There is a battle raging on behind the scenes everyday. This battle is taking place in our local schools, libraries, and businesses, and is bigger than anything we have seen before. I’m talking about the battle between web proxies and web filters.
Since the year 2000, all schools and libraries have been required to use web filters. The web filters have been put in place in an attempt to prevent children from viewing pornography and other obscene things. Although not required, businesses have recently started using this same technology to prevent workers from using company time for web browsing.
While the idea may sound practical, the way it has been implemented is not. Web filters often censor websites that have no reason to be filtered. The classic example of this is a web search for “breast cancer”. Someone may be doing research on breast cancer, but do to the word “breast” being blacklisted, all websites containing legitimate non-explicit information are filtered. These false-postivies often drive people toward a technology known as web proxies.
Web proxies are websites that will download another site for you. For example if espn.com is blocked, you may use a web proxy to continue to visit the site. The way the web proxy gets around the filter is, instead of you directly accessing espn.com, the proxy accesses it for you. It will then display the site under its domain name, which is unblocked by the filter. Network administrators have caught onto this, and this leads us to our battle.
Network administrators have recently begun blocking web proxies. However, since there are thousands of web proxies it’s impossible to block them all. This causes a battle between the end users and the network administrators. Users of computers with filters keep on finding new proxies. Network administrators are finding out what proxies people are using and are blocking them. This causes a constant battle between people finding proxies and network administrators trying to find out what proxies people are using.
This is a battle that will never be won, much like the war on drugs. New proxies are being created everyday to allow disgruntled students or employees to continue to browse the web as they please. As soon as a newly created proxy is blocked, ten other proxies have replaced it. This causes a major headache for network administrators. While in the end, the user will always be able to view the website they want, it’s still annoying for the user to have to go through a list of twenty proxies, just until they find one that works.
So how do we end this battle? Unfortunately it’s impossible to do so. The only thing we can do is to follow some tips to help lower the intensity of this battle. Now, while I strongly oppose censorship, I have to admit that it’s not network administrators faults. Someone higher up is telling them that they need to keep those web sites off their local internet. Which is why I’m going to give solutions to both sides, and hopefully both sides can find some truth in it.
For users trying to get past web filters, don’t tell your friends what proxy is working for you. When you tell your friends, they start using that proxy, generating more traffic to it. A network administrator then sees a huge amount of traffic going to one proxy, and they block it. Better yet, if you have access to a web host with PHP scripting, you can run your own password-protected proxy. This will prevent anyone from using your proxy, giving you a higher chance of slipping under the radar.
For network administrators, maybe blocking all the content on the internet isn’t a good thing. The Children’s Internet Protection Act only requires you to filter content that is “obscene, child pornography, or harmful to minors.” Nothing requires you to block Amazon. If users can get to non-obscene websites, they have less reason to use a proxy. They’re going to view the site no matter what, so you might as well make your job easier by letting them do so without a proxy.
The web proxies vs. web filters battle is going to go on for years to come. It’s annoying to both sides, and I’m sure neither side is going to want to let up. However, following the advice given in this article can help to make this battle less aggressive, making life easier for everyone. Maybe one day we’ll finally reach the utopia where people can view any website they want, and network administrators don’t have to worry about preventing it.
68 Comments
Good article. BUt it amuses me as to why people tell everyone and their mothers about their preferred proxy. How dumb can you be?
“If users can get to non-obscene websites, they have less reason to use a proxy. They’re going to view the site no matter what, so you might as well make your job easier by letting them do so without a proxy.”
… Majority of people don’t know how to use, or even what a proxy is. You don’t like having websites blocked, and the companies don’t like you going on amazon.com durring work time. They surely have a right to block websites since your using their systems on their time.
Now do I honestly really care about company times? Nah… most companies can go ahead and shove it; but legally they have a right to block the sites. I work at a school district that blocks everything except google.com; so I go ahead and install cosmopod.com ’s remote desktop on all the systems. They used to not block much, but some teachers were caught spending to much time on “personal business”.
You haven’t been to my school then. People who have no technical experience whatsoever are using proxies. The “fad” has spread around the school and has gotten to the point where people are making huge lists of proxy sites that work within the school.
The lists are true, but they really don’t know how it works or what they’re doing. Making proxies offer options as to what it could do with regards to filtering. They don’t know which settings are better.
Well my office blocks now all webmail based websites, all IP addresses (167.206.5.250 would had worked rather than webmail.optonline.net), and streaming audio and video. Don’t know how far it will go, but for now it’s only for bandwidth conservation and prevention of viruses (from external webmail). Which makes sense. Nothing is being censored yet. But, with a proxy, and being forced to login, logs are much easier for managers to obtain and knowing who goes where when. Of course, bypassing the proxy and if caught can result in termination. But, working for IT, my job needs to find the holes. Whether or not I tell my manager is another story :-).
:twisted::arrow::shock::smile::???::cool::evil::grin::idea::oops::razz::roll::wink::cry::eek::lol::mad::sad::!::?::mrgreen::neutral:
Hey so i have used proxy’s before. Anyone wanna give me a list of a few?
Did you read the article:
j/k. Here’s a good list.
hehe, im at college now, trying to veiw that list, but the filter blocked it! it keeps blocking things I need to reasearch >:(
yea thanks fer the list, here we use http://www.meebo.com to chat on messengers like yahoo, or msn, and AIM, but they finally blocked, and everybody is looking at me, the guy who found meebo and introduced it, to come up with something else for them to chat with each other on. proxy, HA im keeping this to myself lol
also for email purposes, ttw.zzn.com its not great, but it helps.
Even all of the proxy sites are getting blocked because some fagets keep blabbering about them all over the internet.
Thats what I’m saying P.J - I’m trying to do simple searches for them on like google and stuff and it always comes up with “Reason Blocked = Proxy”
damn these peopl!!!!
Man im @ waddell high and it seems all proxyare blocked how so
i am dissapointed why my school has filtered bebo!
what up peps i need a list of proxys but dont wory im in troy mi
I’m pretty much pissed off whenever I try to search for something on the internet at school. I had to research for some vintage clothing for the school play and it blocked me simply because of “Merchandise”. I personally think it’s gay how strong they make the school filters because you can’t even look up stuff like “1910’s clothing” without getting that annoying filter page.
man. icant get pass anything. my school blocks everything i put in. i cant even check my email and i dont got the internet at home. alittle help please
Concealme.com works at my school but it goes really slow.
i need something that will work on lightspeed
I too need something that will work on lightspeed and will allow me on myspace.com. Anythng would be helpful.
i think bebo rox….xxxx
love chloe!
I need something that works on lightspeed too.
I told my sister about buzzysplat.com and japanproxy.com and she let it get out
Please help.
For the people who don’t have lightspeed, the 2 above should work along with highschoolproxy.com and killtheboredom.com
http:www.alevelwork.com works:sighn in username: random, pass: random1
my school has banned it, but it may work for others!
Happy surfing!
i cat get on myspace.com at school
and they blocked web proxys some1 help me
i need ways to get on beo through skool plz help
thanks methagrunthu it works for me
im gonna leave 2 of the ones i used to use before they were discovered -my- school.
http://www.getaroundfilters.com
http://www.surfsneaker.com
hey its really hard for us to access http://www.meebo.com(Yahoo Messenger) as our Org has blocked the access, would appreciate if someone would let us know how to access meebo through a different link or a proxy….
hey can some one give me a link from where in i can access meebo.com as our Org has blocked it..
for guys who cant u can check http://www.reg.meebome.com
http://www.37.meebo.com
….
My school has a Lightspeed proxy that has own3d every proxy I’ve tried, any good ones left ? Really all I want to do is to go on http://www.rapbattles.com. The forum part. Anyone know a way I can get to it ?
alevelwork.com’s proxy no longer works for myspace. ne1 got any clues?
(my school uses Lightspeed filters)
Hey, yeah alevelwork proxy is down because my host had to disable it, I gotta new site tho
http://www.examstudies.com
click portal and the username is random and password is random1
;p
thanks man. I appreciate you makin a proxy that ACTAULLY WORKS!!!!!
u pricks wot the point of filtering websites
its pathetic at my skool i have to proxy everything, i cunt even search for homosapiens for they block the word homo, also the new server used by examstudies.com seems much faster.
this sucks major ass
i luv u katherine
i cant get past shit help me mutha fuckas
i luv all da bitches on here/ da gurlz shout out you gurlz r boble heads biotch
Listen, im a pretty 1337 programmer and i know a bit of PHP scripting. if there is another programmer out there who wants to help me i have an idea. Lets make a private proxy server, just between us two there would be almost no traffic to it so it wouldnt get blocked. my email is beatnik_painter@yahoo.com
hey der wuu2 ppl
Any1 now how to pass “Apache” filtering … my school blocks google images… i think its quite sad but me now use gppgle.com lol it works trust me….
HOE THA HELL CAN I GET ON MYSPACE FROM SKOO?
HELP PPL!!!!!!!
HOE THA HELL CAN I GET ON MYSPACE FROM SKOO?
!!!!!!!
how can i get on meebo from school i need to know
help me find proxys at my school!!
email me sum
x_xEbonyJohnsonx_x@hotmail.co.uk
thanks xx
Have a google for something called Meebo repeater.
Basically you download a program to your computer which you leave on while your at school and then access that program from school.
JUst add some goddamn proxys and get over this bullshitt… I JUST WANT A BLOODY PROXY!!!!
Does anyone know how to get to myspace without using proxy? when i try different websites to get on myspace it won’t let me cause its using proxy avoidence…
New proxies are easy to find, I mean like they said, for every 1 thats blocked there are 10 more to replace it. Just try different searches on google, not everything is blocked under “proxy avoidance” I know because my school uses Websense, same as the military, and I can get past it. Oh and thanks for the gppgl.com, it really works.
i cant seem to find a proxy that will work at my school if u have one u think will work emailit to me at dh_liljoker_692000@yahoo.com
Peace Out
Help me get on myspace ……….PLEASE…………….:(
help me get on bebo………………please…………………..
whyh doesnt somebody post some fucking sites to get past the fucking filters instead of bitching about how there is no way you can
theres always a fucking way.
so FIND it you biodegratable pieces of shit.,
you may wish to try
http://name.linux.googlepages.com
It works for me.
I am looking for a proxy that will work for general browsing.
My school uses macintosh so it is difficult to download your own proxy.
If you could email me some at abassforpeace@yahoo.com that would be great.
Also I use firefox.
I am Looking for a site to unblock eragonlive.com!! SOMEONE please help me!!!!!
try shortfarmer.com
i need proxies!!!!!! all r blocked
What you guys don’t seem to realise is that you’re complaining about not being allowed to visit sites like myspace, due to content-filtering, without considering that most of these filters are usually implemented to provide a safe surfing environment for kids at school.
Even though you may just want to go to myspace.com or rapbattles.com or whatever, by using a proxy-bypass you have now opened it up for kids to research bomb-making, terrorism, race-hate sites, 10-year olds start looking at porn, etc. etc. etc. which in turn opens up a legal can of worms for the school if kid’s parents discover what they’ve been doing with the school’s internet service.
If you want to look at those sites, don’t be an ultimately selfish, inconsiderate prick, DO IT AT HOME!!
i need proxies. damn, most of the ones i know are freaken blocked. WTH?!
ya um all these proxies are blocked everyone! by f’ing websense.there intense
this is blocked at school!!
:/
hey….i need proxys…can u help me out…send them to me plz this shit sucks!
sdaisy_13@yahoo.com…thankx
my school uses TotalTrafficControl (lightspeed) and it has everything blocked so if ull just give me the name of a site where u can create a proxy then i will make one and use it
david_ringo50119777@yahoo.com
hello,
I have a new concept.
I am a proxy owner and trying to figure out ways to battle the filter guys, yes it is a on going little war.
My concept is a Mobile (WAP) proxy list site.
YOu can view the site on your mobile phone for example (if you have a internet connection on your phone.) A net connection on cell phones is cheap now, for example Telus is $5 a month if your in their 1x Area.
The idea is the site cannot be blocked at all since its viewed by your cell phone, so you will always have a place to grab a proxy.
http://www.mobileproxies.com
Thanks for reading.
you guys could use meebo.us.tt <– worked on some schools and offices
I’m one of the admins you hate so much and I just “0wned” another 1300 proxies today after writing a nice little shell script to scan the proxy topsites. He he he. I’ll add them to the other 13,000 now in the list.
Maybe you kids should grow up, learn some respect and stop trying to bypass people’s filters, they’re there for a reason. What you wasting your time for on bebo at school anyway? You can do that at home, school is for learning not mucking about.