The NZ filter works by collecting a list of banned websites.

The websites addresses are converted to IP.

These IPs are advertised to the ISPs via BGP.

The ISPs divert all traffic for that IP to the government filter server.

The government filter server examines the request against the list of banned websites, and decides whether to forward or block. Only HTTP is examined, everything else is forwarded.

So, you can't get around it via DNS tricks.

More details: http://techliberty.org.nz/issues/internet-filtering/filtering-technical-faq/

We have two major parties in NZ (Labour and National).

The filter process was started when Labour was in power.

It's now gone live while National is in power.

At least the Greens are against it! Oh, pity they only get ~5%.

If you want to know more about it, check the NZ Internet Filtering FAQ at: http://techliberty.org.nz/issues/internet-filtering/filtering-faq/

Hi there. Do you have any more information about the filter blocking updates to nod32 or any other problems created by the filter? If so, please email me at thomas@thomasbeagle.net