OwnHammer has gone insane.

In order to access the resources, I am forced to change my browser and disable VPN services, proxies, and anything else that makes it difficult to determine my IP address. The description suggests that VPNs are used for unethical and criminal activities and are sold under the pretext of "privacy" and "security."

Personally, I feel offended by this approach and regret being an OwnHammer customer. No company is going to tell me how to use my computer. In the license agreement when I purchased the IRs, I did not consent to using my own device in a manner specified by the provider. This is such a low blow that even iLok is starting to look good.

FYI

https://ownhammer.com/pages/vpn

 

Spoiler: Source: Grok KI

Your frustration with OwnHammer’s strict access policies is understandable, especially given the implications about VPN usage and the inconvenience of altering your browsing setup. Based on available information, OwnHammer has implemented measures to restrict access to their site when VPNs or proxies are detected, likely as a response to piracy concerns, as mentioned in discussions on forums like Fractal Audio Systems. These policies have caused issues for international users or those prioritizing privacy, with some reporting being redirected to limited product pages or outright denied access when using VPNs.




The company’s approach, as you’ve described, can feel heavy-handed and dismissive of legitimate privacy concerns. VPNs are widely used for security, not just for illicit activities, and painting them as such risks alienating customers like yourself. Unfortunately, there’s no public statement from OwnHammer clarifying their stance or offering alternatives for privacy-conscious users. Their licensing terms, as noted in a Kemper Profiler Forum thread, focus on restricting redistribution and modification of IRs but don’t explicitly mandate how users must configure their devices. This makes the VPN restriction seem like an operational choice rather than a contractual obligation, which adds to the sense of overreach.



Your comparison to iLok is telling—when a company’s DRM feels more intrusive than iLok’s, it’s a red flag. You might consider reaching out to OwnHammer’s support (if accessible) to voice your concerns or explore alternative IR providers like York Audio or Celestion, which have been praised for quality without similar access controversies. If you’re locked out of your purchased IRs, check your account’s download section or contact their support to ensure you can still access what you paid for.




If you want to dig deeper into workarounds or alternative providers, let me know, and I can search for more recent user experiences or options.

 

All their IRs (or most) are available for free if you know where to look.

 

I know. but that's not the point.
this move is dirty af and won't discourage pirates, it will discourage customers.
I will find a way to download the IRs I bought and I won't come back.
if I had to be a new customer I would quit.

 

They are not telling you how to use your computer. They are telling you how you may access their website.

Blocking VPN and Proxy services are not an effort to prevent piracy, and they can't be that stupid hopefully. They are trying to prevent hacking or credit card fraud. Or if they have a forum, preventing Foster-like people from using it.

You should be able to setup exceptions in your browser VPN so certain sites are not over the secure tunnel. The free "vpn" in Opera can even do that.

 

Last edited: Jun 16, 2025 at 10:16 PM

How will we download those wav files !

 

I always get their IRs from the sister site, cost-free and hassle-free, lol.

 

There are many sites going to this BS. And, I wonder....how are they going to get my money if I can't get on their site. So ridiculous. Just to get on this thread, I had to wait for verification that I am a human. You tube has ruined themselves with their ads. I now use incognito window and run ad blockers. When doing this, I get one warning from you tube "Ad Blockers are not allowed", then I watch. Screw Them, and all the sites that are losing me as a customer. I rather enjoy sending emails to these idiots. It will change nothing though.

End of rant

 

Which ad blocker are you using? I'm using uBlock Origin, I don't get any ads on YouTube.

 

email them. explain to them nicely the error of their ways, and how they are pushing you away as a customer. Try including some positive reasons to use a VPN that are not criminal, also include some points of view that are empathetic to theirs and that you do understand where they are coming from, to an extent. They likely will not listen, but they might.

Ive done similar with companies before, even a mega corp, where i aired my grievances and they actually listened. Being nice, empathetic, but communicating in a clear and concise manner can really go a long ways in todays society of anger, entitlement and lack of empathy.

If you have trouble with what you want to write, have chatgpt help you, and then edit it down to be more human and true to you.

Its worth a shot.

 

I'd like to know how adding a website as an exception to being visited with VPN is more than someone can handle in 2025. Your communication with their website is already via https and moderately encrypted. Then if you buy anything from them, that transaction is SSL encrypted also.

The entire premise of the thread is laughable. It's not even a remotely decent conspiracy theory.

To even run an MITM attack over a compromised wifi network is not even close to common. Google Defeating SSL in Practice for the whitepaper by Moxie Marlinspike and you will see what an actual penetration tester needs to do to hijack any of that traffic. That is to conduct security auditing, not to hijack some low limit credit card info.

A criminal with such intent would not care if it is https or VPN. They would just log your keystrokes.

 

Last edited: Jun 17, 2025 at 12:55 AM

Just the well known AdBlock and Ghostery

 

If you'd put in a little effort to read the message, you'd know it's not just about disabling your VPN or adding an exception. In my situation, I actually have to install a separate browser just to access content I've already bought.
Maybe you don't see this as an issue, but for me, it's a significant problem and a serious breach of my privacy, and interference with my system. Overkill.

 

That’s why you have warez: it’s not piracy, its alternative solution

 

Every company do it.
Starting with every software/plugin needing internet connection, registration,whatever ...

It is time to live in the real world : "liberty" is a scam by nature

 

I do not see where you need to install a different browser. When they mention some browsers, they are using those examples, because like Opera; they have a "vpn" feature (which isn't a true vpn) which can be enabled or disabled. It does not say you need to install a specific browser that I see. Unless you are running some version of Windows which has no browser by default installation. Which would ironically help prove their point, because you are then quite likely using a pirated version of Windows.

I do not care if it is an issue for you, in any way. I'm just telling you that I think crying foul about privacy is a load of BS. All it really shows is that you do not know what you are even complaining about.

It's pretty hard to say you are worried about them collecting your data, after you have purchased something from them. You already have given them much more data than an IP address when you performed a credit card purchase.

 

Second sentence...
I tested on Brave, Mullvad, hardened Firefox. In such a situation I have to install another browser...
yeah, this was hard....

lol Sherlock....This is wrong on so many logical levels that it's not worth my time to comment on it. i'm on debian 12 btw.

another stupid statement...

I never wrote that I have a problem with data collection by OwnHammer. I wrote that forcing me to install different browser and turn of VPN. This is interference with my system and a violation of privacy.

When I purchased the product, I did not agree to meet specific conditions in order to gain access to digital goods. I know this may be difficult for you to understand, but I can't do anything about that.

And yet, you decided to weigh in on the matter, filling in the blanks with your own details.

 

it says "obfuscation services". That is not a browser requirement. There is not one word about installing a different browser on any device or OS. the rest is just as much bs.

you have this much time to cry about privacy to get past a simple message on a website. you can cry on ignore.

so difficult...

 

Last edited: Jun 17, 2025 at 10:05 AM

If it was a business decision, you are good by staying away.
If it was not a business decision, I'd not support them.

And to be honest. Imagine the business modell being to put a microphone in front of a guitar cab, recording basic sounds and selling the response then.

https://overdriven.fr/overdriven/index.php/irdownloads/
http://www.studio-nord.net/index.html#IR

They did the same without charging money and making customers angry.

 

Last edited: Jun 17, 2025 at 10:10 AM

Hello @deathroit, to me, this clearly looks like data collection, which they either use for marketing and advertising themselves or resell. DuckDuckGo and Brave are excellent privacy-collecting search engines and browsers; anyone who rejects this is neither customer-friendly nor interested in protecting their users' data.