Bittorrent and how to stop it

[anon52]

Hi all, new here and not sure if this is in the right section.

Some of my housemates use bittorrent and as well as slowing the whole network down it reduces internet speeds to a snail pace which is beginning to get tiresome to be honest.

Assuming I can get access to my router (the landlord installed it) is there any way I can blacklist bittorrent programs?

Also is there any program I can use to run a test that will tell me whether bittorrent is currently being used on my network/internet connection? That way I can be sure and just tell people to stop using it when they are at least.

Thanks for the advice/help.

Security>>>>Networking, PC Gaming and Security MOD Oakenfold

 

[Oakenfold]

I'm confused, your landlord installed your router but it's your internet connection? Just want to make sure I read that correctly and it's not "your landlord's router/internet access".

Depending on the router you may have options to be able to limit certain types of activity or services. You should probably have a chat with your roommates about not bogging the network down to begin with.

 

[ChAoTiCpInOy]

You would have to access the router and change some settings. Maybe use QoS to limit the BitTorrent traffic or maybe give them complete access at night time when traffic is low?

 

[cmetz]

The best way to block BitTorrent is at layers 8 or 9.

Talk to your roommates about sharing. If that doesn't work, talk with your landlord about liability.

 

[Modelworks]

You can also set the router to block all ports except the ones you allow.
Just forward the ports to an address that doesn't exist.

As to monitoring the network.
http://www.ethereal.com/

 

[unholy414]

The router (depending on the model) may allow you to adjust the amount of bandwidth you can dedicate to each port (referring to the port their cable is plugged into, not tpc/udp ports); you can give the other guys low bandwidth while you give yourself the majority of it while you game. I can confirm that the Linksys WRT54GL allows this in the applications and gaming/QoS section.

You can find out what port they're using (referring to tcp/udp port, not the port they're plugged into) in the settings of the torrent program in efforts to totally block the program via closing the port. You may also be able to find out the port number through the router's log files, accessed in the router's menu. You'll need username/password for that.

Get the username and password to that router from your landlord. If he won't give it to you for some stupid noob reason, ask him about the possibility of replacing the router with your own.

Chances are he didn't set the username/passowrd. All routers have a default. Try these:

Username: admin
Password: admin

Username: admin
Password: password


Look up the model of the router on the net to find the default login info if the above don't work.

 

[narzy]

Originally posted by: unholy414
The router (depending on the model) may allow you to adjust the amount of bandwidth you can dedicate to each port; you can give the other guys low bandwidth while you give yourself the majority of it while you game. I can confirm that the Linksys WRT54GL allows this in the applications and gaming/QoS section.

You can find out what port they're using in the settings of the torrent program in efforts to totally block the program via closing the port. You may also be able to find out the port number through the router's log files, accessed in the router's menu. You'll need username/password for that.

Get the username and password to that router from your landlord. If he won't give it to you for some stupid noob reason, ask him about the possibility of replacing the router with your own.

Chances are he didn't set the username/passowrd. All routers have a default. Try these:

Username: admin
Password: admin

Username: admin
Password: password


Look up the model of the router on the net to find the default login info if the above don't work.

Yes, Unauthorized access to equipment you don't own is a GREAT idea...:roll:

No matter how sh!tty the lock on the house is, the person who breaks in still gets in trouble.

 

[ch33zw1z]

Originally posted by: narzy

Originally posted by: unholy414
The router (depending on the model) may allow you to adjust the amount of bandwidth you can dedicate to each port; you can give the other guys low bandwidth while you give yourself the majority of it while you game. I can confirm that the Linksys WRT54GL allows this in the applications and gaming/QoS section.

You can find out what port they're using in the settings of the torrent program in efforts to totally block the program via closing the port. You may also be able to find out the port number through the router's log files, accessed in the router's menu. You'll need username/password for that.

Get the username and password to that router from your landlord. If he won't give it to you for some stupid noob reason, ask him about the possibility of replacing the router with your own.

Chances are he didn't set the username/passowrd. All routers have a default. Try these:

Username: admin
Password: admin

Username: admin
Password: password


Look up the model of the router on the net to find the default login info if the above don't work.

Yes, Unauthorized access to equipment you don't own is a GREAT idea...:roll:

No matter how sh!tty the lock on the house is, the person who breaks in still gets in trouble.

It's a router. If he's paying for the internet service, should he not have access to local devices that need configuring? I'm not saying he's going about it the right way, but it's not the same as B&E.

 

[AmberClad]

I haven't used bittorrent since my college days, but assuming the roommates aren't noobs, can't they just switch ports if the OP attempts to block certain ones? (I don't remember exactly how BT worked, mind you)

Anyways, that not withstanding the fact that the OP has no more business messing around with the landlord's router without permission, than the roommates having as far as being bandwidth hogs.

 

[anon52]

Thanks for the replies.

The internet access/router is provided by the landlord however I have sent him an email asking if I can access it.

The router is a Netgear FVS318v3 I believe.

I need to access it anyway to port foward 88 and 3074 for my 360 to get round the moderate NAT problem I have.

So changing a few settings in there whilst I'm at it shouldn't be a problem, I just need to know what to do.

My housemates are computer noobs so changing the ports on the torrent clients will not occure to them at all.

 

[JackMDS]

Welcome to AnandTech's Networking Forum.

The solution that you are looking for is like Lynching as an answer to crimes.

Offer him to install http://www.netlimiter.com on his computer and restrict his Bandwidth to half of what is that you have there.

If he does not want to cooperate then get another roommate.

 

[unholy414]

Originally posted by: anon52
Thanks for the replies.

The internet access/router is provided by the landlord however I have sent him an email asking if I can access it.

The router is a Netgear FVS318v3 I believe.

I need to access it anyway to port foward 88 and 3074 for my 360 to get round the moderate NAT problem I have.

So changing a few settings in there whilst I'm at it shouldn't be a problem, I just need to know what to do.

My housemates are computer noobs so changing the ports on the torrent clients will not occure to them at all.

When in there, try to find a QoS section. If you can't find it, then just browse around until you find...well...something.