Avoid being detected surfing the internet at work
- Thread starter Cutehumor
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Depends on what you're trying to avoid detection of. If you just don't want your browsing history to be stored on your work machine's browser then that might be a good way to go about it. But if you're using the work connection it's going to be detectable at some level, for sure.
I'm not doing anything illegal or looking at anything naughty. I just want to be able to read the oil board, check my hotmail, and look at ebay. without getting in trouble at work. The CEO of the state said in his monthly meeting "I get a tracking report from IT will all the websites you guys go to. like amazon.com" Some days at work are really slow, so I surf the net. I don't see what the problem is as long as I have my work finished.
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I don't want to get too geek-y or overly complicated, but you could set up a VNC server (http://www.tightvnc.com/) on your computer at home, and log into that (preferably via SSH tunnel, but probably not necessary).
A "VNC server" will allow you to view and control your home computer's screen, so all conventional web surfing is done using your home computer, and the communication between your work and home computer (mouse movement, keystrokes) could be obfuscated with encryption.
A "VNC server" will allow you to view and control your home computer's screen, so all conventional web surfing is done using your home computer, and the communication between your work and home computer (mouse movement, keystrokes) could be obfuscated with encryption.
If he's looking at what sites you're going to, NEVER use a web browser at work that will jeopardize your job, ever.
As a workaround:
Get a static IP address from your ISP for your home PC. create a rule to allow port 3389 from your wireless router to your PC at home. Enable Remote Desktop connection on your home PC. From your work PC, remote desktop to your home PC.
Run remote desktop from your work PC, connect using the IP address of your router, but make sure images are not cached on the work PC in the remote desktop program.
This whole thing connects to your home PC remotely using a secure connection and they can't see your web traffic as it's coming from your home PC!
As a workaround:
Get a static IP address from your ISP for your home PC. create a rule to allow port 3389 from your wireless router to your PC at home. Enable Remote Desktop connection on your home PC. From your work PC, remote desktop to your home PC.
Run remote desktop from your work PC, connect using the IP address of your router, but make sure images are not cached on the work PC in the remote desktop program.
This whole thing connects to your home PC remotely using a secure connection and they can't see your web traffic as it's coming from your home PC!
Originally Posted By: Cutehumor
What can I do? I heard you can put firefox on a flash drive and use that. is that sufficient?
Putting a portable Firefox on a flash drive will merely spare you from having the cache files, history, cookies and the rest of your profile *on* the work computer (they'll be on the flash drive).
Logging where you've been and how many hours you've spent there, however, would be done beyond your desktop computer, deep in the dark heart of your employer's IT dungeon anyway; so it depends on what part of browsing you wish to keep private.
What can I do? I heard you can put firefox on a flash drive and use that. is that sufficient?
Putting a portable Firefox on a flash drive will merely spare you from having the cache files, history, cookies and the rest of your profile *on* the work computer (they'll be on the flash drive).
Logging where you've been and how many hours you've spent there, however, would be done beyond your desktop computer, deep in the dark heart of your employer's IT dungeon anyway; so it depends on what part of browsing you wish to keep private.
Yeah, as others have said, if he's looking at reports from IT then there's nothing you can do w/out redirecting the traffic and doing the actual browsing from some waypoint. The remote desktop/VNC solutions suggested are going to be the most painless (specifically the remote desktop one if you're running XP Pro or Vista Business/Ultimate) at home.
Of course that's assuming you have to do the browsing from the computer. If you're really desperate you can do it from a cell phone
Of course that's assuming you have to do the browsing from the computer. If you're really desperate you can do it from a cell phone
Originally Posted By: rationull
Of course that's assuming you have to do the browsing from the computer. If you're really desperate you can do it from a cell phone
It's probably kinda difficult to appreciate the full opulence and grandeur of the, uh... ahem... "type of sites that one'd want to keep private" on a cell phone.
Of course that's assuming you have to do the browsing from the computer. If you're really desperate you can do it from a cell phone
It's probably kinda difficult to appreciate the full opulence and grandeur of the, uh... ahem... "type of sites that one'd want to keep private" on a cell phone.
Cell phone is a good idea if you're up for that. It's the ONLY way to guaranteeing they won't see ANY network traffic endpoints on their reports.
Originally Posted By: ToyotaNSaturn
Cell phone is a good idea if you're up for that. It's the ONLY way to guaranteeing they won't see ANY network traffic endpoints on their reports.
If the OP were using a company cell, though, would not all internet traffic be logged, too? I have never looked up a URL on a cell phone, but have heard tell of people receiving 1/2" thick iPhone bills that read like a log file, with pretty much every URL and download listed.
Cell phone is a good idea if you're up for that. It's the ONLY way to guaranteeing they won't see ANY network traffic endpoints on their reports.
If the OP were using a company cell, though, would not all internet traffic be logged, too? I have never looked up a URL on a cell phone, but have heard tell of people receiving 1/2" thick iPhone bills that read like a log file, with pretty much every URL and download listed.
I support several managers who showed up recently with Blackberry phones, namely the Storm that love 'em. Just make sure you have an unlimited data plan on any plan you buy otherwise you'll be paying thru the nose for excess 'net traffic.
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Of course your admin could be BOFH, realize what you are doing and block VNC and RD at the router level.....
Originally Posted By: uc50ic4more
It's probably kinda difficult to appreciate the full opulence and grandeur of the, uh... ahem... "type of sites that one'd want to keep private" on a cell phone.
I know exactly what you mean! BITOG on my cell phone is brutal!
It's probably kinda difficult to appreciate the full opulence and grandeur of the, uh... ahem... "type of sites that one'd want to keep private" on a cell phone.
I know exactly what you mean! BITOG on my cell phone is brutal!
Originally Posted By: OVERK1LL
Of course your admin could be BOFH, realize what you are doing and block VNC and RD at the router level.....
At that point, the OP could report his new difficulty here to us, and we could suggest using a different port!
The fun will never end!
Of course your admin could be BOFH, realize what you are doing and block VNC and RD at the router level.....
At that point, the OP could report his new difficulty here to us, and we could suggest using a different port!
The fun will never end!
Perhaps port 548 rather than 3389? I can see the manager now: "What, encrypted Apple networking traffic?" LOL
Originally Posted By: tpitcher
Get on the good side of your Boss and it shouldn't be a problem.
Actually that thought occurred to me as well. Ah, the joys of working for a small team!
Get on the good side of your Boss and it shouldn't be a problem.
Actually that thought occurred to me as well. Ah, the joys of working for a small team!
my office is about 100 people and I work in the corporate office in the state. I have XP Pro on my home pc and XP pro on my work laptop. This sounds like a good project to start on over the weekend. We don't get any company phones. My cell is only prepaid, so internet on cell phone is not a option for me. keep the ideas flowing. The IT guys probably will think something is up if my internet activity goes to zilch. red flag maybe? I am blocked from sites like youtube and espnradio.com I get little warnings when I go to msnbc, but I click ok anyway. does that get sent back to IT dept?
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