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Trying to bypass school's Internet block

J

jeffmorr

macrumors member
Original poster
Jul 27, 2008
85
0
Montreal, Quebec, Canada
Hey everyone,

I go to a boarding school where the school controls all of our internet consumption. No cell reception either because we're in the middle of nowhere. They shut off our ethernet ports completely at 12:00am midnight. Obviously, this can get really annoying, especially when I'm trying to do work or watch Netflix on a Saturday night.

There are some students, proctors, who are given all night internet access (as a "privilege"), and their computers work when plugged in to their ethernet ports. When I plug my own in to their port, however, it doesn't work. I think that the school restricts internet to only some MAC addresses (although I'm not sure). Does anyone know what they may be doing? My mac always says that I'm connected to Ethernet, but I'm not on the actual internet past 12. Any ideas on how to get around this?
 
Last edited:
jeffmorr said:
Hey everyone,

I go to a boarding school where the school controls all of our internet consumption. No cell reception either because we're in the middle of nowhere. They shut off our ethernet ports completely at 12:00am midnight. Obviously, this can get really annoying, especially when I'm trying to do work or watch Netflix on a Saturday night.

There are some students, proctors, who are given all night internet access (as a "privilege"), and their computers work when plugged in to their ethernet ports. When I plug my own in to their port, however, it doesn't work. I think that the school restricts internet to only some MAC addresses (although I'm not sure). Does anyone know what they may be doing? My mac always says that I'm connected to Ethernet, but I'm not on the actual internet past 12. Any ideas on how to get around this?
Click to expand...

Get the router's IP address from System Preferences → Network (you may have to go into the Advanced area as well).

Try to connect to that router and see whether you can log into its settings or not.
 
This is not going to end well :rolleyes: Play by the rules of your school, or ask your parents to find you a new one. Hacking the schools internet is likely to see you get suspended.
 
yjchua95 said:
Get the router's IP address from System Preferences → Network (you may have to go into the Advanced area as well).

Try to connect to that router and see whether you can log into its settings or not.
Click to expand...

I see a Router IP Address, but I don't think that'll cut it. My dorm has an ethernet port coming in from the wall, but it goes through my phone first, and then I have another plug coming out of the phone that I plug into. I think they use the phone as a sort of switch.

Last year, I was able to connect to my proctor's all-night internet cable, but they stepped up their game this year since people were sharing their wifi. Sometimes, I really need to get internet for my work but it's really inconvenient right now.
 
jeffmorr said:
They give proctors all-night internet and it's no violation to use their ethernet port by asking for permission and going to their room, but not that doesn't even work anymore
Click to expand...

If you've got a valid reason, which watching Netflix isn't one, then ask. If you really want to watch movies then download them beforehand and save them to disk. If you were really smart about it you could set up an iTunes account and share it with all your friends. Plug in a couple of Apple TVs and you'd be the talk of the campus.
 
Last edited:
jeffmorr said:
They give proctors all-night internet and it's no violation to use their ethernet port by asking for permission and going to their room, but not that doesn't even work anymore
Click to expand...

That would render the rule pointless. Feel free to have that discussion with your principal. Sure if you can get your Principal's permission it would be fine but why then would they not simply extend the "privilege" to you full-time (bet the Proctors would then object...)???
 
Perhaps some useful information-

If certain devices (users) can get on past midnight, it means there's software controlling who gets Internet and who doesn't. They don't actually shut down the Ethernet infrastructure, rather they block all traffic via a firewall if that traffic originates or is destined for a certain device.

The key is to figure out how this software/firewall distinguishes the "all-night" devices from "everyone else". It could be by IP Address, MAC Address, user account (if you have to sign in before using the Internet), or maybe even the ethernet port itself. Given it goes through your phone, it might even be by phone number (?), but I'm not too familiar with those setups...

If it is by ethernet port, there's really nothing you can do short of breaking into the server room, finding the patch cable for your room's ethernet port, and plugging it into the switch or section of a switch that allows 24/7 access.

Really step one is just to figure out how the blocking is done, how devices are distinguished from others with no 24/7 access.
 
IP Addresses can be changed, MAC addresses can be spoofed, if the phones are on IP PBX and 24 hours then my guess is the phones are on a separate network or an approved 24 hour device. Work that one out and your half way on your way to being out on your arse for hacking the computer network.

I just don't think any of this is particularly a bright idea.
 
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