How to Bypass Websense at Work
By Erin McManaway
Websense is a filtering software used to block webpage access by businesses, libraries, schools or other public locations that offer Internet services. This can be pre-configured to filter websites by topic, such as adult sites, file sharing or illegal shopping. Employers may also choose to use a predefined overall setting that can block out more harmless sites such as Youtube, Facebook or MySpace. You can bypass the Websense filters by using a web proxy website to mask your web browsing and access the blocked websites.
Step 1
Go to a webpage that hosts a web proxy list such TopBits, Proxy.org or Proxy Roll. These sites will list the newest and most accessed proxies on the Internet, which are often subject to change. Because Websense will eventually find and block the web proxie site, new proxies are made and old ones are discarded.
Step 2
Click on a web proxy link from the list.
Step 3
Type the URL of the webpage that you want to visit in the text box on the web proxy website and press the “Go” button.
Step 4
Allow the web proxy to retrieve and display the webpage. Usually, you will see the webpage in a framed browser window. This is because you are viewing the webpage within the proxy webpage.
Step 5
Navigate and use the webpage within the proxy frame as you would normally. As long as you don’t close the frame, you should be able to continue to access the website through the proxy.
References
Tips
- Though proxies are free to use, they often supplement their usage with advertisements and ad banners. You can often click “Skip this Ad” to bypass the ads and get to the website.
Warnings
- Use proxies with caution as you may be going against your employer’s wishes to visit filtered websites in the workplace without permission.
Writer Bio
Erin McManaway holds a B.A. in professional writing from Francis Marion University, where she earned the Richard B. Larsen Memorial Award for Business and Technical Writing. She has worked in materials development, media and information technology in the nonprofit sector since 2006. McManaway has also been a writer and editor since 2008.