Can ISPs block one device (my PC) from the internet?

PenguinLover · 9 Jun 2017 at 20:16

I am currently on Virgin Media and would like to know if they can block one device from the internet without any others being disconnected.

Caged · 9 Jun 2017 at 20:25

Maybe if they manage the router and the router supports it.

PenguinLover · 9 Jun 2017 at 20:29

Caged said:
Maybe if they manage the router and the router supports it.

How do I find this out, and would they ban this for watching porn?

dholdi · 9 Jun 2017 at 20:37

Would that be Penguin porn, if so most definitely.

paradigm · 9 Jun 2017 at 20:38

Lol, no and no. In theory they could likely get into your router and perhaps blacklist a MAC address, but it's not something they would do for "watching porn" (or at all).

Change your MAC address on your network card. If the internet magically starts working again, then its possible, but also just as likely to be an ARP Cache issue.

Have you restarted the router at all since the problem began?

PenguinLover · 9 Jun 2017 at 20:45

paradigm said:
Lol, no and no. In theory they could likely get into your router and perhaps blacklist a MAC address, but it's not something they would do for "watching porn" (or at all).

Change your MAC address on your network card. If the internet magically starts working again, then its possible, but also just as likely to be an ARP Cache issue.

Have you restarted the router at all since the problem began?

Haha thanks, it's just that the internet went dodgy a day after I watched porn on my computer for the first time, thus leading me to believe that's why my internet was not working. And I have tried practically everything, router restart, command prompts, change of Ethernet cable etc. But has not tried to change MAC address. Are you sure they can't ban 1 device from the internet (btw I'm panicking so I want to be thorough lol)

paradigm · 9 Jun 2017 at 20:51

Like I said, in theory they "could" blacklist a MAC address on your local router, but not from "the internet", as all of your devices will be presenting themselves to "the internet" as the WAN interface's MAC address of the router (this is how NAT/PAT works). The two ways to prove or disprove that your MAC address have been "banned" (blacklisted, blackholed, added to an access-list, etc) would be to change your MAC address, or change your router (stick it in modem mode and use another router behind it for example). You could also "double NAT" behind another router without switching to modem mode.

Like I said before, I'd find it highly unlikely that Virgin Media would go to the trouble (and potential risk) of using a back door into your router, just to stop you watching (I presume legal) videos?

PenguinLover · 9 Jun 2017 at 20:54

paradigm said:
Like I said, in theory they "could" blacklist a MAC address on your local router, but not from "the internet", as all of your devices will be presenting themselves to "the internet" as the WAN interface's MAC address of the router (this is how NAT/PAT works). The two ways to prove or disprove that your MAC address have been "banned" (blacklisted, blackholed, added to an access-list, etc) would be to change your MAC address, or change your router (stick it in modem mode and use another router behind it for example). You could also "double NAT" behind another router without switching to modem mode.

Like I said before, I'd find it highly unlikely that Virgin Media would go to the trouble (and potential risk) of using a back door into your router, just to stop you watching (I presume legal) videos?

Haha yeah buddy, obviously legal I ain't a creep lol and thanks

PenguinLover · 9 Jun 2017 at 20:56

PenguinLover said:
Haha yeah buddy, obviously legal I ain't a creep lol and thanks

paradigm said:
Like I said, in theory they "could" blacklist a MAC address on your local router, but not from "the internet", as all of your devices will be presenting themselves to "the internet" as the WAN interface's MAC address of the router (this is how NAT/PAT works). The two ways to prove or disprove that your MAC address have been "banned" (blacklisted, blackholed, added to an access-list, etc) would be to change your MAC address, or change your router (stick it in modem mode and use another router behind it for example). You could also "double NAT" behind another router without switching to modem mode.

Like I said before, I'd find it highly unlikely that Virgin Media would go to the trouble (and potential risk) of using a back door into your router, just to stop you watching (I presume legal) videos?

Also how do I change the MAC address

ChrisD. · 9 Jun 2017 at 21:08

No they cannot.

Steveocee · 9 Jun 2017 at 21:13

You've probably contracted some malware on your travels across the internet which is stopping your connection.

Linux is king for porn lol

PenguinLover · 9 Jun 2017 at 21:15

ChrisD. said:
No they cannot.

Thank you

PenguinLover · 9 Jun 2017 at 21:15

Steveocee said:
You've probably contracted some malware on your travels across the internet which is stopping your connection.

Linux is king for porn lol

Thanks, I think that is what has happened. And lmao we all know

Steveocee · 9 Jun 2017 at 21:17

PenguinLover said:
Thanks, I think that is what has happened. And lmao we all know

Slightly ironic with your name being penguin lover as well.

PenguinLover · 9 Jun 2017 at 21:41

Steveocee said:
Slightly ironic with your name being penguin lover as well.

Shh don't tell anyone

dholdi · 9 Jun 2017 at 23:54

PenguinLover said:
Haha thanks, it's just that the internet went dodgy a day after I watched porn on my computer for the first time

THE first time ?

bremen1874 · 10 Jun 2017 at 00:51

I'm sure Virgin blocked me a day after watching my first cat video...

If they can block all of the porn and cat related content they may finally have enough bandwidth available to support their customers as they should...

stoofa · 10 Jun 2017 at 01:04

PenguinLover said:
Thank you

I do like the way you glossed over everyone telling you that yes, in theory it could happen to simply thank the one answer you wanted to hear.

r7slayer · 10 Jun 2017 at 04:18

Why would a ISP go to that trouble to access the router and manage your network. They would just do it their side. And no an ISP would not do this anyway.

Minstadave · 10 Jun 2017 at 06:11

Your ISP can't. GCHQ might be onto you though.