Ultrasurf

Hello all,

I hope this isn't breaking any rules to ask this question, So I apologize if it does. I downloaded a program called Ultrasurf so that I could bypass Websense at my work. I am not interested in myspace, or facebook, porn, etc. I just use it to veiw youtube, some sports sites, and some medical sites (for patients, I work in patient care). Believe it or not, Websense will actually block legitimate medical sites. I just get annoyed with everything being filtered.

The site says it is virtually invisible and is used in countries like China where they are censored.

I just want to know if there is anyway that the IT dept. can track where this application is running from (what computer). I use a generic log on that about 100 other people can use, I never use my personal log on.

I just don't want to get into any trouble with this...Just wondering how safe it is? I have a pretty decent understanding of computers but unfortunately my networking skills suck.

Any thoughts would be appreciated,

Thank You.

 

Yes it can be tracked. We can run a report of all installed apps. It is "not" invisible as it states. From a stand point where I look for this stuff on pc's - it is rather annoying that users go to software to get past our networks. (ie. websense) etc! Anyway, I wont focus on how I hope it gets caught, rather tell you - yes it can be seen and detected.

 

Hi Damon016

Thanks for the info. :cool

One other question: I run this off a flash drive, I have not installed it on any computer. Can your apps installer detector tell you what computer it is running from when it is run this way?

 

it flags when certain apps are launched

And it notifies our administrator and my self. I am not sure at which capacity - but I will go out on a 80% limb and say yes. Plus are virus detection rules are set to block it as well, so usually its nailed 2 fold. Every network is set up different, so to give you a bit of hope and say you may never get caught... is one thing, then you may have a gung ho security admin like mine:major and he will catch it. There are loopholes, but with such a mass of people out there saying "hey" with this software we can get through - there are mass of amounts of admins that work hard to block that junk.

Just makes me wonder if it's that dyer of an emergency to risk your job over. Just get a (cringe) rolleyes I-p..h.....ugh... phon...phone! :-D

 

Hi Damon016,

Again thanks for the help.

Here's what I find Ironic. They won't give somebody like me access for legitimate reasons but they will allow certain employees unrestricted access to surf anywhere they want. When I ask for the reins to be loosened a little I get the same ol' "you're to stupid and might infect our network with viruses" speech. Yet these unrestricted employees, who don't even know what a virus program is, are allowed to surf myspace, amazon, youtube, etc, yet no worries about them infecting their precious network.

I won't get an Iphone, too expensive and cheaply made. I do have and at times use my PSP on their wireless network which is pretty unrestricted. But it is quite annoying to surf without a keyboard, it takes way to long to enter an IP address with a joystick. I hear Sony is coming out with a mini Keypad to make surfing with the PSP much easier. Until then though...

 

welcome to the corporate world. gripe all you want, but they have legit reasons for doing what they do. We have a similar thing in place where I work, sure is easy to call them to the carpet when they're in denial

 

As an IT admin in a secondary school we have an acceptable usage policy for what the students should and shouldn't do. The website filtering we have in place is to keep the students on the task doing what they should be doing, rather than hanging on Myspace, Facebook etc. After all the parents expect us to teach their kids and that means doing lessons, not playing games! Safety is also an aspect to that filtering as we are expected to keep the students safe, it's our job on the line if it breaks down.

I would suggest that you check with your network admins to check the acceptable usage policy, they should have one, because Ultrasurf is probably breaking it! That policy is an agreement between you and them, just like any normal contract if one side doesn't live up their end (you using Ultrasurf or similar) why should the admins live up to their end (supplying you internet access).

I will say where I work the network admins aren't ogres. I know there can be some tyrants who treat you like an invader in their private kingdom. But if you can justify your need to access certain sites, like you seem to be saying with these medical sites, they should be able to set it up.
From my perspective, we get a request to unblock a website (we only accept them from staff members) we check out the site first to make sure it's safe ( make sure it doesn't pose a danger to the school network) and then unless there is an obvious reason to continue the block will usually unblock it.