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.
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  1. identicon
    Adrian Anders, 22 Apr 2005 @ 5:46pm

    ooops, grammar error!

    "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."

    link to this | view in thread ]

  2. icon
    Mike (profile), 22 Apr 2005 @ 10:42pm

    Re: ooops, grammar error!

    Ooops! Fixed. Thanks!

    link to this | view in thread ]

  3. identicon
    TJ, 23 Apr 2005 @ 11:38am

    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.

    link to this | view in thread ]

  4. identicon
    Brad Davis, 27 Oct 2006 @ 1:10pm

    get me around blocks

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

    link to this | view in thread ]

  5. identicon
    Nate, 24 Jan 2007 @ 5:55am

    Re: get me around blocks

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

    link to this | view in thread ]

  6. identicon
    Anonymous Coward, 7 Feb 2007 @ 11:41am

    why

    link to this | view in thread ]

  7. identicon
    Annoyed User, 8 Feb 2007 @ 9:14am

    HELP

    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.

    link to this | view in thread ]

  8. identicon
    Chris, 9 Mar 2007 @ 4:53am

    Blocked Sites in school

    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??????

    link to this | view in thread ]

  9. identicon
    JBAD, 15 Mar 2007 @ 11:59am

    Re: Blocked Sites in school

    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

    link to this | view in thread ]

  10. identicon
    zach, 20 Apr 2007 @ 12:18pm

    the blocks

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

    link to this | view in thread ]

  11. identicon
    Maxx, 12 Sep 2007 @ 5:37am

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

    link to this | view in thread ]

  12. identicon
    Tom, 12 Sep 2007 @ 5:37am

    Re:

    runescape u mean??? probely :P

    link to this | view in thread ]

  13. identicon
    Blow me, 12 Sep 2007 @ 5:41am

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

    link to this | view in thread ]

  14. identicon
    misty pacheco, 16 Oct 2007 @ 8:59am

    seriously pissed now...

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

    link to this | view in thread ]

  15. identicon
    mica boo, 3 Dec 2007 @ 5:29am

    blocked sites...

    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

    link to this | view in thread ]

  16. identicon
    nikki, 22 Dec 2007 @ 6:30am

    stupid blocks

    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?

    link to this | view in thread ]

  17. identicon
    Carolyn, 10 Jan 2008 @ 4:02pm

    i'll try...

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

    link to this | view in thread ]

  18. identicon
    brittany wants you, 11 Aug 2008 @ 11:50am

    hey yall

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

    add my myyearbook: www.myyearbook.com/foreverhis

    and my myspace: www.myspace.com/falln4evr

    link to this | view in thread ]

  19. identicon
    rendom, 8 Feb 2009 @ 11:41am

    megaupoad downloading

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

    link to this | view in thread ]

  20. identicon
    cas, 20 May 2009 @ 7:11am

    Re: Blocked Sites in school

    try no-control.info
    that might work

    link to this | view in thread ]


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