Indian Government Blocks Leading File-Sharing Services | Hacker News Reader

Indian Government Blocks Leading File-Sharing Services

torrentfreak.com

33 pointsGarbage27 comments

When I tried opening megaupload last night, I was thrown a blocked page by my ISP (Reliance). Upon checking the page source, I noticed an iframe content that redirected my request to the blocked message. Playing around with the iframe source, I found that my ISP is using Netsweeper Business software for blocking the file sharing services and the control panel is publicly accessible (http://ipaddress:8080/webadmin/start/ is the link for my ISPs netsweeper control panel login page. If you're lucky enough to crack the password, you can unblock any website you want ;)). I don't really think there is any need for blocking file sharing services in India and I feel that these are just the desperate attempts by the so called DoT and the govt. to say that they're doing something.

This is apparently the cause http://www.medianama.com/2011/07/223-files-sharing-sites-blo... A movie producer has got a court order requiring ISPs to block file sharing of a PARTICULAR movie...(singham). The ISPs have blocked the entire sites en-mass.

Looks like Reliance aims to be the small brother of RIAA. They already have an image as crooks among consumers.. this will only make it worse.. don't know who to blame, courts for giving a blanket order or over eager ISPs.

MTNL users report blocking, but only if they use the full web address of a site – omitting www unblocks the site in question.

...and this is why blocking sites in India will NEVER work. They're just far too incompetent.

Only for now though, I fear that over time they will improve, like a virus evolving. Then again lets see if an announcement comes out. It may just be the ISPs screwing up, or a whole host of other problems.

I hope its not the Govt though.

True - remember the blogspot blocking fiasco a few years ago?

Edit: Details: http://jace.zaiki.in/2006/07/17/blogspot-blocked-by-indian-i...

They're just far too incompetent.

Disagree, I think it's a case of being far too competent; I bet the spec came in listing the sites without subdomains, and the developers have completed exactly what was asked of them.

Which must be annoying for the client, but if this is the case, more fool them.

Its not working. I can access the sites from both Airtel and BSNL here in Delhi.

Seems all sites are accessible using Airtel... Even if there is such an order from DoT, I seriously doubt the competency of the people involved to actually implement it...

I think Reliance might be the most eager to implement this ban as they have interest in entertainment business thru BIG cinemas and AdLabs. But still what a bunch of idiots this govt is. Trying to show its stupidity to the whole world. Rather than trying to do something useful like bringing billions of dollars of black money stashed abroad they are wasting their time on these useless things.

It's not true! I can access all the sites mentioned. I am using Airtel!

The ban is varying from state to state.Some of my friends having Airtel as their ISP can't get through but some can. No problems coming with other ISP's

Can anyone state any links to legal documents for the same?

Anyways, I just tried 3 ISPs. (BSNL,Tata and Airtel) All links are accessible.

It won't work. There are hundreds of other file sharing websites you can't block them all.

Don't they have more important stuff to do than pander to the interests of corporations?

Couldn't access mediafire alone this morning, on Airtel.The rest seem to be reachable.

All major file-sharing services blocked :( ISP: Reliance, Ahemdabad

"It's FUD and spam from hayai.in" - my Indian friend says so.

this seems to be not true for the whole country.., if you're from India, please post if you're having those issues or not!

no, please don't.

Just working fine.

Airtel, Bangalore.

Same here, Airtel Mumbai

Working fine here. BBNL Bangalore.

I can access all sites.

and this kills my weekend project minutesbox.com in India.

Works fine on Airtel.

The excuses people come up with to justify pirating make me smile.

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