Manage the IP Block-list
/ipblock add <ip>– Block an IP address./ipblock remove <ip>– Unblock an IP address./ipblock list– Show all manually blocked IPs./ipblock check <ip>– Show block/allow status of an IP.
/ipallow – Manage the IP Allow-list
/ipallow add <ip>– Whitelist an IP (bypasses all checks)./ipallow remove <ip>– Remove from allow-list./ipallow list– Show all allowed IPs.
/ipuser – Manage Bypass Players
/ipuser add <player>– Exempt a player from all VPN checks./ipuser remove <player>– Remove exemption./ipuser list– Show all bypass players./ipuser check <player>– Check a player's bypass status./ipuser lookup <player>– Show an online player's IP and full status.
/iplist and /ipupdate
/iplist– Summary of all list sizes, or detailed blocked/allowed/user lists./ipupdate– Force-download all lists, show status, reload matcher, or list backups.
Every message the plugin sends is fully customisable in messages.yml. You can change the prefix, kick message, and all command feedback using standard Minecraft colour codes and placeholders. The default kick message is clear and firm: &c&lConnection Refused\n&7VPN connections are not permitted.
Installation and Setup
Getting Anti-VPN running on your server is straightforward. Simply place the plugin JAR into your plugins folder and restart. On first launch, it will download the blocklists and create the database. If you are using a shared hosting environment or want a more modern launcher experience, the foxygame.net launcher provides a convenient, flexible way to install Anti-VPN directly from its mod menu, along with many other server tools. This launcher streamlines the process, letting you manage plugins without digging through file systems. After installation, you can tweak config.yml to adjust update intervals, toggle specific blocklists, or enable reverse DNS checks. The plugin requires Java 11 or higher and internet access only for the initial list download; after that, it runs fully offline.
Why Anti-VPN Is a Must-Have for Server Owners
VPNs and proxies are not inherently evil, but on a Minecraft server they often signal trouble. Players use them to bypass IP bans, launch DDoS attacks from datacenter IPs, or simply hide their identity while griefing. Anti-VPN stops these connections before they even finish logging in, saving you time and keeping your community safe. The combination of four blocklists gives you broad coverage, and the in-memory matching ensures performance never suffers. With LuckPerms integration, you can easily grant trusted players a bypass while keeping the gates locked for everyone else.
The plugin’s design philosophy is refreshing: no API keys, no subscriptions, no nonsense. It relies entirely on free, open-source data that updates itself. The dated backups mean you never lose a working list set, and the local caching means your server stays protected even if GitHub is unreachable. The file structure is clean and transparent, with everything neatly organised under plugins/AntiVPN/.
Conclusion
Anti-VPN by SqidgeonStudios is a robust, lightweight, and completely free solution for blocking unwanted VPN, proxy, and datacenter connections on your Minecraft server. Its intelligent use of multiple blocklists, in-memory CIDR matching, and seamless LuckPerms integration makes it a top-tier choice for both small community servers and large networks. The plugin respects your time with automatic updates, simple commands, and fully customisable messages. Whether you are battling ban evaders or just want to keep your server’s player base authentic, Anti-VPN delivers reliable protection without any hidden costs. Install it, configure a few permissions, and let it silently guard your server’s front door.