Bypass internet filtering?

[alivingspirit]

I am not the type to go on naughty things on the internet, so I thought I would not have a problem with my schools filter system. However, the filtering at this school is set to "academic only" meaning anything that is not needed for research, info, ext... is blocked. examples: You Tube, Facebook, Proxies, game sites ext...

The filtering is twofold. Not only are the sites filtered, but every site that you do go on can be checked through log-in.

Is there a way to get around it?

[justice]

I happen to work in a similar educational setting and the problem will be that students don't pay attention to the lecturer when youtube / facebook / gamessites are open on their pc which will be why they're blocked. You should ask for recreation rooms with pcs where these sites are not blocked. As they're not used during lessons there's no harm in a less restrictive filtering system there. That's a better solution than circumventing the filters which will just result in tighter filtering.

[f0dder]

I happen to work in a similar educational setting and the problem will be that students don't pay attention to the lecturer when youtube / facebook / gamessites are open on their pc which will be why they're blocked.

-justice (September 09, 2008, 06:52 AM)

IMHO people should learn to take responsibility for themselves (and thus, their education). If they can't do that, it's their problem, and that would hopefully teach a valuable lesson.

[alivingspirit]

I happen to work in a similar educational setting and the problem will be that students don't pay attention to the lecturer when youtube / facebook / gamessites are open on their pc which will be why they're blocked.

-justice (September 09, 2008, 06:52 AM)

IMHO people should learn to take responsibility for themselves (and thus, their education). If they can't do that, it's their problem, and that would hopefully teach a valuable lesson.

-f0dder (September 09, 2008, 07:34 AM)

Thats Right! I am currently taking two subjects that are exceptionally boring since I already know them.
Plus they don't only block it in the classrooms but in the dorms as well.

[Lashiec]

Whoa, being blocked in the dorms is a completely different thing. While it's tempting to go commando, perhaps you should talk about the issue with the IT department. I mean, everyone needs some relax from time to time, and negating that even in your own room, it's a bit extreme.

[Dirhael]

The answer here, if talking with the IT dep. at your school doesn't help, is to make use of a VPN. You should be able to find yourself a fast and reliable one for ~$10-15/month (if speed isn't that important, you could probably get away with half of that).

[techidave]

As a school computer tech who also happens to manage the filter.  Our filtering is setup to block proxies, youtube and some game sites.  We also allow quite a few game sites cause they(Administration) want to students to be able to "relax" at the end of the period.  They figure that is better than them getting rowdy and loud do to boredom.

However, we also have a system in place where a student or teacher can request to review a blocked site.  I do look at those notifications because I realize some sites are ok but for whatever reason they mean the criteria to be blocked.

Here in the United States, schools and libraries are REQUIRED to have filtering in place if they get "erate money".  For more info on erate check out their website

It doesn't pay for the filtering it just requires that you have it.  Porn, sex, sites like bomb making or other damaging to others or self are required to be blocked.  Youtube has good videos and also bad videos and a number of the filters cannot yet tell the two apart so they block the whole thing. 

Facebook and other similar sites are blocked since they can be used to bully others.  Proxies are also blocked since they allow you to circumvent the filter.  This is most likely a violation of your internet and network use agreement that you may have signed.  At our school, you may lose computer use for trying to use a proxy or other "workaround". 

Please bear in mind that I am speaking for a K-12 public school and not a college.