Go Back  British Expats > Living & Moving Abroad > USA > The Trailer Park
Reload this Page >

Are proxy servers dangerous?

Are proxy servers dangerous?

Old Jul 20th 2008, 7:18 pm
  #1  
Forum Regular
Thread Starter
 
drew&venna's Avatar
 
Joined: May 2006
Location: Beautiful California
Posts: 90
drew&venna is a name known to alldrew&venna is a name known to alldrew&venna is a name known to alldrew&venna is a name known to alldrew&venna is a name known to alldrew&venna is a name known to alldrew&venna is a name known to alldrew&venna is a name known to alldrew&venna is a name known to alldrew&venna is a name known to alldrew&venna is a name known to all
Exclamation Are proxy servers dangerous?

I really want to have access to Ch.4 On Demand and BBC iPlayer et al, but am nervous about using a proxy server. What are the down sides?

thank you!
drew&venna is offline  
Old Jul 20th 2008, 7:30 pm
  #2  
Riding on silver wings
 
ugacrew's Avatar
 
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 10,543
ugacrew has a reputation beyond reputeugacrew has a reputation beyond reputeugacrew has a reputation beyond reputeugacrew has a reputation beyond reputeugacrew has a reputation beyond reputeugacrew has a reputation beyond reputeugacrew has a reputation beyond reputeugacrew has a reputation beyond reputeugacrew has a reputation beyond reputeugacrew has a reputation beyond reputeugacrew has a reputation beyond repute
Default Re: Are proxy servers dangerous?

Originally Posted by drew&venna
I really want to have access to Ch.4 On Demand and BBC iPlayer et al, but am nervous about using a proxy server. What are the down sides?

thank you!
No downsides to using one really. It might slow you down but that all depends on your connection that day. One thing to note is that most work environments won't allow you to set up your browser this way since it's a way to get around filters they have set up to block certain web sites they deem harmful to the organization. You'll most likely use a proxy server at home. I wish I could recommend one to you. Have fun looking for one.
ugacrew is offline  
Old Jul 21st 2008, 11:43 am
  #3  
Lost in BE Cyberspace
 
Duncan Roberts's Avatar
 
Joined: Oct 2003
Location: Avon Lake, OH
Posts: 5,270
Duncan Roberts has a reputation beyond reputeDuncan Roberts has a reputation beyond reputeDuncan Roberts has a reputation beyond reputeDuncan Roberts has a reputation beyond reputeDuncan Roberts has a reputation beyond reputeDuncan Roberts has a reputation beyond reputeDuncan Roberts has a reputation beyond reputeDuncan Roberts has a reputation beyond reputeDuncan Roberts has a reputation beyond reputeDuncan Roberts has a reputation beyond reputeDuncan Roberts has a reputation beyond repute
Default Re: Are proxy servers dangerous?

Good luck finding one that will actually be fast enough to use those things. I use proxys a fair bit and have no problems, however whatever you do on them can be tracked.
Duncan Roberts is offline  
Old Jul 21st 2008, 5:37 pm
  #4  
Forum Regular
 
Joined: Jul 2008
Location: York, PA
Posts: 121
ldobson will become famous soon enough
Default Re: Are proxy servers dangerous?

Well speaking as a Systems Administrator I can say using a proxy server is no more dangerous than using your local internet service provider connection, in all cases your traffic 'could' be tracked and logged but in practice, most internet service providers or proxy administrators dont have the time or resources to look through multiple gigabytes of log files for no good reason.

The downside of a proxy, is by the nature of what it is, you will not see internet speeds (throughput) of what your internet service is capable of, which is due to:

(a) latacy between your computer to the proxy.
(b) latacy between the proxy to whatever site your attempting to access.

The BBC, ITV and C4 all have simular hosting platforms, which are purposely firewalled to keep only 'local' (UK IP based) customers on their sites which is largely due to a legality/entertainment rights issue.

Because of the nature of the content which is usually a mpeg stream of some sort from these sites, the latacy issue will determine how much throughput you will see and ultimately what the quality of the stream will be. Also note that many of these sites, are starting to blacklist ip ranges of proxy services which ultimately may render access by whoever is hosting your proxy useless.

It is possible to download and host your own proxy server (if you have access to a computer in the UK), however how well it works will depend on the speed that your ISP provisions for upstream (upload). If you go this route, make sure you enabled authentication (username and password) so your not opening yourself up to the entire world.
ldobson is offline  
Old Jul 21st 2008, 6:02 pm
  #5  
Ray
 
Ray's Avatar
 
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 68,280
Ray has a reputation beyond reputeRay has a reputation beyond reputeRay has a reputation beyond reputeRay has a reputation beyond reputeRay has a reputation beyond reputeRay has a reputation beyond reputeRay has a reputation beyond reputeRay has a reputation beyond reputeRay has a reputation beyond reputeRay has a reputation beyond reputeRay has a reputation beyond repute
Default Re: Are proxy servers dangerous?

Dangerous if the poxy server falls on your head .,..or toes ...
Ray is offline  
Old Jul 21st 2008, 7:25 pm
  #6  
Forum Regular
 
Goodacre's Avatar
 
Joined: Mar 2007
Location: North Carolina
Posts: 240
Goodacre is a name known to allGoodacre is a name known to allGoodacre is a name known to allGoodacre is a name known to allGoodacre is a name known to allGoodacre is a name known to allGoodacre is a name known to allGoodacre is a name known to allGoodacre is a name known to allGoodacre is a name known to allGoodacre is a name known to all
Default Re: Are proxy servers dangerous?

I'd be surprised if you find one that works -- they are quite sophisticated at realizing when you are abroad and trying to access the iPlayer via a Proxy.

What we need is to work on a campaign to persuade the BBC to give us access to the iPlayer for an annual fee, e.g. to allow expats to pay the licence fee and then gain access.
Goodacre is offline  
Old Jul 21st 2008, 7:33 pm
  #7  
Riding on silver wings
 
ugacrew's Avatar
 
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 10,543
ugacrew has a reputation beyond reputeugacrew has a reputation beyond reputeugacrew has a reputation beyond reputeugacrew has a reputation beyond reputeugacrew has a reputation beyond reputeugacrew has a reputation beyond reputeugacrew has a reputation beyond reputeugacrew has a reputation beyond reputeugacrew has a reputation beyond reputeugacrew has a reputation beyond reputeugacrew has a reputation beyond repute
Default Re: Are proxy servers dangerous?

Originally Posted by Goodacre
I'd be surprised if you find one that works -- they are quite sophisticated at realizing when you are abroad and trying to access the iPlayer via a Proxy.

What we need is to work on a campaign to persuade the BBC to give us access to the iPlayer for an annual fee, e.g. to allow expats to pay the licence fee and then gain access.
You'd think some executive at the BBC would have said something along those lines. I don't see why they wouldn't do it. Oh that's right. It's because THIS has common sense thinking behind it.
ugacrew is offline  
Old Jul 21st 2008, 7:46 pm
  #8  
Forum Regular
 
Joined: Jul 2008
Location: York, PA
Posts: 121
ldobson will become famous soon enough
Default Re: Are proxy servers dangerous?

Originally Posted by Goodacre
I'd be surprised if you find one that works -- they are quite sophisticated at realizing when you are abroad and trying to access the iPlayer via a Proxy.

What we need is to work on a campaign to persuade the BBC to give us access to the iPlayer for an annual fee, e.g. to allow expats to pay the licence fee and then gain access.
iPlayer, can not differentiate between a direct client or proxied connection, as the tcp connection comes from the proxy. They can however track incoming connections and from connection counts, can probably work out what hosts are probable proxy's and hence blacklist them.

It's more about digital royalty/entertainment rights more than anything else. The royalty rights to programming are often specific only to the UK and do not extend internationally. Some of the programming is not produced directly by the BBC and therefore the BBC can not distribute it internationally, without some form of royalty agreement or digital rights agreement in place with the producer/studio of content. That's the main reason the BBC are firewalling their video hosting enviroments. I do believe they are planning on ways they can open this up internationally, and I think in time as digital internet broadcasting becomes more mainstream, these rights issues will extend internationally. Of course in the case of the BBC, its funded by the general public via the Television Licence, so thats another can of worms.
ldobson is offline  
Old Jul 21st 2008, 8:19 pm
  #9  
Lost in BE Cyberspace
 
Duncan Roberts's Avatar
 
Joined: Oct 2003
Location: Avon Lake, OH
Posts: 5,270
Duncan Roberts has a reputation beyond reputeDuncan Roberts has a reputation beyond reputeDuncan Roberts has a reputation beyond reputeDuncan Roberts has a reputation beyond reputeDuncan Roberts has a reputation beyond reputeDuncan Roberts has a reputation beyond reputeDuncan Roberts has a reputation beyond reputeDuncan Roberts has a reputation beyond reputeDuncan Roberts has a reputation beyond reputeDuncan Roberts has a reputation beyond reputeDuncan Roberts has a reputation beyond repute
Default Re: Are proxy servers dangerous?

Originally Posted by ldobson
It's more about digital royalty/entertainment rights more than anything else. The royalty rights to programming are often specific only to the UK and do not extend internationally. Some of the programming is not produced directly by the BBC and therefore the BBC can not distribute it internationally, without some form of royalty agreement or digital rights agreement in place with the producer/studio of content. That's the main reason the BBC are firewalling their video hosting enviroments. I do believe they are planning on ways they can open this up internationally, and I think in time as digital internet broadcasting becomes more mainstream, these rights issues will extend internationally. Of course in the case of the BBC, its funded by the general public via the Television Licence, so thats another can of worms.
That's exactly right. BBC America doesn't want you watching next seasons prime shows before they get to show them and that sort of thing as well as the contracts about who gets paid what when X is shown. If you actually look at the iPlayer although there is a lot of stuff on there, there isn't anywhere near the whole lineup of stuff the BBC shows. They have problems with rights rebroadcasting shows in the UK that were originally shown in the UK, showing internationally is infinitely worse.
Duncan Roberts is offline  
Old Jul 21st 2008, 10:35 pm
  #10  
Forum Regular
 
Goodacre's Avatar
 
Joined: Mar 2007
Location: North Carolina
Posts: 240
Goodacre is a name known to allGoodacre is a name known to allGoodacre is a name known to allGoodacre is a name known to allGoodacre is a name known to allGoodacre is a name known to allGoodacre is a name known to allGoodacre is a name known to allGoodacre is a name known to allGoodacre is a name known to allGoodacre is a name known to all
Default Re: Are proxy servers dangerous?

Originally Posted by ldobson
iPlayer, can not differentiate between a direct client or proxied connection, as the tcp connection comes from the proxy. They can however track incoming connections and from connection counts, can probably work out what hosts are probable proxy's and hence blacklist them.

It's more about digital royalty/entertainment rights more than anything else. The royalty rights to programming are often specific only to the UK and do not extend internationally. Some of the programming is not produced directly by the BBC and therefore the BBC can not distribute it internationally, without some form of royalty agreement or digital rights agreement in place with the producer/studio of content. That's the main reason the BBC are firewalling their video hosting enviroments. I do believe they are planning on ways they can open this up internationally, and I think in time as digital internet broadcasting becomes more mainstream, these rights issues will extend internationally. Of course in the case of the BBC, its funded by the general public via the Television Licence, so thats another can of worms.
I agree on the proxy issue; what I mean is that they have already sniffed out all the (public) proxies people might be using and blacklisted them.

I agree also on the rights / royalties issue, though I think that a deal could be worked out whereby expats could gain access to the iPlayer by paying the licence fee, thereby including the expats in whatever arrangements they were making. It could easily be done on the analogy with the BBC Radio iPlayer, where most of the content is available, but some sports and so on are not available because of rights deals.
Goodacre is offline  
Old Jul 21st 2008, 10:37 pm
  #11  
Forum Regular
 
Goodacre's Avatar
 
Joined: Mar 2007
Location: North Carolina
Posts: 240
Goodacre is a name known to allGoodacre is a name known to allGoodacre is a name known to allGoodacre is a name known to allGoodacre is a name known to allGoodacre is a name known to allGoodacre is a name known to allGoodacre is a name known to allGoodacre is a name known to allGoodacre is a name known to allGoodacre is a name known to all
Default Re: Are proxy servers dangerous?

Originally Posted by Duncan Roberts
That's exactly right. BBC America doesn't want you watching next seasons prime shows before they get to show them and that sort of thing as well as the contracts about who gets paid what when X is shown. If you actually look at the iPlayer although there is a lot of stuff on there, there isn't anywhere near the whole lineup of stuff the BBC shows. They have problems with rights rebroadcasting shows in the UK that were originally shown in the UK, showing internationally is infinitely worse.
Agreed, though I don't think BBC America is that much of an issue -- it's not aimed at expats but rather a small American market who might be flicking through their channels -- it's tailored to them, I'd say.
Goodacre is offline  
Old Jul 22nd 2008, 1:17 pm
  #12  
Lost in BE Cyberspace
 
Duncan Roberts's Avatar
 
Joined: Oct 2003
Location: Avon Lake, OH
Posts: 5,270
Duncan Roberts has a reputation beyond reputeDuncan Roberts has a reputation beyond reputeDuncan Roberts has a reputation beyond reputeDuncan Roberts has a reputation beyond reputeDuncan Roberts has a reputation beyond reputeDuncan Roberts has a reputation beyond reputeDuncan Roberts has a reputation beyond reputeDuncan Roberts has a reputation beyond reputeDuncan Roberts has a reputation beyond reputeDuncan Roberts has a reputation beyond reputeDuncan Roberts has a reputation beyond repute
Default Re: Are proxy servers dangerous?

Originally Posted by Goodacre
Agreed, though I don't think BBC America is that much of an issue -- it's not aimed at expats but rather a small American market who might be flicking through their channels -- it's tailored to them, I'd say.
That's not the point. It's any TV channel that shows BBC programs. When they sign a deal they sign it saying they will be the first to show the episodes by any form of media. If people can watch it online via the iPlayer before they show it on the TV that's a breach of contract. It would be the same with SciFi and the current Dr Who series or any other channel in the world. They want people in whatever country to have to watch the shows on their channel so they can sell advertising and all that junk.
Duncan Roberts is offline  
Old Jul 25th 2008, 9:24 pm
  #13  
Just Joined
 
Joined: Jul 2008
Location: Greenville, SC
Posts: 6
Redwood is an unknown quantity at this point
Default Re: Are proxy servers dangerous?

I was told (but have not verified) that iplayer will work from the US on a MAC with Safari browser loaded. Note sure why that woudl be given BBC are looking at the IP.
Does any one know for sure?
Redwood is offline  
Old Jul 25th 2008, 11:55 pm
  #14  
Forum Regular
 
Joined: Nov 2006
Location: oregon
Posts: 63
bethel is a name known to allbethel is a name known to allbethel is a name known to allbethel is a name known to allbethel is a name known to allbethel is a name known to allbethel is a name known to allbethel is a name known to allbethel is a name known to allbethel is a name known to allbethel is a name known to all
Default Re: Are proxy servers dangerous?

Originally Posted by Redwood
I was told (but have not verified) that iplayer will work from the US on a MAC with Safari browser loaded. Note sure why that woudl be given BBC are looking at the IP.
Does any one know for sure?
Nope, it doesn't work with a mac/safari. I just tried it....
bethel is offline  
Old Jul 26th 2008, 12:07 am
  #15  
You call that a moustache
 
ex_exile's Avatar
 
Joined: Sep 2006
Location: Heading West..
Posts: 2,060
ex_exile has a reputation beyond reputeex_exile has a reputation beyond reputeex_exile has a reputation beyond reputeex_exile has a reputation beyond reputeex_exile has a reputation beyond reputeex_exile has a reputation beyond reputeex_exile has a reputation beyond reputeex_exile has a reputation beyond reputeex_exile has a reputation beyond reputeex_exile has a reputation beyond reputeex_exile has a reputation beyond repute
Default Re: Are proxy servers dangerous?

Originally Posted by ldobson
iPlayer, can not differentiate between a direct client or proxied connection, as the tcp connection comes from the proxy. They can however track incoming connections and from connection counts, can probably work out what hosts are probable proxy's and hence blacklist them.
....... Dont get me started again...... There are various ways that an application can tell if its being proxied.....
ex_exile is offline  

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are Off


Contact Us - Archive - Advertising - Cookie Policy - Privacy Statement - Terms of Service -

Copyright © 2024 MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands. All rights reserved. Use of this site indicates your consent to the Terms of Use.