ISP degrading images - any way to bypass or fix?

[Mark R]

I've noticed that my backup ISP seems to have a bandwidth problem. They appear to be intercepting image downloads, and then transparently recompressing all the images at extreme compression settings.

Accessing sites through this ISP looks like all the pictures are 8-bit style. JPEGs are reduced to blurry blocks, and GIFs to a 16-color dithered mess. PNGs, interestingly, are untouched.

I'm just wondering if there is any way to bypass this, or not. Tech support at the ISP have no idea what I'm talking about.

Anyway, here's an example of what I see. Pay close attention to the thumbnails, and then try visitng the site directly for comparison:

 

[theevilsharpie]

Who is your backup ISP?

 

[Emulex]

yes use a VPN service, or proxy server on alternate port or ssl. they can circumvent the ssl by proxying and use IP address not dns to avoid poisoning.

common with low end providers and low end MVNO ie metropcs/boost. inline transparent proxies redirect low quality images and videos to save on bandwidth costs.

 

[VirtualLarry]

But, but... this is the wave of the future!

Look, even Amazon.com is doing it in their new kindle browser:
http://amazonsilk.wordpress.com/2011/09/28/introducing-amazon-silk/

 

[Emulex]

yup makes it easier to replace advertising (or inject it). in return you see amazon ads instead of (AT,reddit) 🙂 it's going to be great!! every image will have a clickable area to buy something at amazon!

 

[bobdole369]

Either SSH tunnel to a shell account elsewhere in the world, or set up an OpenVPN somewhere, or spend monthly for an openVPN account.