Busted
@insightBB.com
| Insight AUP Violation
Anyone seen one of these emails? Local CSRs state that they went out today. The tech that I talked to at 800-397-9982 was surprised & hadn't heard anything about it b4 my call.
So what is illegal? Is Remote Desktop Connection in WinXP OK? How about VNC / pcAnywhere? He stated that they were busting Kazaa & Morpheus users. What do you think?
Dear Insightbb.com Customer,
To ensure that all Insightbb.com customers consistently receive the highest
quality service available, Insight monitors network usage to ensure that
usage activity does not violate our policies and procedures as detailed in
our Acceptable Use Policy.
It has come to our attention that you are running at least one server on the
network. This is in violation of the Insightbb.com Acceptable Use Policy.
We must hereby notify you to uninstall your server(s) software and cease
other activity in violation of the Policy within 48 hours after receipt of this
communication. If you do not comply with this notice, we will disconnect
your Insightbb.com service.
As you know, the use of servers and other such violations of the Policy
place an unusually large burden on the network. Insightbb.com is a
residential service. Bandwidth and data storage resources are designed to
support residential usage. In maintaining compliance with our Policy, we
are protecting the interests of the tens of thousands of customers who are
using the service appropriately.
For more information about the Insightbb.com Acceptable Use Policy, please
visit www.insightbb.com. We are confident that you appreciate the urgency
of our request and look forward to keeping you as an Insightbb.com customer
in good standing.
Regards,
Insight Security |
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blah blah blah
@comcast.net | that's scary, well I guess I won't try hosting any game server then |
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2kmaro
Think
Premium,ExMod 1 BC
join:2000-07-11
ColossalCave
clubs:  
| reply to Busted
Well, Busted, you haven't said specifically what you are using/have set up on your system.
Did YOU receive one of them, and if not, then where did you get your copy?
There are a couple of ways a provider can determine if it appears you're running a server that they consider illegal:
#1 - watch your bandwidth usage. If upload usage starts hitting all time highs, then they can take a closer look and see what ports are open on your system and that gives them a real good idea of what type server you're running (80 or 8080 = HTTP, 21 = FTP, etc.)
#2 - make either a random or organized effort to connect to known server ports on IPs within their domain, when they connect, they know they've got a server.
--
Waste is such a terrible thing to mine. |
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WeKnSmith
join:2001-08-09
Noblesville, IN | reply to blah blah blah
I think there is no question, a game server is a violation of the AUP. |
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WeKnSmith
join:2001-08-09
Noblesville, IN
 ·AT&T Midwest
| reply to 2kmaro
Just checking on us 2kmaro? Nice to see you back...
I think the point of the original post is to question what is/isn't acceptable use of the network.
Some things leave little question:
1. hosting a web site on http
2. game servers
3. ftp server (although I could see some users looking at it as a form of pcAnywhere/VNC)
4. providing mail service
the list goes on...
What about file sharing apps (Kazaa, Morpheus, Audio Galaxy) & remote connection programs (VNC, pcAnywhere, GoToMyPC, Remote Desktop in WinXP), etc...
I think there should be a distinct description of what is allowed, and what is not (P2P stuff...) |
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IGGY
No Guru Just Here To Help
Premium,MVM
join:2001-03-30
Chatham, IL
|  reply to Busted
I've yet to see this email in my Inbox. But if they try to kill P2P usage. That would be like shooting themselves in the foot. Whether they ( or others ) like it. P2P is the "killer app" that started all the hype for broadband. An ftp server, game server, P2P should all be allowed. Within reason. My opinion only. If in fact usage levels were effected by this. They could charge a $10 flat fee to the customer. For the higher usage. All this should be clearly stated. In sign up material, the website, and with customer service reps. DSL providers don't whine about this type of usage. So cable companies are going to have to learn. If this is a question of excessive usage. Then as I stated above. Charge the customer a higher flat fee. For the extra usage. Punishing your high end user. For using the connection they pay for. To it's max. Shouldn't result in punishment. Don't they realize shutting these people down. Is killing there biggest fan. Word of mouth can kill a company. And if the competition doesn't cry about this. Then you lose a customer to the competition. Instead of fighting this. Insight should learn to adapt! Instead of being cry babies. They should change there business model to adapt. They shut down uncappers. Which I understand. But it's in a way stupid. You've just killed a high usage customer. Who in most cases. Would be glad to pay more for the higher speed. Most people uncap. Because of the horrible upload caps. Most of these people have asked for tiered service. And have stated they would pay more. But the cable companies have yet to adapt. So out of frustration. People uncap. Without competition! The consumer will have to keep putting up with millions of restrictions. Funny how they promote broadband as more then web surfing & email. But when you do more than just that. They punish you. They need to get off there backside! Stop talking about the revolution. And start releasing the new services they brag about all time. Such as tiered service! They also need to face reality! P2P pays there bills. And for the record! NO = I rarely use these type of services. But have been a beta tester for several companies. Who do in fact offer such services.
--
*IGGYZ* *TeamZ* |
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blah blah blah
@comcast.net
| Go Iggy!
I posted before about running a game server "within reason" like once or twice a week. Personally I think that should be allowed. As far as P2P file sharing apps, I can understand why they would want to block those, since they are usually sharing illegal stuff. You are right though about it being a reason for broadband's popularity.
btw, I get hits on FTP and some ports that I think are for P2P apps almost every night, and I have never run any of those kind of programs here, so Insight might be scanning for open ports like 2kmaro said. |
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jwi7452
Josh
join:2001-08-22
Springfield, IL
 ·Comcast
·Insight Communicat..
| reply to Busted
I Emailed my local Tech the following:
"Are P2P software such as Kazaa & Morpheus in violation under Insight's AUP?"
His reply was:
"Technically, yes they are in violation. I haven't heard of someone being banned for use of these services, but if you run it full time that will show up as a server. There should be no worries, unless you do run one of these
P2P full time."
FYI |
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hockeyfun1$
Down With Dc Exec
Premium
join:2000-11-26
New Hartford, NY | reply to blah blah blah
What kind of server is it that you are running? |
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2kmaro
Think
Premium,ExMod 1 BC
join:2000-07-11
ColossalCave
clubs:
| reply to WeKnSmith
Usually there's a sharp distinction between usage of the programs you've listed.
Some are general purpose "everybody is welcome" type of programs/servers: http, ftp, mail, P2P of various types. Yes, even gaming.
But the "tunnel" applications are normally used by people in a very small, relatively unchanging group: VNC, pcAnywhere, Remote Anywhere etc.
A lot of restrictions are put on, I think, because of the end purpose of the application. Money is playing in to it also. The big stink about p2p is all of the copyright violations that take place through it. The problem isn't that this is something new - years ago I thought very little about making a copy of an album onto cassette tape and giving one to a close friend or family member. But the sheer scale of the sharing enabled by the internet has added a whole new dimension to it - and groups like the RIAA see it as a threat and are using their very deep pockets to limit it any way possible.
I tend to look at it this way: if it is for my PERSONAL use and convenience and not something I've put up so that the entire internet community can use it, then the provider shouldn't have a real problem with it. But if I crank up a mail server or start enabling FTP of a bunch of audio or video files, then I'd expect to be in over my head in short order.
--
Waste is such a terrible thing to mine. |
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walleeys
join:2002-05-24
Lexington, KY
| reply to Busted
You were lucky to get a warning message before getting shut off. About 2 weeks ago my service just quit working. When I called the local Insight office, they told me it had been disabled for running a server. I had accidentally left a sharing program called Direct Connect running over night, which probably caused me to use a lot of upstream bandwidth. I normally don't leave it running for very long to avoid this sort of problem. The guy was pretty nice about it and reactivated my account immediately and just told me to keep the usage at a minimum to avoid this in the future. He said that once they notice the high upload usage, they try connecting to the open ports on the IP in question and if they get a login prompt, it constitutes running a server. I have since reconfigured my router's firewall to not accept incoming connections and haven't had any trouble since. It looks to me like they don't mind you running any type of server until you start using a lot of upstream bandwidth. |
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blah blah blah
@comcast.net | reply to hockeyfun1$
I am not running a server, I'm afriad of them booting me off for something stupid like a once-a-week game server with some friends. |
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hockeyfun1$
Down With Dc Exec
Premium
join:2000-11-26
New Hartford, NY | A Game Server is still a server. 
Why would they send you the letter then? Does the game use a lot of bandwidth? What port does the gaming server run on? |
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IGGY
No Guru Just Here To Help
Premium,MVM
join:2001-03-30
Chatham, IL
| reply to blah blah blah
I have no doubt. They are doing auto scans. But the question is? Where does this all end. I can name several legit uses for all the things they like to block. And again. They state you can use your broadband for this & that. They hype how broadband is more than email & web surfing. Then punish you. When you use your connection. For what they advertised you could use it for. If your not running a 24/7 server. Or downloading or uploading gigs of data a month. Then I can't see why they would snap. And if someone is using to much bandwidth. Give them a choice. Either pay more. Or no service. Seems very simple to me. There competition is definitely a lot more liberal on game servers etc. If Insight & others. Continue they way they have. They will in fact loose business. And several post in this forum. Show they have lost customers. And don't seem to eager to keep them. It's sad how little power the consumer has in all this.
--
*IGGYZ* *TeamZ* |
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hockeyfun1$
Down With Dc Exec
Premium
join:2000-11-26
New Hartford, NY | But not everyone runs servers. It's only a small percentage that wont have much of an impact if they lose them or not. |
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IGGY
No Guru Just Here To Help
Premium,MVM
join:2001-03-30
Chatham, IL
|  I don't agree. If you count all the P2P users. You start booting them. You will see a big dent in the end year results. And if they continue to not listen. To customers who have requested. For a long time. That there be a choice of bandwidth packages. They will continue to loose customers. As several post here have shown. There hasn't been a mass revolt true. Mostly do to the fact. That competition is limited. As well as choice. But if DSL & others. Started to truly compete. With speed, price, availability & no contract. You would in fact start to see a lot users. Who would in fact drop cable. Especially if the DSL providers remained liberal. And again. Where does this stop? MIRC,IQC,PALTALK & others could all be considered servers. Even though they have other uses. So where does it stop?
--
*IGGYZ* *TeamZ* |
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blah blah blah
@comcast.net
| reply to hockeyfun1$
hey sorry to confuse everyone but I am not the Busted that started this topic, I had a separate post a week or so ago about servers to get opinion on it
anyway, I flat out asked the tech support in an email about my little situation of wanting to host a server once or twice a week for some games
They said to just make sure the ports are firewalled when not in use so they don't get picked up as an active server.
So that should answer the questions if there were any. Insight does do port scanning on higher bandwidth usage clients. |
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indy036
join:2002-01-26
Franklin, IN | reply to Busted
is it insight doing the port scans?
or their evil master AT&T ? |
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blah blah blah
@comcast.net | that is the question isn't it  |
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hockeyfun1$
Down With Dc Exec
Premium
join:2000-11-26
New Hartford, NY | reply to blah blah blah
So if you are running a firewall wouldn't you see a few thousand alerts (or the max it shows) from the same address probably? |
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