linuxrocks
09-30-2006, 11:18 AM
I am doing my PhD in CS and I know a good amount about computer/network security. There seems to be some mis-information in various threads about IP banning or URL blocking. Take this FWIW.
IP blocking is doable, but it's quite easy to circumvent. A poker site can create multiple servers with different IP addresses, can create proxies in different parts of the world, can just buy-off a trans-atlantic router and do whatever IP mangling they want to do.
URL blocking again is doable but can easily be circumvented using proxies that are setup by the poker sites or many anonymous proxies available on the net.
Also, some people seem to think that it's a lot of work for ISPs to block stuff. It's very easy for the ISPs to block access (for non-tech-savvy users who don't know above techniques) by writing a simple set of firewall rules. All they need is a list of things to block (which they get from Feds).
My 2c.
IP blocking is doable, but it's quite easy to circumvent. A poker site can create multiple servers with different IP addresses, can create proxies in different parts of the world, can just buy-off a trans-atlantic router and do whatever IP mangling they want to do.
URL blocking again is doable but can easily be circumvented using proxies that are setup by the poker sites or many anonymous proxies available on the net.
Also, some people seem to think that it's a lot of work for ISPs to block stuff. It's very easy for the ISPs to block access (for non-tech-savvy users who don't know above techniques) by writing a simple set of firewall rules. All they need is a list of things to block (which they get from Feds).
My 2c.