Firewalls

[dawsongirl]

I don't understand them, except to know that my computer at work is behind one. Well, concerned about gathering up too much spyware on this machine, I wanted to dl something like adaware or whatever, but that doesn't update due to the firewall. I also can't get Messenger to recognize that I am connected to the internet. Is there some way around this or should I just give up?

[TripperFan]

Originally Posted by dawsongirl

I don't understand them, except to know that my computer at work is behind one. Well, concerned about gathering up too much spyware on this machine, I wanted to dl something like adaware or whatever, but that doesn't update due to the firewall. I also can't get Messenger to recognize that I am connected to the internet. Is there some way around this or should I just give up?

I'll check with my hubby. He's a technical services manager. We've got a firewall on our pc at home, and I run Ad-Aware all the time. We also get updates for it automatically. There must just be some setting you need or don't need to make them compatible.
Ad-Aware is GREAT! I couldn't live without it now.

[robyrob]

basically you would have to talk to your company's IT department and get them to open a port for your instant messenger program, and it may be intentionally blocking downloads or preventing you from installing software.

there ARE ways to get through the firewall, but you would be running the risk of having the IT department come to talk to YOU about what you are up to (and possibly have them "cripple" your machine or just reimage it completely)

(i have a friend that works in an IT depart that likes to "punish the tinkerers" by disabling ANY feature that might be customizable whatsoever, and then he hacks up all the games like solitaire with a hex editor so they will open but crash as soon as you try to do anything - but everything "business" related will still work great on the machine)

[dawsongirl]

Ah. Maybe I best just leave it alone then.

[TripperFan]

Originally Posted by robyrob

basically you would have to talk to your company's IT department and get them to open a port for your instant messenger program, and it may be intentionally blocking downloads or preventing you from installing software.

there ARE ways to get through the firewall, but you would be running the risk of having the IT department come to talk to YOU about what you are up to (and possibly have them "cripple" your machine or just reimage it completely)

(i have a friend that works in an IT depart that likes to "punish the tinkerers" by disabling ANY feature that might be customizable whatsoever, and then he hacks up all the games like solitaire with a hex editor so they will open but crash as soon as you try to do anything - but everything "business" related will still work great on the machine)

Yeah, you don't really want to horse with your machine at work without the approval of the IT dept. They REALLY frown on that and you'll get a nasty reputation - good luck getting help in the future if something goes wrong with your machine! At least that IT dept. tells you in a round about way - I've seen it where they'll strip EVERYTHING except the basics on a machine that somebody alters!
I didn't realize it was at work you were having the problem. You should just speak to them directly. I would need to know what kind of setup they have in the way of servers, etc. in order to help you, but really shouldn't if it is your work machine - best leave it to your IT guys.

HINT: ALWAYS get friendly with at least one person in IT. It really helps to have an "in" with them. They'll sometimes allow you to have something on your machine that isn't normally allowed. They'll also rush up to help you when there's a problem. It sounds funny, but its true!

[dawsongirl]

I don't even know where the IT department is! It might be downtown.

[TripperFan]

Originally Posted by dawsongirl

I don't even know where the IT department is! It might be downtown.

Oh - possibly offsite eh? Well, start phoning or emailing them jokes or something!!

It is tougher if you're at a remote site and not there face to face with them. I was lucky that way. I actually ended up learning a lot and they would let me do more than the usual user.

At another job, the guy would move around between locations and was a real Poindexter. He had the personality of a speedbump. Then, I would go ahead and do whatever I could since he was so spaced he didn't know what he was doing anyway.