Reply to: Video streaming websites, kodi etc.. risks?

[sal]

A server running on Azure (or AWS) removes the need for a property.

How do you manage the data transfer costs?

[stek]

O/T How do you keep your ratios up on there? I have a good ratio (historically) but I almost daren't use TVC these days, as I never get anyone seeding from me. I assume all the seeding comes from fast dedicated seedboxes

I have my co-lo Plex server which is running Transmission for TVchaos etc torrents as a sort of seedbox.

Previously what I did was to get an RSS feed from TVchaos for Corries, Emmerdale and Eastenders etc, so I get them down first and seed back to boost ratio, all automatically. Took me a while to build up and I had a lot of crap I didn't want to watch but it was the only way at the time.

[Platypus]

Yea but to be honest, I don't need it, I get what I want from tvchaos.....

O/T How do you keep your ratios up on there? I have a good ratio (historically) but I almost daren't use TVC these days, as I never get anyone seeding from me. I assume all the seeding comes from fast dedicated seedboxes

[Lance]

Do you still have a property in the UK? I have just set up an OpenVPN server on a virtual machine for when I am in Spain

A server running on Azure (or AWS) removes the need for a property.

[stek]

Do you still have a property in the UK? I have just set up an OpenVPN server on a virtual machine for when I am in Spain

Yea but to be honest, I don't need it, I get what I want from tvchaos.....

[SimonMac]

VPN doesn't work with BBC iPlayer or ITV Player now here in Ireland, I heard they block all known IP's owned by VPN companies, which includes ExpressVPN unfortunately for me.

Netflix hasn't worked for ages for non-local content.

Do you still have a property in the UK? I have just set up an OpenVPN server on a virtual machine for when I am in Spain

[stek]

NLUK - VPN mun fella. Also lets you watch uk stuff in the usa too and vice versa. About £5 a month and theres loads of them.

VPN doesn't work with BBC iPlayer or ITV Player now here in Ireland, I heard they block all known IP's owned by VPN companies, which includes ExpressVPN unfortunately for me.

Netflix hasn't worked for ages for non-local content.

[pr1]

Frustrating for those who are trying to torrent legal stuff.

[Hobosapien]

There must be a relatively simple way they can determine p2p and other types of activity as IIRC Plusnet provided a daily/weekly/monthly breakdown of usage also covering streaming, usenet, general browsing.

Never bother checking now I'm on 'unlimited' fibre.

Then again I've given up using usenet (too many fake compressed files) and never really bothered with torrents, now most content is available via streaming one way or another.

For other older content not available that way I find the DVD/blu-ray is generally available cheaply via musicMagpie, CeX, or Amazon Marketplace if the new option is 'not worth paying that' IMO.

I laugh when I see Amazon et al offering streaming of individual movies at no real saving over the used price of the DVD/Blu-ray and that's for just one viewing. It's like Blockbuster trying to rent a movie at similar price HMV were selling it for next door.

[Lance]

Virgin Media used to manage it - I tried to torrent Linux Mint and as soon as I started, my speed dropped to next to nothing. Disconnect the torrent, back to normal. Reconnect, speed plummets. Connect to VPN and start the torrent - speed stays the same.

Frustrating for those who are trying to torrent legal stuff.

I've not been with Virgin in over 12 years so cannot comment on them. BT weren't restricting torrents 3 years ago.
I wonder how Virgin did it. Unless they could see that you were sharing/seeding on the P2P port. I always had that turned off when downloading.

[TheFaQQer]

That's not how torrents work. You get the initial torrent file from a torrent site (Piratebay et al). Thats a few kB.
Then you download the main data peer-to-peer. It's really, really difficult for an ISP to limit those.

Virgin Media used to manage it - I tried to torrent Linux Mint and as soon as I started, my speed dropped to next to nothing. Disconnect the torrent, back to normal. Reconnect, speed plummets. Connect to VPN and start the torrent - speed stays the same.

Frustrating for those who are trying to torrent legal stuff.

[Lance]

2) if they are torrenting the torrent download bandwidth can be reduced/restricted (whilst other 'legal' downloads will carry on at a decent speed.) which seems to imply the ISP knows they are getting data from torrent sites but is not going to stop it just slow it down...

That's not how torrents work. You get the initial torrent file from a torrent site (Piratebay et al). Thats a few kB.
Then you download the main data peer-to-peer. It's really, really difficult for an ISP to limit those.

[original PM]

I've been working on the basis that the ISPs who also provide content (Sky, BT, Virgin, etc.) are likely to be more vigilant. I use a much smaller ISP. Although I cannot find any good live cricket providers so may have to subscribe to Sky Cricket for the Ashes (they have split the channels now so I don't have to pay to watch the fecking lawn fairies mince around).

What are the actual risks?
The law has changed recently(ish), but I think that each of the copyright owners would still have to take you to court. Last I heard nobody has been done in a criminal court, in the UK, for viewing pirated content.
I suspect you'd have to be really naughty to get prosecuted, and I also suspect that if you offered to pay the copyright owners for their losses (the stuff they can prove you viewed) then it's unlikely to end up in court.

The worst thing that happens seems to be

1) The stream they are watching gets shut down.
2) if they are torrenting the torrent download bandwidth can be reduced/restricted (whilst other 'legal' downloads will carry on at a decent speed.) which seems to imply the ISP knows they are getting data from torrent sites but is not going to stop it just slow it down....

so in general I think you are okay -- main issue for me is security rather than anything else

[Lance]

My brothers have been streaming the footy for years - their broadband suppliers have never batted an eye lid - think they have been with sky for years as well....

also used a lot of torrent sites such as pirate bay when it was around.

Not sure what they use now but they do not pay for it

same with pretty much all the music they have.

I've been working on the basis that the ISPs who also provide content (Sky, BT, Virgin, etc.) are likely to be more vigilant. I use a much smaller ISP. Although I cannot find any good live cricket providers so may have to subscribe to Sky Cricket for the Ashes (they have split the channels now so I don't have to pay to watch the fecking lawn fairies mince around).

What are the actual risks?
The law has changed recently(ish), but I think that each of the copyright owners would still have to take you to court. Last I heard nobody has been done in a criminal court, in the UK, for viewing pirated content.
I suspect you'd have to be really naughty to get prosecuted, and I also suspect that if you offered to pay the copyright owners for their losses (the stuff they can prove you viewed) then it's unlikely to end up in court.

[WTFH]

Last two were from the well known con porn company. Just sent back standard email and they gave up.

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