18 replies to this topic

[alpha]

I came across this issue a few times recently. The IT department at work blocks the hotmail and yahoo mail sites, so we can not check our personal e-mails. Their reasoning is that since they have no way of monitoring it, the network can get viruses from outside sources. Although it's bogus, but we have to abide by their rules. I was wondering if the computer gurus in this forum know of anyway that the block can be bypassed. Every time I try to access the hotmail website, it says blocked by websense.

[Sip]

There is always a way

The cleanest way around such things is using a proxy server. This may or may not work but try it out (they may be blocking proxie access too):

All you need to know: http://www.samair.ru/proxy/faq.htm
A list of proxy servers in the US: http://www.samair.ru/proxy/19.htm

Basically with a proxy server, all your web requests go through the proxy and thus, will probably not be blocked. If this doesn't work, or if you don't have permissions to change proxy settings on your PC, then we can try other methods.

[Garo]

I don't think your IT department will be happy finding proxy server requests originating from your computer in websense's logs and user activity reports.

[gevo27]

I don't think your IT department will be happy finding proxy server requests originating from your computer in websense's logs and user activity reports.

all he has to do is say "ohh/. im sorry i didnt know that" and problem solved lol

[alpha]

Sip, they have blocked the websites you've listed above too. Isn't there any other way. At our firm we are always playing cat and mouse with the IT guys. They keep blocking and we keep finding ways how to bypass. This time it's really serious and none of us is able to do anything about it. Why do they have to be such nags.

[DominO]

There is always a way

The cleanest way around such things is using a proxy server. This may or may not work but try it out (they may be blocking proxie access too):

All you need to know: http://www.samair.ru/proxy/faq.htm
A list of proxy servers in the US: http://www.samair.ru/proxy/19.htm

Basically with a proxy server, all your web requests go through the proxy and thus, will probably not be blocked. If this doesn't work, or if you don't have permissions to change proxy settings on your PC, then we can try other methods.

I would be surprised to see that a departement that block email access will not block configurations such as Internet option. I may be mistaken, don't know.

[DominO]

Sip, they have blocked the websites you've listed above too. Isn't there any other way. At our firm we are always playing cat and mouse with the IT guys. They keep blocking and we keep finding ways how to bypass. This time it's really serious and none of us is able to do anything about it. Why do they have to be such nags.

Can you access the Internet options? Just try to see if you do not have a limited account which prevent you to play with the configurations. If you can, I may go to that site and try few ones and give you one that might work. But if they catch you out, I don't think they will like that.

[alpha]

I can access Internet Options, and I don't think I have a limited account. What configurations need to be changed. Also, how can they know about my internet activity. There are more than 500 analysts working here, I don't think IT guys will have time to look into weblog of each analyst.

[Sip]

See if you can get to either of these: http://www.multiproxy.org or http://www.surfola.com
(note: You can download their stuff from home and take it to work yourself if access is blocked to those sites).

Another option would be http://www.openproxy.com

If all of these are blocked, then you can always set up your own somewhere ... but this would require some technical knowledge and a machine with an always on connection (broadband) and preferrably a static IP address (which doesn't change).

One thing you can do (example with a PC at home) is if that machine is running Windows XP or 2000, you can enable remote desktop and then connect to it from your work PC. This way, you can surf the web from your home PC without actually being at home! Hopefully your IT department hasn't blocked off the ports required for this kind of a connection.

[alpha]

The http://www.multiproxy.org or http://www.surfola.com were blocked but I was able to access the http://www.openproxy.com . So what should I do next.

[Sip]

Oh I just tried openproxy and it seems like it's not around anymore. I hadn't checked it recently. Well the other two you can probably access from home. I haven't tried them but they have software that can automatically configure a working proxy for you I think.

[Accelerated]

IT is the devil I tells ya!

[Azat]

Sip, If I am the net admin as soon as I see lots of traffic going to one site or another I will block it.

In the long run I think it is not worth doing this Alpha as I think you may get yourself in trouble over it.

[Sip]

By the way, if hotmail and yahoo mail are the main problem, you can forward them to some other email account that is accessible from work. I know you can forward yahoo but I don't know what will happen with all the junk mail and what other good webmail service there is that might be accessible from work.

Also, see if you can see your yahoo mail through wap:

http://wap.oa.yahoo.com

[Sip]

Forgot to say, if your company is blocking access to yahoo wap as well, you can use it pretty comfortably using a text-based browser (lynx) and shell access to some remote machine. I don't know if you have ever used anything like this but if you have some other machine you can log into or some service provider that will give you shell access, then this is another option. I know my explanations are not very detailed but I am just throwing out ideas here ...

[alpha]

I think our IT has blocked everything. Thanks for the help to all of you people. I guess I am going to stay out of trouble and keep using Kinko's next door, although it's 20cents a minute and 50cents a page to print (outrageous).

[Sasun]

Be careful, they might block hyeforum too

[naturalbornstud87]

hey that wap thingy worked and got me past websense.Do u know how to get past the blocking of hotmail e-mails???

[vava]

This brings up an intresting dilemma (especially for those of us that work in IT). If I were a sysadmin, every bone in my body would be telling me to block access to sites like yahoo, hotmail and of course, porn sites, and maybe even forums (we all know how much time you can lose at a good forum ) BUT, where do you draw the line?

Acting like the gustapo certainly has it's negative effects in terms of team morale and employee satisfaction. One would HOPE, that most adults would be responsible/ethical and avoid extensive non-work activities on-line while they're busy at work. Besides if the work gets done, and done well - within budget guidelines, and allocated time frames, then why feel obligated to limit access? Any views?