Logmein.com block by WebSense! Work around included.
Clint Checketts
To get around the filter just go to the https://logmein.com Notice the 's' this triggers an SSL certificate and sends you to logmein anyway. They may block this since its an oversight that it works. Hopefully we can get this straightened out soon.
-Clint
John Martinson
Risk" After all by using logmein it is almost like plugging in your
home computer to network. Who knows what viruses those IS students
have... They are all hackers anyway..
Good luck talking to the authorities Clint. I don't think that it is
going to get anywhere.
What this illustrates is that there is a serious disconnect between
the IT policy makers and the requirements for a quality University
level IT program. It further goes to show that the Department needs
a VPN. If we had the VPN, a lot of these problems would go away.
Derek D. Joos
does is sends a series of screen shots from your computer and returns mouse
and keyboard events.
Does logmein allow you to transfer files directly from your home machine to
the local machine on campus? If it is not possible to transfer files through
logmein, then nothing you run or access is actually executing on the campus
machine; it actually runs on the home machine and just sends the updated
screenshot. Therefore, there shouldn't be a risk of spreading a virus.
I'm not sure if I am missing something, but unless sending your keystrokes
is a concern I don't think there should be a security issues. Perhaps that
is why they allow the https access, then the keystrokes are even sent via
SSL.
-Derek D. Joos
Clint Checketts
The issue appears to be a blacklist that WebSense pushed down to us. The university currently has the category 'Remote Access' restricted but the only real reason for the university to block it would be in the student planned on using it to get around the web filter. (That isn't the official reason though as far as I can tell.)
Blocking remote access for that reason would be the same as outlawing matches because you could potentially use a match to light a cigarette. Matches are far to useful for other reasons to be blocked because of potential misuse. We are here on earth to learn to use our agency, we can't do that without our freedom.
So, here's the summary: LogMeIn is still blocked, but so far so good in getting that lifted.
-Clint
WayneH...@gmail.com
This really shows how draconian the whole policy is. If I can view
pornographic material from my home machine, why don't I just go home
and view it there? Will they send the Gestapo to my home and Websense
it, too? I understand their desire to protect people, but as you
mention, there are far too many legitimate purposes for what we use it
for.
The rules, regulations, and policies should not be designed to inhibit
education and learning. When that happens, the system has failed. By
denying services like this, the school puts the law before its mission.
I think in some organizations at BYU-I, they forget to what end they
exist. I feel that they have an attitude that they exist in unto
themselves, whereas reality is that they exist to serve the students.
Therefore, a mission or vision is created, and laws are then created to
support that mission.
The mission of BYU-Idaho is as follows:
1. Build testimonies of the restored gospel of Jesus Christ and
encourage living its principles.
2. Provide a quality education for students of diverse interests and
abilities.
3. Prepare students for lifelong learning, for employment, and for
their roles as citizens and parents.
4. Maintain a wholesome academic, cultural, social, and spiritual
environment.
I think it is not coincidence that these statements appear in the order
that they do. First and foremost the mission is to build testimonies
and encourage people to keep the commandments. This is very important.
However, I think that the core existence of *any* university are
contained in 2 & 3. BYU-I is a place of learning. It is a place of
preparation. I didn't come to BYU-Idaho necessarily to gain a
testimony, but to prepare myself to enter into a highly skilled and
specialized field. Building testimonies is a great thing to do while
going to school, but if the university didn't offer an education in my
field, I wouldn't be here.
I don't regret in the least bit having been here at BYU-I-don't get
me wrong. I just believe that circumstances have changed over time and
the university needs to adapt itself to meet those growing needs.
The thing that has surprised me the most is that it seems that with
this ethereal thing called the *transition* there have been a lot of
academic 'upgrades' and improvements, but the underlying IT
infrastructure has not been similarly updated. It is my understanding
that, for the most part, much of the IT framework (at least as far as
the network is concerned) has remained relatively unchanged since the
creation of the four year institution. This needs to change.
If we are to fulfill President Clark's vision for the university, a
serious (and costly) change in the infrastructure needs to be made.
This is because Pres. Clark wants to see BYU-Idaho really leverage
technology to allow more students to be educated. By the same token I
think that also includes allowing students to learn more with less-an
edict given by Elder Eyring.
A VPN for the IS department (maybe for anyone who attends BYU-Idaho)
needs to be created so that more work can be done off campus. This is
in direct correlation with what President Clark has outlined.
Well, I have rambled on quite enough on this matter. I have had an
invaluable experience here at BYU-Idaho and am quite excited and
proud-*well pleased*-to be a graduate from this institution.
> ------=_Part_9320_29508702.1146082350316
> Content-Type: text/html; charset=ISO-8859-1
> Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable
> X-Google-AttachSize: 1033
>
> As a follow up I've met with a couple of IT guys here on campus and no one intentionally blocked LogMeIn.com Aaron Smith (he runs Ununtu on his campus machine!) is looking into it and I'll stay in contact with him.<br><br>
> The issue appears to be a blacklist that WebSense pushed down to us. The university currently has the category 'Remote Access' restricted but the only real reason for the university to block it would be in the student planned on using it to get around the web filter. (That isn't the official reason though as far as I can tell.)
> <br><br>Blocking remote access for that reason would be the same as outlawing matches because you could potentially use a match to light a cigarette. Matches are far to useful for other reasons to be blocked because of potential misuse. We are here on earth to learn to use our agency, we can't do that without our freedom.
> <br><br>So, here's the summary: LogMeIn is still blocked, but so far so good in getting that lifted.<br><br>-Clint<br>
>
> ------=_Part_9320_29508702.1146082350316--
John Martinson
and IT, I still think that us true, but we do have some very talented
people working at BYU-Idaho. Since I am writing this after
graduation, I have had some time to reflect.
The IT department has a lot to deal with. So, they look for some good
reliable ways to reduce their load. Websense is one of those load
reducers. We are all going to run into this in our careers. There
are trade offs that MUST be made. And sometimes that means things
don't work the way we think they should all the time from a user's
point of view. So perhaps some of us were a little hasty in our
replies. Just remember this situation when you are on the other side
of the situation... I guarantee some of us will be kicking ourselves.