Is it possible to get around a company web filter?

[dfolsom77]

Ok so my company has decided to start blocking just about every website out there.

My question to you guys is this. Is there away to by-pass or get around the companies SmartFilter?

It blocks websites for things such as gaming and entertainment and other stuff.

If anyone knows a way around this it would be much appreciated.
Thanks

 

[Tmagic650]

You are supposed to be working and not surfing or playing games while you are being paid to do a job. Do game playing and web surfing on your own time at home

 

[dfolsom77]

Gee thanks for you informative response.

First off you have no idea what my job is so please don't lay that garbage on me.
Secondly I was just using the game, entertainment as an example. I do not have time to play a game at work.

If I wanted that response I talk to my manager.

Now if you don't have any relevant info please dont post in my thread.

And by the way I am just curious.

Thank you,

 

[Stacey]

Maybe you should ask your boss, since your not trying to get past the block to play games.

 

[RamenNoodles]

To bypass a webfilter like what schools and businesses use, you need to use a proxy server.

There are tons of proxy servers out there but the best one is the Sniper.

I use www.adm-studios.com/research

just let me know if that one does not work, I have tons readily available.

 

[dfolsom77]

Thanks ramen I appreciate the input and will check into that.

And Stacey thank you for your insightful response. As you seem to know more about my situation then I do.

Again this was a serious post so if you don't have relevant info please do not post in my thread trying to be funny. I would give you the same respect.

Thank you,

 

[kitty500cat]

TechSpot doesn't condone this type of question. If you really need help, talk to your boss.

 

[dfolsom77]

TechSpot doesn't condone this type of question. If you really need help, talk to your boss.

Ok if thats the case I will respect that. But please kitty show me in the guidelines where it says that? I have read through them and see nothing at all pertaining to this. So could you please show me.

I'm sorry I feel this is a ligit question as I work on the road sometimes and was simply wondering if there was a work around.

So please again show me where it states that TS does not support my question?

 

[FredFlyer]

quote: To bypass a webfilter like what schools and businesses use, you need to use a proxy server.

The webfilter we use where I work blocks access to proxy servers. :haha: (doh!)
One thing I suggest is to get in good with the system administrator. (which is my job )

 

[dfolsom77]

Thanks fred. The one that ramen provided me with actually seems to work for the moment.

Man everyone seems to be coming down on someone who just wants to be able to read up on my sports and some blogs at work....

 

[nickslick74]

It not so much that they are "coming down" on youas they are trying to steer you away from doing something that could get you in trouble. Generally when a company uses a program like Smartfilter there is an actual reason behind it and they don't like it when security is circumvented. Where I work if we tried using a proxy to get around our filter we could be terminated on the spot for improper use of company resources.

So it seems the proxy is working for you, but remember that there could be consequences in going that route.

 

[SNGX1275]

It isn't explicitly stated you cannot post asking that. But as general guideline 'rule breaking' isn't going to get a very good response. Circumventing firewalls would fall under that.

So Tmagic650, Stacey, and kitty500cat are merely upholding the norms and values already established by these forums, they are doing nothing wrong.

I'm afraid we don't have a complete list of what you can and can't do on this forum. Here are a couple links that you may want to read though so you get a better idea:
Profanity, Poor Conduct and General Instability
Guide to Making a Good Post/Thread

 

[Tmagic650]

Ok so my company has decided to start blocking just about every website out there.

My question to you guys is this. Is there away to by-pass or get around the companies SmartFilter?

It blocks websites for things such as gaming and entertainment and other stuff.

If anyone knows a way around this it would be much appreciated.
Thanks

This is what I originally replied to. As nickslick74 said "Generally when a company uses a program like Smartfilter there is an actual reason behind it and they don't like it when security is circumvented"... You get caught... You get fired. Is it worth that? If I was your boss and I found out that you were trying to get around our web filter, you would be fired in a heart beat

 

[dfolsom77]

SNGX thank you for your comments. I will put it to rest then.

tmagic I guess it's good for both of us that you are not my boss then. However I still don't feel it's not right for you or anyone else to determine what is morally right for me to do. That is my decision and mine alone. I am the one who would have to live with the consequences. On top of that you do not know my companies policies or how they operate. On the otherhand there is obviously a reason they block certain sites. However when I have customer websites that come up blocked as well there times when that can be frustrating, and for the gaming and entertainment comment that was the catagory. I am not actually trying to play a game at work just looking at the forums. Thats neither here nor there though.

I do respect all of your opinions and tbh it was more out of curiosity than anything else. Look I have a family to support I would not do anything to jeopardize that.

I will respect the website and there policies written or unwritten. This place has given me a ton of useful info. And for the most part everyone has been very helpful and informative. If they were simply trying to maintain the intergrity of the website and uphold the standards then more power to them that is great. However they could have stated that instead of telling me what I should and should not be doing in my personal life.

Best wishes and thanks to all for the help.

 

[RamenNoodles]

quote: To bypass a webfilter like what schools and businesses use, you need to use a proxy server.

The webfilter we use where I work blocks access to proxy servers. :haha: (doh!)
One thing I suggest is to get in good with the system administrator. (which is my job )

Not true.

Websites are put into categories. You will especially find these categories when using a filter and you come across a site that is blocked. (ie. Multimedia Download, Personal storage, Blog, Pornographic material, etc)

Not all websites are named as categories or under the right categories. Why do you think that the proxy server I gave him worked? Because its not listed as a Proxy avoidance website.

And Im with you, some websites that are not harmful and are needed are blocked and you sometimes need to get to them to get things done. Whereas people dont need to be going to Youtube, myspace, google video, pornographic websites at work, this I can understand. But If the man in on his break and he wants to go to ESPN.com and see who won the ball game, who cares?