Techie - internet-y question

[dolfan]

What is Bit Torrent?

A couple of reasons for the question. We have an open wi-fi network at our store for customers. On 3-4 occasions in the past year or so, we've gotten notices from our ISP that someone has utilized a bit torrent system or website or whatever it is to download copyrighted materials. They gave us absolutely no help in trying to prevent that, and I've taken the position with them that until you tell me how to stop it, there's nothing I can do about it. You're selling me the whole kit-n-kaboodle that allows me to have an open wifi network, so give me the means to stop what it is you want stopped because I have no way of knowing that it is happening or what to do about it. The only way I know it has happened is when I get a notice some weeks after the fact. So, that's one reason.

The other reason is the more important one to me -- sheer curiosity as to what all this is. I read an article this morning that, in response to last week's government takeover of certain domain names, someone is developing a new system that pretty much avoids ICANN and forms top level domain names with extensions that aren't ICANN approved, and that the government (they say) can't touch and it uses this bit torrent thing to make it happen.

So, whassup with that?

[Pastor Bill]

Very basically it's a way of sharing files across the internet. People use it to share music, movies and other files that they have purchased with those that haven't purchased them, similar to a person buying a book and photocopying it for all their friends, except that there is not a loss of quality, and their friends are anyone in the world.

Now your current stance may get the ISP off your back, but if copywrite owners wanted to push it, I can't say you'd be safe from a lawsuit. I know the laws are a little different for educational institutions, and we have a little more wiggle room, but even we have agreements that must be accepted before you can access the internet through our network. Most businesses that offer free wifi have some type of agreement that protects them that you have to click accept before continuing. This way they can say "we don't allow that" and even if they aren't preventing it, the user broke the agreement and there is some legal protection. At least that's my understanding.

I think that there may be issues with content accessed by minors that have to be addressed in that type of disclaimer as well, otherwise for example, if a 12 year old comes into your store and downloads porn, it can be argued that you provided it to him/her.

[beckrl]

set the router con-fig block ports 6881-6889 range

[RamboPreacher]

set the router con-fig block ports 6881-6889 range

ding, ding...

[dolfan]

I may have to get with you to get more info on what that even means!!!