Bittorrent and firewalls

[Mark Carter]

I was using bittorrent the other day to download a file. It was
uploading at the same time that I was downloading. The curious thing is,
I'm allegedly behind a firewall, so how comes uploading is possible?
Wouldn't you expect ports to be blocked?

And if bittorrent can do it, then anyone/anything can.

 

[jo]

I was using bittorrent the other day to download a file. It was
uploading at the same time that I was downloading. The curious thing is,
I'm allegedly behind a firewall, so how comes uploading is possible?
Wouldn't you expect ports to be blocked?

You perhaps need to tell us what firewall you are using and how it is
configured.
I assume you also use a mail client that can upload... i.e send mails.
And Mozilla appears to be able to upload...

And if bittorrent can do it, then anyone/anything can.

Depends on the FW config.

 

[Mark Carter]

You perhaps need to tell us what firewall you are using and how it is

configured.

I've no idea. I work in Aberdeen, and the IT bird works in Manchester.
It was just an "out of curiosity" question.

Depends on the FW config.

You mean the ports that are blocked?

 

[dkg_ctc]

I was using bittorrent the other day to download a file. It was
uploading at the same time that I was downloading. The curious
thing is, I'm allegedly behind a firewall, so how comes uploading
is possible?

Because it's doing passive uploading. Instead of others connecting to
you, you're connecting to others to transmit the information.

Wouldn't you expect ports to be blocked?

They probably are.

And if bittorrent can do it, then anyone/anything can.

Yes, anyone/anything can connect out, depending on the firewall
config.

 

[jo]

I've no idea. I work in Aberdeen, and the IT bird works in Manchester.
It was just an "out of curiosity" question.

You're saying that you are doing P2P on a works computer? My
understanding is that P2P is a security accident waiting to happen so
your IT bird might be barking.
Or perhaps I am just dim and/or paranoid

You mean the ports that are blocked?

Essentially, yes. Ports can be configured to allow or disallow varying
types of traffic in either direction.

Or something like that...