[alligator]

Anyone else out here that works for a company which has chosen to block "non-work related" web sites? For example, my company now blocks all sites from .mac - including my .mac e-mail account and storage space.

On one hand I can understand this if it was being used for excessive non-work related activity - but sometimes we would use it to transfer files that were just too big for our e-mail system (like 15MB PDF files).

Is there any way around this? I'd really like to check my .mac e-mail once in a while from work (which is generally permitted on non-blocked sites). I wish I could open a site within a site.

[itai195]

My company blocks all webmail sites (that they know of). It is pretty stupid and, frankly, really annoying.

Only way around it that I know of at most places is to set up an external proxy. This doesn't work at my company because we have to use a company proxy to access the Internet. Maybe there's a way around that too but I'm so lazy...

[turtle777]

My company blocks sites like YouTube and Imageshack. I can sort of understand that.

Man, if they blocked MacNN, I would be screwed. I would actually get work done

-t

[Oisín]

Where I work, no sites are blocked. This is partly because we use the Internet as a necessary tool quite often.

However, you can expect a little talking-to by the IT department and the bosses if you get caught at some porn site.

[Weezer]

install this on your machines:

Pando 0.9.2.4 - MacUpdate

[Rumor]

I work for two companies in the same office. One is a large corporation and there's blocks all over the place. The second is a small business and I've got my own laptop and get to do whatever I want with it since I don't have supervisor.

[alligator]

First, I have to use a Dell at work. Second, I'm considering bringing my own laptop with a cellular card installed for those moments when I just have to look something up (or buy an Apple product) and I don't want to use my work account.

[porieux]

...

[ghporter]

Blocking webmail is kind of important in a firm that uses Windows computers. Webmail has been shown to be a very important virus vector. Of course just training users not to believe that Bill Gates wants to give them money just for clicking on a link would be a better course of action, but apparently that just doesn't work. But you have to remember that not all computer users are even conscious enough to avoid bad stuff, let alone technically competent to avoid it.

You also have to remember that corporate Internet connections can be expensive, so the suits don't want you to be using that expensive resource for "non-productive activities." And there's also the idea that if you're surfing, you're not working. Face it, if you're posting here, your work is NOT getting done. Some companies are flexible enough to trust their employees to use their break time for personal stuff and stick to work-related useage while "on the clock."

[porieux]

...

[MacinTommy]

I work for a bank and most .com's are blocked but .orgs and .govs are usually open but it warns you every time you are about to go to any website just to remind you that you are being monitored.

[rickey939]

Oddly enough, all forums are blocked at my company...except for the 'NN! What are the odds?

R-E-S-P-E-C-T!

[turtle777]

Originally Posted by rickey939

Oddly enough, all forums are blocked at my company...except for the 'NN! What are the odds?
R-E-S-P-E-C-T!

Well, you work in Mac - IT field, right, so you need access to technical forums for troubleshooting and stuff...

-t

[rickey939]

Originally Posted by what_the_heck

Well, you work in Mac - IT field, right, so you need access to technical forums for troubleshooting and stuff...

-t

Rrrrriiiiiggggghhhhhhtttttt...exactly!

[Jolt21]

i am at work right now, and NN is the only forum that i can access...and i work at an investment firm. so yea, a ton of good websites are blocked...there should be a website that lets you go through itself so you can go to any website you want.

[Big Mac]

I wonder why MacNN gets through the filter.

[rickey939]

Originally Posted by Big Mac

I wonder why MacNN gets through the filter.

Demonhood is a hac3kerxx!

[Gossamer]

Here you go:
workFRIENDLY - Surf safely from work

Lets you surf the web in what looks like a microsoft word document, that way it at least looks like you're doing work.

[andi*pandi]

my work uses Websense. It blocks flickr, youtube, imageshack, and things it finds unwholesome. The unwholesome I don't mind, the youtube I can understand (bandwidth waste) but no flickr is really annoying. Luckily I can just click thru. It's probably logged somewhere but I don't think my uses are that bad.

If you are blocked from work-legitimate sites, tell your IT dept. We have a medical illustration dept, when we first got this system they kept getting blocked when they did searches for anatomy illustrations, breast cancer, etc.

[rickey939]

Originally Posted by Gossamer

Here you go:
workFRIENDLY - Surf safely from work

Lets you surf the web in what looks like a microsoft word document, that way it at least looks like you're doing work.

OH. MY. GOD.

[Mastrap]

I am the boss, so I surf wherever I want. Also, the entire downtown of Toronto has free wireless internet access (free for the next five months) so all you'd need would be a wireless card and you'd be ok.