Text chat with Trillian users = DSL crash every time

Question

Hello all,
I'm running iChat 3.1.8 (v445) on an iBook G4 running OS 10.4.9, with a Zyxel Prestige 600 series modem.
iChat works fine for me...until i begin text chatting with Trillian users. The result is always the same: The first time they chat with me, whether they initiate the chat or respond to my initiation, my DSL crashes. Once I wait for my DSL to cycle or switch to stealing my neighbors' wireless, it works fine for the most part, though I do experience periodic DSL crashes after the first crash.
Every single time. I've tested this with various friends, and it is only happening with Trillian users.
I've got my built-in firewall on, with ports 5060, 5190, 5297, 5298, 5678, and 16384-16403 open for both TCP and UDP.
I'm logging onto an AIM account on login.oscar.aol.com on port 5190.
TIA for any help offered.

Answer 1

Hi sbcreducer,
At one time it was possible to bring down a web server by many people getting organised and all trying to get the same page at the same time. This was called a Denial of Service attack (DoS)
Nowadays many modems and routers have protection against this even though you may not even be allowed by your ISP to run a web server from your end. (Your own web pages for instance)
This protection comes in about three main ways but essentially they monitor the amount of data coming to the modem or router (and request for a web page still means data in coming to make that request) and then cut the flow of data to stop you losing the internet connection.
One method is called Stateful Packet Inspection (SPI)
Another is Quality of Service (QoS) and lastly
Denial Of Service (DoS).
Now as to where this seting is on each manufacturers device is a bit of a guess.
In these pics at Port Forwarding.com of a Linksys, in the third pic of the Linksys you can see it in Gaming and Applications as a sub tab (near Port Forwarding but to the right)
On my Netgear it is on the WAN page and Called DOS.
On some Netgears it is on the same page of the Setup pages but called SPI
USing this site http://portforward.com/routers.htm you can look up your device.
Click on it.
At the next page select iChat from the list.
AT the next page it will tell you the default IP address the device is likely to use and the Default USer ID and Password so you can gain access to the set up pages via a web browser.
After that it a question of checking all the menu items to see if you have it.
Check anything that says Filters, and Firewalls as it can be regarded as a second level firewall, as well as the places I suggested above.
Not all device have this of course.
7:14 PM Friday; April 13, 2007