[tor-relays] NHS UK blocking Tor?

Tue Apr 15 19:24:00 UTC 2014

Hello Chris!

I run an internal relay in Austria

https://torstatus.blutmagie.de/router_detail.php?FP=19eb1397aa60f3fb8bd0995b96dd8cc83abf0db3

and checked

http://www.nhs.uk

from my original IP. It worked, I accessed the site.

Best regards

Anton

-- 
no.thing_to-hide at cryptopathie dot eu
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On 15/04/14 18:57, Chris Whittleston wrote:
> Thanks for all that Mick - I have already contacted them via that form and
> received an initial response (pasted below) which isn't that encouraging. I
> suspect the biggest challenge with this is going to be getting access to
> the people who have influence or power to make a change. I've contacted
> Ross also so we'll see if he has any insight or advice.
> 
> Here is their reply:
> 
> -------------------------------------------------------------
> Dear Chris,
> 
> 
> 
> Thank you for contacting the NHS Choices Service desk
> 
> 
> 
> Unfortunately the issue you have raised seem to be to with your internet
> connection as you are running a Tor middle relay. We are unable aid you on
> this issue as no we have not has any reports of issue with connecting to
> the site. If we have blocked Tor, it will be due to security reasons.
> 
> 
> 
> Kind Regards,
> 
> Kalpesh
> 
> The NHS Choices Service Desk
> -------------------------------------------------------------
> 
> I think the next step will be to find out if they can direct me to the
> person who made the decision to block public Tor IPs in the first place, or
> the policy/IT team who implemented it. I'll update when I have more.
> 
> Chris
> 
> 
> 
> On 15 April 2014 14:46, mick <mbm at rlogin.net> wrote:
> 
>> On Mon, 14 Apr 2014 23:37:35 +0100
>> Chris Whittleston <csw34 at cam.ac.uk> allegedly wrote:
>>
>>> Can someone else running a relay from their home connection confirm
>>> that they get an 'Access denied' error from http://www.nhs.uk? I've
>>> checked with someone using the same ISP in the flat above me and they
>>> seem able to access the site just fine, as can I via mobile internet
>>> so I'm down to suspecting that they are blocking all Tor relay IPs.
>>> This is the exact error I get:
>>> Access DeniedYou don't have permission to access "http://www.nhs.uk/"
>>> on this server.
>>>
>>> Reference #18.1f7f1002.1397514736.1fe2170c
>>> The reference seems to change each time I visit. If this does turn
>>> out to be them blocking Tor - advice on how to approach contacting
>>> them to resolve this would be appreciated.
>>>
>>
>> Confirmed. My (non-exit) relay in Amsterdam is blocked. Another
>> (non-tor) server in Amsterdam is not blocked, nor are my non-tor
>> servers in the UK, SanFrancisco or NYC blocked.
>>
>> As for getting this changed, that may be difficult. You could try
>> contacting the site through the page at:
>>  http://www.nhs.uk/aboutNHSChoices/Pages/ContactUs.aspx
>> and selecting the "I have experienced a problem accessing or using the
>> website or some part of it" radio button and then commenting. You could
>> contact the NHS at the (postal) address below. You could contact the
>> DoH (Charles Massey)
>> https://www.gov.uk/government/people/charlie-massey
>>
>> As evidence in favour of Tor's value, you could point to the "who uses
>> Tor" page at https://www.torproject.org/about/torusers.html.en. You
>> could usefully explain the obvious value of anonymity in browsing health
>> related sites.
>>
>> And, since you appear to be in Cambridge, you could look for some
>> support (and possible advice) from Ross Anderson
>> (http://www.cl.cam.ac.uk/~rja14/). You can bet that Ross uses Tor, and
>> he almost certainly has experience in dealing with awkward parts of
>> HMG.
>>
>> Best
>>
>> Mick
>>
>> -------------------------------------
>> NHS address
>>
>> NHS Connecting for Health
>> Informatics Directorate
>> Department of Health
>> Princes Exchange
>> Princes Square
>> Leeds
>> West Yorkshire
>> LS1 4HY
>>
>>
>> ---------------------------------------------------------------------
>>
>>  Mick Morgan
>>  gpg fingerprint: FC23 3338 F664 5E66 876B  72C0 0A1F E60B 5BAD D312
>>  http://baldric.net
>>
>> ---------------------------------------------------------------------
>>
>>
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>>
>>
> 
> 
> 
> 
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