[tor-relays] BBC and UK Lottery blocking ip addresses running Tor

Dan Hanley hanley.dan at gmail.com
Sat Oct 25 13:37:55 UTC 2014 

Looks like the BBC have changed their rules. I am still running a relay,
but can now access www.bbc.co.uk in a normal fashion.

Still blocked by national lottery, but I'm hopeful that they both use the
same third party ip checker, and that the next lottery update will fix the
issue.

On Thu, Sep 18, 2014 at 10:41 PM, <tor-relays-request at lists.torproject.org>
wrote:

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>
>    1. RELAY_EARLY tor network update status (CVE-2014-5117) (Nusenu)
>    2. Re: BBC and UK Lottery blocking ip addresses running      relay
>       (Ross Petrie)
>    3. Re: BBC and UK Lottery blocking ip addresses running      relay
>       (Chris Whittleston)
>
>
> ---------- Forwarded message ----------
> From: Nusenu <BM-2D8wMEVgGVY76je1WXNPfo8SrpZt5yGHES at bitmessage.ch>
> To: tor-relays at lists.torproject.org
> Cc: markus at mdfnet.se, info at enn.lu, torpids at yahoo.com, nick at calyx.com
> Date: Thu, 18 Sep 2014 21:00:41 +0000
> Subject: [tor-relays] RELAY_EARLY tor network update status (CVE-2014-5117)
> (if you are on the CC list of this email you are probably one of the tor
> relay operators running one of the 10 fastest vulnerable [CVE-2014-5117]
> relays on the tor network. Please upgrade your tor relay)
>
> > The tor network is currently at 64% of the bandwidth being served by
> > relays running a recommended version according to torstatus.blutmagie.de
> .
> > I updated a previous metrics feature request so we might see nice
> > graphs about patching progress in the future [2].
>
> Since we are seeing active RELAY_EARLY attacks again (or new buggy tor
> implemantations) I was wondering what the current update stats look like.
>
> ~85%* of the tor network's bandwidth is provided by patched relays.
> (~66%   0.2.4.23, ~11%  0.2.5.6-alpha, ~7% 0.2.5.7-rc)
>
> *) according to data from torstatus.blutmagie.de
>
>
> 10 fastest relays still running a vulnerable version:
>
>
> https://atlas.torproject.org/#details/EC98311F9EC02BEAA183651CE8402249CD036D0A
>
> https://atlas.torproject.org/#details/D1271A1E15C568DA709D3A1E68188EEAE8DDB834
>
> https://atlas.torproject.org/#details/12AD30E5D25AA67F519780E2111E611A455FDC89
>
> https://atlas.torproject.org/#details/1B9FACF25E17D26E307EA7CFA7D455B144B032E5
>
> https://atlas.torproject.org/#details/2F57987F3942BA0BBD706D623F1FF86A896842C2
>
> https://atlas.torproject.org/#details/379FB450010D17078B3766C2273303C358C3A442
>
> https://atlas.torproject.org/#details/935BABE2564F82016C19AEF63C0C40B5753BA3D2
>
> https://atlas.torproject.org/#details/B83DC1558F0D34353BB992EF93AFEAFDB226A73E
>
> https://atlas.torproject.org/#details/104A9453FD93BDBEAE9E2024898266AD2051A1BD
>
> https://atlas.torproject.org/#details/C11650E31F83E149C855D574B3171CC9CF9BEE19
>
>
>
>
> ---------- Forwarded message ----------
> From: Ross Petrie <ross.petrie at gmail.com>
> To: tor-relays at lists.torproject.org
> Cc:
> Date: Thu, 18 Sep 2014 22:18:05 +0100
> Subject: Re: [tor-relays] BBC and UK Lottery blocking ip addresses running
> relay
>
> Hi all,
>
> I've just reported this same issue this week, no reply yet.
>
> I can still watch catch up BBC TV through my sky box though.
> On 18 Sep 2014 21:40, "Dan Hanley" <hanley.dan at gmail.com> wrote:
>
>>
>>> I have just received a slightly more positive reply:
>>
>> "At present, our GeoIP data provider classes Tor nodes as proxies,
>> regardless of whether or not they're an exit node. We understand that there
>> is room for improvement in this model, since non-exit relays do not present
>> traffic on behalf of other users. We have asked our provider to give us a
>> way of differentiating Tor exit nodes from non-exit relays, to allow us to
>> block exit nodes only."
>>
>> So perhaps they will make a change... certainly reporting the issue seems
>> to raise its importance :-)
>>
>> atb
>>
>> Dan
>>
>>
>>
>>>
>>
>>  5. Re: BBC and UK Lottery blocking ip addresses running relay
>>>       nodes (Chris Whittleston)
>>> ---------- Forwarded message ----------
>>> From: Chris Whittleston <csw34 at cam.ac.uk>
>>> To: tor-relays at lists.torproject.org
>>> Cc:
>>> Date: Thu, 18 Sep 2014 01:40:31 +0100
>>> Subject: Re: [tor-relays] BBC and UK Lottery blocking ip addresses
>>> running relay nodes
>>> Yeah ouch - maybe I just got someone a bit more helpful. I'm with Matt
>>> though, it seems like they still don't get the difference between using Tor
>>> as a client and running a relay, so this isn't the end of the road there.
>>> You are going to have to rely on them wanting to actually think about it
>>> though.
>>>
>>> If all else fails, you could always try to simply report the issue again
>>> using the form I linked before, but this time just don't mention Tor at all
>>> and see if you get a different customer service person...
>>>
>>> http://iplayerhelp.external.bbc.co.uk/tv/incorrect_location_may2014
>>>
>>> I suspect you'll end up having to explain that you're running a relay in
>>> the end anyway, but you never know.
>>>
>>> Chris
>>>
>>> On 17 September 2014 21:48, Matt Puckey <matt at puckey.org> wrote:
>>>
>>>> Stephen Mollett:
>>>> > [...]
>>>> > "Thank you for contacting the BBC iPlayer support team.
>>>> >
>>>> > "I understand you’re experiencing problems accessing BBC iPlayer as
>>>> > you’re told that you are outside of the UK.
>>>> >
>>>> > "Please note that if you run TOR, then I’m afraid as per our
>>>> development
>>>> > team’s confirmation you’ll not be able to access BBC iPlayer. If you
>>>> > continue to use TOR then your IP address may be blacklisted against UK
>>>> > only services across bbc.co.uk."
>>>> >
>>>> > I made a point of stating explicitly in my original case filing that I
>>>> > run a middle relay and that no traffic exits from my node to the BBC's
>>>> > website or to anywhere else, along with a link to my node's stats on
>>>> > blutmagie confirming the (non-)exit policy.
>>>> > [...]
>>>>
>>>> Hi Stephen,
>>>>
>>>> I'm not sure whether I'm surprised at the BBC or not!
>>>>
>>>> It is a shame if they seem to be doing blanket blocking of Tor relay IP
>>>> addresses. I suppose this
>>>> (
>>>> https://blog.torproject.org/blog/call-arms-helping-internet-services-accept-anonymous-users
>>>> )
>>>> has /some/ relevance.
>>>>
>>>> The problem is obviously convincing a organisation like the BBC to treat
>>>> individual IP addresses different from other Tor relay IP addresses (and
>>>> whether they should be doing that at all). Although it seems Chris
>>>> Whittleston obviously managed it! Maybe you simply got 'the wrong person
>>>> at the other end'. Personally, I would continue to pursue this with
>>>> them!
>>>>
>>>> --Matt
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> _______________________________________________
>>>> tor-relays mailing list
>>>> tor-relays at lists.torproject.org
>>>> https://lists.torproject.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/tor-relays
>>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> --
>>> *Dr Chris Whittleston 栗主*
>>> Department of Chemistry
>>> University of Cambridge
>>> Lensfield Road, Cambridge, CB2 1EW
>>> Email: csw34 at cam.ac.uk
>>> Tel: +44 (0)1223 336423
>>>
>>> _______________________________________________
>>> tor-relays mailing list
>>> tor-relays at lists.torproject.org
>>> https://lists.torproject.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/tor-relays
>>>
>>>
>>
>> _______________________________________________
>> tor-relays mailing list
>> tor-relays at lists.torproject.org
>> https://lists.torproject.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/tor-relays
>>
>>
>
> ---------- Forwarded message ----------
> From: Chris Whittleston <csw34 at cam.ac.uk>
> To: tor-relays at lists.torproject.org
> Cc:
> Date: Thu, 18 Sep 2014 22:41:04 +0100
> Subject: Re: [tor-relays] BBC and UK Lottery blocking ip addresses running
> relay
>
> That's great news Dan, keep us posted!
>
> Chris
> On 18 Sep 2014 21:40, "Dan Hanley" <hanley.dan at gmail.com> wrote:
>
>>
>>> I have just received a slightly more positive reply:
>>
>> "At present, our GeoIP data provider classes Tor nodes as proxies,
>> regardless of whether or not they're an exit node. We understand that there
>> is room for improvement in this model, since non-exit relays do not present
>> traffic on behalf of other users. We have asked our provider to give us a
>> way of differentiating Tor exit nodes from non-exit relays, to allow us to
>> block exit nodes only."
>>
>> So perhaps they will make a change... certainly reporting the issue seems
>> to raise its importance :-)
>>
>> atb
>>
>> Dan
>>
>>
>>
>>>
>>
>>  5. Re: BBC and UK Lottery blocking ip addresses running relay
>>>       nodes (Chris Whittleston)
>>> ---------- Forwarded message ----------
>>> From: Chris Whittleston <csw34 at cam.ac.uk>
>>> To: tor-relays at lists.torproject.org
>>> Cc:
>>> Date: Thu, 18 Sep 2014 01:40:31 +0100
>>> Subject: Re: [tor-relays] BBC and UK Lottery blocking ip addresses
>>> running relay nodes
>>> Yeah ouch - maybe I just got someone a bit more helpful. I'm with Matt
>>> though, it seems like they still don't get the difference between using Tor
>>> as a client and running a relay, so this isn't the end of the road there.
>>> You are going to have to rely on them wanting to actually think about it
>>> though.
>>>
>>> If all else fails, you could always try to simply report the issue again
>>> using the form I linked before, but this time just don't mention Tor at all
>>> and see if you get a different customer service person...
>>>
>>> http://iplayerhelp.external.bbc.co.uk/tv/incorrect_location_may2014
>>>
>>> I suspect you'll end up having to explain that you're running a relay in
>>> the end anyway, but you never know.
>>>
>>> Chris
>>>
>>> On 17 September 2014 21:48, Matt Puckey <matt at puckey.org> wrote:
>>>
>>>> Stephen Mollett:
>>>> > [...]
>>>> > "Thank you for contacting the BBC iPlayer support team.
>>>> >
>>>> > "I understand you’re experiencing problems accessing BBC iPlayer as
>>>> > you’re told that you are outside of the UK.
>>>> >
>>>> > "Please note that if you run TOR, then I’m afraid as per our
>>>> development
>>>> > team’s confirmation you’ll not be able to access BBC iPlayer. If you
>>>> > continue to use TOR then your IP address may be blacklisted against UK
>>>> > only services across bbc.co.uk."
>>>> >
>>>> > I made a point of stating explicitly in my original case filing that I
>>>> > run a middle relay and that no traffic exits from my node to the BBC's
>>>> > website or to anywhere else, along with a link to my node's stats on
>>>> > blutmagie confirming the (non-)exit policy.
>>>> > [...]
>>>>
>>>> Hi Stephen,
>>>>
>>>> I'm not sure whether I'm surprised at the BBC or not!
>>>>
>>>> It is a shame if they seem to be doing blanket blocking of Tor relay IP
>>>> addresses. I suppose this
>>>> (
>>>> https://blog.torproject.org/blog/call-arms-helping-internet-services-accept-anonymous-users
>>>> )
>>>> has /some/ relevance.
>>>>
>>>> The problem is obviously convincing a organisation like the BBC to treat
>>>> individual IP addresses different from other Tor relay IP addresses (and
>>>> whether they should be doing that at all). Although it seems Chris
>>>> Whittleston obviously managed it! Maybe you simply got 'the wrong person
>>>> at the other end'. Personally, I would continue to pursue this with
>>>> them!
>>>>
>>>> --Matt
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> _______________________________________________
>>>> tor-relays mailing list
>>>> tor-relays at lists.torproject.org
>>>> https://lists.torproject.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/tor-relays
>>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> --
>>> *Dr Chris Whittleston 栗主*
>>> Department of Chemistry
>>> University of Cambridge
>>> Lensfield Road, Cambridge, CB2 1EW
>>> Email: csw34 at cam.ac.uk
>>> Tel: +44 (0)1223 336423
>>>
>>> _______________________________________________
>>> tor-relays mailing list
>>> tor-relays at lists.torproject.org
>>> https://lists.torproject.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/tor-relays
>>>
>>>
>>
>> _______________________________________________
>> tor-relays mailing list
>> tor-relays at lists.torproject.org
>> https://lists.torproject.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/tor-relays
>>
>>
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