Workplace internet restrictions - what kinds do you have?

[yoda313]

Hello,

My workplace blocks all tv/movie websites but leaves newspaper/cable news websites open.

It also leaves a newspaper website open including entertainment/sports but the other local newspaper has those sections BLOCKED!

Also, when a site like espn is accessed it pops up with a graphic "Website against company policy" or some jargon like that.

What quirks does your workplace have on internet access??? None? Internet ban?

Kevin

[Ironballs]

We get full access, but some sites are banned. However the company policy is that the Internet should only be used for work and its a sackable offense for surfing for anything that isn't company related.

Don't know of anyone actually sacked for surfing, except for one muppet that was downloading porn.

[CoasterCreator]

Every kind ...they even pop on once in a while and control your computer for you .... ...but I always try to keep it with in the parameters



but like I said before where there is a will there is a way

[yoda313]

Hello,

Don't know of anyone actually sacked for surfing, except for one muppet that was downloading porn.

Huh???

Kevin

[Dr. DOS]

Zilch

[yoda313]

Zilch

Hello,

Lucky dude :drooling:

Free REIGN!

Kevin

[tekkieman]

I just found out we are allowed to use usenet and bit torrent here!

[yoda313]

I just found out we are allowed to use usenet and bit torrent here!

Hello,



Just don't give details about bit torrent HERE at videohelp!

Kevin

[Capmaster]

URL ascii string recognition alarm. One gay guy on my floor got fired for visiting a site with "..../my_first_german_****/..." in the URL of a gay porn site I know because my boss asked me to look over the IP dump for him that day and see if anything looked strange to me. No doubt he had spotted it, but just wanted verification. No way that site could be construed as anything but porn

We have a log kept of every site visited by every IP at the company. And alarms for certain keywords in e-mail and in URLs.

[housepig]

not a lot of restriction - we use Webblocker, doesn't really bother me except for the workaround I have to use to get to eBay.

most of the stuff that I want to view at work is safe, so it doesn't affect me. we have had previous employees cashed out for checking pr0n.

[thayne]

none here

[bazooka]

None.

[CoasterCreator]

you can always sneek in test

like this eye exam ....oh and for all you wearing glasses they have to come off ( for the exam )

[bazooka]

[Capmaster]

Does pounding the pope count?

[Rookie64]

No restrictions here - I'm my own boss 8)

[wingnut]

I'm the IT director and systems admin, we have a sensible use policy, the router filters the usual dodgy stuff and we sometimes check logs on a random basis but on the whole trust prevails.

Of course I can bypass it all

Edz

[redwudz]

A 56K dialup.

[Shocker Milwaukee]

None (I own the joint).

[zzyzzx]

Does pounding the pope count?

[jimmalenko]

I'm the IT director and systems admin, we have a sensible use policy, the router filters the usual dodgy stuff and we sometimes check logs on a random basis but on the whole trust prevails.

Of course I can bypass it all

Basically the same here. Part of my responsibility is developing and implementing policies for internet usage. We are very lenient, with all staff having full internet access using the honesty system. We recommend that it is only used for work purposes on work time, but you can use it for personal use as long as its kept to a minimum during work time, or wait until 5PM and you can go for your life. Naturally there's a porn policy in place, but we would have to check the logs (there's always a first time for everything ) or actually catch you looking at porn for you to be busted.

[bugster]

Until last week we were trusted to keep to companies published internet use policy (No porn or anything that might be offensive to others etc). On monday they installed Webmarshall which, as some of you are aware, use a rule based system along with lists of trusted and untrusted sites. Now it seems to block stuff pretty much at Random. Videohelp was blocked for me for a while (see my previous post) but a word with a friendly admin (who is NOT the webmarshal admin) got it in the trusted list. No such luck with some other sites though.

I can understand why the management may feel the need for this kind of restriction but it makes me feel that I am not trusted by the company, many others feel the same too.

The main problem is that the system in use blocks many perfectly innocent sites as well as letting through many that you would expect to be blocked.

The other day, just for fun, I typed 'F**K into google and started clicking links to see how many sites it blocked. All but one of the sites on googles 1st page were opened, most of which I would have expected to be blocked. I quickly closed each page as it opened and with one this created a popup advertising a gay sex site! Shouldn't this have been blocked too! This shows just how innefective this kind of system is in performing its advertised function. I have no-idea how muc Webmarshal has cost my employer, but I can think of much better ways of spending this money!

[pacmania_2001]

My workplace just doesn't have the internet, period.

Pretty effective at blocking stuff.

[yoda313]

My workplace just doesn't have the internet, period.

Pretty effective at blocking stuff.

Hello,



Kinda like if you don't do it you can't abuse it

Kevin

[BJ_M]

they put a blocking program in place - for one day -- we were doing research on sperm whales at the time and it blocked all the sperm whale sites (this is true, don't laugh) or anything related to whales and squids ....

the program went away within 24 hours , good thing, since waiting all the time for something to render or move or whatever, a lot of time to kill sometimes ..

[ps2daddy]

We have Stupid websense and now I am trying to stop coming here during work hours but its tough

They block anything with the metatags
Games
Movies
Music
Hacking
Porno
Entertainment
Sports
Sex
Explicitc content
Adult sites
Gambling
P2P
Free downloads
Google cached files

They have a categoy that they have called "tatseless"

And categories that I think they created just for me
Such as PS2 and XBOX
And a few more I cant think of

Cant use any e-mail for personal business either

The IT people are on a witch hunt for job security since we work for the state government
Also the public can request internet and e-mail logs so they are very Anal

[yoda313]

BUMP

It's weird I think earlier in the summer I was able to login and use ebay at work.

This morning I went in to leave feedback for an item I received. The LOGIN page was blocked!!

The funny thing was that the home page www.ebay.com was still viewable???? Weird huh???

Kevin

[BJ_M]

try using its IP number 66.135.192.88 instead of its domain name - and if that doesnt work use the pure numerical format of the site (all dot quad address's are translated to a binary number)

videohelp web site is http://1125376468/

but all newer versions of IE and even firefox block the numerical format (because they can be used to bypass child blocking programs at schools and work i suspect) .. but OLD versions of IE and netscape and some other browsers work fine w/ these ...

there are also some other ways to ALWAYS get to a blocked site 90% of the time -- im not going to mention them in public here (as you could lose your job if caught in some companies) -- but a little investigation on your part will turn up the methods ...

a numerical format translator is here http://www.opinionatedgeek.com/DotNet/Tools/CrazyIP/default.aspx

[BJ_M]

the web site of the feedback page might be also a https secure site address - and they may be blocking https port (i think its 443 , but im not sure and dont feel liek looking it up) .. even that block is defeatable of course ...

basicly as long as 1 port is open (ussually port 80) , you are good to go for ANYTHING ...

[yoda313]

Hello,

Thanks Bj_m but it's not critical.

As long as videohelp is never blocked I could care less!!

It was just weird that they blocked it after it was open earlier...

Kevin