The Tor Bandwidth Abuse Challenge

This is a followup to comments in XeroBank's post (#666 in the Anyone tried XeroBank (formerly Torrify) thread) about his proclaimed ability to siphon up a large (80-100%) proportion of a Tor node's advertised bandwidth. Since it is getting off-topic to the rest of the discussion in that thread, I have opened this one for future discussion.

You stated an assumption (use of Tor's traffic-limiting mechanism) which I've qualified (I use other software to block access to specific URLs). It shouldn't have any impact but full disclosure is a good thing.

Since we are extremely unlikely to meet face-to-face, I'd suggest something else. If you manage to siphon my node's bandwidth to the extent agreed (I'd suggest setting a level of 80% of 250KB/s - 200KB/s average - for a 10MB download) then I change my forum avatar to one of your choice for a month (subject to forum rules of course).

Otherwise, you get to look like a yellow-skinned leering baldy with a big nose for a month.

Assuming these terms are acceptable, I'd suggest you PM me with your preferred time and contact method for running this test. Since my node isn't online all the time (and my router has been a little pernickety in the past) it may be best to arrange phone contact while doing the test.

 

How about PeeWee Herman?

 

I ACCEPT THE CHALLENGE.

Can animated GIFs be used for the avatar I saddle you with?

 

Love it:
go for it you guys: no-one really loses:
looking forward to the new avatar for ??

 

Excellent! Now to throw in some extra small print...

• The standard Tor client software must be used (and I need to see the incoming connection come from another Tor node to confirm this). Using a bespoke XB client to jump straight to my node bypassing the rest of Tor would make it too easy.
• You choose what URL to access, using the exit option to specify my node. I do pattern matching to block some file download URLs but a blocked message is given so you'll know if it affects you (unlikely).
• I need to show that the bandwidth I advertise is achieveable (via SpeedTest or a similar tool) beforehand.
• I have to provide an approximate indication of node usage (i.e. the bandwidth shown by Vidalia) on request.

Ooh, what confidence! The Policy: Image Posting and Member Signatures thread doesn't rule out animated signatures or avatars (though I find them annoying enough to block by default). As long as the size is small (say, enough for the typical Tor user to download in under 5 seconds) I won't complain too much.

I need to swap out my existing router so it's also probably better if I take a few days to break the replacement in first.

 

I think I can live with those stipulations. Can you live with >80% of 250, for at least 10MB of throughput over some period?

Fun fun fun. Had you not restricted me to not jumping directly to your node, I could have even broken your bandwidth settings and gone above 250.

No problem. I probably won't be able to do the deed in the immediate due to overtime with xb, but when we do, you're going to be sporting a nice new avatar!

 

Bump: want to keep this in view

 

In the spirit of education and entertainment, what is the status of this “challenge”?

 

Let me talk with kyle and we'll have a date and time for the drag race.

 

cool i will be watching this thread like a hawk very intresting

 

Unfortunately my phone line is down (the service provider went bust and I only noticed when it was disconnected). Although this hasn't yet affected my DSL connection, I think it would be safer to hold fire until I get it reconnected again (the 24th seems to be the earliest date for this...grrr).

 

Ping.

Are we ready to rawk?!?!

 

Rawk ^_^ most professional thing i ever heard

 

It's a weekend. Let's have fun. I have 3+ ways to beat the challenge, and a fourth one that will actually kill the node while it takes out the bandwidth.

 

Sorry for the delay in replying - I've only just managed to regain Internet access (having to reconnect, then reprovision the phone line due to the previous provider going bankrupt) so will need a few days to catch up on affairs.

 

Did this thread see any resolution?

 

No. I even got his new avatar ready. Between now and then, one of our methods was discovered: looping a circuit infinite lengths through the same node. But we still have another method. Paranoid, you ready to have your butt handed to you?

http://forum.xerobank.com/paranoid2k.gif

 

i didn't believe we were able to have flashy animated avatars but i've found no forum rules against it. still thinks its a great avatar, myself i would of gone annoy kitten or fairy, anything generally annoying.

 

Hehe, I watch with interest.

 

. . . . . mind if I ripoff this avatar. Anyways, have a ball - both you guys.

 

So....where are we ...??

 

Has anyone seen paranoid2k?