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I have a problem with one of my housemates constantly downloading all day everyday using bittorrent. Even when asked to only download overnight, he still persists on leaving downloads going.

My network is set up with one linksys wag45 router and everyone connected wirelessly. I'm having no luck in finding a way to block bittorrent (or even blocking the ports used) and i was wondering if anyone knew how i could do this?

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install netlimiter on his computer, and limit is net or create some form of a network shedule to reduce his overall bandwidth usage during certain hours and make sure to have a password

Well considering he hasnt stopped doing it, I dont think he would allow him to install such a program on his computer so If it was me.. I would ask him nicely again and if he continues to do it call up your isp and get the ports blocked :p

Block ports 6881-6999. On my AG241 (which is quite similar to the WAG54G) you have to go to access restrictions, then you can set up the restrictions. Set it up for just his mac address, and add a service at the bottom so you can block ports 6881-6999.

best bet would be to limit his net usage not block the ports, because torrents can use any free ports, so blocking just the ones he using means he could just change ports and you would have to find which one he is using constantly

Block ports 6881-6999. On my AG241 (which is quite similar to the WAG54G) you have to go to access restrictions, then you can set up the restrictions. Set it up for just his mac address, and add a service at the bottom so you can block ports 6881-6999.

With this method, the services at the bottom part confuses me. It has "Blocked Services" and is set to None. There are various different options and two empty text input boxes (which i guess are for the port range). What service should i choose when setting this up?

Block ports 6881-6999. On my AG241 (which is quite similar to the WAG54G) you have to go to access restrictions, then you can set up the restrictions. Set it up for just his mac address, and add a service at the bottom so you can block ports 6881-6999.

Won't work, as per ambulance's post. Also, the MAC address can be changed, so that might not work either.

Then blocking the port mentioned won't work. Azureus tells you NOT to use that post range, as most ISP itself blocks it.

I think your best bet is to use WRT54G to block his internet access completely, that'll show that you can easily block him off completely if he doesn't listen.

I forgot that Bittorrent clients use any ports now. I think you should block ports 1-79 and 81-65535. Then he will only be able to use the web. Being not computer literate he won't understand why the web works but BT doesn't (Y)

Edited by BobMarley

find out where he gets his torrents from and block those ips, on my network i also block all torrent files from being downloaded. this way the only way to get them is from someone else over like msn

find out where he gets his torrents from and block those ips, on my network i also block all torrent files from being downloaded. this way the only way to get them is from someone else over like msn

^that's probably your best bet.

OR.. you could make up some fake email address and send him an email pretending to be a lawyer from the RIAA/MPAA or Ubisoft or some other company.. lol

im sure us neowinians wouldnt mind helpin you make a realistic letter demanding he cease and decist. (or whatever they call it) :yes: :)

Buy a wrt54G. i had the same problems, and this router fixed them all. you can have total control over everything. the DD-WRT firmware lets you even block torrent traffic *by analyzing was IS torrent traffic*, not by port blocking (which can easily be circumvented). Trust me, it's worth the money (which isn't all that much anymore).

Buy a wrt54G. i had the same problems, and this router fixed them all. you can have total control over everything. the DD-WRT firmware lets you even block torrent traffic *by analyzing was IS torrent traffic*, not by port blocking (which can easily be circumvented). Trust me, it's worth the money (which isn't all that much anymore).

Lol, yeah the WRT54G will solve the problem to a certain extent because it crashes when you use bittorrent. Read this: http://www.utorrent.com/faq.php#Special_no...G_GL_GS_routers

And note, you can't use 3rd party firmware on the new WRT54Gs.

I have a problem with one of my housemates constantly downloading all day everyday using bittorrent. Even when asked to only download overnight, he still persists on leaving downloads going.

leaving downloads 'going' means he's uploading, a vital part of the bittorrent experience--so instead of cutting him off, teach the fool how to use the options to set the upload speed to something reasonable :shiftyninja:

I just went on his computer and changed his settings to limit it to 5 kb/s both upload and download. Hopefully he won't realise why it's slowing down.

Also, in reference to the uploading being part of the bittorrent experience: I understand that, and know that seeding the files is helping the community. However, i should have specified that he was starting new downloads constantly and not actually seeding at all. Hence not only ruining our internet connection, but not actually helping the community much.

(plus, the internet connection is in my name, so ultimately i get in trouble if he abuses the system)

Lol, yeah the WRT54G will solve the problem to a certain extent because it crashes when you use bittorrent. Read this: http://www.utorrent.com/faq.php#Special_no...G_GL_GS_routers

And note, you can't use 3rd party firmware on the new WRT54Gs.

It's true that the new WRT54G's and GS's use non-linux firmware (v5). That said, there are versions 1-4 *widely* available. Further, linksys has renamed the linux version to WRT54GL: so if you want to be sure, grab an L version.

That utorrent link is out of date. New versions of HyperWRT (tofu) do not need that startup script, and DD-WRT just needs a simple change in "max connections" and "timeouts" which takes oh...all of five seconds.

I posted because I was commenting from experience. If you want to limit his connection in the way you are asking, you either have to build a linux box, or buy a WRT54G (or compatible). There are no other cost effective means.

DD-WRT has packet shaping. That's pretty high-tech for a cheap consumer router. Certainly nothing to laugh at, nor spread lies about.

I forgot that Bittorrent clients use any ports now. I think you should block ports 1-79 and 81-65535. Then he will only be able to use the web. Being not computer literate he won't understand why the web works but BT doesn't (Y)

dont forget 443 either, or he wont be able to do https lol

  • 4 years later...

Hello i would like to know if anyone could tell me how i might go about blocking inappropriate content such as pornography in torrents. It seems as if my internet filtering program blocks all restricted categories and keywords from the internet but it doesn't seem to catch anything torrent related or from any file share site. Any help would be appreciated.

I should note that he isn't the most computer literate. He uses Azerueas (sp?), but applying the access restriction (having figureed out i had to add a service) doesn't seem to have done much :s

In that case when he's not around his computer go into Azerueas and limit the Download and Upload speed.

I'm surprise your ISP haven't send you any C&D letter yet or the FBI knocking on your door, With that much download.

May I ask what ISP you use? :p

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