Gaming Is it illegal to use proxy servers at my school?

[Fudge]

If I used a proxy server to access GBAtemp, Facebook, and other sites while I'm at school, could I get in trouble?

 

[Devin]

Nope, but it is frowned upon by the School Board as your supposed to be doing schoolwork.

 

[_Chaz_]

Actually, you can access Facebook via secure connection (https rather than http).

I'm not sure if it's illegal, but you can get in trouble with whoever supervises.

 

[SifJar]

Get in trouble, of course. Illegal, of course not. You'll get in trouble with your school if they catch you.

 

[Evo.lve]

You'll get in trouble, of course, and they'll block the proxy site, but it's not illegal, so to speak.

 

[DsHacker14]

Yeah, I'm not sure if it's against the laws, but you will most likely get in trouble at your school. You should browse in "InPrivate" if your using Internet Explorer so your browser doesn't save the history.

 

[geoflcl]

Yupyup, it'll get you in trouble. They can't press charges, of course, but they'll most definitely rebuke you, though the severity of the punishment depends on your school's internet policy, which can change from year to year.

For instance, a few years ago my school's internet policy was far less stringent, for not very many people tried to bypass the school's flimsy filter. But when me and a few of my nerdy friends came along and began using proxies and other methods of circumvention, they began patching up all the glaring holes it had in its system, and slowly but surely, using the internet from school became a restricted, monitored, and limited experience. Today, my school uses a monstrous, privacy-invading opus for a filter, complete with the ability to track which websites each individual student has accessed (and yes, clearing your History folder doesn't work

), a keylogger that tracks each and every key a student presses, and an ever-expanding blacklist of websites. And they are one-hundred percent able to do it, because of the Terms Of Use agreement they make the student body sign if they wish to have computer privileges. How's that for interwebs?

Moral of the story: Sure, you can do it. But be wary of the consequences that could result from being a thorn in the school's side, both short- and long-term.

 

[ThePowerOutage]

Nope, but it is frowned upon by the School Board as your supposed to be doing schoolwork.

Maybe, but you learn more on the 'temp.

O.P As has been said, it's not illegal hough your school will most likely make out it is.

 

[sprogurt]

When I was in school they installed a keylogger to catch proxies, they weren't so happy when they found out that I knew basic CMD commands XD. But yeah for that I got nothing, I said it was because my privacy was being breached and all of that crap; their fault really, if they had proper technicians who could actually do their job properly then they wouldn't of even needed to disable certain options.

Anyway, no, it's not illegal but if they catch you they'll probably have a go, maybe suspend outgoing activity.

 

[Halo-101]

Proxys are disapproved upon at my school although we still do it anywayz i got caught once and the lady comes into my class with a 13 page list of hard sites like eg i cant remember but most of em where like

66.77.88.99/?=454545h4jggyyhhy

and shit and she had no idea what i waz on but everyone at school uses em still hahahah but there have been suspensions and blockages of the system for 2 wks hell theyll look through ur files and if u have HALOCE.zip or alex.zip with halo in theyll ban u instantly no warning for 1-2mnths lol

 

[Originality]

Visiting sites like GBATemp is never illegal - this is a great forum for doing research. Visiting sites like Facebook from school depends on your school's internet policy - social sites can never be counted as schoolwork... IM sites are also usually not allowed. In nearly every school I know (as in, have had friends that went to them), using proxies will be against the school's policy and get you in trouble if caught.

Use of proxies are not illegal. Nobody will prosecute you for using them. Schools however can ban you from accessing the internet on school computers and, depending on what you've been doing using proxies (it's easy to find out in schools), suspend you for misconduct.

Something worth mentioning: for every lil "trick" kids bring to school these days (proxy lists, keyloggers, DDOS distributors, hacking tools, etc), school technicians have probably already seen them before and know how to catch them. Many of them were probably kids like me years ago who did the same, in days when there were no real security to deal with, and probably know many more "tricks" than the kids do. How they deal with those they catch... well, that's up to the school. Blocking the internet for everybody that goes onto Facebook or online-IM sites is too harsh and counterproductive. Suspending every kid who downloads music illegally will also lead to half the school suddenly getting an early vacation. And if you tell the school board that kids are downloading porn, music, games and movies illegally... they'll just accuse the technicians of using security that's too soft and easy to bypass. If they use hardline security that ensures nobody can do anything illegal, they'll usually find certain sites needed for schoolwork get blocked in the process.

Then again, it's usually the kids fault for not doing their schoolwork in the first place.

 

[exangel]

Actually, in the US, there is Federal law regarding the use of the internet, especially sites where communication is possible, by children age 12 and under. This is why sites usually have a specific button for someone to indicate their age as exactly 13 years old or older when they sign up for membership. If submitting an email address for any kind of verification is part of a membership sign up, that constitutes submitting personal information already. Websites hosted in the US or operated by persons in the US and/or the domain is owned by a US resident, as such are obligated to comply with the Children's Online Privacy Protection act.

http://www.ftc.gov/privacy/coppafaqs.shtm
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COPPA

 

[Originality]

Hmm, didn't realise America had included that in their laws. I thought they were mostly concerned about content, not means of accessing the internet.

I imagine kids won't care about it anyway. I've seen the kind of things kids actively try to get from the internet, both at home and especially at school where individual responsibility is reduced.

 

[easycrashing]

Illegal no, against school policy, maybe.

 

[MrCooper]

Illegal no, against school policy, maybe.

Yeah, at my school if your caught you loose all your internet privileges until you graduate. The funny thing is most of the teachers can't tell when i do.

 

[exangel]

Hmm, didn't realise America had included that in their laws. I thought they were mostly concerned about content, not means of accessing the internet.

I imagine kids won't care about it anyway. I've seen the kind of things kids actively try to get from the internet, both at home and especially at school where individual responsibility is reduced.

Yeah, it's really meant more to enforce website owners and operators' compliance with the safety standard rather than limit the kids themselves.

 

[tagzard]

no nut you canned get banned from using the computer, AND YOU CAN GET A CALL HOME TO YOUR MOM, GET GRTOUNDED FOR 5 WEEKS AND GET YOUR WII TAKEN AWAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! thats what happened to me

 

[Darkterras]

It is not really illegal on every school.it is the problem of the school to set such rules.if they dont set the rule up you can use one.

In my school there is a rule to prevent us using a proxy server...but im using it still

 

[ProtoKun7]

Am I the only one who behaved in IT lessons?

 

[Y05h1]

I remember getting banned, quite a few times... I was even banned from entering the library at all (the librarian forgot soon enough though). Once I even had a teacher come up to me and ask for my name, so she could have my account frozen... I gave someone else's name (some poor kid from the grade below). Good times.

Using proxies... well, if you don't get caught doing it, no one will know... I think visiting Facebook at school is a little excessive though. Games I can understand...