Rapidshare Block Panic Strikes Virgin Media UK Broadband Users

Customer of Virgin Media UK, specifically its fixed line cable broadband ISP products, have been left unable to access several internet file storage websites (including the popular RapidShare.com) for around 24 hours following a fault on Virgin's platform.

The issue caused many users to fear that Virgin Media had blocked RapidShare directly, although the operator recently Tweeted to rebuff those allegations: "Folks - we are aware some customers unable to access Rapidshare/MegaUpload - we have NOT blocked these and are urgently investigating".

It's far more likely that Virgin's transparent proxy has simply fallen foul of the Internet Watch Foundations (IWF ) child abuse filter, albeit usually due more to the ISPs own implementation than the IWF itself. This is a sad but frustratingly common fault, luckily it's easy enough to circumvent.