The Pirate Bay

[Sylar]

I noticed this evening that Sky have taken the step to block Broadband access to the notorious Pirate Bay website and can't help but be annoyed at their decision (which I'm aware is legally enforced).

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-18270343

I realise the arguments surrounding royalties etc and I'm under no illusions that musicians and actors do what they do purely for the love of expression.

However, I'm not a child - if I want to access a site which hosts multiple files, it's my business. I know the legalities of such actions and if I chose to actually download something and break the law, then it's entirely on my head. Absolutely nothing to do with Sky.

I see the arguments against sites like The Pirate Bay but if Sky start to pick and chose what sites they "block" access to, it's a very slippery slope. I'm willing to bet (and it is purely guesswork I stress!) that if I wanted to find snuff websites, child porn, buy illegal goods, I could find such sites online and have full access. I'm not naive and I know there are plenty of other sources for file sharing (including a new proxy bypass for TPB) but I simply do not get the vilification of this one website, when there are far bigger issues out there on the wider web.

[CallumLaidlaw]

My mate just text me that it took him 2 minutes to work out a way around the block

[TamHibs]

My mate just text me that it took him 2 minutes to work out a way around the block

Which was?

[Haymaker]

Anyone who wants round the block will find a way.

Also, it isnt the best idea to start playing games with these sorts of people, as SONY found out. They have FAR more time on their hands and the interest in the subject than IT security staff ever will.

[Beefster]

I noticed this evening that Sky have taken the step to block Broadband access to the notorious Pirate Bay website and can't help but be annoyed at their decision (which I'm aware is legally enforced).

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-18270343

I realise the arguments surrounding royalties etc and I'm under no illusions that musicians and actors do what they do purely for the love of expression.

However, I'm not a child - if I want to access a site which hosts multiple files, it's my business. I know the legalities of such actions and if I chose to actually download something and break the law, then it's entirely on my head. Absolutely nothing to do with Sky.

I see the arguments against sites like The Pirate Bay but if Sky start to pick and chose what sites they "block" access to, it's a very slippery slope. I'm willing to bet (and it is purely guesswork I stress!) that if I wanted to find snuff websites, child porn, buy illegal goods, I could find such sites online and have full access. I'm not naive and I know there are plenty of other sources for file sharing (including a new proxy bypass for TPB) but I simply do not get the vilification of this one website, when there are far bigger issues out there on the wider web.

Blame the BPI. They're the real villains of the piece. As you acknowledge, Sky are only doing what they've been instructed to by the courts.

If you want hassle-free access to TPB, move to a smaller ISP. I'm with Zen and still have access. As folk have said though, it's trivial to get around the block if you're with one of the big ISPs.

[Dinkydoo]

Just hope that this doesn't set a precedent for future blocks.

[VickMackie]

I think Virgin were first to block it following the ruling.

I personally don't use that site anyway but I'm sure it would be easy enought to. Not sure of the rules on here but you can search for proxy and use one from another country and that might work. Or just google an instruction.

If you happen to be using a site like pirate bay, whilst it DOES contain legal material you should install an app called PeerBlock and launch it before every time you access the site.

[Gatecrasher]

Just hope that this doesn't set a precedent for future blocks.

it probably will to be honest. But as others have already said there will be a way around it. If not there are plenty of other sites that will provide the same service :agree:

A site someone i know (not me honest!) uses has been shut down by the FBI about 4 times and just comes back up with a quick google search under a different address a week later.

[VickMackie]

The only way they could stop it is by finding they physical servers that link the end user and the data.

Closing the IP address only stops the end user accessing the server, even then its probably pretty easy to set up a server with the same config.

That makes sense to me but I'm not sure if that's how it works in reality. I'm pretty sure it is though and that's why they just change the IP(web) address and it comes back.

[speedy_gonzales]

Hopefully I won't upset the admin types here(like I did a few years back with a post re proxy-servers) but I use TPB for torrent links for legal downloads (freeware apps/linux stuff), I'm with Virgin but when they blocked it I used my android phone as a hot-spot, accessed TPB, downloaded the small torrent link I require then go back on to Virgin broadband to download via P2P.
As far as I know, mobile data providers haven't blocked these sites yet(Certainly not O2 or Vodafone) as not many folk would run the risk of using up their data caps downloading smut :wink:

[Future17]

Hopefully I won't upset the admin types here(like I did a few years back with a post re proxy-servers) but I use TPB for torrent links for legal downloads (freeware apps/linux stuff), I'm with Virgin but when they blocked it I used my android phone as a hot-spot, accessed TPB, downloaded the small torrent link I require then go back on to Virgin broadband to download via P2P.
As far as I know, mobile data providers haven't blocked these sites yet(Certainly not O2 or Vodafone) as not many folk would run the risk of using up their data caps downloading smut :wink:

Interestingly, or perhaps not, Orange have not blocked it via mobile access either, but it is blocked through Orange home broadband as that uses BT.

[Dinkydoo]

it probably will to be honest. But as others have already said there will be a way around it. If not there are plenty of other sites that will provide the same service :agree:

A site someone i know (not me honest!) uses has been shut down by the FBI about 4 times and just comes back up with a quick google search under a different address a week later.

Getting around the block isn't the issue - not that I use Pirate Bay anyway - its the principle of my ISP deciding what I should and shouldn't be accessing online that worries me.

[Gatecrasher]

Getting around the block isn't the issue - not that I use Pirate Bay anyway - its the principle of my ISP deciding what I should and shouldn't be accessing online that worries me.

I agree, I thought this was the sort of thing you would only see in the likes of china and Iran

[VickMackie]

Getting around the block isn't the issue - not that I use Pirate Bay anyway - its the principle of my ISP deciding what I should and shouldn't be accessing online that worries me.

As pointed out, the way of the world is that if it's worth money then people, governments etc, will do what they can to stop it.

Are kiddie porn sites, websites relating to drugs etcetc being shut down via the law? I'd guess no.

[Dinkydoo]

I agree, I thought this was the sort of thing you would only see in the likes of china and Iran

The problem here is that TPB is simply a domain that provides people with a 'place to go' when looking for data available for P2P file transfer. It refers to many legal non copyrighted files which are available for download via BitTorrent.

I'd rather my ISP didn't judge morally (and then act on) what they think their customers should be accessing on the Internet.

This has the potential to get out of hand......

[EuanH78]

The problem here is that TPB is simply a domain that provides people with a 'place to go' when looking for data available for P2P file transfer. It refers to many legal non copyrighted files which are available for download via BitTorrent.

I'd rather my ISP didn't judge morally (and then act on) what they think their customers should be accessing on the Internet.

This has the potential to get out of hand......

To be fair to the ISP's - they are only abiding by a court ruling to block TPB. As people have stated, it's easy to get it back if you must though TPB themselves say they are quite prepared to get into a game of 'IP adress whack-a-mole'. Court action is a pointless exercise IMO.

As far as I am aware TPB have nothing to do with hacking groups - Anonymous have done some stuff in 'protest' against legal attacks on TPB and megaupload but they arent connected groups in any meaningful way.

Does bring up interesting questions over governance of the internet though.

[VickMackie]

I can't get tpb workarounds to work. I tried using instructions for a new web address and also used what appeared to be a proxy site but it just hung.

Kickass is better anyway!

[EuanH78]

I can't get tpb workarounds to work. I tried using instructions for a new web address and also used what appeared to be a proxy site but it just hung.

Kickass is better anyway!

Add the following lines to your hosts file (opened as a wordpad document) and save C:\Windows\System32\drivers\etc

178.73.210.219 thepiratebay.se
178.73.210.219 www.thepiratebay.se
178.73.210.219 thepiratebay.org
178.73.210.219 www.thepiratebay.org

I'll point out that this is not illegal in anyway. This works because usually your computer connects to a DNS server to resolve names into IP addresses, if the Ip address is already know (i.e in your hosts file) then it does not need to look up the DNS and can connect directly.

[VickMackie]

Thanks for that. Easily done :)

[Phil D. Rolls]

Used to use TPB a lot, but am a bit scared about the legality now. I read in Private Eye, that TPB's traffic has gone up substantially since the court ruling. You can't buy publicity like that.

[TamHibs]

I have just started using btscene

[VickMackie]

I have just started using btscene

Is that like BTjunkie? I loved that site!

[TamHibs]

Is that like BTjunkie? I loved that site!

Not sure mate, I never ever used BT Junkie

[CRAZYHIBBY]

How do I get round this ....im on talk talk....pms welcome

[VickMackie]

See euans post above.

[CRAZYHIBBY]

Found the mirror site.....god bless tpb