Please HELP. WiFi at work has blocked cff

Pbj ak

Pbj ak

10-4 keep’em comin
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I want to start out by saying I’m terrible with technology so I thought I’d ask you guys if there were any options.

I’m having a problem with the WiFi here at work. Early this morning I was using the WiFi and could get on this site ( this is the only site I get on besides YouTube) no problem. Just a few minutes ago I tried to get on and got a page saying Carolinafirearmsforum is trying to steal my info. I forced it to go on to the site and got another page saying it was blocked.

Now I’m ok my lunch break and can use my data but wanted to ask if there’s a way to get around the block and still use the WiFi here at work to get on here? I don’t get cell signal inside the building so I’m afraid it’s going to suck.

As always, any help is much appreciated and I thank you in advance.
 
Get a VPN, run the vpn and go to CFF. I like ExpressVPN. Or, try using TOR. Bear in mind, going to a restricted site will be logged by the security department, doubt they will care about CFF. Running a VPN, they might care more about. Depends where you work, I guess. Mechanics, no worries. Bank? Might raise some eyebrows.
 
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@pinkbunny

I’ve never used a vpn, and I’m just a lowly maintenance guy at a yarn factory.

Will they be able to tell it’s me?
Does the vpn cost anything?
 
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9outof10mms said:
Your cell phone signal can't be blocked.
Click to expand...

10-4. My phone just doesn’t pick up inside the building very well. Only have good signal one or two places, but I don’t frequently go there.
 
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Pbj ak said:
@pinkbunny

I’ve never used a vpn, and I’m just a lowly maintenance guy at a yarn factory.

Will they be able to tell it’s me?
Does the vpn cost anything?
Click to expand...
Realistically, a yarn factory probably doesn't have much, if any security, so it's a moot point, but just in case...
So, it depends what you are using. Here's my guess:
Scenario 1:
You have a desktop connected to wifi. They will log that this desktop has this ID(called a MAC address), which identifies you. You then use it to connect to a VPN, and they cannot see what you are looking at, because it's encrypted, but they can see that it's tunneled through a VPN. Might be suspicious.

Scenario 2(I recommend):
You install the VPN on your phone, run it, and are connected to wifi. They see that your phone is using a VPN. That's a reasonable security precaution, I doubt they would have a problem with you using a VPN on your phone. At most, they'd just ask you about it. It's always a good idea to use a VPN when using public wifi, you could tell them, so you run a vpn by default. You're not a technical guy, you didn't know it's frowned on. Perfectly reasonable excuse.

https://www.expressvpn.com/
$8.32/month. I highly recommend VPN's regardless.
 
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pinkbunny said:
Realistically, a yarn factory probably doesn't have much, if any security, so it's a moot point, but just in case...
So, it depends what you are using. Here's my guess:
Scenario 1:
You have a desktop connected to wifi. They will log that this desktop has this ID(called a MAC address), which identifies you. You then use it to connect to a VPN, and they cannot see what you are looking at, because it's encrypted, but they can see that it's tunneled through a VPN. Might be suspicious.

Scenario 2(I recommend):
You install the VPN on your phone, run it, and are connected to wifi. They see that your phone is using a VPN. That's a reasonable security precaution, I doubt they would have a problem with you using a VPN on your phone. At most, they'd just ask you about it. It's always a good idea to use a VPN when using public wifi, you could tell them, so you run a vpn by default. You're not a technical guy, you didn't know it's frowned on. Perfectly reasonable excuse.

https://www.expressvpn.com/
$8.32/month. I highly recommend VPN's regardless.
Click to expand...


I’m just using my phone. I am going to look into getting a vpn.

One last question, there are a couple hundred folks working here, would they be able to link my phone to me? I don’t suppose it would really matter, just wondering. Sorry, I’m not very tech savvy and thanks for the schooling.
 
Probably not.
So, this will get nerdy. We define things in networks in layers. Layer 7 is basically typing in a web page. Layer 1 is the 0's and 1's traveling through an ethernet cable. The important ones to you are Layers 2 and 3.

In Layer 3, you have IP addresses, which show you connecting to something outside your local network. Like google, or a VPN. They will see that an IP here connected to a VPN. That IP is linked to a MAC address on Layer 2, which is the local network. It will see your device connected to the router, and it will see you have a VPN. But it can't link you to the device, unless the wifi required you to do something like put in a username and password to get on the wifi.
If someone *really* cared, they could probably figure out what room you're in, based on the access point your connected to, but again, they have to really care. At a yarn factory, I highly doubt they would.
 
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pinkbunny said:
Probably not.
So, this will get nerdy. We define things in networks in layers. Layer 7 is basically typing in a web page. Layer 1 is the 0's and 1's traveling through an ethernet cable. The important ones to you are Layers 2 and 3.

In Layer 3, you have IP addresses, which show you connecting to something outside your local network. Like google, or a VPN. They will see that an IP here connected to a VPN. That IP is linked to a MAC address on Layer 2, which is the local network. It will see your device connected to the router, and it will see you have a VPN. But it can't link you to the device, unless the wifi required you to do something like put in a username and password to get on the wifi.
If someone *really* cared, they could probably figure out what room you're in, based on the access point your connected to, but again, they have to really care. At a yarn factory, I highly doubt they would.
Click to expand...


Thanks for breaking that down. I’m going to see what I can get set up tonight when I get home.

I’m just using a generic password for everyone to access WiFi.
 
Pbj ak said:
I’m just using my phone. I am going to look into getting a vpn.

One last question, there are a couple hundred folks working here, would they be able to link my phone to me? I don’t suppose it would really matter, just wondering. Sorry, I’m not very tech savvy and thanks for the schooling.
Click to expand...

Just make sure your phone has a generic name. Not "PBJ AK's Phone".
 
Ts_1911 said:
Here's a dumb question. If I had a vpn would I be able to look at gun stuff at the doctor's office where its blocked?
Click to expand...
Yes.
A VPN basically connects you to a VPN, and makes an encrypted tunnel between you and it. No one can see what you are viewing, meaning that the filter stuff doctors offices do won't work.
 
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Great discussion. Im going to look into a vpn.

Sent from my SM-G965U using Tapatalk
 
pinkbunny said:
So, this will get nerdy.
Click to expand...
Challenge accepted. Here’s the answer to get around the block: ssh -CND 9999 you@your-server-at-home. Set your browser to use a SOCKS 5 proxy with the address of local host and port of 9999.

:D
 
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And there's another angle to work: Do you know who is the network admin there? can you spend enough time with this person to maybe influence their decision to check the "weapons" box on the server's content filter?
 
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Me. said:
For those using VPN, what are you using for DNS? A lot of filters now use the DNS lookup for the blocking and tracking. Does the VPN switch your DNS setting on the phone?
Click to expand...
Often times you use a function called remote DNS which means the DNS query is made at the (VPN) output end, not at your end. In other words, anyone watching for who is querying DNS sees the VPN not you. Tor does the same thing.

Of course that opens up another avenue of vulnerability in that you are trusting the DNS on their end to send you to the right and real location, not the spoof one that will harvest your information that you put into the form they present.
 
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Catfish said:
And there's another angle to work: Do you know who is the network admin there? can you spend enough time with this person to maybe influence their decision to check the "weapons" box on the server's content filter?
Click to expand...
99% of the time of you order pizza and energy drinks for your IT team will buy you a lot of favors.
 
I’ve been using IPVanishVPN for a while now thanks to @BigWaylon. Almost time to re-up.

Anyway, here lately I haven’t been able to get on the forum while using it and my company’s WiFi. Anyone have an idea why? Here’s a screen shot. 051B7331-9FCC-4F52-9390-24E2C442B84F.png
 
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noway2 said:
Challenge accepted. Here’s the answer to get around the block: ssh -CND 9999 you@your-server-at-home. Set your browser to use a SOCKS 5 proxy with the address of local host and port of 9999.

:D
Click to expand...
This is how I envision you giving that little schpiel:
 
Pbj ak said:
I’ve been using IPVanishVPN for a while now thanks to @BigWaylon. Almost time to re-up.

Anyway, here lately I haven’t been able to get on the forum while using it and my company’s WiFi. Anyone have an idea why? Here’s a screen shot. View attachment 313364
Click to expand...
Error 1020: Access denied A client or browser is blocked by a Cloudflare customer's Firewall Rules.

So, your company's firewall is blocking the VPN. Maybe try a different VPN provider?
 
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or

1615400465369.png

:D
 
pinkbunny said:
Yes.
A VPN basically connects you to a VPN, and makes an encrypted tunnel between you and it. No one can see what you are viewing, meaning that the filter stuff doctors offices do won't work.
Click to expand...


Yes, sort of. They may block the VPN as well, then no. My work blocks all known VPN services, because I need to be protected from myself.
 
Les White said:
Yes, sort of. They may block the VPN as well, then no. My work blocks all known VPN services, because I need to be protected from myself.
Click to expand...
most malware and exfil happens via encrypted channels and via vpn. I can see why they block it.
 
pinkbunny said:
Error 1020: Access denied A client or browser is blocked by a Cloudflare customer's Firewall Rules.

So, your company's firewall is blocking the VPN. Maybe try a different VPN provider?
Click to expand...
Wonder if it’s blocking from other countries, or the VPN in general?

@Pbj ak - are you selecting another country? Or schooling best possible? Or what?
 
Les White said:
Yes, sort of. They may block the VPN as well, then no. My work blocks all known VPN services, because I need to be protected from myself.
Click to expand...
True. But in that case, public wifi at Dr's office, is probably on an unmanaged vlan. Just guessing.
 
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