stargrave’s blog

Provider tried to deny access, because of Tor

Here is a storyline of incident with me. When some day, my ISP – Infoline decided that I am contract’s violator, because of providing my Internet access to third-party (that is not true). Saying that it is about my huge number of connections. But I know, that it is because of acting my computer as a Tor router. And nothing is illegal there.

2009-04-05
At 21.00-22.00 I discovered that my ISP blocks access to Web. All HTTP-requests have been redirected to own page with the following content:

Dear subscriber, Infoline company informs you, that Your actions are unlawful. With reference to contract about providing Internet access with single login and password You provided access to third-party.

Dear subscriber, Infoline company informs you, that You are illegally using access to Internet. Please leave a request, to create a contract for legal using of provided service.

Also, there was a remark that I can ask any questions to Infoline’s support center. I called them. Call agent say that it is true, it is not a mistake, I have got too much traffic (while having unlimited by traffic tariff plan) and connections from my account. It can be caused either by virus-software or by providing access to third-party.

My answer, that I have got free GNU/Linux operating system (so no virus-software) and I did not share Internet access with anybody, except my own notebook, did not make any sense. In result, with tremulous voice, call agent as fast as he can say “Goodbye” to me and hanged up the phone, making no possibility to me to say any word. He said that after 24 hours, access will be granted again, and I must cure my computer from viruses and to repair my hardware.

All right. ISP blocked only Web. I can use everything else and Web via Tor network. So, the work can be go on.

2009-04-06
I called support center again. Hoping that anybody will give me detailed answer about why did they block me. The only section in contract that I could infringe is about providing access to third-party. I wanted to hear that there were too many PPPoE sessions with my login/password, or there were too many connections to different Web-sites. Nothing. They could not say how it determines multiple connections (from muliple users). They said that it is their own developed system, they can not describe it’s work and it can not make any mistakes.

After returning from work (after 22:00) I found my Internet is fully working. So… I am waiting what will happen next.

2009-04-12
Yet again. ISP blocks me again. And again after 21.00. I wrote them email describing all previous situation. Asking, why are they violating contract and imputing me in that. I wanted to see all objective submissions. Also, I called their support center and asked how long as a rule they answer on an incoming email. They guaranteed 24 hours. Ok, so I waited.

2009-04-14
No answer. I decided to write them again, writing that they did not respond my previous email and that I want to add some thoughts. I thought that they determining multiple connections by looking at several TCP connections to different HTTP-servers for a very time period. I described them, that I am using Tor software, that is just a some kind of transport level layer router, and it is absolutely normal that it can cause hundreds of different HTTP-connections in a second. Nothing from my side violates any contract’s clause.

2009-04-15
At morning, I recieved an email from them. They asked me about my login. Really, I forgot to specify it. But is it too hard to find me out using name and surname from sended emails? Short answer from me, specifying it.

2009-04-17
Yet again – no answer. I called support center again, asking why did not they answer emails. Answer was very simple: 24 hours is a time to consider an incoming email message. Nothing more. It can be answered from 2 weeks to 2 months. What a hell! Am I supposed to be banned again and again during several weeks? I am angry. Searching for juridical consultation office and for a new provider.

2009-04-18
Decision to change provider. Infoline does not want to answer any questions. The new chosen ISP is Cinet. It provides much higher speed via Ethernet and cheaper tariffs. Going to their office and asking their specialist about possible problems due to big number of connections gave positive results. And also they provide free (no price) connection to them, if I am going to them from another one.

This entry was posted on Monday, April 6th, 2009 at 19:50 and is filed under Common. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.