Unlocking Work laptop

Squibbles_2

I have studied MSCE, and basically for what you want, you either need to be an administrator or ask the adminstrator for permission to access other sites, personally, I can't see them giving you permission, i.e. it will open the floodgate situation etc.

Albeit, you could hack the system, though I wouldn't do that, because in reality, it is illegal to hack, so no go on that.

If you use it for facebook, well they can argue that you are probably not doing your work etc...during work hours, they would rather want people employed, as opposed to being sacked for missusing the computers at work

Oscar_The_Grouch

I used to travel quite a bit for work and would always carry 2 laptops; the work one and mine. Even if you are able to check your own e-mails on a work machine, you can't download Skype. I used to very much enjy being able to SEE Mrs Grouch and the Grouchettes rather than just speak to them.

Vomityspice

Perhaps another way to resolve your problem would be to download a Ubuntu live CD and then install it on a USB stick.

Set the bios to boot from USB first, and then when you want to, you can browse what ever you want. Note that copying your companies proxy settings are a surefire way to get caught! Bite the bullet and buy a USB dongle. That way your company will never know and there will be no evidence on your computer to prove otherwise.

sillygoose

My work laptop is a bit like that but does allow net access to a degree, its done by simply using a proxy setting to route all requests via the companies server so it filters what is allowed or not, mainly as a safety system as whilst possibly accessing an unsafe site I would be connected into the companies intranet exposing that.

This only applies when connecting to the net via the VPN link into the company. When I can get an internet connection (such as wifi) and don't connect to the company they have no problem with me changing the setting to 'automatically detect settings' and using it direct.

If a proxy server is set, copy and paste the address to a text file in case it gets lost, untick the box and select 'automatically detect settings' with an internet connection try just opening the browser and going direct. To connect back to work you may need to just change the proxy settings back.

KillerWatt

Vomityspice wrote: »

Perhaps another way to resolve your problem would be to download a Ubuntu live CD and then install it on a USB stick.

Set the bios to boot from USB first, and then when you want to, you can browse what ever you want. Note that copying your companies proxy settings are a surefire way to get caught! Bite the bullet and buy a USB dongle. That way your company will never know and there will be no evidence on your computer to prove otherwise.

Assuming the BIOS hasn't already been password protected by the IT Dept, this would still be classed as using the computer for something that is not authorised and therefore instant dismissal if caught.
Same goes for adding hardware that isn't authorised, and it is very easy to prove that it has been done.

Squibbles_2

Vomityspice wrote: »

Perhaps another way to resolve your problem would be to download a Ubuntu live CD and then install it on a USB stick.

Set the bios to boot from USB first, and then when you want to, you can browse what ever you want. Note that copying your companies proxy settings are a surefire way to get caught! Bite the bullet and buy a USB dongle. That way your company will never know and there will be no evidence on your computer to prove otherwise.

Yup, but don't install the ubuntu on the disk, it will be pretty evident what has transpired if he did, just use the live version of ubuntu, and they will never know

amcluesent

I did a neat hack of a company supplied laptop, but it needs some expertise. Basically, I took the laptops disk out and installed in a USB caddy, then put a new disk in the laptop and installed Windows. Obviously I had complete control of that. Then I installed VMWare and created a virtual machine image by cloning the contents of the disk accessed by USB. I was then able to run the company's 'locked down' Windows in VMWare while I could use the native Windows as I wanted. Worked well. I always smiled when the IT guys went on about how secure their systems were.

jclegs

They must not be that secure if the laptop hard drive isn't encrypted and you can P to V it to a virtual machine!

Zazen999

[quote=[Deleted User];discussion/2576157]I have a laptop which my company gave me to use for work; however I can only access my work websites and email. The laptop is preventing me from accessing any other websites. Can someone please explain how the IT guys at work are able to do this and is there a way I can override this block without their knowing. I had a word with them but they're unable to help as it's a senior management rule, but as I am on the road most of the time, I thought that being able to access my personal email during the day would not be a major issue.[/QUOTE]

So, presumably, if they just TOLD you not to access non-work websites, and got you to SIGN to say you wouldn't - then you would just go ahead and do so anyway....which is why they have had to BLOCK access to anything else.

Is it really worth your job if you can't understand simple instructions then you are going to have difficulty in hacking the system or correctly installing a system to bypass their blocks?

motorguy

amcluesent wrote: »

I was then able to run the company's 'locked down' Windows in VMWare while I could use the native Windows as I wanted. Worked well. I always smiled when the IT guys went on about how secure their systems were.

Secure as in unable to access services that you werent supposed to when logged on via a company client pc / laptop setup, as opposed to secure as in preventing someone from taking the hard drive out.