ISP Blocking / Throttling Skype ? any work around?

Question

I just noticed , since yesterday skype has been blocked by my ISP ( Comcast ) . Call them up with that info - they deny it. I know it's happening for sure. How can I disguise skype packets so that my ISP does not block them. It looks like there is some methodology Comcast uses to ID Skype traffic and blocks it down , that's not exactly port based but packet based.
any pointers ..?

Answer 1

The easiest way to determine whether your ISP is blocking a UDP or TCP port is to use http://www.firebind.com.



Firebind is the world's only web-based "path scanner". It has both a browser-based javascript client (TCP only) and a Java Applet (TCP or UDP) that send packets back and forth to the Firebind server on the given port (or range of ports) you choose. If the packets come back to the client intact, then the port isn't blocked by any sort of intervening firewall (like your own home router or your ISP's firewall.)



Today the javascript client will actually tell you whether the TCP port is blocked due to a TCP RESET or a TCP TIMEOUT. This capability will be added to the Java Applet by the end of the year, with even more granularity (it will be able to detect proxy servers.)



The site gets a lot of use by IT Administrators who are trying to test whether they configured their company's outbound firewall rules properly. It's also heavily used by WiFi hotspot users, corporate users, universities, and especially home broadband users who are trying to troubleshoot why a given application (like Skype or IPSec) won't work.



- Firebinder

Answer 2

Interesting, one star awarded!



Not sure why they would block skype traffic? Anyway, if they are blocking based on destination IP and port (this would be most likely) then my only suggestion would be to use a proxy of some kind. You'd have to find an open public proxy that is fast enough for VOIP which might be difficult. From looking at the Skype website I think this can be done although might be tricky and unreliable.



If they are doing some kind of SPI (stateful packet inspection) to check the packets (not quite sure how this would work) and block at this level, the only suggestion I can come up with is to establish a VPN with a friend or another network which has an ISP/link to the internet that allows skype. This way your traffic would be encrypted and your ISP could not see inside to do SPI blocking NOR block on port IP. This pre-supposes they allow VPN of course.



When you work it out, can you post a comment to let us know how you did it?

Answer 3

Comcast Throttling

Answer 4

Comcast is probably not throttling your network especially with the new net neutrality bill that was passed denying any ISP's from throttling connections.



You can however look to see if there are any RST (reset) packets being sent with a packet sniffer. This is a common was of throttling.



Dane

Answer 5

If I had a chance to drive a NASCAR track I would like to do Pocono, but there's no way I would go full throttle around that track. And I would always drive the car myself. Have you ever ridden on the back of a motorcycle. I have a couple times. That was scary, but it never scared me to ride one myself and go well into the triple digits. Same goes with a fast car. And besides I do it pretty good.

Answer 6

just go to start then search type cmd . when command prompt comes type,, ping www.skype.com `` then press enter if u can sent and receive then ur good to go nothing to do with comcast