Strange way of dealing with internet abuse at work

[Mark R]

Someone attracted the attention of the IT dept by 'abusing' the internet connection at work. Apparently, they had downloaded an mp3 onto one of the high-end workstations.

As a result the IT dept blocked all internet access from the workstations, so that you had to go to a general office to use a normal PC if you wanted access to the internet for some reason.

This caused a bit of concern - and the department asked IT for a compromise. Could some sort of filter be installed so that legitimate sites could be accessed?

That didn't happen. Their solution was to install a general purpose PC in the workstation rooms, which had unrestricted internet access.

WTF?

 

[buck]

Is myspace down for you this afternoon?

 

[KLin]

It was probably cheaper to put a general use PC in the room instead of researching, purchasing, and implementing a filter.

 

[J0hnny]

LOL, what kind of draconian IT staff do you have?

If it's unrestricted access, go crazy with it. DL the pron, Mp3s, warez, etc and usb it over to your comp..lol.

 

[lobadobadingdong]

http://www.stbernard.com/

 

[her209]

They are using reverse psychology on you...

 

[Kelvrick]

Originally posted by: KLin
It was probably cheaper to put a general use PC in the room instead of researching, purchasing, and implementing a filter.

Yep. The regular and semi-upper level admins know it doesn't work well, but the guy at partner or VP level probably looks at the costs and thinks to himself, "why would they need that?"

 

[JEDI]

Originally posted by: Mark R
Someone attracted the attention of the IT dept by 'abusing' the internet connection at work. Apparently, they had downloaded an mp3 onto one of the high-end workstations.

As a result the IT dept blocked all internet access from the workstations, so that you had to go to a general office to use a normal PC if you wanted access to the internet for some reason.

This caused a bit of concern - and the department asked IT for a compromise. Could some sort of filter be installed so that legitimate sites could be accessed?

That didn't happen. Their solution was to install a general purpose PC in the workstation rooms, which had unrestricted internet access.

WTF?

router- block aLL sites except the ones the company allows FTW?

 

[OutHouse]

your IT dept are a bunch of retards. one guy downloads a mp3 so they block all traffic on those workstations. yea thats great. here is an idea if they are that concerned about internet usage/abuse then they need to punish the person who abuses their policy.

 

[ch33zw1z]

should've had that general purpose PC there to begin with if it's such a concern...reimage the thing when people mess it up.

 

[MrBaseball]

Originally posted by: lobadobadingdong
http://www.stbernard.com/

We are using a St. Bernard iPrism. It works great.

 

[RichUK]

Pffft. That's petty.

 

[BooGiMaN]

he said unrestricted...not umonitored.....

 

[Wonderful Pork]

in my lab we only have 2 computers with internet access, and it really cuts down on any potential surfing/dl-ing time if you know there are 34 other people waiting in line for legitimate uses.

 

[altonb1]

Just install a proxy and begin filtering out domains through it.

THAT would be the easest way. Also group policies pushed to every workstation would help.