Community Forums => General Chat => Topic started by: matt oz on January 25, 2007, 04:34:47 PM
Title: How can I bypass my school's firewall?
Post by: matt oz on January 25, 2007, 04:34:47 PM
I'm not even sure that's the problem, but here's what's going on.
When I'm at school, I can't use any downloading programs, such as Azureus (a torrent client) or DC++. I assume I also wouldn't be able to hook up my Wii with the LAN adapter, should I decide to buy one. I connect to the internet via an ethernet cable in my wall. I know some people here who say they can use such programs, but they said that someone else did it for them and they don't know how.
I used to have a laptop that I would take home on weekends to download stuff - mostly TV shows I missed during the week due to classes. But now I have a desktop, so I'd have to take my portable hard drive home, use my parents' computer to download, then bring it back to school. And I can almost guarantee that one of my parents would either turn the computer off or close the program, even if I explain it to them or put a post-it on the screen.
So, anyway, if anyone knows how to do this, I'd really appreciate it.
Title: RE: How can I bypass my school's firewall?
Post by: ShyGuy on January 25, 2007, 05:17:03 PM
Have you done a port scan yet?
Title: RE: How can I bypass my school's firewall?
Post by: KDR_11k on January 25, 2007, 06:27:15 PM
There's most likely a reason you can't use those programs and that reason usually comes with an angry admin attached to it.
Title: RE:How can I bypass my school's firewall?
Post by: JonLeung on January 26, 2007, 01:51:44 AM
I was thinking about a similar question, asking how to bypass the restrictions put at work on my Internet surfing. Basically, there's some kind of filter that restricts some sites.
Of course I don't plan on visiting porn sites at work, but the filter blocks some strange things sometimes. For a portion of time last year, Planet GameCube was even blocked. Hotmail, eBay, and YouTube are the big ones blocked right now. Perhaps with good reason... >_> But some sites are not specifically blocked but when you go to them they restrict access for reasons such as ""sex" or "gambling" are not allowed" when the site may have nothing to do with either.
But, since this isn't technically my computer, I wouldn't ever download programs (I'm even leery about Internet plugins other than Flash), especially not torrent programs and especially not to download huge files. And regardless of whose computer it is, I'm sure someone would notice the bandwidth being used up or something.
Title: RE:How can I bypass my school's firewall?
Post by: matt oz on January 26, 2007, 03:28:32 AM
Quote Originally posted by: ShyGuy Have you done a port scan yet?
I did a port scan in Azureus, and it kept timing out.
Unless you mean some other kind of port scan, then I have no idea what you're talking about.
Title: RE: How can I bypass my school's firewall?
Post by: KDR_11k on January 26, 2007, 03:48:54 AM
Careful, admins don't like it when people port scan (that means checking the whole range of ports on a computer to see if any are open, usually to find a way to break into the box). That's usually considered hacking and can get you in trouble.
Title: RE: How can I bypass my school's firewall?
Post by: NinGurl69 *huggles on January 26, 2007, 07:20:29 AM
Just give up. The school's not gonna budge.
Title: RE: How can I bypass my school's firewall?
Post by: nitsu niflheim on January 26, 2007, 07:42:31 AM
drop out of school, that'll get you around the firewall. :P
Title: RE:How can I bypass my school's firewall?
Post by: Ceric on January 26, 2007, 10:05:02 AM
Schools have a vested interest in keeping you from getting illegal content. Legal content be danged. Universities are really easy targets for those types of raids and the school will get fined along with the student if not worse.
Title: RE:How can I bypass my school's firewall?
Post by: Nick DiMola on January 26, 2007, 10:57:19 AM
Quote Originally posted by: Ceric Schools have a vested interest in keeping you from getting illegal content. Legal content be danged. Universities are really easy targets for those types of raids and the school will get fined along with the student if not worse.
When I lived in the dorms at RIT, they had a we don't condone it, and if we catch you, we fine you policy. Thank god too. It let me do what I pleased without having someone breathing down my neck. If I got caught doing something illegal. RIT was not at fault because they at no point would search students computers, however, it was their responsibility to remove me from their network. A few kids get busted their every year because such a huge amount of data comes from RIT via Bittorrent and DC++ (I2 Hub). Those were the days though, I used to "acquire' anything I wanted or needed in a matter of minutes.
Title: RE:How can I bypass my school's firewall?
Post by: Shift Key on January 26, 2007, 08:58:31 PM
Quote Originally posted by: matt oz When I'm at school, I can't use any downloading programs, such as Azureus (a torrent client) or DC++. I assume I also wouldn't be able to hook up my Wii with the LAN adapter, should I decide to buy one. I connect to the internet via an ethernet cable in my wall. I know some people here who say they can use such programs, but they said that someone else did it for them and they don't know how.
I used to have a laptop that I would take home on weekends to download stuff - mostly TV shows I missed during the week due to classes. But now I have a desktop, so I'd have to take my portable hard drive home, use my parents' computer to download, then bring it back to school. And I can almost guarantee that one of my parents would either turn the computer off or close the program, even if I explain it to them or put a post-it on the screen.
First off, my guess is that you log in to the school network with a password. It wouldn't be simply plug and surf, otherwise you wouldn't be having this issue. This leads me to think that your school would frown upon you trying to break through the firewall (which would show up in a simple portscan using a tool like nmap - don't try it, admins can read the logs and something like that will stand out like a sore thumb unless you use it really cautiously). Network traffic can be matched to particular machines and the logins will show who is using the machine. You'd be caught easily.
Next, using those programs will maximise the bandwidth to your computer - that's how P2P works. They will use a portion of the bandwidth for communicating with peers, managing requests and keeping things running smoothly. Bittorrent is notorious for this - even with the ability to change port settings, it will become obvious what you are up to.
I suggest not worrying about the school network, as there's little to gain and lots of pain involved. Instead you can do a few things to the home computer.
1. Set the maximum upload and download limits so that they add up to 50% of your maximum connection - this means that you won't be significantly affecting other people on the connection. Happy people means they finish their computer work and leave sooner.
2. Set the programs to minimize to the system tray instead of appearing as program windows. They won't get closed unless people get annoyed at the lack of bandwidth, and then know where to look for the culprits.
3. Leave the monitor off during the day. If the computer isn't making a lot of noise (you'll hear the fans going most of the time) then it'll look like it isn't even on. And if they turn the monitor on, they'll be greeted by the computer.
Just hope that they don't turn it off afterwards, and you'll be in business!
