Bess Block at school

[jud3612]

At my school, we have a bess block, and I was wondering if there is a way to get around it.

[jason]

Not likely, and even if it were, you shouldn't do it. Schools install filters and blocks for a reason, and trying to circumvent them is a violation of policy. Depending on the school's policy, misusing their network in this way could be grounds for anything from losing your network access, all the way to suspension or expulsion.

--Jason

[jud3612]

I just wanted to get to some boards, They block just about everything besides yahoo, and google.

[JPC-Les]

I doubt that Jason was trying to insinuate that you had any malicious intentions with wanting to get around the filter/firewall. He is extremely helpful on these boards and seems to be just looking out for your welfare.

One note of caution I would issue is that using the Jaguar network to facilitate the circumvention of another networks security would be a violation of our Acceptable Use Policy.

http://www.jaguarpc.com/index.php?loc=policies&type=aup

Attacks and Exploits : Any activity which affects the ability of other people or systems to use any services or other internet services. This includes "denial of service" (DOS) attacks against another network host or individual user. Interference with or disruption of other network users, services or equipment is prohibited. It is the client's responsibility to ensure that their server is configured in a secure manner. A client may not, through action or inaction, allow others to use their network for illegal or inappropriate actions. Unauthorized entry and/or use of another company and/or individual's computer system will result in immediate account termination. We will not tolerate any subscriber attempting to access the accounts of others, or penetrate security measures of other systems.

[jason]

I doubt that Jason was trying to insinuate that you had any malicious intentions...

Les is correct, I didn't mean to infer that I thought you'd try to do anything malicious. I was just warning you to watch out. Your school put the block in place becasue they don't want you using their network for unapproved reasons. Even if you were just visiting boards or checking mail on a blocked site, doing so would be against the rules and you'd be subject to the same consequences as if you had used their network to do something bad, such as release a virus or launch a DOS attack.

--Jason

[Piyer]

I just wanted to get to some boards, They block just about everything besides yahoo, and google.

I have a couple of suggestions for you. The first, and perhaps most obvious, is to ask the person in charge of the computer system to unblock the site(s) which you'd like to view. If, for whatever reason, this is not an option, then you might try Googling the site and viewing it via the cached copies Google keeps. Not too helpful on a message board, but it should be doable with other sites. Another option might be to view the site via another website. Delorie's Lynx Viewer ( http://www.delorie.com/web/lynxview.html) , for example, is intended to help developers see their website as it would appear in a Lynx browser, but it might have the added benefit of bypassing Bess to reach blocked sites -- assuming that Bess isn't blocking Delorie.

I agree with the others in that you probably should not be trying to bypass any blocking software your school has put in place; however, I can also imagine several reasons (none related to watching porn) where someone would want to view a website that their school thinks they have no business visiting.

BTW, to the others who have commented, you might find this link interesting: http://www.mlsd.k12.oh.us/tech/docs/bess.htm It seems that even a search on the term "Nazi Holocaust" could result in blocked sites due to the word Nazi being in there.

[Spathiphyllum]

BTW, to the others who have commented, you might find this link interesting: http://www.mlsd.k12.oh.us/tech/docs/bess.htm It seems that even a search on the term "Nazi Holocaust" could result in blocked sites due to the word Nazi being in there.

That's a good point and I can understand such filtering limiting material rather strictly. Another example, and there are many, would be legitimate biology and health topics that would be tagged as porn when the search was really an inocuous one. Nonetheless, it's difficult to strike a balance and I'm guessing the school needs reach some ultimate decision based on their own internal judgements and those of their clients, i.e. parents.

As stated previously, better safe than sorry since disrespecting the rules can lead to some serious consequences; and who needs a red blot on their scholastic record?

[DLMunson]

back when i was in HS, i knew the network admins pretty well, they gave me address of the adminstration side proxy, so economics class was spent looking at IGN xbox LOL

[jason]

By my senior year of high school we had two computers with 14.4 modems that could connect to the outside world and a couple with 2400 bps modems! How times have changed.

I remember using an old Apple IIe with a green and black monocrome monitor that was in the library to connect to SpaceMet as a Freshman. That was the only computer in the school that had a modem at the time and SpaceMet ws one of the few BBS that they'd let us call.

--Jason

[Vin DSL]

At my school, we have a bess block, and I was wondering if there is a way to get around it.

The easiest way is to carry a bootable Linux CD around with you... However, if you're not smart enough to figure that out, you probably shouldn't be circumventing any security measures...

[Vin DSL]

One note of caution I would issue is that using the Jaguar network to facilitate the circumvention of another networks security would be a violation of our Acceptable Use Policy.

http://www.jaguarpc.com/index.php?loc=policies&type=aup

Hrm... a little paranoid, are we?

[Vin DSL]

Heh! Do you carry a wallet? http://www.lnx-bbc.org/

[Vin DSL]

Depending on the school's policy, misusing their network in this way could be grounds for anything from losing your network access, all the way to suspension or expulsion.

LoL! This can get you jail time... http://www.trinux.org/

[DLMunson]

By my senior year of high school we had two computers with 14.4 modems that could connect to the outside world and a couple with 2400 bps modems! How times have changed.

I remember using an old Apple IIe with a green and black monocrome monitor that was in the library to connect to SpaceMet as a Freshman. That was the only computer in the school that had a modem at the time and SpaceMet ws one of the few BBS that they'd let us call.

--Jason

LMFAO....i think i was 3 when them speed modems were out haha

[Ron]

LMFAO....i think i was 3 when them speed modems were out haha

My first was an accoustic coupling modem, 110 baud, I think.

Of course in the late 70's 300 baud was all the rage.

Then 1200 baud around 84. Ahhh yes. I had a beauty of a modem. A Prometheus 1200. It could answer the phone on its own and make a connection, and deliver a few bytes of info. All for the low low price of $600.
Hey -- I even found a picture of one! (The pictured model is the 2400 baud model, but looks the same to me!)

http://www.atarimagazines.com/v5n6/newproducts.html

There was talk that 2400 baud might happen, but the phone lines really could't sustain them.

We were the people who invented your internet. Blazed the path. Brought it to life. Enjoy it, and -- you're welcome. Now, what are you going to invent for us that doesn't involve Doom? (Oh yeah, we invented that, too).

In about 20 years, someone is going to write in a forum:

Ha Ha Ha I think i was about 3 when them 3 megabit cable modems were out.

and you'll be the one reminiscing.