It is a fact that some companies block your Internet access; as if you can’t do anything else if you want to be loafing. In such networks, you are unable to reach certain websites; such as Facebook, YouTube, sometimes even E-Mail services such as Gmail or chat applications like Gtalk, MSN, etc. In this article, I will teach you alternative methods of bypassing firewalls and having unblocked Internet access.
Please note that easier & cheaper solutions have less chance of success. As solutions get harder and more expensive, the chance of success will increase to 100%.
I can’t guarantee that you won’t be caught (personally or technically) using those techniques. If you get in trouble using those methods, you are responsible. If you keep reading, it means that you are accepting this.
VPN Service
Dummy-Proof: No, Free: No, Quality: High, Success Rate: High
VPN ports are usually not blocked. If you are ready to spend some money (around 5$ per month), you can purchase a VPN service and connect to the Internet through VPN, bypassing all limitations of your local company network. www.unblockvpn.com is such a service that I personally tried, it worked on many occasions. www.ultrasurf.com and www.hotspotshield.com also offer similar services. Google for more.
Remote Desktop
Dummy-Proof: No, Free: Yes, Quality: Low, Success Rate: High
Many companies leave the ports for remote desktop access open. This means, you can use Windows Remote Desktop, TeamViewer, etc. If you know the credentials of a remote computer, open a remote desktop connection to that computer and access the Internet through the browser of the remote computer; bypassing all limitations of your local company network. You can even leave your home PC running; just enable remote connections and write down your IP address. When you go to work, access your home computer remotely and browse any site you want.
The downside is; you may not be able to watch videos properly due to remote desktop resolution. To overcome this difficulty, you can consider installing a SSH server to your home computer and access the Internet over the remote SSH; instead of the remote desktop connection. How? It is explained here: http://tinyurl.com/d55ys7 .
Private Modem
Dummy-Proof: Yes, Cost Efficient: No, Quality: Low, Success Rate: 100%
Having a USB modem is a 100% working method. Contact your mobile operator, and purchase a USB modem (such as Turkcell Vınn or Vodaphone Vodem) with a 3G Internet package. Whenever you need unblocked Internet access, plug your USB modem and connect. You may (or may not) need to disable your wireless or LAN connection meanwhile. You will be bypassing the corporate network to access the Internet; you will have a direct connection between your computer and your mobile operator. Therefore; you will have unblocked Internet access. But your connection speed may not be very fast.
The same logic applies to your mobile phone. If you have an Internet-enabled mobile phone, you can access the Internet through your phone; there is no one to block you. However, the Internet speed and experience on a small device may not be ideal.
If you have your own room and phone line, you can bring your own modem into the company and connect directly to the phone line. Use your own ADSL password, and you have a direct connection from your computer to your Internet provider; bypassing all corporate limitations.
Alternative Networks
Dummy-Proof: Yes, Free: Yes, Quality: High, Success Rate: Medium
If you can find an alternative wireless network around you, try joining that network and browsing the Internet through that one.
Some companies have special wireless networks for visitors, which are not blocked at all. If that’s the case and the network doesn’t ask for a password, you are good to go. If the network does ask for a password, it shouldn’t be that hard to learn since all guests would ask for it anyway.
Some companies have neighbours with unsecured wireless networks. You can join them for unblocked Internet access, but you could be consuming a limited Internet bandwidth. Make sure that you are not stealing your neighbours bandwidth.
If there are secure wireless networks around, you can try becoming friends with one of the neighbours, he/she may give you their wireless network password so you can use their modem for unblocked Internet access.
If you are in Turkey and find a TTNet ADSL Hotspot around, use your own ADSL password to access that hotspot and have unblocked Internet access.
HTTPS
Dummy-Proof: Yes, Free: Yes, Quality: High, Success Rate: Low
Some networks are configured to block HTTP, but they don’t block HTTPS. If you can’t access http://www.twitter.com , try accessing https://www.twitter.com . This has a weak chance of success, but I have seen it work.
HTTP Tunneling
Dummy-Proof: Yes, Free: Yes, Quality: Low, Success Rate: Low
HTTP tunneling is also an easy method; therefore, it has a weak chance of success because many corporations block tunneling services as well. Anyway; try entering the blocked website through a HTTP tunnel website. Some popular servers are www.ktunnel.com , www.vtunnel.com and www.hidemyass.com ; Google for more.
However; you can setup your own Google Apps server at your home computer and access the Internet freely through that proxy; if Appspot is not blocked. It is explained here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3f6Zq4prys0 . A similar method is to use PHProxy; as explained here: http://tinyurl.com/ykhs3kx .
Even if you succeed, you may experience slow connections or disconnections due to high traffic on public tunneling servers; or because of the technical framework of heavy Ajax websites.
Public Proxies
Dummy-Proof: No, Free: Yes, Quality: High, Success Rate: Low
You can also try using a public proxy (8080) to access to the Internet. Google about proxies, and try using a public proxy to browse the Internet; but those ports would most probably be blocked.
If you still want to give it a shot, visit http://www.aplusproxy.com/torpark.php to find fresh lists of proxies.
Dr. Kerem Koseoglu 
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