(Mis)Uses of Technology

(Mis)Uses of Technology

by Mike Masnick





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.

20 Comments | Leave a Comment..

 

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  1. ooops, grammar error!

    by Adrian Anders - Apr 22nd, 2005 @ 5:46pm

    "It appears that's exactly what Vonage (one of the blocked VoIP providers is doing)." should read: "It appears that's exactly what Vonage (one of the blocked VoIP providers) is doing."

    (reply to this comment) (link to this comment)

  2. Re: ooops, grammar error!

    by icon Mike (profile) - Apr 22nd, 2005 @ 10:42pm

    Ooops! Fixed. Thanks!

    (reply to this comment) (link to this comment)

  3. Randomize it

    by TJ - Apr 23rd, 2005 @ 11:38am

    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.

    (reply to this comment) (link to this comment)

  4. get me around blocks

    by Brad Davis - Oct 27th, 2006 @ 1:10pm

    i cant get around blocks at my scool and i wanat to go play games that are blocked

    (reply to this comment) (link to this comment)

  5. Re: get me around blocks

    by Nate - Jan 24th, 2007 @ 5:55am

    go to peacefire.com and click on stupidcensurship to bybass most block!

    (reply to this comment) (link to this comment)

  6. by Anonymous Coward - Feb 7th, 2007 @ 11:41am

    why

    (reply to this comment) (link to this comment)

  7. HELP

    by Annoyed User - Feb 8th, 2007 @ 9:14am

    Lets just say that in my school you can't do any research because every site with a picture is blocked. I'm sick of it and I need a way around this crap. Please help they keep updating the blocked sites.

    (reply to this comment) (link to this comment)

  8. Blocked Sites in school

    by Chris - Mar 9th, 2007 @ 4:53am

    I need help, I have already tried every proxy and circumventor I have every heard, seen, and read about. I already downloaded Firefox and firefox.zip, niether of them work anymore, the blocked sites are increasing exponentially and I ran out of ideas, can anyone help me??????

    (reply to this comment) (link to this comment)

  9. Re: Blocked Sites in school

    by JBAD - Mar 15th, 2007 @ 11:59am

    Try starting in safe mode, press F8 or F10 or F12, depending on the computer. Then with a flash drive use firefox, or redownload it. U can also buy a U3 flash drive and use firefox portable

    (reply to this comment) (link to this comment)

  10. the blocks

    by zach - Apr 20th, 2007 @ 12:18pm

    hey peacefire.com doesn't work anymore...what now buddy?

    (reply to this comment) (link to this comment)

  11. by Maxx - Sep 12th, 2007 @ 5:37am

    i wanna get to runesacpe around the stupid blocks help me plz??!!!

    (reply to this comment) (link to this comment)

  12. Re:

    by Tom - Sep 12th, 2007 @ 5:37am

    runescape u mean??? probely :P

    (reply to this comment) (link to this comment)

  13. by Blow me - Sep 12th, 2007 @ 5:41am

    Someone blow me nut sack this site sucks hahahhahahahha it dont work to put my nuts in your mouth hahahahahhaha

    (reply to this comment) (link to this comment)

  14. seriously pissed now...

    by misty pacheco - Oct 16th, 2007 @ 8:59am

    the school has blocked everything even downloading firefox i mean everything does someone know something that can help me out to get to myspace?

    (reply to this comment) (link to this comment)

  15. blocked sites...

    by mica boo - Dec 3rd, 2007 @ 5:29am

    i really need a proxy that will get me on myspace i have a whole computer class for a boring 90 minutes with nothing to do after i finish my work after only 15 minutes...somebody pleez help...thanx

    (reply to this comment) (link to this comment)

  16. stupid blocks

    by nikki - Dec 22nd, 2007 @ 6:30am

    my brother has home schooling on the computer and i can't get pass his school blocks,i whent to ask.com and typed in bypass but then when i try to fallow a link to the bypass it was blcoked^_^do you know any bypass?

    (reply to this comment) (link to this comment)

  17. i'll try...

    by Carolyn - Jan 10th, 2008 @ 4:02pm

    i've been working on getting it on my site, but ill keep looking for something. i'll try.................

    (reply to this comment) (link to this comment)

  18. hey yall

    by brittany wants you - Aug 11th, 2008 @ 11:50am

    hey guys...want me? i want you :)

    add my myyearbook: www.myyearbook.com/foreverhis

    and my myspace: www.myspace.com/falln4evr

    (reply to this comment) (link to this comment)

  19. megaupoad downloading

    by rendom - Feb 8th, 2009 @ 11:41am

    Hi! I would like to recommend you the best Megaupload download centers- http://megaupload.name/ - download everything you want without registration and absolutely free!

    (reply to this comment) (link to this comment)

  20. Re: Blocked Sites in school

    by cas - May 20th, 2009 @ 7:11am

    try no-control.info
    that might work

    (reply to this comment) (link to this comment)

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