ISP monitoring activity?

Joshuaoftroy · 06-23-12 at 06:44 AM

I remember reading an article back in march and I believe it's been brought up a few times here. Is there any real truth to the news article saying ISPs would start reporting downloading data to the authorities starting July 1st?

Trireaper · 06-23-12 at 07:10 AM

I sure hope not

**BlueDragonFire** · 06-23-12 at 07:40 AM

I haven't heard anything one way or another, but it doesn't seem probable {though it is possible} considering how much is downloaded every day.

Even just thinking of "downloading" as excluding simple browsing {which is technically downloading also} that would be a large amount of reporting for someone to sift through. As more people get it into their heads to stop naming files {talking illegal files} as what they actually are, the LEA would have to actually look at each download to find out if it's illegal, then which ISP it went through, then the address it came from AND the address which is downloading it. That's all presuming the uploader & downloader aren't covering their tracks.

As far as I can tell the folks they do happen to catch {the ones the public hears about} are those who the LEA got lucky with. More often than not they were noobs who just didn't know any better. Personally, I was lucky enough when I was a noob that the powers-that-be weren't all that bent on getting people for file-sharing. As it was I {as many others} learned what worked for me and kept me out of trouble.

I think if I was running an ISP and some idiot came with an order like that I'd be completely literal. Every single element of every website which came through my ISP and was "downloaded" by browsing would be in the report. Think about all the parts that make up a webpage {the one you're looking at for example}. I would MAKE the LEA work for their audacious BS until they got sick of it.

Fortunately I think the ISP's would put up a major fuss because with such an order they'd have to basically revamp their system to accommodate getting that data into a human-readable form - presuming the LEA aren't going to want to put their own techs on such drudgery as translating the coding computers take for granted. The ISP's would have to hire more people JUST for that and their prices would necessarily rise.

I'm thinking it would be a total cluster-f*ck. BUT we are talking about the government {of any country} and they tend to specialize in cluster-f*cks on a regular basis.

Hope this helps!

Peace to you and yours,
Matthew "Dra'Gon" Stohler

Valid_Username · 06-23-12 at 07:52 AM

Quote:

I believe it's been brought up a few times here

Yep, it has.
Here's the gist of it:

Code: Select All

http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2012/03/15/american-isps-to-launch-massive-copyright-spying-scheme-on-july-12/

**BlueDragonFire** · 06-23-12 at 08:15 AM

Quote: Originally Posted by Valid_Username

Yep, it has.
Here's the gist of it:

Code: Select All

http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2012/03/15/american-isps-to-launch-massive-copyright-spying-scheme-on-july-12/

Ah. Well, so much for my bit. I still think they're going to have a major mess of it. But it doesn't seem the government isn't "officially" behind this one. Here's hoping the media-powers will spend more money trying this than they gain since they're covering part of the cost.

What would be cool to see is if there was an internet blackout through ONLY those ISP's cooperating with the media-powers. It does say "the largest ISPs" so if those {"Comcast, Cablevision, Verizon, Time Warner Cable"} were boycotted so to speak, just plain dropped in favor of ISP's which weren't cooperating, then that could send a powerful message. I know it might be a bit of a hassle for folks to change ISP's so I'm not expecting such a thing to happen but it'd still be awesome.

Peace to you and yours,
Matthew "Dra'Gon" Stohler

<-- Consider it clicked!

**PhenomIIX4** · 06-23-12 at 09:33 AM

Comcast monitors your activity but AT&T not so much.

Joshuaoftroy · 06-23-12 at 09:43 AM

Well I have a semi local ISP I don't believe it's nationwide or a very large company.

Valid_Username · 06-23-12 at 10:21 AM

Then it probably won't apply to you (yet).
If they have some kind of support forum (most ISPs do), or there's an independent one, you may find some answers there, or maybe raise the subject yourself.

timbobway · 06-23-12 at 10:24 AM

Ohh Crap! What else is going to happen?

**Shawn_7** · 06-23-12 at 11:41 AM

Quote: Originally Posted by timbobway

Ohh Crap! What else is going to happen?

Next the Thought Police will charge you of thoughtpiracycrime (newspeak) and take you to miniluv. You'll be vaporized

Code: Select All

http://www.thoughtpolice.com/notfound.html

greendestiny · 06-23-12 at 03:03 PM

Now I am kinda freaking out b/c I knew nothing about this and I use Comcast. If I use the Tor browser, can I still direct download files and would that keep my ISP anonymous (note: I never use bittorrent)? Does anyone have any advice for me if I am mistaken? Any help would be appreciated!

Also, does anyone know of any ISP providers that are fast, reliable, and NOT signed on to rat us all out?

DarkMatter1975 · 06-23-12 at 03:47 PM

Are there any programs that can hide you? Such as, PeerGuardian that i used to use for torrents? That was pretty effective, if there is would you mind telling me? Thanks i would rather use it and not need it than need it and not have been using it, if you know what i mean?

DarkMatter

Joshuaoftroy · 06-23-12 at 04:14 PM

what i read was a vpn was really your only option if it was happening

greendestiny · 06-23-12 at 04:17 PM

I've heard good things about hidemyass. Does anyone else know if this is worth it or should I get another kind?

06-23-12 at 07:52 AM	#4
Valid_Username Expert Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: UK Posts: 720	Quote: I believe it's been brought up a few times here Yep, it has. Here's the gist of it: Code: Select All http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2012/03/15/american-isps-to-launch-massive-copyright-spying-scheme-on-july-12/

06-23-12 at 08:15 AM	#5
BlueDragonFire I plead INSANITY! Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Eville, Indiana, USA, Psychotic State Posts: 1,751	Quote: Originally Posted by Valid_Username Yep, it has. Here's the gist of it: Code: Select All http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2012/03/15/american-isps-to-launch-massive-copyright-spying-scheme-on-july-12/ Ah. Well, so much for my bit. I still think they're going to have a major mess of it. But it doesn't seem the government isn't "officially" behind this one. Here's hoping the media-powers will spend more money trying this than they gain since they're covering part of the cost. What would be cool to see is if there was an internet blackout through ONLY those ISP's cooperating with the media-powers. It does say "the largest ISPs" so if those {"Comcast, Cablevision, Verizon, Time Warner Cable"} were boycotted so to speak, just plain dropped in favor of ISP's which weren't cooperating, then that could send a powerful message. I know it might be a bit of a hassle for folks to change ISP's so I'm not expecting such a thing to happen but it'd still be awesome. Peace to you and yours, Matthew "Dra'Gon" Stohler <-- Consider it clicked!

06-23-12 at 11:41 AM	#10
Shawn_7 Elder Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: Eventyrland Posts: 3,513	Quote: Originally Posted by timbobway Ohh Crap! What else is going to happen? Next the Thought Police will charge you of thoughtpiracycrime (newspeak) and take you to miniluv. You'll be vaporized Code: Select All http://www.thoughtpolice.com/notfound.html

06-23-12 at 07:10 AM	#2
Trireaper Apprentice Join Date: Jun 2010 Posts: 362	I sure hope not

06-23-12 at 07:40 AM	#3
BlueDragonFire I plead INSANITY! Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Eville, Indiana, USA, Psychotic State Posts: 1,751	I haven't heard anything one way or another, but it doesn't seem probable {though it is possible} considering how much is downloaded every day. Even just thinking of "downloading" as excluding simple browsing {which is technically downloading also} that would be a large amount of reporting for someone to sift through. As more people get it into their heads to stop naming files {talking illegal files} as what they actually are, the LEA would have to actually look at each download to find out if it's illegal, then which ISP it went through, then the address it came from AND the address which is downloading it. That's all presuming the uploader & downloader aren't covering their tracks. As far as I can tell the folks they do happen to catch {the ones the public hears about} are those who the LEA got lucky with. More often than not they were noobs who just didn't know any better. Personally, I was lucky enough when I was a noob that the powers-that-be weren't all that bent on getting people for file-sharing. As it was I {as many others} learned what worked for me and kept me out of trouble. I think if I was running an ISP and some idiot came with an order like that I'd be completely literal. Every single element of every website which came through my ISP and was "downloaded" by browsing would be in the report. Think about all the parts that make up a webpage {the one you're looking at for example}. I would MAKE the LEA work for their audacious BS until they got sick of it. Fortunately I think the ISP's would put up a major fuss because with such an order they'd have to basically revamp their system to accommodate getting that data into a human-readable form - presuming the LEA aren't going to want to put their own techs on such drudgery as translating the coding computers take for granted. The ISP's would have to hire more people JUST for that and their prices would necessarily rise. I'm thinking it would be a total cluster-fck. BUT we are talking about the government {of any country} and they tend to specialize in cluster-fcks on a regular basis. Hope this helps! Peace to you and yours, Matthew "Dra'Gon" Stohler

06-23-12 at 09:33 AM	#6
PhenomIIX4 Banned Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Socket AM2+ Posts: 3,553	Comcast monitors your activity but AT&T not so much.

06-23-12 at 09:43 AM	#7
Joshuaoftroy Newcomer Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: The 410 Posts: 79	Well I have a semi local ISP I don't believe it's nationwide or a very large company.

06-23-12 at 10:21 AM	#8
Valid_Username Expert Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: UK Posts: 720	Then it probably won't apply to you (yet). If they have some kind of support forum (most ISPs do), or there's an independent one, you may find some answers there, or maybe raise the subject yourself.

06-23-12 at 10:24 AM	#9
timbobway Novice Join Date: May 2008 Location: USA Posts: 157	Ohh Crap! What else is going to happen?

06-23-12 at 03:03 PM	#11
greendestiny Newcomer Join Date: Jan 2009 Posts: 39	Now I am kinda freaking out b/c I knew nothing about this and I use Comcast. If I use the Tor browser, can I still direct download files and would that keep my ISP anonymous (note: I never use bittorrent)? Does anyone have any advice for me if I am mistaken? Any help would be appreciated! Also, does anyone know of any ISP providers that are fast, reliable, and NOT signed on to rat us all out?

06-23-12 at 03:47 PM	#12
DarkMatter1975 Expert Join Date: Nov 2009 Posts: 513	Are there any programs that can hide you? Such as, PeerGuardian that i used to use for torrents? That was pretty effective, if there is would you mind telling me? Thanks i would rather use it and not need it than need it and not have been using it, if you know what i mean? DarkMatter

06-23-12 at 04:14 PM	#13
Joshuaoftroy Newcomer Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: The 410 Posts: 79	what i read was a vpn was really your only option if it was happening

06-23-12 at 04:17 PM	#14
greendestiny Newcomer Join Date: Jan 2009 Posts: 39	I've heard good things about hidemyass. Does anyone else know if this is worth it or should I get another kind?