Free anonymising browser (modified version of Firefox) debuts

[mawilson 2,133]

the url would still show up on the net log. and most network admin would figure out what you're doing and block that site. all this type of site does is hide your identity from the website you are visiting, it's not doing a thing to hide your identity from the computer you are sending from. so a net nazi could monitor you all day long.

They would see the URL of a random client in the anonymising network, not the URL

of the actual site you were trying to access. As in,

http://179.23.45.34/any/old/rubbish/here/

Yes, they could start blocking them on a case by case basis, but they would never

be able to do it fast enough.

(BTW, I don't know how this particular anonymiser works, but I'm saying it's

definitely possible to hide the sites you are visiting from your network admin.)

[one...two...tree 2,762]

Actually, a network administrator would still be able to monitor what web sites you're visiting from your workstation, right Arjit? This only prevents the websites themselves from knowing who's visiting their site.

No - all they would see is encrypted traffic going to a random machine in the network.

the url would still show up on the net log. and most network admin would figure out what you're doing and block that site. all this type of site does is hide your identity from the website you are visiting, it's not doing a thing to hide your identity from the computer you are sending from. so a net nazi could monitor you all day long.

That's what I figured because the data has to leave my office network first and that data can be monitored by the network administrator.

[I'm Gone 60]

How does work moniter which Webites you are looking at when you have 30,000 people with Internet access? Wouldn't they have a reason to be watching you or do they just look at what a random number of people look at each day and it's unluck of the draw to get caught looking at something you aren't supposed to be looking at?

[one...two...tree 2,762]

How does work moniter which Webites you are looking at when you have 30,000 people with Internet access? Wouldn't they have a reason to be watching you or do they just look at what a random number of people look at each day and it's unluck of the draw to get caught looking at something you aren't supposed to be looking at?

My company is rather small - approx. 100 employees. The network administrator can monitor anyone retrieving and sending data outside of the office network and large data transfers are one cause for alarm. Not only that, they can monitor data types, audio, video, images vs. text. I just don't see how any covert method would be fullproof - at least when you are connected to a local area network with server that connects you to anything outside the network.

[Ban Hammer 13,352]

How does work moniter which Webites you are looking at when you have 30,000 people with Internet access? Wouldn't they have a reason to be watching you or do they just look at what a random number of people look at each day and it's unluck of the draw to get caught looking at something you aren't supposed to be looking at?

My company is rather small - approx. 100 employees. The network administrator can monitor anyone retrieving and sending data outside of the office network and large data transfers are one cause for alarm. Not only that, they can monitor data types, audio, video, images vs. text. I just don't see how any covert method would be fullproof - at least when you are connected to a local area network with server that connects you to anything outside the network.

exactly. your network guys can monitor the sites you visit, block those they don't want you going to, and see everything that crosses the network. and in this day of corporate espionage and disgruntled employees, don't bet that isn't going on. big brother is watching YOU!

[I'm Gone 60]

exactly. your network guys can monitor the sites you visit, block those they don't want you going to, and see everything that crosses the network. and in this day of corporate espionage and disgruntled employees, don't bet that isn't going on. big brother is watching YOU!

Of course they tell us all the time not to do this or that, but isn't that part of the policing to make you think someone is watching every move you make, but when you have 30,000 people how can someone have the time to look over what every person did in a single day.

Now where I work they are more concerned about you looking up data records of friends and family and I sure more effort is placed on watching data access than you looking at some porn site.

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

In the last weeks at my old job in the UK, I went online for almost a week straight, did virtually no work at all. You'd think that sort of activity would be some sort of red flag, but apparently not.

At one place I worked I even got away with reading the soft porn magazines (my next job) at my desk, and viewing the company website. Nothing.

Still I did work with someone who got fired for sending a JPEG over the network. He thought it was that joke fortune cookie that says "That wasn't chicken". What he actually sent was.... Man With Chicken...

Edited September 21, 2006 by erekose

[mawilson 2,133]

the url would still show up on the net log. and most network admin would figure out what you're doing and block that site. all this type of site does is hide your identity from the website you are visiting, it's not doing a thing to hide your identity from the computer you are sending from. so a net nazi could monitor you all day long.

That's what I figured because the data has to leave my office network first and that data can be monitored by the network administrator.

You figured wrong.

[one...two...tree 2,762]

the url would still show up on the net log. and most network admin would figure out what you're doing and block that site. all this type of site does is hide your identity from the website you are visiting, it's not doing a thing to hide your identity from the computer you are sending from. so a net nazi could monitor you all day long.

That's what I figured because the data has to leave my office network first and that data can be monitored by the network administrator.

You figured wrong.

How is that wrong? A small company has it's own server to which all outgoing and incoming data is channelled through. It is with that server that a network administrator can detect which computer within the company is sending and retrieving information. While they may not know exactly what data is being exchanged they can detect data types and they can intercept that data. As to my knowledge, that is part and parcel to having a LAN that connects to the outside using a central server. Shall I consult my network administrator?

Just wanted to add that I understand it is possible to hide what websites your visiting, but just check your browser's memory cache and you'll see that whatever website you visited, that data is stored locally - and it can only get to your computer through your company's server - which again knows that you got that data and can intercept it at will.

Edited September 21, 2006 by Steven_and_Jinky

[one...two...tree 2,762]

In the last weeks at my old job in the UK, I went online for almost a week straight, did virtually no work at all. You'd think that sort of activity would be some sort of red flag, but apparently not.

At one place I worked I even got away with reading the soft porn magazines (my next job) at my desk, and viewing the company website. Nothing.

Still I did work with someone who got fired for sending a JPEG over the network. He thought it was that joke fortune cookie that says "That wasn't chicken". What he actually sent was.... Man With Chicken...

The disturbing reality is that if an employer wishes to monitor an employee, they can legally intercept emails as well as any outgoing or incoming data. They aren't going to be able to nab every person at work that is abusing their internet priviledges, but if they decide they want to go after you, better watch out. My company seems to be vague with regard to internet usage. I was recently moved to a location where people walk by my workstation and can see my 2 flat screen monitors, so I've had to set my preferences in Firefox to not load images and then I limit my web usage to usually VJ or news sites. I then keep my browser window small and less conspicuous. A lot of my co-workers use IM's and seem to spend a great deal of time chatting so I feel a bit justified to post here on VJ.

[PlatyPius 5]

http://www.track4win.com/Monitor_Internet_Usage.asp

If your work LAN is using a Server2003 Server with Active Directory, your admin can control and monitor pretty much everything on your computer. If he decides you play Solitaire too much, he can instantly disable Solitaire on your computer.

Really isn't that surprising to know that, if they wanted to, network admins could see what site you're on, for how long, etc.

[I'm Gone 60]

Really isn't that surprising to know that, if they wanted to, network admins could see what site you're on, for how long, etc.

But as I ask before, wouldn't they need to have a reason to pick you out of the bunch to be monitored? No alarm goes off if I'm on this site for over 30 minutes?

[Risto 0]

hmmmm....sounds like a good thing for criminals to use too

Wait until NYT gets their hands on the story..

They already did

[mawilson 2,133]

How is that wrong? A small company has it's own server to which all outgoing and incoming data is channelled through. It is with that server that a network administrator can detect which computer within the company is sending and retrieving information. While they may not know exactly what data is being exchanged they can detect data types and they can intercept that data.

Exactly. They can intercept the data but it won't them do any good if the data is encrypted.

They wouldn't be able to discern any data types or find out what sites you visited.

Just wanted to add that I understand it is possible to hide what websites your visiting, but just check your browser's memory cache and you'll see that whatever website you visited, that data is stored locally - and it can only get to your computer through your company's server - which again knows that you got that data and can intercept it at will.

First of all, it's possible to tell your browser not to cache any data, or delete the cache

after a browsing session.

Second, we are talking about a special anonymising browser here - not your standard

edition IE or Firefox.

[Ban Hammer 13,352]

How is that wrong? A small company has it's own server to which all outgoing and incoming data is channelled through. It is with that server that a network administrator can detect which computer within the company is sending and retrieving information. While they may not know exactly what data is being exchanged they can detect data types and they can intercept that data.

Exactly. They can intercept the data but it won't them do any good if the data is encrypted.

They wouldn't be able to discern any data types or find out what sites you visited.

Just wanted to add that I understand it is possible to hide what websites your visiting, but just check your browser's memory cache and you'll see that whatever website you visited, that data is stored locally - and it can only get to your computer through your company's server - which again knows that you got that data and can intercept it at will.

First of all, it's possible to tell your browser not to cache any data, or delete the cache

after a browsing session.

Second, we are talking about a special anonymising browser here - not your standard

edition IE or Firefox.

if your net nazis spot encrypted traffic, odds are the one generating that might find their computer under the microscope, as the first thought will be industrial espionage. and also it should be mentioned that although the data stream might be garbled as they see it go by, that does not mean they can't see your desktop and the unencrypted information

yes, you can delete the cache. easy to recover too.

it should also be noted that any it staff worth their salt will have the computers locked down where additional software cannot be installed, and those that are able to install it might find such "disappears" one day.