The Student Room Group

Do universities monitor internet usage?

Do universities monitor what we do online?

And also, can they see if we're torrenting?

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Naughty naughty :P
Reply 2
Original post by LilMonster
Naughty naughty :P


:colone:
Original post by TraKKtion
:colone:


Greatest smiley usage of all time. OF ALL TIME!
Reply 4
:bootyshake: :bump: :bootyshake:
Reply 5
They certainly can, but whether they do is another matter. They (presumably) have thousands of people using their system, as long as you don't give them a specific reason to be tracking you individually I suspect all would be fine, it's like watching out for a needle appearing in a haystack otherwise. I've used sites that the university presumably wouldn't approve of, and I've never heard anything.
Reply 6
Original post by Craig_D
They certainly can, but whether they do is another matter. They (presumably) have thousands of people using their system, as long as you don't give them a specific reason to be tracking you individually I suspect all would be fine, it's like watching out for a needle appearing in a haystack otherwise. I've used sites that the university presumably wouldn't approve of, and I've never heard anything.


Okay, if they caught me downlaoding torrents what do you think they would give me? warning? fine? suspension from their network?

:smile:
Reply 7
They can yes.
Reply 8
Yes, and furthermore, if they find out about that 16gig of world cinema* you have been downloading they come and paint 'deviant porno freak' in red letters on your bedroom door.

*I don't care how you justify it - 'All you can eat butt-fet' is not an art film.
Many block torrenting in halls. Other than that though, i dont think they monitor usage. I was on mine all the time, watching videos etc and never had a problem with the uni saying i go above fair usage or anything like that.
Reply 10
Original post by truechristian91
Many block torrenting in halls. Other than that though, i dont think they monitor usage. I was on mine all the time, watching videos etc and never had a problem with the uni saying i go above fair usage or anything like that.


No! :eek:

To the OP: When in doubt, just proxy it!
Original post by asparkyn
No! :eek:

To the OP: When in doubt, just proxy it!


Lol, i never try or tried it myself. Some friends though were getting really annoyed about it.
Original post by TraKKtion
Okay, if they caught me downlaoding torrents what do you think they would give me? warning? fine? suspension from their network?

:smile:


Most unis block torrents from being able to download.
The question is too general. Different universities have different policies. You're better off asking on the subforum of the particular university.
Reply 14
just buy a VPN
Reply 15
Thanks for your help guys.

So if the uni has blocked torrenting I can use a proxy to bypass it?
Reply 16
Original post by FinalMH
just buy a VPN


Surely that will just make it look more suspicious? Large amounts of encrypted traffic is just going to make you look like Gary Glitter.
Reply 17
Original post by TraKKtion
Thanks for your help guys.

So if the uni has blocked torrenting I can use a proxy to bypass it?


No, they block ports other than those used for essential services eg http, ftp etc. Someone I know who's a bit crafty set up a vnc and ftp server on their home computer and downloaded torrents via the vnc server then FTPd into it to transfer them, but it's more effort than it's worth really. If they're small files you're downloading eg music just get a 3g dongle with a couple of gb of data and find rapidshare/fileserve links.
Reply 18
Original post by Jono404
No, they block ports other than those used for essential services eg http, ftp etc. Someone I know who's a bit crafty set up a vnc and ftp server on their home computer and downloaded torrents via the vnc server then FTPd into it to transfer them, but it's more effort than it's worth really. If they're small files you're downloading eg music just get a 3g dongle with a couple of gb of data and find rapidshare/fileserve links.




I see.

That sounds complicated, I mainly use torrents for albums and movies so a dongle would be pointless for me 'cause they have crappy download limits.

Btw the university is Hertfordshire, does anyone currently going there know if torrenting is blocked on their network?
(edited 12 years ago)
I torrented all year. Was fine.

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