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 Post subject: Company net censorship!
PostPosted: Tue Mar 01, 2005 14:40 
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Hmmm, having previously put up a couple of posts because certain threads were getting blocked by my company's censorship sofware, I'm now in the situation where I can't use most of the websites i was previously able to access.

My pc developed a problem (frequent crashing) and the IT dept installed the new version IE. This meant a different version of the software whch is even more restrictive and i now can't get access to many websites that were previously available (eg Pistonheads, hotmail, hse, news pages) plus a number of threads and topic areas on Safespeed. I'll be able to get the work related ones unblocked at some point, but the rest, while well intentioned, is very frustrating and goes far beyond what is required in the company's net policy.

Looks like I'm having to get access at home sooner than anticipated, as i hoping to wait until after my house was re-wired.

Antone else get affected by such censorship?


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PostPosted: Wed Mar 02, 2005 02:55 
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stackmonkey wrote:
Antone else get affected by such censorship?


I was blocked from Pepipoo for a while because it had been listed as "criminal knowledge" by Surfcontrol. I believe a quiet word from one of the legal bods over there got it reclassified. :twisted:

A few other anti-camera sites have also been blocked.

Worse still, I can't access most brewery websites. (but can log onto ASDA and order as much of the stuff as I want).


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 Post subject:
PostPosted: Wed Mar 02, 2005 08:48 
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Have you considered using a public proxy stackmonkey old chap?


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PostPosted: Wed Mar 02, 2005 09:36 
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Einion Yrth wrote:
Have you considered using a public proxy stackmonkey old chap?


Aah, just what I was going to say. Sounds like your proxy server is blocking certain sites.


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PostPosted: Wed Mar 02, 2005 09:47 
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Homer wrote:
A few other anti-camera sites have also been blocked.

Worse still, I can't access most brewery websites. (but can log onto ASDA and order as much of the stuff as I want).

Hopefully you won't have to do business with any companies based in Scunthorpe, then :wink:

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 Post subject:
PostPosted: Wed Mar 02, 2005 11:22 
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It's probably one of the systems that monitors page content and blocks based on keywords, some of them are appalling.

It's difficult to recommend any technical solutions because there are many ways it could be implemented, but check out the Proxy section of your internet settings. Remember that anything you do to circumvent the filtering might be a breach of contract, depending on how your IT policy is implemented.

Another option is to make friends with the IT people, remember they get speeding tickets too!

Gareth


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 Post subject:
PostPosted: Wed Mar 02, 2005 14:00 
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it is a proxy server based on keywords. The IT people are getting stuff like hotmail blocked, too, so have sympathy and are trying to get the system 'loosened' a bit to allow non-work related sites such as Pistonheads through (as the brother of one has a Westy). Apparently they can alter the rating of some keywords.

It does mean that I have to speed up getting my own net access sorted.


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 Post subject:
PostPosted: Wed Mar 02, 2005 19:56 
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Just to look at things from another point of view :!:

Say you employed x number of people, would you be happy to pay for their Net access for private use :?:

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 Post subject:
PostPosted: Wed Mar 02, 2005 20:01 
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bmwk12 wrote:
Just to look at things from another point of view.

Say you employed x number of people, would you be happy to pay for their Net access for private use ?

The point is not that people want to use the Net for private purposes, but that company Net filters are ridiculously inconsistent in what they block and what they let through.

Also it's now commonplace for employers to allow staff to use the Net during lunchtimes etc. - at which point the fact you can only access www.widgetworld.com might become rather irritating.

Edit: And that's my 1000th post :D

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 Post subject:
PostPosted: Wed Mar 02, 2005 20:12 
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Quote:
Also it's now commonplace for employers to allow staff to use the Net during lunchtimes etc. - at which point the fact you can only access www.widgetworld.com might become rather irritating.


What about Inland revenue side of things, this could be seen as a benifit in kind, and due for taxation :!:

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 Post subject:
PostPosted: Wed Mar 02, 2005 20:13 
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Quote:
Edit: And that's my 1000th post :D


Happy Postday :P

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 Post subject:
PostPosted: Wed Mar 02, 2005 21:10 
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PeterE wrote:
[/b] And that's my 1000th post :D

Congratulations!

Given that Paul has set up a specific "CSCP refugees" forum, I wonder if he would entertain a request to transfer my 1000+ post count from "the other side"???? :lol:

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 Post subject:
PostPosted: Wed Mar 02, 2005 21:27 
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PeterE wrote:
[Edit: And that's my 1000th post :D


You old windbag you :lol:


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 Post subject:
PostPosted: Wed Mar 02, 2005 22:25 
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JT wrote:
PeterE wrote:
[/b] And that's my 1000th post :D

Congratulations!

Given that Paul has set up a specific "CSCP refugees" forum, I wonder if he would entertain a request to transfer my 1000+ post count from "the other side"???? :lol:


Now really John, you must know that CSCP posts don't count... :)

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 Post subject:
PostPosted: Wed Mar 02, 2005 22:34 
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Humbug! :cry:

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 Post subject:
PostPosted: Wed Mar 02, 2005 23:33 
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PeterE wrote:
Also it's now commonplace for employers to allow staff to use the Net during lunchtimes etc. - at which point the fact you can only access www.widgetworld.com might become rather irritating.


http://www.surfcontrol.com/ is what is used here, along with very tight lockdown of settings - I can't change my proxy, heck I can't even change the speed my mouse cursor moves. :cry:

Some sites, such as the BBC sports pages and Autotrader are blocked during "core" hours and opened during lunch.

There was a way round used by some IT staff but a rash of viruses put a stop to that.

The worst thing is the access isn't even controlled by IT, so it's no use getting friendly with eny of us. Which is a shame, we would really like people to talk to us sometimes. :oops:


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 Post subject:
PostPosted: Wed Mar 02, 2005 23:38 
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Does anyone else's employer use the Disknet system? This spawn of satan has lost me numerous confidential personel appraisil reports which, due to the way our reporting chain works, must be saved to the floppy disk provided.
Reflex Magnetics are on my Come The Revolution hitlist :twisted:


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 Post subject:
PostPosted: Wed Mar 02, 2005 23:49 
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bmwk12 wrote:
What about Inland revenue side of things, this could be seen as a benifit in kind, and due for taxation :!:

Not that I'm aware of - for a start it's virtually impossible to quantify.

Gareth


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 Post subject:
PostPosted: Wed Mar 02, 2005 23:53 
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stackmonkey wrote:
It does mean that I have to speed up getting my own net access sorted.

I've just set my uncle up with www.madasafish.com - they have ADSL at 2Mb (or whatever your line will support) with 2Gb a month for £17.99 a month, free connection and free USB modem.

There are similar deals but nothing as cheap for the first year. I'm with www.freedom2surf.net - their identical offering is £14.99 a month but it's £50 connection and £30 for the equipment.

Gareth


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 Post subject:
PostPosted: Thu Mar 03, 2005 00:33 
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Quote:
Not that I'm aware of - for a start it's virtually impossible to quantify.


When inland revenue are involved they do not need to quantify, they only need the understanding that employees may use the Internet for personal use during Lunchtimes.

Inland revenue would simply x employees x lunch breaks = x hrs

= benifit in kind = TAX, and throw on the past years for good measure.

For example:

I supply uniforms to my crews, only by stating in the contract of employment, that the uniform is the companies property that must be returned, do i not have to tax my staff for the benifit of uniforms :?

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