P2P does not work without a wireless connection

[Static EMP]

Hi,

I live at a college campus and am connected to their ISP. P2P is completely blocked -- some programs, such as Ares, used to work, but don't anymore. However, I have noticed that people accessing wireless connections in lecture halls with their laptops are able to download off of P2P programs. I assume they are logging on the same network as I am (we have an on campus ISP). How could this work? If our on campus network blocks P2P in on-campus housing, how is it not blocked on a wireless connection on campus?

Even odder was the fact that someone who had a wireless router in his room in the same on-campus house that I live in was able to use a program called X Factor on his Mac laptop (he couldn't use LimeWire, but X Factor worked). His wireless router was obviously connected to the same network that my desktop is hard-wired to, yet he could still download using P2P.

Furthermore, I understand that certain ports need to be forwareded on a router in order to use certain P2P programs, especially Bit Torrent; however, he did not forward any ports, and even if he did, would that do anything? Like I said, the wireless router is hard-wired into the wall jack as is my desktop, so it is therefore on the same network.

Sorry for the long post, but if anyone has any answers, it would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks!

 

[bleuless]

there could be a variety of reasons.

1. the p2p program that you saw someone else use is using a different port that isn't blocked.
2. the wireless router isn't set up correctly to block those ports, that your wired router is blocking. (both being the properties of your school, hence no access to u = you are SOL)
3. the wireless router is acting as a NAT and the p2p port is hidden inside so the school router can't block it? (i am not sure about this one, but if this is correct, you can easily buy a router and fix it.)

lastly, you should use a router/firewall anytime you are connected to a high speed insecure network (your school's network in your case)

ps. i read your sig the first time as "stop having idiots, and stop being one" LOL

 

[Static EMP]

the wireless router isn't set up correctly to block those ports, that your wired router is blocking.

Thanks. I don't have a wired router, I just connect to the provided wall jack. However, my friend has a wireless router in his room, so what you said in # 3 is something i was guessing could be true...

By the way, why should I use a router whenever I'm connected to a "high speed insecure network" if I'm the only one that will connect to the router? And what would you define as insecure networks?

Thank you!

 

[bleuless]

what i meant was the school's router. the "jack" you are connected to goes to a router/switch/hub. and that ultimately connects to a device gets your port blocked. while the wireless one in the lecture hall is mis-configured and has the port open.

you want to use a firewall because your next door neighbor is probably on the same lan as you, and can connect to your computer if you don't have a firewall. most college campus or dorms shares a same lan.

insecure meaning, you are on a lan that you can't control who gets access to. for example, your next door neighbor might have a friend that comes over and is a network guru he/she can easily bring your dorm/campus lan down, hack into your computer, snif your network traffic, etc etc.

 

[bigfatdonny]

It's entirely possible that the two networks are going down completely different data paths out to the Internet. There are a million reasons why this could happen, and it happens all the time. I'd be surprised if they hadn't locked it down at all, though.

As for your neighbor with the wireless router, he's certainly connecting to the same network as you. He could be spoofing the port to traverse the university network, but he'd have to have it translated back the the correct port at some point. Some P2P apps have the ability to connect via any TCP port, so spoofing isn't even necessary.