[Rdog49]

HI,

I took my laptop to an internet cafe with a different server and isp address.
There was no problem with downloading on alltunes.
So this means that someone is blocking the online ordering with my usual isp address. If it's mp3sparks, I can't see why they would do that. Makes no sense.
Hard to figure out what's going on but the problem isn't my computer.

[gluteus maximus]

Hi Rdog49

Thank you, thank you. At last we're getting somewhere with this. It's certainly technically possible for them to selectively block downloads without affecting access to other parts of their sites. But why would they do that? We can only guess.

A couple of weeks ago, the famous BitTorrent site Demonoid was taken down. The site was based in Mexico; the Mexican authorities arrested the operators and issued an Interpol warrant to take down the Demonoid servers in Ukraine. It happened just before a meeting between Ukraine and US to discuss, amongst other things, copyright enforcement. This sounds remarkably like the AllOfMp3 closure five years ago. You mentioned that you are in Mexico - it's possible Sparks are trying to protect themselves by blocking downloads from Mexico, but not doing it very accurately. Feel free to invent your own conspiracy theory...

Many people use VPN services these days; for a couple of dollars a week you can hide your internet traffic from snoopers and also bypass local blocking by changing your apparent location to another part of the planet.

It would be useful if anyone else with the disabled downloads problem could post here and give their location. It would also be good to know whether this is an intermittent problem or if, once blocked, you stay blocked.

gm

[gluteus maximus]

I just tried to buy a track using allTunes via a connection in Germany and got the 'ordering disabled' message. A few moments later I was able to purchase and download the same track with no problems using a UK connection.

My new theory is that they've been on the dodgy wodka again.

gm

[Rdog49]

I know that here in Mexico piracy is a thriving industry so the powers that be may not like people accessing these sites. The ISP I use privately is owned by the Federal Electricity outfit. It looks to me as if the local ISP has something to do with it. If mp3sparks were blocking their site here in Mexico wouldn't it be general? You wouldn't be able to access them from public computers either. It seems the ISP is doing the blocking. Can they do that?
Some ISPs here, if they see you downloading a lot may decide to block the site especially if the government supported a policy about sites such as Mp3 sparks and they have already closed down one site here.
(a little conspiracy theory) The ISP would have to know what you're downloading, what sites you're visiting etc. especially if you leave cookies and download history activated.
There may be a problem too if you download a lot from one place using one ISP. One solution may be to disable cookies, history on the browser and the other to use public computers more so that their less likely to zero in you.
It's well know by now that we're being observed and I don't mean from Vega! There was a case reported recently of a woman who was fined 5 grand for not obtaining a birthday party permit. The state found out she was throwing a party by breaking into her Facebook account! So much for privacy on the Internet.

[gluteus maximus]

Hi Rdog49

ISPs do sometimes block traffic, but in general they will redirect you to a page explaining why you've been blocked.

In this case, the 'download disabled' message is definitely being sent by allTunes. The only real question is why they're doing it. There are databases which list IP address allocations by country, and they're not always accurate. But I don't think I'd have been blocked in Germany if they were only aiming for Mexico.

To paraphrase John Connor: "There is no privacy but what we make for ourselves." If online privacy concerns you, use a VPN, then your ISP will have no idea what you're doing online.

gm