[Year 12 IPM] Proxy avoiding web sites andindividual user accounts

Tue Dec 19 16:17:41 EST 2006

Believe it or not, for some people there very good reason for using a proxy
redirector (but not at our school as I have often pointed out) .. I was also
stunned at the workaround and yes, there is probably little that can be done
about it except explore the excessive usage of any domains. I am not one for
posting public suggestions on how to bypass school security systems but if
anybody calls me direct, I am happy to elaborate off list.

Nothing beats having a teacher around to physically what students are doing.
Our students are generally well behaved whilst I am on yard duty and this is
without the aid of surveillance cameras, microphones and log files.

Regards Roland

On 18/12/06, Bryan Whelan <bwhelan at dcsi.net.au> wrote:
>
> The issue here is not the big budget blow out so much, it is the fact that
> these sites bypass your security protocols. If you aren't sure try
> accessing
> one of these sites  (mentioned below) as a student. If you can get in your
>
> internet security is vulnerable.
>
> We at Drouin, have been dealing with this problem for some time. Editure
> and
> SINA have really done nothing about it and it is high time they and others
> address this problem. They can collectively block porn and racist sites,
> why
> not these?
>
> Our current reaction to students caught using these sites is to treat it
> as
> criminal activity because it is. We send letters home, contact parents and
> in some cases suspensions have been issued. That is, we treat it very
> seriously. So far the message has gotten through to the students
>
> My hope is that a technological solution is out there
>
>
> Bryan Whelan
>
> IT MANAGER
> DROUIN SECONDARY COLLEGE
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: ipm-bounces at edulists.com.au [mailto:ipm-bounces at edulists.com.au] On
> Behalf Of Cameron Bell
> Sent: Wednesday, 13 December 2006 4:08 PM
> To: Year 12 Information Technology Processing and Management Teachers'
> Mailing List
> Subject: Re: [Year 12 IPM] Proxy avoiding web sites andindividual user
> accounts
>
> PS - I am not associated with Bright Sparks in any way. ;) (We use SINA
> too,
> but looked at the BS option to keep costs down as well)
>
> Cameron Bell wrote:
> > Why not switch to Bright Sparks unlimited-download plan for $550 per
> month?
> > What sort of traffic plan are you on currently?
> >
> > Laurie Savage wrote:
> >
> >> Can you log the indivdual students and kill their accounts? We had a
> >> budget blow-out in 2005 because of a sudden upsurge in downloads of
> >> videos and songs. We threatened and then hit the kids with an
> >> Internet levy and told them why. This year, with reminders, we are on
> >> track budget-wise.
> >>
> >> As a last resort kill the Internet for a while - that works wonders.
> >>
> >> Laurie
> >>
> >> kgration at myrtlefordsc.vic.edu.au wrote:
> >>
> >>> Dear List,
> >>>
> >>> During the last few months our wonderful students have discovered
> >>> treasure troves of proxy avoiding web sites (e.g. vtunnel, kproxy,
> >>> flyproxy etc. etc. etc.) with multiple variations of each of these
> >>> and numerous others as the URL. Most of these sites are secure ( i.e.
> >>> https:// rather than http://) so are difficult to block or usually
> >>> totally unblockable using the SINA front end. The Year 10-12
> >>> students are particularly notorious for this kind of behaviour.
> >>> Blocking the source IP address appears to be the only rather
> >>> fragmented solution to this problem . . . but this essentially
> >>> amounts to a game of catch up . . . and without a full time tech.
> >>> usually means a call to Editure . . . who aren't always 100%
> successful
> either.
> >>>
> >>> Not surprisingly our Internet budget has basically been blown as a
> >>> result. I am now considering taking away individual user accounts
> >>> for student Internet use and having Learning Area, Year Level or
> >>> some other account structure where teachers enter the password for
> >>> students in their care.
> >>>
> >>> Does anyone out there have any gems of wisdom (bright ideas) or
> >>> perspectivesto share in this area?
> >>>
> >>> Cheers,
> >>>
> >>> Kim
> >>>
> >>> ---
> >>> Kim Gration
> >>> ICT Manager
> >>> Myrtleford Secondary College
> >>> http://www.myrtlefordsc.vic.edu.au
> >>> _______________________________________________
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> >>> http://www.vitta.org.au  - VITTA Victorian Information Technology
> >>> Teachers Association Inc
> >>>
> >>>
> >>>
> >
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-- 
Roland Gesthuizen - ICT Coordinator - Westall Secondary College
http://www.westallsc.vic.edu.au

"Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change
the world; indeed it is the only thing that ever has." --Margaret Mead
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