Tech-y-ish question: ISP Scanning P2P vs RapidShare

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GStar

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Hoping someone who knows a bit about computers can answer this:

I know that p2p transactions are being scanned more and more by authorities looking for copyright infringement.

Is it just as easy for the same people to scan files downloaded from rapidshare/megaupload etc?

Not sure how the two processes work; can see how p2p could be intercepted by a 3rd party but not sure if/how files from the above sites can?
 
Most of the rapidshare uploads are named differently to the files so it would be almost impossible for anyone to know what they are.

Good link for you <a class="postlink" href="http://www.forumw.org" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;" target="_blank">http://www.forumw.org</a>
 
GStar said:
Cheers, i use warez-bb.org what about if someone scanned and looked into the file as it was being transferred?

p2p is sharing so its open for anyone to look at, any idea what its like rapidshare etc?
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You will need Shady or Doctor Congo for this answer as I'm unsure.
 
GStar said:
Hoping someone who knows a bit about computers can answer this:

I know that p2p transactions are being scanned more and more by authorities looking for copyright infringement.

Is it just as easy for the same people to scan files downloaded from rapidshare/megaupload etc?

Not sure how the two processes work; can see how p2p could be intercepted by a 3rd party but not sure if/how files from the above sites can?
Click to expand...

Your ISP has the ability to monitor EVERY packet which goes to and from your home, of course they don't check on every user but they can have a quick snoop on high traffic users to decide if further investigation is worthwhile.

Totally seperately from ISP monitoring, copyright owners will tend to target torrent uploaders (its often not difficult to find original seeders as many torrent trackers won't work through proxies) to find their IP addresses in order to take action.
 
Banned Tosspot said:
Most of the rapidshare uploads are named differently to the files so it would be almost impossible for anyone to know what they are.

Good link for you <a class="postlink" href="http://www.forumw.org" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;" target="_blank">http://www.forumw.org</a>
Click to expand...

Good link that mate.
 
Doctor Congo said:
Your ISP has the ability to monitor EVERY packet which goes to and from your home, of course they don't check on every user but they can have a quick snoop on high traffic users to decide if further investigation is worthwhile.

Totally seperately from ISP monitoring, copyright owners will tend to target torrent uploaders (its often not difficult to find original seeders as many torrent trackers won't work through proxies) to find their IP addresses in order to take action.
Click to expand...

Cheers mate. The ways the guys i were talking to explained it was; it wasn't the ISP who would do the scanning/monitoring/snooping, instead it was the companies who owned the copywrights who would scan the system, send a list of IP's who have been found to be downloading copywrighted material back to the ISP's who would then ban for 56 days and charge a reconnection fee for "copywright absue".

I'm guessing what you're saying is that it's not impossible, but its must less likely they will look at rapidshare etc files?
 
GStar said:
Doctor Congo said:
Your ISP has the ability to monitor EVERY packet which goes to and from your home, of course they don't check on every user but they can have a quick snoop on high traffic users to decide if further investigation is worthwhile.

Totally seperately from ISP monitoring, copyright owners will tend to target torrent uploaders (its often not difficult to find original seeders as many torrent trackers won't work through proxies) to find their IP addresses in order to take action.
Click to expand...

Cheers mate. The ways the guys i were talking to explained it was; it wasn't the ISP who would do the scanning/monitoring/snooping, instead it was the companies who owned the copywrights who would scan the system, send a list of IP's who have been found to be downloading copywrighted material back to the ISP's who would then ban for 56 days and charge a reconnection fee for "copywright absue".

I'm guessing what you're saying is that it's not impossible, but its must less likely they will look at rapidshare etc files?
Click to expand...
Without researching rapidshare (I've never used it) I assume they keep your details private so I'd guess you're ok. Torrents and other p2p methods on the other hand by their nature generally require your ip address to be available via the tracker (the server which connects users to each other).
 
RS has a privacy policy and as such, it'd be hard for any blame for illegal content to be shifted onto the downloader.

The uploader or RS would take 'blame'.
 
Doctor Congo said:
shadygiz said:
you could always mask your ip or use proxy servers
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Is there much point doing that when using hosted sharing?
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Hi Dr. Congo; "RapidShare is a German owned one-click hosting pay- and free-service (with limitations) website that operates from Switzerland and is financed by the subscriptions of paying users. Rapidshare is one of the world’s largest file-hosting sites with millions of files stored on its servers." - if that sheds anymore light?

ALso interested to here Shady's view.

The reason i'm asking is the ISP im working for/use, disconnects and charges users for "copyright infringement" this happens when the companies who own the copywrights scan and identify users sharing copywright protected material and pass on the IP Addresses back to the ISP to take action. Obviously i can be caught doing this so just want to know if this type of download is possible before i try anything.
 
quiet_riot said:
RS has a privacy policy and as such, it'd be hard for any blame for illegal content to be shifted onto the downloader.

The uploader or RS would take 'blame'.
Click to expand...

What about if they scan your internet as you are downloading a file and inspect the packets being downloaded?

Or can they scan and track what has been downloaded in the pass and identify copywright material that way?
 
GStar said:
quiet_riot said:
RS has a privacy policy and as such, it'd be hard for any blame for illegal content to be shifted onto the downloader.

The uploader or RS would take 'blame'.
Click to expand...

What about if they scan your internet as you are downloading a file and inspect the packets being downloaded?

Or can they scan and track what has been downloaded in the pass and identify copywright material that way?
Click to expand...
I think most Rapidshare files come with a password, if not then only download the ones that have it.
 
If your paranoid about being caught downloading you can download something called "Hotspot Shield" and it basically creates a generic proxy that your computer can hide behind. Its a pretty cool program, you just activate it and your hid behind it. Then when you dont want to use it anymore disconnect it.
 
GStar said:
Doctor Congo said:
Your ISP has the ability to monitor EVERY packet which goes to and from your home, of course they don't check on every user but they can have a quick snoop on high traffic users to decide if further investigation is worthwhile.

Totally seperately from ISP monitoring, copyright owners will tend to target torrent uploaders (its often not difficult to find original seeders as many torrent trackers won't work through proxies) to find their IP addresses in order to take action.
Click to expand...

Cheers mate. The ways the guys i were talking to explained it was; it wasn't the ISP who would do the scanning/monitoring/snooping, instead it was the companies who owned the copywrights who would scan the system, send a list of IP's who have been found to be downloading copywrighted material back to the ISP's who would then ban for 56 days and charge a reconnection fee for "copywright absue".

I'm guessing what you're saying is that it's not impossible, but its must less likely they will look at rapidshare etc files?
Click to expand...

Its less likely for them to look at rapidshare files because these companies who own the copyright material are more after the people who upload this content on these p2p networks rather than the people who download it but i cant say ive heard anything about rapidshare prosecution
 
GStar said:
Doctor Congo said:
shadygiz said:
you could always mask your ip or use proxy servers
Click to expand...
Is there much point doing that when using hosted sharing?
Click to expand...

Hi Dr. Congo; "RapidShare is a German owned one-click hosting pay- and free-service (with limitations) website that operates from Switzerland and is financed by the subscriptions of paying users. Rapidshare is one of the world’s largest file-hosting sites with millions of files stored on its servers." - if that sheds anymore light?

ALso interested to here Shady's view.

The reason i'm asking is the ISP im working for/use, disconnects and charges users for "copyright infringement" this happens when the companies who own the copywrights scan and identify users sharing copywright protected material and pass on the IP Addresses back to the ISP to take action. Obviously i can be caught doing this so just want to know if this type of download is possible before i try anything.
Click to expand...
As I say, your ISP has the ability to view every bit of data you send to and receive from the world, which means they can see every page you browse and every file you up/download if they decide to, that is not up for debate. I don't know what legal right they have to do that (like the post office reading your mail) or under what circumstances they have the inclination to examine encrypted files, their first interest is how much you download as increased traffic costs them money.
 
the way i always understood it, every action taken against a p2p user has been on the basis that an organisation working on behalf of the copyright holders (typically major record labels and movie studios) used torrent/p2p to download copyright material from the user (at this stage the user is only identified by IP and possibly screen name). they then used this as evidence to support their request from the isp for the details of the user from the ISP, send a cease and desist letter, or, in the case of other p2p where they have a list of copyright materials shared by the user, threaten legal action. I'm not even sure that any of these cases ever made it to court in the uk, they were all settled (who knows for what amount).

rapidshare is different. when you click to download a link, you may not know what it contains. the isp knows, but, they have no reason to think as a matter of course that you would download illegal material, and they will not scan the packets on spec at the behest of copyright holders without evidence of wrongdoing. as third parties are not able to see you click that link, i dont see how a copyright holder could lawfully gather the evidence needed to get the isp to reveal your details. I am unsure about the policies of file hosting services beyond that they remove copyright material on request, and that, obviously, they have an ip address linked to the uploaded file.

tbh it's a year or so since i looked into all of this, if u are really concerned, i'd advise trawling through slyck.com for any relevant developments.

p.s. i agree that the ISP's most obvious concern is bandwidth usage, but just using a lot of bandwidth will at worst lead to you losing your provider, not to them looking for evidence of illegal activity
 
bizzbo said:
the way i always understood it, every action taken against a p2p user has been on the basis that an organisation working on behalf of the copyright holders (typically major record labels and movie studios) used torrent/p2p to download copyright material from the user (at this stage the user is only identified by IP and possibly screen name). they then used this as evidence to support their request from the isp for the details of the user from the ISP, send a cease and desist letter, or, in the case of other p2p where they have a list of copyright materials shared by the user, threaten legal action. I'm not even sure that any of these cases ever made it to court in the uk, they were all settled (who knows for what amount).

rapidshare is different. when you click to download a link, you may not know what it contains. the isp knows, but, they have no reason to think as a matter of course that you would download illegal material, and they will not scan the packets on spec at the behest of copyright holders without evidence of wrongdoing. as third parties are not able to see you click that link, i dont see how a copyright holder could lawfully gather the evidence needed to get the isp to reveal your details. I am unsure about the policies of file hosting services beyond that they remove copyright material on request, and that, obviously, they have an ip address linked to the uploaded file.

tbh it's a year or so since i looked into all of this, if u are really concerned, i'd advise trawling through slyck.com for any relevant developments.

p.s. i agree that the ISP's most obvious concern is bandwidth usage, but just using a lot of bandwidth will at worst lead to you losing your provider, not to them looking for evidence of illegal activity
Click to expand...
Cheers for clearing that up mate.
 
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