Traffic-shaping cat and mouse game has begun

One thing can be said about readers of The Wire and Untangled Web. When it comes to the events that impact the Information Age, they do not miss a trick. So, it was no real surprise when my mailbox began to fill with fairly alarmed messages a few weeks ago.
The gist of the e-mail barrage centered around a rumor concerning several major Internet service providers taking steps designed to slow, or “shape” Internet traffic generated by a popular file-sharing protocol known as Bit Torrent. The public seems to have been conditioned to think that any kind of file sharing is the sole province of modern-day pirates. In reality, Bit Torrent is used by many companies and individuals to distribute digital information to a broad audience in a relatively short period of time.
When compared with traditional means of mass distribution, such as burning a disk, packaging it in paper and plastic, and sending it via snail mail, Bit Torrent is a dramatically more efficient and environmentally sound alternative. It is also a favored means of distributing many forms of digital content, including the works of independent musicians, filmmakers and artists who would otherwise be unable to reach their fans.
We are not here today to debate the legality of file sharing, whether it means burning a music CD for a friend or swapping a song with someone via the Internet. Instead, let’s take a little time to see what is being said about these traffic-shaping rumors and determine what impact it has on life in the Information Age.

http://torrentfreak.com 

Torrent Freak is one of the most popular and widely quoted blogs in the Bit Torrent community. While maintaining a favorable opinion of file sharing in general, it clearly states that it does not “encourage copyright infringement or any form of piracy.” In constant operation since 2005, Torrent Freak prides itself on its credibility. Staff members had a great deal to say about the case in point, as well as many other topics currently under discussion along the Information Superhighway.
One of the first sites to consider the traffic-shaping rumor, Torrent Freak has been keeping an eye on the story since day one. The site regularly hosts lively debates on the subject. Users who feel that the alleged shaping is justified note that file swapping uses significant bandwidth, depleting network resources. Many of these contributors identify themselves as being employed within the broadband industry.
Most users seem to ring in against the so-called throttling, stating that they signed up for broadband service because it was presented to them as an “unlimited” connection designed especially to speed up the downloading of content. This faction seems to number both business and everyday users. The exchanges can get heated, but manage to maintain a sometimes strained civility.
In addition to user debate, Torrent Freak is an excellent resource for finding news stories, including comments and statements from involved parties as the story unfolds. These are generally cited accurately and include links to original sources. In all, it is the perfect place to determine the current status of an issue that will affect us all sooner or later. For giving both sides a well-read venue, http://torrentfreak.com  posts five spiders.

www.dslreports.com 

We have visited the Broadband Reports website in the past and found it to be a quick and credible source for news concerning the high-speed Internet community. This time around, users were up to the minute on the traffic-shaping issue.
You can browse a wide selection of citations regarding the bandwidth throttling controversy. I found a good spot to start at http://www.dslreports.com/shownews/Is-Comcast-Lying-About-BitTorrent-Throttling-86981 that quoted a major broadband player’s rejection of user allegations. Other posts went as far as identifying the technology being used to effect the alleged traffic shaping.
The Broadband Reports website offers constant status reports for all major broadband providers, allowing users to get a general feel for the way their network should be operating. Many users have complained about diminished Bit Torrent efficiency, while others report a total inability to make a connection. Comments from a wide range of informed parties are presented without the usual flaming that can disrupt many online discussions.
The debate has made its way to the national media, as presented in a Washington Post article linked by Broadband Reports. For the everyday user, finding information can be difficult as the drama continues. For offering an open forum and pointing the way to new revelations, www.dslreports.com grabs five unlimited bandwidth spiders.

www.zeropaid.com

Another loud voice of the p2p (person-to-person, a catch-all term for file sharing) generation, the ZeroPaid website presents everything a user needs to learn and understand the concepts associated with this contemporary phenomenon. The Today in News section on the front page compiles virtually every story of techie interest and headlines it for easy access.
Geeks to the rescue. As always, there is a workaround to most Information Age problems, and this issue is no different. Savvy developers and users have already found a way for users to circumvent any alleged traffic-shaping activity, at least until the next level of technology is reduced.
So far, the fixes are quite simple, entailing easy changes to Bit Torrent client software to encrypt user activity. More encompassing measures include utilities that mask user activity to make it look like any other kind of traffic. The game of cat and mouse has clearly begun.
The ZeroPaid site goes far beyond the machinations of the p2p world, covering big stories from other technology venues and even the real world. Topics like the recent reduction in iPhone pricing by Apple and the plight of Middle Eastern users who use p2p because no other avenue is open to them. For presenting all the news that impacts the Information Age, www.zeropaid.com shares five spiders.
Downloading copyrighted material is both wrong and illegal. It can earn one a trip to court and a big fine. File sharing itself is neither illegal nor immoral, and is an important part of the contemporary Internet. Keeping informed is the best way to know what’s going on out there. If you have a favorite Internet news site, tell me about it by e-mail to granese (at) juno.com .