"Gun sites" now blocked at work!

[Top_Notch]

Vertigo7,

I've tried numerous reccomendations by individuals regarding software across the net. Most, I find, that the software works OK at best. I thought I'd try your 'ghostzilla' link and downloaded it to my PC.

Let me tell you, I'm now a believer! Thanks so much for the link. My boss, who sits 2 cubes behind me (It's hard to tell if he can see if I'm working or surfing) has no idea. This thing is awesome. I can practically surf right in front of him without him knowing! He's pretty lenient anyway, but it never hurts to hide my surfing ways... Thanks again!

 

[RAY WOODROW 3RD]

Has not happened yet. I hope it doesn't!

 

[VictorLouis]

Any one here have 'WebSense', and it's 'Quota-time'?

That blocks most of the good sites, and lets me in up to an hour per day in 10-min. intervals. Better than nothing.

 

[Carnitas]

My work was blocking for a while. I set up AvantGo to download web sites to my PDA. My computer is accessing Avantgo. Avantogo is accessing THR.

 

[Blackcloud6]

They blocked gun sites where I work too. Funny thing is is I work for the Army and I am the small arms research specialist for my organization! Boy did I embarass the computer systems ninnies when I called them to unblock such sites!

 

[Majic]

After my company went thru 3 major sweeps to eliminate viruses I can see their point (my files were also corrupted and was a pain reinstalling them all). I get paid as a millwright with internet access to assist my job. I can wait till I get home to surf the web.

 

[Double Naught Spy]

No doubt employers have the right to filter gun-related sites from its employees. From a management standpoint, unless your job entails guns, then management would prefer you not use their resources for recreational purposes while you are supposed to be doing your business duties.

In many jobs, there really isn't a reason that the employees need to be surfing any sites. Unfortunately, porn and gun sites are often the first to be filtered as they are very controversal.

 

[vertigo7]

Top_Notch, Ghostzilla is indeed awesome. I've already sent my thank-you contribution to the developers. Just be careful, any network admin worth his paycheck can still check the server logs to see where you've been if you don't use an anonymous proxy. And the downloaded version still installs items on your machine. The version that runs completely off the CD is the most discreet.

vertigo7

 

[WonderNine]

I'm at work right now, hasn't been blocked. I think the name "theHighRoad" helps. Nobody would think that was a gun site.

 

[HerbG]

Let's see if I'm missing something with all these complaints. You're being paid to perform a job during a certain number of hours per day. In effect, they are "buying" your time to do what they want you to do. It is no longer your time since you sold it to your employer.

Secondly, your employer owns the computer equipment that you're using to surf the web. They also pay for the access to the web. Aren't they're doing you a favor by allowing you to use it for anything not directly work related?

IMHO they have a perfect right to put whatever restrictions they want on how their equipment and their time (which they purchased from you) is being used. I can't see where your rights are being violated simply because they expect you to actually work. They don't want you to be able to access gun related sites becauce they are stupid gun haters? They have a perfect right to deny you that priviledge regardless of whether you like it or not. Don't agree with their policies? Quit whining and find another job!

 

[spacemanspiff]

dude! thats why i make sure my expertise is indispensable. no one else can perform my job duties! if they want to fire me for not 'working' throughout the day, they'd first have to fire everyone else who wastes company time, and then they'd have a VERY difficult time replacing me.

its really in my employers best interests to keep things the way they are.

 

[M67]

Herb, I have no problem with an employer telling me I can't surf when I'm supposed to work. If, on the other hand they let me use the internet access to surf when the work load is light, then I have a problem with them telling me I can only surf what they consider politically acceptable sites. That's censorship, or maybe the PC americanism for it is "political correctness". As long as I do my job, don't break the law or annoy my co-workers (too much ), I really don't think it's any of my employer's business what web sites I visit. What's the point of having a 34 Mb cable coming into the house if we can't use it?

In fact, where I live my employer can't read my private e-mail sent from the company's computer during work hours. They can fire me for not doing my job, but they can't read my mail. I guess the same would be the case if I stole envelopes and stamps to send private snail mail. They could fire me and press charges, but not read the mail. It is generally accepted that employees use company e-mail, and the web for that matter, for private purposes as long as it doesn't affect productivity. Blocking or filtering internet use is so uncommon that it occasionally makes the news when someone tries it. It's about freedom and responsibility.

To keep it gun related though, I can't see why my employer should want to ban gun related sites. Yesterday I spent more than 12 hours on company property - with a bag full of guns. The first four hours were my own time, spent in the basement with a couple of friends, see attachment. I'm the one in the red shirt, the other one is THR member NonServiam. I work for a newspaper, and they let me bring guests to the company shooting range. In case you haven't checked my location, no I'm not American, I live in that communist hell-hole otherwise known as "Europe".

 

[Mike Irwin]

The technogeeks at my office just "upgraded" the web filters so that they catch any site classified as "weapons" related.

But, it doesn't get this site.

Yet.

I thought I had the absolute right to surf the web at any time I desire, without big brother, or his little brother, interfering?


Consider yourselves lucky. At least your employer allows web use.

I've a friend who works for a small company. You have to LOG all of your internet use, and justify it. Personal surfing of ANY kind is absolutely forbidden, as is personal e-mail.

If you don't, or can't, justify the site you visited, you can be terminated.

And the board wonders why it has such trouble keeping people...

 

[Bigjake]

umm... anyone sugjest an anony proxy yet?? just a thought, that should get you by past most net filters, i use one all the time at school and havent had a problem yet.

 

[Mike Irwin]

Anyone using an anonymous proxy at my office will be immediately terminated -- that's made VERY clear to everyone.

Given what we do at my office, and for whom we do it, any type of firewall bypassing is viewed very dimly.

 

[Bigjake]

oh.... didn't know it was such a huge deal. thats what i used all the time in high school, back when i went to highschool a whole 2 days ago!!

 

[david_reeves]

For the Forum Members who's network (at work) is based on Novell. Watch your step. I work in the IS department for a local school district, and believe me, if your IS department has much of a clue, they can sit back and watch your PC through the network. I do it every day. (but I'm busting the 10-17 year old who want to print Hi-res Porn pictures on color lasers and then tape them up to lockers in the wallway, not someone who wants to broaden thier knowledge of other non-school related pursuits) It works like this: The firewall detects a user going to a website with specific key words "anywhere" within the website. The firewall send an email to the IS Staff(guess who)with the website address AND the IPADDRESS of the PC being used to browse the site that triggered the alert. Someone from the IS staff logs into a PC anywhere on the network, and remote views the PC with the address that triggered the alert. The user on that PC has no clue that we are watching what is VISIBLE on thier screen. We do screen shots, and then everyone gets a phone call, Principal, Teacher responsible for the student during that time of the day and the Parents. Usually we don't even have to much more than show the parents the screen shots in front of thier little angel. NOW, Its different in the Bizness (real world) than in school. In school the offender usually takes an 18WEEK hit of revokation of all computer use. Sucks to be them if they're in a PC based class.
Its basically an automatic F for that class. No in the real world, you can be fired, sued for sexual harrassment, and a host of unpleasantries for looking at porn at work. BUT I havent heard of anyone being fired for looking at firearms. I HAVE heard of individuals being fired for installing un-authorized software on thier company owned PC. If you signed a AUP (Acceptable Use Policy) or something similar, or Technology abuse is addressed in your companies policies, then I wouldn't even risk it. Its not worth loosing your ability to keep feeding the fine firearms (by loss of job) that you own as well as not being able to pay for the other needs of life untill you find a new job. Not trying to lecture, just don't want to see any forum members get a false sense of security through the use of "Anonymizers". Yes we've had studants AND teachers try and use ghostsurf and quite a few others. They almost make it easier to catch them.


Good Luck
Be Safe

Dave

 

[Bigjake]

thanks for the warning david, luckily for me though, our school network is run by the network tech prep class, and the teacher and head "tech" is clueless. If the tech guy didn't like my forum surfing, i guess it wasn't an offence worth bothering me over. doesn't matter now anyway, i'm out!

 

[Quartus]

That's censorship,

No, censorship is when the GOVERNMENT restricts what may be spoken or published.

I really don't think it's any of my employer's business what web sites I visit.

When your employer decides what you may or may NOT view on HIS computers, that's called exercising his private property rights. As Herb pointed out, it ain't yours, so you have NOTHING to say about how it gets used or limited. You have NO RIGHTS in the matter at all.


Can I come into your house and watch some movie that you find offensive? Same thing - your property, your call. His property, his call.

 

[Cacique500]

Try http://www.megaproxy.com/ - I think it runs about $18 for 6 months and uses a secure connection (https) so I don't believe the IT guys can spy on it.

We're blocked at work also from any firearms related stuff. You log into megaproxy and go where ever you want over a secure connection. No software to install.

 

[LostOneToo]

They do the same thing where I work. I have found out that if I send myself one of the posts to my e-mail address, I can pull up my email and click on the site from there and it somehow bypasses the block.
Worth a try, it works for me.

 

[Logistar]

We used to have Websense.

Right now I control the local network.

NO sites are blocked. If there is a "problem" I will take it up with the individual after MY boss asks me to look into it. I always warn the user first and he only gets into trouble if he persists.

Our main problem is porno and that is only if it's displayed where management can see it.

As for me, yesterday I was running those "flying prarie dogs" videos on a six-foot projection screen! Management had left for the day though!

Logistar

 

[Mark Tyson]

Hey, maybe the reason they block gun sites is to keep you from wasting your company's time yapping on an internet forum when you should be working.

LOL



PS: You're all fired, you slackers.

 

[Quartus]

Since I work for a consulting firm at the client's location, I can be tossed off a project for little or no reason. Catch-22. If I get tossed off a project, I have no recourse against the client. But if I get tossed by the client, my employer now has just cause to fire me.

So I have to be vewy, vewy careful!