How can I prevent illegal downloads from an open access wifi network?

Question

Having spent over £1000 on an excellent wifi setup for our guests, we may now have to turn it off to prevent being fined if our guests make illegal downloads. If we cannot prevent the downloads is software available to track who was online and when?

Answer 1

Have to give each guest an id and password and log them. You are no different than an ISP, and they are not responsible for what their users do... however they can give the authorities the log file.

Answer 2

Unfortunately, torrent traffic can make use of almost any port and is configured at the client side. To prevent this, essentially you would have to lock down *all* ports and only unlock the ports that you want (so for example, 80 for HTTP.) It's not that hard, just google a list of known ports for various things (like MSN etc) and add them to the allow list. Sooner or later that will combat the torrent side.



However, it would be very hard to stop people downloading from HTTP sites of course unless you put in a word filter as someone else suggested but again this would have to be at the firewall end as people connecting in by WIFI would still be unrestricted.



Get some advice on your router setup, hire a local professional to come in and lock it all down for you if I were you... better to be on the safe side these days.



I'd be more scared that someone downloaded something really awful like illegal porn than just a movie or something. I can see why your worried...

Answer 3

I cannot see how you can be legally responsible for users of your wifi link. This would mean any ISP, hotspot provider etc. or anyone giving access to the internet is liable for any illegal downloads. I mean there is a facility within the BT broadband network for private users to share their connection with club members outside their houses! I know people like keycom who provide broadband ISP service within universities and the like to track or log all the individual student's usage. That is not content rather usage times. I know it is used for anti copywrite action. Are you providing the servers or just the wireless connection? There could be logs on the servers. As someone suggested surely you can put net nanny software on your PCs. Or are the guests using their own laptops? If so then they should be made to log in with password and then that login and logout could be recorded. Otherwise anyone in the radio vivnity of your Wifi could be using it. Are you sure you are not worrying unnecessarily?

Answer 4

The only real way to stop strangers from downloading bad stuff via your open wireless, is to put in a proper network firewall, usually a commercial one or a free Linux based firewall. These can block bad sites, and "bad" protocols, as well as scan for viruses and other various things...(content filtering). Also, they can control bandwidth based on protocol, etc.

You put one in place, then still run your regulare wireless router after it, or build/get one of these firewalls with wireless built into it...

You may need help setting one up. You can build your own, free one with free Linux software and a spare PC with two NICs in it. Get some help, you ARE liable for any activity on your internet service...

Check the link below for freee firewall software. Then get some help from someone that knows networking (Linux knowledge required is minimal in these, they all have a web interface to configure)

Answer 5

This has been a great debate. Some would say that it is stealing someone elses internet. But others will say the wireless connection was intentionally left open, unsecure to share the internet connection. The best thing to do is try to find the owner of the connection and let them either be aware that their wireless network is unsecure, and ask if you can use their internet service. Usually, finding the owner is not feasible, however.

Answer 6

Your network router contains logs of when people connect to your network. You can also use keyword blocking to block your guests from visiting sites with the words torrent or mp3 for example.

Answer 7

You should be able to limit the speed of each connection, which will discourage such downloads. You can also close the ports that file-sharing software use.

Answer 8

What about a net nanny? Maybe you could get some software to block dodgy web sites?