My internet experience is been limited by a firewall from my ISP provider. How do I switch it off?

You can't disable your ISP's firewall. You can only work around it. Tell us what you'd like to do and we'll try to let you know how you can work around the firewall.

Your isp is your gateway to the Internet. So if they're blocking certain ports for some services, there's little you can do. But like Seun said, if you share what it is you're trying to do, somebody may be able to suggest a workaround. For example, if port 80 is blocked, you can always use other ports to run your local web server.

I make use of peer2peer softwares like limewire n bearshare,also ftp's like bit torrent.Cant make use of dis softwares anymore cos its been firewalled.wat do i do 2 use dis softwares?

I make use of peer2peer softwares like limewire n bearshare,also ftp's like bit torrent.Cant make use of dis softwares anymore cos its been firewalled.wat do i do 2 use dis softwares?

Hmmm, I really can't help you there. It's usually not legal anyway, so why not get a credit card and go to the Itunes Music store to buy your favorite music at the rate of $1 per song? It's pretty cheap, you know, even by Nigerian standards.

I don't want to speculate on what you use those programs to download, but The RIAA frowns upon file sharing clients.  There were a rash of heavy fines on people, that were highly publicised to scare everybody off.  Now they're going after isp's to track the use of such clients and turn in the users.

I think you should accept the fact that they're illegal softwares and let go.

P2P tools like Morpheus, Kazaa, BearShare, LimeWire, shareaza, winmx, etc are used mostly for illegal activities.  Although they can be useful in swapping open source software too.  For example, a lot of people use bit torrent to get their copy of Linux.  Therefore, while your isp is trying to protect the bad, you're also unable to put the programs to good use.

I partly own and run an ISP and have all P2P ports blocked. Trust me, if using the right protocols and software, there is no way to work around the blockage. Sorry o...

there is one way. IRC.

there is one way. IRC.

That statement makes no sense to me.

internet relay chat lol

You can try IRC[i] (but i doubt if you will be able to use P2P programs with it)[/i] or an external proxy server.

What has IRC got to do with bypassing firewalls? Maybe you know something I don't.

What they mean is that you can download files illegally over IRC. You know, I'd go for the Itunes option any day!

I believe eDonkey allows you to alter the port on your localhost, off course your ISP will notice the spike in traffic and shut you off if they are serious about p2p. Like oasis said there are lawsuits flying around, particularly in the US. Most people share only open source stuff, their personal recordings or porn to avoid trouble.

What has IRC got to do with bypassing firewalls? Maybe you know something I don't.

Since it's most likely the ISP did/will not block IRC port so you can use that to transfer the file.

What they mean is that you can download files illegally over IRC.  You know, I'the go for the Itunes option any day!

Oh, I see.

You must have the patience of a saint to get files via irc, since you have to stay on queue sometimes for long hours before download begins.  Never mind the fact that you're exposing yourself to serious viruses from guys looking to make your system into an emailing zombie.

Me think that you should complain to your ISP. you can't have limited access to something you're paying for.

demmy:

Me think that you should complain to your ISP. you can't have limited access to something you're paying for.

Fair enough, you can complain when you're doing something legal

oasis:

Oh, I see.

You must have the patience of a saint to get files via irc, since you have to stay on queue sometimes for long hours before download begins.  Never mind the fact that you're exposing yourself to serious viruses from guys looking to make your system into an emailing zombie.

same thing goes for those P2P services.

besides IRC isn't that bad if you know your way around. just last week i downloaded two 700mb (1.4GB) files. it took about 5-6hrs - not too bad. you just have to know your way around.

same thing goes for those P2P services.

besides IRC isn't that bad if you know your way around. just last week i downloaded two 700mb (1.4GB) files. it took about 5-6hrs - not too bad. you just have to know your way around.

Not really.

IRC is a lot more geeky than other programs. You have to constantly watch for openings and quickly type in those silly triggers.  And the wait time is way longer, since irc is used by a whole lot more people around the world.

Personaly it's not worth my time.  There are all kinds of stores in my city with killer bargains on CD/dvd's.

Seun i thnk u 4 ur concern but ow can nigerians acquire ccards wen its so difficult 2 obtn 1.I sure would luv 2 get files legally but am crdtless!

ibrahim:

Seun i thnk u 4 your concern but ow can nigerians acquire ccards when its so difficult 2 obtn 1.I sure would love 2 get files legally but am crdtless!

Some banks (I know of Zenith & UBA - former STB) offer the chance to get Mastercard without owning an account with them.

www.graphcard.com works for me though I haven't used the card with Itunes yet.

O my god. I walk down the street and watch people selling pirated DVDs and CDs laid out on blanks in the streets of Berlin, Madrid, and a million other major cities in the world. People downloading content in there homes to watch are not the problem... Thousand of laws suits... Propaganda.... It costs more to persecute then to scare. So, they scare... and people believe.
If you own an ISP you aren't blocking to "be a good person" or to "Follow the Law", you limit P2P to save bandwidth so you can sell more Scripts to people... Punto! Don't believe the hype...O... itunes....gezzzz..... I would say spend the dollar or euro on some A.V. cables and hook your PC to a stereo or TV and just record the songs or movies first... itunes.... Pay a dollar to the guys that have a million....

Let’s do a little math, shall we. If you live 77.14 years ( the average in the U.S), make $7.50 an hour, and work a 40 hour work week your total income from that job over your life time would be 40hrs x 52wks=2080hrs, 2080 x 77.14 yrs.= 160451.2 hrs, 1600451.2 hrs x $7.50 = $1,203,384.00 So, hmm, more or less a million dollars. If someone asked your to work for them for the rest of your life for a million dollars would you say yes?

Don't give them a red cent; you work for nothing as it is. Even if you made $62 an hour you only make 10 mill for half your waking life.

Demand and eat all the Bandwidth you pay for, or switch ISPs.

You have a better chance at winning the lotto than being fined...

Like M&M needs more money... Down load... he would...

Anyone that says “ooooo it is bad”... has other motives... like the ISP guy, he can't sell a slow ISP, he also can’t make it slow for his current users with out loosing them, eventually. His choices: supply more bandwidth (more cost for him), discourage file transfer (less cost for him). NOT BECASUE it is illegal to down load some stuff... which...you may or may not be doing.

That’s it, good luck… o and Switch ISP… The ones that don’t try to “police the net” and provide width are the ones that should live.

-Killmon

www.graphcard.com worked for me with Itunes. However, you need a 3ghz pentium 4 processor to play their video - I learnt this the hard way. it's a pity that African songs are not available on the Itunes Music store.

Seun, i have an account wth them but where can i get a reputable rep here in Nigeria. And what's the issuing bank for graphcard.

As far as I am concerned, all their reps are reputable. The commission they earn is generous enough for them not to be tempted to run away with your money. Just choose the rep closest to where you live!

Thanks for the info.

I think that to assume someone is doing something illegal because he wants access to p2p is fascist BS. Like killmon said, ISP's just want to oversell their bandwidth. One VERY LEGITIMATE usage of P2P is the updater for World Of Warcraft!!! I am so tired of you corporate stooges bowing to the will of the Corporations who think they have more right to make money because they have more money. The RIAA and such organizations (and the organizations they represent) do not add any value to the products they sell, in fact they reduce the overall quality of the art by siphoning profits from the artists and force feeding us American idol crap! All the ISP's have to do is take a stand and say that they are not responsible for what their customers do with the resources they sell. But just like with ATT and the NSA ( see http://www.eff.org/ ), we get sold out instead of taking a stand for freedom. Jefferson wept. Anyway, call your ISP and complain that you want the right to use p2p services. If they ask you why, tell them it's none of their business, and if they press you, say you want it for World of Warcraft. Other than that, try to find an ISP that is not Nazi, and donate and become an active member of the ACLU and EFF. If you don't stand up for your rights, who will?

hahaha, how about giving Firewall tunnelling a shot?