Can I Use Firefox at Work?

[jer0608]

I just installed Firefox on my work machine and I can only access the company intranet. I noticed that for my connection settings (LAN settings) in IE, "Use Automatic Configuration Script" is checked and it points to a .ins file on the corporate website. I downloaded the file and was wondering if I could somehow "tweak" it to work with Firefox. In truth, though, I have no idea what I am doing.

Any thoughts on how to get Firefox to work or if it's even possible?

 

[KB]

Open the INS file in notepad and look for an ipaddress/hostname and port for your proxy server. Then put that proxy address and port in the connection proxy settings in FireFox. (Go to "Tools", "Options", on the "General" area click the "Connection Settings" button. On the dialog that appears, click "Manual Proxy configuration" and enter the proxy server in the INS file as the HTTP proxy server.)

 

[jer0608]

Thanks, KB, that worked!

 

[AdamSnow]

Depending on how your company is setup, it might be a very bad idea to install Firefox on your work machine...

 

[waylman]

Originally posted by: AdamSnow
Depending on how your company is setup, it might be a very bad idea to install Firefox on your work machine...

why's that?

 

[jer0608]

Originally posted by: AdamSnow
Depending on how your company is setup, it might be a very bad idea to install Firefox on your work machine...

Installation of "unapproved" software (mp3 players and such) is relatively common at my workplace. Anything that makes an alternate web browser more offensive to a company than other apps?

Besides, since every one of our internal web page links opens in a new window in IE, my argument, if confronted, will be that tabbed browsing is a productivity enhancer

 

[MrChad]

Originally posted by: waylman

Originally posted by: AdamSnow
Depending on how your company is setup, it might be a very bad idea to install Firefox on your work machine...

why's that?

Most companies like to keep strict tabs on what software is and is not installed on their PCs. It makes licensing, troubleshooting and maintenance more managable.

Of course, if your company's security policies allow you to install the software, go for it.

 

[SaintTigurius]

Mainly becuase Firefox is not Corporate complient.

And IE is a corporate standard.

Thats what i tell my users at the company i work for.

 

[jer0608]

True, but Firefox is in addition to, not a replacement for (except in terms of actual usage), IE. I still have IE as the default browser on my machine. I just open Firefox if I need to find something, as it is faster for me and I prefer the interface.

Since the company tacitly allows users to install additional software, I do not see how this is more of a no-no than anything else.

 

[SaintTigurius]

Well if u have the right to install stuff and there is not built in policy at your work than, u should have no problem.

 

[DT4K]

I think the biggest concern with a web browser would be the security risks. They need to know what browsers are on people's machines so they can do any patches when a new issue comes up. At least that's what they would tell me here.