Block users from downloading torrents?

[xlonewolfx456]

Greetings All,

So here's the scenario, I've block all torrent applications and sites on my PC through my firewall and antivirus to restrict users from downloading torrents.
But some folks just don't listen. Now, one of my cousins started downloading torrents on his mobile. I can right away block his MAC address and completely kill his net access through the router but I don't want to go extreme on him as other members of my family are on my wireless network too. So would be partiality right? Anyway, I'd hate to block all internet access to him.

So, Is there any way to block torrents at WiFi level or say router level leaving rest of the access to the internet intact?

BTW my router is ASUS RT-N10E

 

[laviniuc]

disable upnp from the router settings, should kill the auto port assignment that most torrent clients need to create the incoming connections.

you can also abuse the fact that most download links will end in ".torrent" so a address block list that kills anything containing ".torrent" will stop the connection.

edit: side note, the internet is meant to be free, you should really ask yourself if you really need this restriction.

 

[Dogsnake]

You might be able to to the block by closing the port (s) used by the torrent application. This can usually be found in the advanced or port forwarding section of the router set up. A better way in my opinion is to take the individual aside and strongly explain that his/her behavior is unacceptable and against your wishes. Also that if it happens again you will have zero tolerance and block their access for a set period, say 30 days. And after that if it happens again they will be banned from the network. You are correct in this as they can not only infect their own devices but it could wreck everyone who is on your net. In the end I have always found it is the human behavior that must be changed as there are always work arounds on the hardware/software levels.

 

[Mr5oh]

edit: side note, the internet is meant to be free, you should really ask yourself if you really need this restriction.

The problem is guess who will get in trouble if someone downloads some illegal from his internet connection.

I've used OpenDNS in the past to block all sorts of things, especially if we have someone house sitting or visiting. I then just setup the router to use that DNS.

 

[bill001g]

First step is to try to get the latest firmware from Asus. If the asus merlin dd-wrt version is supported that is the most powerful.

The reason for this is to get the most firewall filter options you can get and asus has added a lot of things over the years. Unfortunately that also means it is hard to give exact instructions since the screen change.

If you are really sure you know his mac address it will be simpler. Otherwise you are going to have to put in rules for your devices allowing everything and change the default group.

What will mostly stop torrent is to only allow TCP port 80 and 443. This will allow web browsing and most other browser based apps. It will block some types of video so you may have to add some extra port but you wait until you get complaints. Still this does not stop the person who really wants to bypass you. They can make torrent work on these ports and can use VPN to bypass any form of ip filter list.

 

[xlonewolfx456]

Thanks for all your suggestions guys. I'm gonna try all of them and get back to you..

@laviniuc: I know what you mean but he's not doing good at studies and wastes most of his time surfing the internet and keeps downloading movies. At the end of the day, he stays up late watching those movies and skips the college by waking up late...

EDIT: I need IP address of a server with almost all ports open to test if my router's really blocking ports. Anyone?