Getting Around Blocks By Playing Packet Hide And Seek

from the getting-silly dept

Fri, Apr 22nd 2005 9:48am — Mike Masnick

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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20 Comments

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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."
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- Mike (profile), 22 Apr 2005 @ 10:42pm
  
  Re: ooops, grammar error!
  Ooops! Fixed. Thanks!
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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.
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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
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- Nate, 24 Jan 2007 @ 5:55am
  
  Re: get me around blocks
  go to peacefire.com and click on stupidcensurship to bybass most block!
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Anonymous Coward, 7 Feb 2007 @ 11:41am

why
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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.
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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??????
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- 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
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- cas, 20 May 2009 @ 7:11am
  
  Re: Blocked Sites in school
  try no-control.info
  that might work
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zach, 20 Apr 2007 @ 12:18pm

the blocks
hey peacefire.com doesn't work anymore...what now buddy?
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Maxx, 12 Sep 2007 @ 5:37am

i wanna get to runesacpe around the stupid blocks help me plz??!!!
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- Tom, 12 Sep 2007 @ 5:37am
  
  Re:
  runescape u mean??? probely :P
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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
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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?
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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
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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?
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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.................
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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
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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!
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