Forum reading from blocked location.

[seek10]

At my work, forum is blocked saying 'Alternate Spirituality" filter. Well, I have seen this in some of my previous companies. Even internet email access is also blocked, as this is financial company. I prefer to avoid the cell phone due to radiation issues. I wondered is there any way I can read from work ?. but yahoo groups is not blocked though.

 

[Jacques]

At my work, forum is blocked saying 'Alternate Spirituality" filter. Well, I have seen this in some of my previous companies. Even internet email access is also blocked, as this is financial company. I prefer to avoid the cell phone due to radiation issues. I wondered is there any way I can read from work ?. but yahoo groups is not blocked though.

I am not a specialist but have you tried using a proxy ?

See here : _http://www.atproxy.net/

 

[Foxx]

At my work, forum is blocked saying 'Alternate Spirituality" filter. Well, I have seen this in some of my previous companies. Even internet email access is also blocked, as this is financial company. I prefer to avoid the cell phone due to radiation issues. I wondered is there any way I can read from work ?. but yahoo groups is not blocked though.

It might be worth considering the possibility/probability that your work may also be monitoring your internet usage, so trying to bypass their filters on their network may get you unwanted attention.

If you're using your own computer on their network, I'd try a proxy or maybe a VPN--those are probably the easiest. Alternatively, you could get a long USB cable and tether your computer to your phone and keep it far away from you. Something like this:

_http://www.amazon.com/RiteAV-USB-Micro-B-Cable-ft/dp/B0047PC476/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1352764681&sr=8-2&keywords=usb+to+microusb+15ft

FWIW.

 

[mcb]

I've not encountered this with the forum, but FaceBook and Twitter were blocked at one time. It turned out that the filter was pretty dumb and all I had to do much of the time was use https: instead of http: to avoid it. You could try that.

The other trick I used with work-related searching (the filter constantly interfered with people trying to get their work done, which is why it is gone now), was to use Wi-Fi to connect to an access point in the classroom area that was outside the firewall. It was not good from an EMF standpoint, and not very convenient, but it worked in all cases, and spared me having to turn on my cell phone.

 

[ignis.intimus]

Like Foxx said, depending on the level of monitoring they are performing and how strict their policies are, it might not be worth the risk. Be sure to use something secure, either a HTTPS proxy or a VPN that supports data encryption like IPSec. This would prevent them from being able to perform protocol analysis / deep-packet inspection to see what you are actually doing. Another thing that usually trips people up, is changing your DNS servers. Even if I can't see what is inside your web traffic, if I can what DNS records you are looking up I can still tell alot about what you are doing (when, where, and approximately how long). To avoid that you you need to use a VPN that tunnels all traffic (bring it up to surf, bring it down to work) or if you just use a web proxy like Gandalf recommended, you would want to change your DNS server IP addresses to something public like 8.8.8.8 or 4.2.2.1. Even still, if your DNS traffic is not being encrypted it's subject to sniffing. You can also try hitting the forum direct by IP address when at work, it's possible their filter just scans based on domain name. (You can add an IP address to your local hosts file to prevent your browser from using the domain name).

Of course, your local machine permissions will probably prevent you from either tweaking DNS servers or installing a VPN client. And the web-filter your company has installed might block well known proxies. Your only other choice might be to use a private web proxy, or setup your own using a remote machine.

Then of course there is the possibility of remote monitoring software on your machine, where no matter how well you hide your network traffic, a remote IT guy can see what everything you see on your screen.

Keeping your private traffic off their network is the safest best, in terms of keeping your job. I've never worked in the financial sector, but if your company is big I would be careful. They tend to take those things seriously, and by-passing intentional security measures is a good way to piss off the IT/security guys, and if you get caught they won't forget your name. Even if management has no problem with the sites you go to, or the time (on your break), intentionally breaking their policy is not going to sit well. It would constitute a breach of trust from their perspective. Getting fired for something like that also precludes you from receiving unemployment (AFAIK). So be careful what steps you take just to read personal sites at work.

 

[Voyageur]

Fwiw, and my knowledge of IT stuff is limited, the same controls are on our work systems and so made a conscious decision that this stuff (computer/systems/phone) is theirs to do as they please, even if not to my liking. Figure that they pay me to use it as stated by policy, so that's what it is. No point in raising a ruckus with IT's and managers et al. But then again, workarounds are likely possible for those in the know, yet would not have the know-how to circumvent (go around) their systems anyway, even if it is possible, so just don't bother, though it would be great to connect from time to time during the day.

 

[Scottie]

1. Many proxies might be blocked by your company's firewall, but you might be able to find one that works.

2. The quickest and often simplest way is what Megan said: https://cassiopaea.org/forum/

Since the encryption with HTTPS begins at your browser, it's usually not blocked by firewalls.

3. You can also try an SSH tunnel - if there is some server you can ssh to. This one is a bit more complicated, but it's very handy!

Search google for "ssh tunnel". Basically, you use a command-line ssh client like PuTTY to connect to a remote server (this can be any computer or server that you control with a known IP address that runs an ssh server).

This connection is encrypted, and you configure it to listen to local web traffic on a certain port on your puter. Then you just install a different browser, or reconfigure your current browser to use a proxy server, and you define the proxy server to be the local port that PuTTY is listening to. There are many browser plugins like FoxyProxy that make turning the proxy on and off a matter of clicking a button on the browser's toolbar.

This makes it so that when you browse the web, all the traffic is routed through the SSH client, over the net, and to the remote server. Thus, it appears to the rest of the internet that you are browsing the internet from the remote server's IP address. And, since SSH is encrypted, firewalls shouldn't block it.

If the firewall does block the default SSH port (port 22), you can change the SSH port on the server to some other port that is not blocked.

Like I said, this option is NOT simple, but it almost always works. Whenever I am on an insecure network (such as at a hotel, on public WiFi, etc.) I generally use an SSH tunnel for my surfing.

Definitely try #2 first, tho!

I have to add that this whole "corporate firewall" thing really annoys me. Corporations are so busy protecting their employees from the internet that it never occurs to them that if I am allowed to take a break in the middle of work and read the Cass forum for 10 minutes, MAYBE I might end up rather refreshed, relaxed, and more productive when I get back to work 10 minutes later. This is really no different than chatting with a coworker for 10 minutes in terms of "lost time".

The whole idea that you must work, work, work 8 hours straight with no breaks is entirely idiotic and totally NOT conducive to high productivity. The human mind needs breaks. I have found that the #1 way to solve some difficult problem is to walk away from it for even a few minutes, and do something else - especially something else that lets my brain "idle" for a bit.

That's when the good ideas just pop into my head!

 

[seek10]

Thank you all for the replies. I didn't realize so many other options exist. I will try it out today. :D.

 

[mcb]

...The whole idea that you must work, work, work 8 hours straight with no breaks is entirely idiotic and totally NOT conducive to high productivity. The human mind needs breaks. I have found that the #1 way to solve some difficult problem is to walk away from it for even a few minutes, and do something else - especially something else that lets my brain "idle" for a bit....

That is a very good point! Many of us may have been conditioned to work like slaves. I have seen that in the software industry that I came from (I left it a few years ago), managers would often push for as many hours of work out of their employees as possible, irrespective of the loss of productivity that that produces.

Much of my FB and forum time comes in snatches now as I momentarily take a break, either because I am waiting on some process to run or because I need to step back from a hard technical problem. The worst thing I can do is "fill time" by switching to a different problem while waiting for something to run.

This works amazingly well, and it helps me complete my paid work within the workday, instead of frequently spilling over into evenings and weekends.

 

[Voyageur]

...The whole idea that you must work, work, work 8 hours straight with no breaks is entirely idiotic and totally NOT conducive to high productivity. The human mind needs breaks. I have found that the #1 way to solve some difficult problem is to walk away from it for even a few minutes, and do something else - especially something else that lets my brain "idle" for a bit....

That is a very good point! Many of us may have been conditioned to work like slaves. I have seen that in the software industry that I came from (I left it a few years ago), managers would often push for as many hours of work out of their employees as possible, irrespective of the loss of productivity that that produces.

Much of my FB and forum time comes in snatches now as I momentarily take a break, either because I am waiting on some process to run or because I need to step back from a hard technical problem. The worst thing I can do is "fill time" by switching to a different problem while waiting for something to run.

This works amazingly well, and it helps me complete my paid work within the workday, instead of frequently spilling over into evenings and weekends.

You both make good points and offer technical advice of how to. Most often i'm offsite and connected by VPN through their server; does this then apply too?

 

[mcb]

...You both make good points and offer technical advice of how to. Most often i'm offsite and connected by VPN through their server; does this then apply too?

It depends on how the VPN client is configured. I haven't used one in a long time that didn't limit traffic over the VPN. If it is doing that then it routes everything it can through your default gateway (ISP) instead of the VPN. In that case it won't be blocking your Internet traffic, and your Internet will probably be faster. Whether or not your Internet usage could still be monitored is another question. At least it wouldn't be going through the filter.

 

[Voyageur]

...You both make good points and offer technical advice of how to. Most often i'm offsite and connected by VPN through their server; does this then apply too?

It depends on how the VPN client is configured. I haven't used one in a long time that didn't limit traffic over the VPN. If it is doing that then it routes everything it can through your default gateway (ISP) instead of the VPN. In that case it won't be blocking your Internet traffic, and your Internet will probably be faster. Whether or not your Internet usage could still be monitored is another question. At least it wouldn't be going through the filter.

Thanks for that. I'll experiment a little to see what is blocked on VPN; if anything, which would tell me something. When on their internal LAN, it is little different, as this is when filters for some random things were first noticed - never bothered again after that, also because of what you said too, about being "monitored"; the unknown question.

 

[Sirius]

Keeping your private traffic off their network is the safest best, in terms of keeping your job. I've never worked in the financial sector, but if your company is big I would be careful. They tend to take those things seriously, and by-passing intentional security measures is a good way to piss off the IT/security guys, and if you get caught they won't forget your name. Even if management has no problem with the sites you go to, or the time (on your break), intentionally breaking their policy is not going to sit well. It would constitute a breach of trust from their perspective. Getting fired for something like that also precludes you from receiving unemployment (AFAIK). So be careful what steps you take just to read personal sites at work.

I fully agree with that. That's the matter in a nutshell. If you really need or want to go online during work for private reasons, use your own computer plus your own Internet connection[1]. That's really the most solid ground you can walk on. It's really not worth it to take any insensible risks, especially not in times as critical as nowadays regarding financial stability.
What does the company's policy state with respect to using the Internet for private purposes? If it allowed to use the Internet during break for private emails, etc., things would be not that tough perhaps. But otherwise, rules are rules. If they as a large and well-organised company prohibited it, they would mean it. And asking might be not good either because you could get into their focus then and attract certain amounts of undesired attention. Maybe a prudent email to the IT department would get things straight. You certainly don't need to tell them that you urgently need to research for aliens somewhen in the morning hours so that the guys would spill out their coffee on their skirts. But checking one's private emails isn't that uncommon, for example. So you could touch on the situation that way if you needed and wanted to.

[1] I really understand the EMF issue you're considering, not even to think of what might be present at the workplace already. A USB cable is usually limited to five metres without any repeater technology which is a distance to a cellphone or cellular network card somewhere along the lines of unsafe. There are routers out there which are able to use the cellular network for Internet connectivity, so that you might install one and connect your private computer to it via a long Ethernet cable.

 

[ignis.intimus]

Most often i'm offsite and connected by VPN through their server; does this then apply too?

It depends on how it is configured. In a "split-tunnel" setup only traffic for your company would get routed over the VPN, and everything else will go to the Internet. In this way, the VPN server pushes routes for their internal network down to your machine, pointing out the VPN tunnel. This is the recommended way, because it reduces bandwidth usage on their end.

A down and dirty way to check this is to be disconnected from the VPN and go to site _cmyip.com. That is the public IP address you are getting from your ISP. Then connect to the VPN and refresh that web page. If the IP address changes, the chances are good all traffic from your machine is being sent over the VPN.

 

[seek10]

Well, no luck with https or proxies. All are blocked. SSH tunneling may be risky, I will need to really think through. We no have no vpn or desktop and you tube is also blocked ( band width conservation) . What we have is virtual desktop with no downloading capability.