Getting Around Blocks By Playing Packet Hide And Seek

from the getting-silly dept

A month ago, new wireless ISP Clearwire made some news for blocking all VoIP applications other than the one they offered themselves — which goes against the concept of network neutrality. Of course, the problem with this is that it forgets that voice is just data, and you can disguise data in all sorts of ways. It appears that’s exactly what Vonage (one of the blocked VoIP providers) is doing. They’ve worked with the customers blocked by Clearwire to use a different port, thereby bypassing the block. Of course, Clearwire will probably end up blocking the new port at some point as well, but there will be another port open, or Vonage will use some other method to disguise the data. If you’re going to offer bandwidth to people, you’re going to need to figure out a way to handle the capacity question or you’re going to be in trouble. Simply blocking usage and saying it’s a capacity issue isn’t going to be acceptable to users who believe that capacity is the ISP’s problem — not their own.


Rate this comment as insightful
Rate this comment as funny
You have rated this comment as insightful
You have rated this comment as funny
Flag this comment as abusive/trolling/spam
You have flagged this comment
The first word has already been claimed
The last word has already been claimed
Insightful Lightbulb icon Funny Laughing icon Abusive/trolling/spam Flag icon Insightful badge Lightbulb icon Funny badge Laughing icon Comments icon

Comments on “Getting Around Blocks By Playing Packet Hide And Seek”

Subscribe: RSS Leave a comment
20 Comments
TJ says:

Randomize it

With so many ISPs apparently trying such blocking, VoIP companies ought to offer a totally random port approach. Handshake over port 80, then pick random high source and destination ports. That would make it hard for the ISP to port block. Unless the traffic is also encrypted, the ISP could sniff every packet to block VoIP, but at least make them go to that more difficult and expensive effort. If the traffic were encrypted, there would be no reasonable way to block it unless they limited customers to only identifiable, ‘acceptable’ traffic. That would be as deadly for a broadband ISP as bandwidth caps.
From what I’ve read, Skype already uses some of these techniques.

Add Your Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Have a Techdirt Account? Sign in now. Want one? Register here

Comment Options:

Make this the or (get credits or sign in to see balance) what's this?

What's this?

Techdirt community members with Techdirt Credits can spotlight a comment as either the "First Word" or "Last Word" on a particular comment thread. Credits can be purchased at the Techdirt Insider Shop »

Follow Techdirt

Techdirt Daily Newsletter

Ctrl-Alt-Speech

A weekly news podcast from
Mike Masnick & Ben Whitelaw

Subscribe now to Ctrl-Alt-Speech »
Techdirt Deals
Techdirt Insider Discord
The latest chatter on the Techdirt Insider Discord channel...
Loading...