How to disable LAN proxy server

albertross_2

Does your employer have a vpn system, if so, this would allow you to continue to use the work proxy (with any filtering deemed appropriate), and still surf the net from home, without any bypassing.

If it does work at work without the proxy, then that sounds to me like they have bridged the network with the internet, which is incredibly insecure.

Need_More_Money_2

albertross wrote:

Does your employer have a vpn system, if so, this would allow you to continue to use the work proxy (with any filtering deemed appropriate), and still surf the net from home, without any bypassing.

That's another issue! They won't allow VPN access to the network as it is considered a security risk. It is safe enough for banks to use but apparentley not for us

A_Nice_Englishman

I'm glad you found my posts interesting / helpful. I worked for my (then) employer in various admin and technical roles before moving into IT which gave me an insight which those who've only ever worked in IT don't have.

The proxy server will (should!) be set up to prevent access to undesirable sites so there is a greater security risk to bypassing it.

Anyway, good luck in getting what you need and I hope this discussion has helped you understand the issues and argue your case with the powers that be.

A_Nice_Englishman

Need_More_Money wrote:

That's another issue! They won't allow VPN access to the network as it is considered a security risk. It is safe enough for banks to use but apparentley not for us

A VPN is rather like sitting at home and remotely controlling a computer at work so I don't really follow that argument!

A_Nice_Englishman

albertross wrote:

If it does work at work without the proxy, then that sounds to me like they have bridged the network with the internet, which is incredibly insecure.

Agreed. They do sound pretty clueless!

Need_More_Money_2

A_Nice_Englishman wrote:

I'm glad you found my posts interesting / helpful. I worked for my (then) employer in various admin and technical roles before moving into IT which gave me an insight which those who've only ever worked in IT don't have.

I think the problem with our IT dept is that they pay peanuts. Anyone who knows what they are doing can earn much more elsewhere.

A_Nice_Englishman wrote:

The proxy server will (should!) be set up to prevent access to undesirable sites so there is a greater security risk to bypassing it.

Agreed, but what I meant was that I can legitamately access the Internet at home, without going through the proxy server, by logging in as a different user. If that is acceptable, then it is no different than allowing it with my standard login.

Need_More_Money_2

A_Nice_Englishman wrote:

A VPN is rather like sitting at home and remotely controlling a computer at work so I don't really follow that argument!

Again, agreed. I assume they don't like the the idea of allowing any kind of login to the network from outside. It uses NAT so individual machines are not visible.

A_Nice_Englishman

A_Nice_Englishman wrote:

A VPN is rather like sitting at home and remotely controlling a computer at work so I don't really follow that argument!

Sorry, that's not quite what I meant!

What I meant was that using the appropriate software and a Virtual Private Network (VPN) remote workers can work at home as if they were sat at a computer in the office

A_Nice_Englishman

Need_More_Money wrote:

I think the problem with our IT dept is that they pay peanuts. Anyone who knows what they are doing can earn much more elsewhere.



Agreed, but what I meant was that I can legitamately access the Internet at home, without going through the proxy server, by logging in as a different user. If that is acceptable, then it is no different than allowing it with my standard login.

That's a hole in the security then - as is people at work using Firefox to bypass the proxy!

Need_More_Money_2

A_Nice_Englishman wrote:

That's a hole in the security then - as is people at work using Firefox to bypass the proxy!

Using Firefox requires editing the registry so those people are bypassing the security put in place