In this short but informative article (at least that’s what we’d like you to think), we’re going to cover a very “oldhat” way to access blocked websites, and a second not-so-talked about technique – which might just help you get round the buggery content filters that your school, work, ISP or spouse has installed.
Method #1 – The Age-Old “Proxy” Trick
The most obvious way to circumvent website blocking, is simply to use a proxy.
Here are a few proxies to get you started (some of these carry ads – some popups, both annoying – some more than others):
http://www.spysurfing.com/ (SpySurfing)
http://www.hrmovie.com/ (Unipeak)
A lot of proxies struggle to handle cookies correctly additionally – meaning despite finding the proxy – you can’t login to check your MySpace, Facebook, GMail or Live account. Yet more problematic is the issues that arises when the proxy, heck… every proxy your ISP/school/company/organization is aware of… is also blocked. All hope is not lost, however!
.
Method #2 - USB Browsing
If you’ve tried it all before, proxies, socksies – secure-layer-moxies, then fear not… If you have access to a USB port and a spare, cheap 1GB USB key… you can load it with your own “portable” version of Firefox, with the “Tor” plugin pre-installed (also a portable version).
Very simply, Tor connects to a network of “proxy computers”, not proxy websites – through which your request for a webpage is loaded. These computers load the page first and then pass on what they see to you.
You browse the internet as usual from within the browser and they do all the hard work. No ads at all. This sort of method is much harder to block than simply blocking a group of proxy websites and can be much faster for you as a user – as well.
So where can one get ahold of this ultimate portable version of Firefox? If you’ve tried a few Google searches and turned up nothing but blanks, it’s no surprise.
The secure-version of Firefox is produced by a third-party under the “XeroBank Browser” brand. There is some debate as to whether this product is correctly licensed (see: Wikipedia) and if you’re worried or simply wish to do things yourself – you can download the versions of both Portable Tor and Portable Firefox separately.
Virtually unstoppable, is you have a USB key lying around – make use of it by doing the exact thing your boss/teacher is trying to prevent you from doing. In my case, accessing my GMail. 
Conclusion
Sure – a list of 37 different silly, unworkable tactics to tricking your web-filter probably would have landed us on the Digg homepage, but let’s face it. Google cache is lame and not everyone wants to hack their employer’s servers.
This is all you need. A proxy-list if your bosses are dumb, or if they’re slightly more clued-up than a seventh century scientist, a USB key. As Aleksandr teh meerkat vould say (what d’you mean you don’t go out your way to watch British car insurance TV adverts?)… “Simplez.”
One Response
Thanks for the great tips, wish I knew about the USB method when I was at school!