[Bypassing Safe Connect]

Safe Connect uses user-agent identification to allow access. They do not have a Linux or iPhone version, so the best way to defeat them is to attempt to browse the internet using a falsified user-agent string. It takes a few tries, but usually works.

You can do one of two options:

- Download the Firefox User-Agent Switcher Addon and find an up-to-date Linux or iPhone user-agent to fake as.

- Or run a quick program I wrote: here

Either way, I have a tutorial and breakdown on how to bypass Safe Connect at that website along with links to the Firefox User-Agent Switcher if you want to go that route.

Link: http://www.stjohnjohnson.com/projects/safe-connect-bypass

By the way, this works at my college, but I'm not sure about what restrictions they have at your school. iPhone may not work. If that is the case: use the user-agent switcher to find a Linux version that does, post it here, and I'll update the program with that string.

I tried out your program. In the systray, a balloon shows up saying "Bypass complete" and then the icon disappears. The annoying warning message still appears though, so I guess it didn't work.

I installed the user agent addon and changed my user string to the Iphone one. Still waiting to see if it works...one question though: I'd have to be using that user-agent all the time in order to prevent the messages from popping up, right?

Edit: I tried both the iPhone user agent string and Firefox 3.0 running on Ubuntu. Neither worked

[Bypassing Safe Connect]

You could block the site in parental controls in IE and FF.

FF doesn't have built-in parental controls...I tried 2 add-ons though, and while they block the site, the browser still opens a new window/tab, which doesn't help.

Get a shitty old computuer with the client on it, and use ICS to pass the connection through to a "clean" machine. Also, might be worth looking at AV clients again now your on a edu network, those things have all that protection on them because every year a bus load of kids with the same ideas about AV clients turn up and get infected.

I don't have a second NIC to do that.

This is my 4th year on campus and I never needed an AV, I see no reason to start using one now.

digip: thanks for the info. I'll look into such a script

[Bypassing Safe Connect]

Recently, my school implemented this service called SafeConnect, which enforces security policies by checking that the computer has up-to-date Anti-virus software running and also that it has any required operating system patches. We were forced to download and install the client, which will harass you about not having an anti-virus solution by opening up your browser ever couple of minutes. If one does not install the client, one cannot access the Internet.

My computer is always up to date, it is the anti-virus which I refuse to download and install (they give it to us for free). I haven't used an anti-virus in years, and I generally don't need one as it is just a resource hog and an annoyance to me.

My question is, is there a way to bypass these annoying browser messages? They are especially irritating seeing as they open up during full-screen activities. I've tried adding the site it navigates to to the hosts file, to no avail.

The site it navigates is something like http://*******.edu:8008/clientStatus.!^

I've been thinking of blocking traffic from port 8008, but I don't want to block legitimate traffic as well.

Can anyone think of a way I can stop these alerts from popping up (preferably without having to download any 3rd party solutions, as that would defeat the purpose and I might as well just give in and download the anti-virus)

I connect through a port in my dorm room, so I don't have access to any networking equipment. I've also tried asking the admins but they won't listen.