Linked by Thom Holwerda on Thu 15th Mar 2012 22:06 UTC
"If you download potentially copyrighted software, videos or music, your Internet service provider has been watching, and they're coming for you. Specifically, they're coming for you on Thursday, July 12. That's the date when the nation's largest ISPs will all voluntarily implement a new anti-piracy plan that will engage network operators in the largest digital spying scheme in history, and see some users' bandwidth completely cut off until they sign an agreement saying they will not download copyrighted materials." One day, years from now, historians are going to debate whether this was the point of no return.
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RE: Technical question about torrents
by phoenix on Fri 16th Mar 2012 02:55
in reply to "Technical question about torrents"
Member since:2005-07-11
In Ktorrent, I do see in the Configuration section a dialog box for "Use Protocol Encryption" which I have not clicked (default is to allow unencrypted connections). I thought that clicking this might eliminate most connections, but maybe it would just slow them down. If so, how much additional overhead would it entail?
None that you would notice nowadays. A few years ago, encrypted connections would have been few and far between. But most torrent clients default to allowing both (encrypted and plain-text). With only 2 torrents running, I'm getting over 300 KBps (~2.4 Mbps) with just encrypted connections.
I have thought of enabling my browser's feature to encrypt all connections for HTML, but I think that would also cause more overhead though I'm not sure how much.
Unless you have an ancient P2 system, you won't notice. CPUs now are mostly idle. Adding 1-5% extra CPU processing is nothing.
And I also wonder if it would really make a difference as far as my ISP's ability to spy on me. Any thoughts on this will be appreciated.
They'll be able to see your DNS requests, so they'll know which sites you're going to, but they won't know what you are doing on those sites.
Finally, someone mentioned using a VPN, even if you have to pay for it. I might be willing to do so, but can anyone recommend any such services? And how do I enable that feature in my browser or torrents once I've paid?
You don't "enable it in the browser or torrents". You change your default route (default gateway) to be the VPN IP instead of your ISP. Then all traffic (browser, torrent, *everything*) goes through the encrypted link. They won't even be able to see your DNS requests.
RE[2]: Technical question about torrents
by Lorin on Fri 16th Mar 2012 08:48
in reply to "RE: Technical question about torrents"
Member since:2010-04-06
RE: Technical question about torrents
by Soulbender on Fri 16th Mar 2012 03:38
in reply to "Technical question about torrents"
Member since:2005-08-18
I suppose that your ISP can know that you're downloading/uploading torrents, but can they know just what you are downloading or from whom?
What you're downloading? For unencrypted connections it is possible. For encrypted connections it's theoretically possible but practically impossible. No, the snake-oil products that that say they can do this does not count.
As for whom your downloading from; yes they can see what IP addresses you're communicating with unless you're using something like Tor or a VPN.
If so, how much additional overhead would it entail?
On any reasonably modern computer the overhead is negligible.
I have thought of enabling my browser's feature to encrypt all connections for HTML, but I think that would also cause more overhead though I'm not sure how much
This is not a feature that you can enable, you have to use https:// rather then http:// and even then there will be connections and sites that are not encrypted.
And how do I enable that feature in my browser or torrents once I've paid?
All you have to do is connect to the VPN, you don't need to changer anything in your browser or torrent app.
RE: Technical question about torrents
by Flatland_Spider on Fri 16th Mar 2012 14:31
in reply to "Technical question about torrents"
Member since:2006-09-01
VyprVPN looks pretty good.
https://www.goldenfrog.com/vyprvpn/
Features
Linked by Thom Holwerda on 05/24/13 17:26 UTC
So, the Xbox One disaster continues. Microsoft's policy for dealing with the used games market has reportedly leaked - and it's a clear and direct attack to destroy the used games market. Prices for used games will be set at the retail value of a new game, and retailers have to hook into Microsoft's computer systems and comply with Microsoft's terms and conditions.
Linked by Thom Holwerda on 05/21/13 21:38 UTC
At an event earlier today, Microsoft unveiled the next Xbox - the third model, but confusingly named Xbox One. The big focus was TV, integrated Kinect, and all the other stuff we all expected to be forced down our throats. I think it took them 25 minutes to actually come to what should be the core of the story: gaming. Nothing groundbreaking in the gaming department, except for how Microsoft intends to handle the used games market and borrowing games from friends: pay up, buddy!
Linked by Thom Holwerda on 05/20/13 11:29 UTC
The day has finally come! Jolla has finally announced the launch device for its Sailfish operating system - and by god this is a looker. It's decidedly different from other phones out there, but it has good specifications and carries a relatively reasonably price tag - EUR 399, and it's up for pre-order today, shipping in the fourth quarter of this year.
Linked by Thom Holwerda on 05/18/13 21:33 UTC
Why does Google get so much credit in the technology industry? Why, despite the company's many obvious failings, do many geeks and enthusiasts still hold a somewhat positive view on the all-knowing technology giant? A specific talk at Google I/O this week provides the answer.
Linked by David Adams on 05/16/13 4:23 UTC
OSNews is a sponsor of this year's O'Reilly OSCON in Portland, Oregon, USA. A lucky OSNews reader will win a free three-day pass, including two tutorials days. To win the pass, post a comment on this story saying something about Open Source Software or OSCON. We'll pick a winner at random next week. If you don't have an OSNews account, you may email us your entry. Part of the conference is the 9th annual Open Source Awards, and today the 16th is the deadline for nominations. If you'd like to nominate an outstanding open source contributor, do it here. Read on for more information about OSCON. Update: The 20% discount code for OSNews readers is "OSN."
Linked by Thom Holwerda on 05/11/13 21:41 UTC
"Windows is indeed slower than other operating systems in many scenarios, and the gap is worsening." That's one way to start an insider explanation of why Windows' performance isn't up to snuff. Written by someone who actually contributes code to the Windows NT kernel, the comment on Hacker News, later deleted but reposted with permission on Marc Bevand's blog, paints a very dreary picture of the state of Windows development. The root issue? Think of how Linux is developed, and you'll know the answer.
Linked by Thom Holwerda on 05/08/13 14:22 UTC
This is one of those news items that's fun to write, fun to read, fun to comment on, and where no one will be able to say anything unkind. It's all just one big ball of awesome fluffiness. TuneTracker, the BeOS radio automation software, has just released something very special: TuneTracker System 5, the first version designed entirely and specifically for Haiku. In fact, it actually includes Haiku in the software package. Better yet, TuneTracker also unveiled several system-in-a-box products - which have Haiku and TuneTracker pre-installed.
Linked by Thom Holwerda on 05/02/13 15:28 UTC
Exactly twenty years ago, a document was published that played a huge role in establishing the web as we know it today. Twenty years later, and this simple and straightforward document is proof of an irrefutable fact: while closed technologies can change markets, open technologies can change the world.
Linked by Thom Holwerda on 04/29/13 21:06 UTC
Oh multitasking. That staple of computing that got thrown out the window with many modern smartphones. We got some rudimentary thing in its place - but even as multitasking on phone and tablets improves, its user-visible side remains cumbersome. Windows 8 has a neat implementation, and now it's time Android follows in it footsteps.
Linked by Thom Holwerda on 04/24/13 22:24 UTC
They're here! Whether that excites you or not remains to be seen, but the Galaxy S4, which will most likely become the best selling Android smartphone of the year by a huge margin, has been reviewed by all the major sites, and there's lots of interesting conclusions in there - although I think most of you will get the gist.More Features »
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One thing I'm curious about. I suppose that your ISP can know that you're downloading/uploading torrents, but can they know just what you are downloading or from whom? In Ktorrent, I do see in the Configuration section a dialog box for "Use Protocol Encryption" which I have not clicked (default is to allow unencrypted connections). I thought that clicking this might eliminate most connections, but maybe it would just slow them down. If so, how much additional overhead would it entail?
There is another dialog box to "Send the tracker a custom IP address or hostname" and then you have to specify one, but I haven't enabled that feature either, and just wondering if I should (and if so, what "custom IP address" would I use).
I have thought of enabling my browser's feature to encrypt all connections for HTML, but I think that would also cause more overhead though I'm not sure how much. And I also wonder if it would really make a difference as far as my ISP's ability to spy on me. Any thoughts on this will be appreciated.
Finally, someone mentioned using a VPN, even if you have to pay for it. I might be willing to do so, but can anyone recommend any such services? And how do I enable that feature in my browser or torrents once I've paid?
And no, I'm not engaged in piracy here. But I really don't like being tracked on the Internet by anyone. To think that there is someone out there compiling my entire browsing history, not to mention other family members (we all share a single wireless router, with encryption turned on of course) is worrisome.
Edited 2012-03-16 01:57 UTC