School internet filters serve a valid purpose—they keep students from wandering off into the deep corners of the web while still allowing at least some internet access. But a lot of these restrictions are completely ridiculous, to the point where some school districts block access to the educational material in National Geographic or forbid searching terms like "China," "Iran," or "Russia"—because, you know, breasts and commies.
So if you're stuck in one of these overzealous school districts and you don't even have access to basic learning tools, you'll have to find a way around nasty filters like Lightspeed Systems. Keep in mind, though, that there might be some repercussions behind unblocking websites, but as long as you're aware of the risks and rewards, I'll show you some of the best ways to bypass school internet filters.
Method 1: Use HTTPS
One of the easiest ways to access blocked content—and one that comes with the added benefit of plausible deniability—is to simply browse websites using HTTPS. Most school filters block access to sites on the common HTTP internet port 80, but they leave port 443 unblocked, which is what HTTPS generally uses.
To use this workaround, simply add an "s" just after the "http" portion of a URL (example: https://www.google.com), which will usually force the connection to take place on the unblocked port 443. The only problem here is that some sites don't offer a secure HTTPS connection, but for sites like YouTube and Gmail, this should be the only trick you need.
Method 2: Use an 'Unblocking' Website
If the HTTPS trick doesn't work in your school, or the website you're trying to access doesn't offer a secure connection over port 443, using an unblocking website would be the second easiest solution. Here are a few links to some free and useful unblocking websites:
Using one of these websites is simple—just type the desired website address into the provided field, then click "Browse." From here, the unblocking service will route your connection over its proxy server, so your school's internet filter won't be able to tell what website you're browsing.
Method 3: Use UltraSurf on Chrome
If neither of the above solutions worked for you, it's probably because your school is using Lightspeed Services to block internet traffic. Lightspeed is a particularly effective firewall, but a Google Chrome extension called UltraSurf can get around it rather easily.
Once you've installed the UltraSurf extension, just click the button in Chrome's toolbar, then make sure the "Connected" switch is turned on. From here, you'll be able to browse the internet freely using UltraSurf's encrypted proxy network.
Method 4: Run Firefox Portable on a USB Stick
But let's say you can't install extensions on the web browser provided by your school. In this case, you'll have to use a portable browser that installs on a USB stick and runs without interference from the school computer, which will allow you to route all internet traffic through a proxy address.
To try this out, you'll need a good proxy server with anonymous data traffic. To find one of these servers, visit FreeProxyLists.net, then sort the list by "Anonymity" to view proxies that obscure all internet traffic. Once you've found one that looks good to you, write down the IP address and port number, because you'll be using those later.
Now that you have a good proxy address, you'll just need to install a portable browser and set it to route traffic through your proxy. Start by downloading Firefox Portable from this link. Next, insert a USB flash drive and run the installer file, then make sure to select your USB drive as the installation directory when prompted.
Once installation is finished, launch Firefox Portable and open the Options menu. Next, head to the Advanced menu and click the "Settings" button in the Network tab. From here, select the "Manual proxy configuration" option, then enter your proxy's IP address and port number. After clicking "OK" on this menu, your Firefox Portable browser will use the anonymous proxy, which should allow you to access any site.
Which of these four methods worked best for you? Let us know in the comment section below.
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54 Comments
Some educational filters block all of the above, especially on the systems with which they facilitate students. Here are workarounds that work perfectly well:
• Tor (with a scramblesuit bridge)
• Google Translate
• SSH tunnelling
• Startpage proxy (it's never blacklisted)
how do you do it with google translate?
I have school private network none of these steps work. Extensions, VPNs, downloads, etc.
YEAH NOTHING WORKS :(
NOTHING DOES WORK I TRIED IT MYSELF IT DOESN'T WORK. I NEED TO SPEAK TO MANAGER ABOUT THIS
KAREN
yeah it sucks bro
School blocked everything for me smfh.
I have managed to bypass Australian black-list by changing the DNS on my network device from "Auto" to either googles 8.8.8.8 / 8.8.4.4 or
Cloudflare 1.1.1.1 / 1.0.0.1
I know this has worked on some of the schools firewalls that I've suggested this for
Good luck
All 4 of those unblock sites are blocked.
I used to use alternate url's to view sites like imgur, but they no longer seem to work.
Same here, it's absolutely ridiculous how much they blocked. I mean, is Wattpad really social media?!
THEY BLOCKED WATTPAD FOR ME TOO! I HATE IT! And it's not really social media!
Wattpad is literally the reason I'm on here. All of the links this website provided me are blocked too :(
I knowwwww I mean it's where we share and read storiesss
Wow, I'm lucky then. Wattpad isn't blocked, although everything else seems to be. It's strange but definitely appreciated ^^;
they blocked wattpad on mine too its annoying
Same.
The https works well!
lucky
or try port forwarding
Update: Some school firewalls will fail to block subdomains. For example, wonderhowto might be blocked but digiwonk.wonderhowto is allowed.
None of these worked. I have not only the school blocking this but also Iboss. I was never able to try the fourth since I don't have a USB flash drive. What makes this more difficult, I'm using a Chromebook so software is limited.
Same just go home to a different computer, open chrome to the store, (while on your school account), and install it! It works because the school didn't authorize that computer.
yes
Honestly i didn't think this was going to work, i tried all of the links and all of the websites were blocked then i tried the " Ultrasurf " it works great, i am glad i came across this, i was freaking out because i had no way to get onto any websites that i need and since my laptop is my only electronic i was freaking out, but thank you so much so far it's great :)
So I have a school blocked Chromebook and it doesn't have anything to open like files or install the files any other ways?
I've tried all of those methods, but I think our school became super strict and blocked EVERYTHING. At least, basically everything except for our homepage and educational websites. I had a proxy because I would log into my gmail account thru Chrome. But they somehow they even kept my log in from fully logging in, so my custom background and my proxy didn't load in. I don't know how they did it, but they did. Sneaky a--hats.
i would try doing something, and for some reason this worked for me, but if you can take your school computers home, leave it in sleep mode and in the morning turn it on. restart your computer and if your school is the same as mine, a global protect thing will pop up, hit cancel and everything should be unblocked. good luck
It's all blocked! I can't even use the HTTPS thing. Is there anything else I could possibly try that most schools may NOT know about?
not that i can think of i think the reason they block the websites is to keep kids safe
Yeah, they're keeping kids really safe by blocking the stuff they need to complete their assignments. Also none of these methods work, I'm using a Chromebook and have Chromium internet blocker. Is there any known way for me to get around Chromium? Plz send help.
the 3rd one worked great!(the google extention) I can use discord at school now and i can go on so many websites that are usually blocked!
None of these work for iboss
Thanks for this post, helps out a lot. Now i can browse to community forums to find answers of the questions the school block ( really useful for me), how ridiculous. And also 9gag :) during break.
My school administrator is so MEAN!!!! . None of the above worked at all. Even the google translate stuff. They blocked most of the sites online even gaming sites. It seems they know about everything you can maneuver and blocked every single thing. i hate my school admin.
Yeah that's very true. Try going on the padlock at top left, site settings, go to the bottom of the page and click unsecure websites. Turn it to allow and it might work. Your comment, as I say again, is very true.
Yours sincerely,
Raphael
holy shit me to. i remeber last year almost everything was UNblocked. word must have got out we could use youtube
Well, I have an alternative myself. Croxy proxy is an excellent VPN chrome extension. However it is un available on chromebook as I have not found a way to log out of my account. It is rather simple. Mostly works to bypass Iboss security.
and just like that your free to do as you wish
I advise you keep it on the low, as many administrators block it once it gets around. keep it between you and your close friends.
someone unblok survie.io
If none of these worked just like they didn't work for me, try opening the site u want before school and leaving the tab open. Whenever u open your computer the tab will be there and it won't be blocked. As long as you don't close the tab this should work. And if u accidentally close it, it might be possible to open it through ur history. I use this for Wattpad!
Well... Half these web pages were blocked. Any more suggestions that you could add? Please, I'm desperate for YouTube so I can watch videos. The only web pages were allowed are school pages.
UGH- IKR!
By the way. I was blocked by smooth wall. Be Careful. It is very good at catching you out
So this might be irrelevant to this post but does anyone know how to connect a wifi range extender to a network that has blocks on it aka a school? I live across the street from a school with an open wifi but I can't get internet access from it with the extender im assuming bc of there blocks
Ultrasurf is going to be the solution that works 99.99% of the time, but I am NOT referring to the chrome extension, but rather the portable executable (.exe) that can be downloaded from their official website. It's self contained so it does not need to be installed, simply run the .exe file and it will tunnel your web browsing through their anonymous proxy.
If downloads are disabled, you can download the program at home and bring it with you on a usb drive OR download it to your smartphone and then plug it into the computers usb port, drag and drop the file from your phone to the hard drive (or simply run the program by clicking the icon in your phones sd card and it will copy and run from the windows temp folder).
If running .exe files are disabled, then your administrator is a Nazi and you might want to explore alternative options! LOL just kidding, just create a bootable usb drive with kali linux from home and then boot the pc from the usb drive and then you have unlimited options (for example: use the tor browser)
i guess im part of that 0.01%
Another option that is likely going to work for 99.99% of people, atleast for now (until word gets out and your administrator blocks it), is to use a new website called tutturu.tv
It's a chat site for creating chat rooms that allows you to create a fresh virtual machine (or virtual computer) that is hosted on their servers that contains a browser which you can be share control of the mouse amongst everyone in your chatroom. It's mainly used to surf the web and watch movies together but nothing is stopping you from starting a private room, not inviting anyone and simply using the virtual machine browser to surf the net without restrictions.
well this tutturu thing isnt blocked....
PLEASE PAY ATTENTION TO THIS COMMENT
Okay. my life is really fucking shitty, i came across this site called "imgflip" and its saved me from sucide countless times. made some good friends there. and i got through it with my school comp, but now my bitch-ass admin has blocked it! so fuck! can someone PLEASE TAKE THE TIME, to search up "imgflip.com" and if its unblocked create an account, and then go to the button that says "streams" and look for a stream thats called MS memer group. an underscore between those words. beware though, they might think your an alt and start a war. then click on create image, use whatever template, and then type "narwhal says thank you and 'AAAAAAA' for the stuff yall said on her face reveal" OKAY??? PLEASE- my face reveal was the last thing i posted im desperate ;-; the first people that might comment is this dude named 'the soap', or 'corpse child', or maybe cloud. also dont be mean. seriously if you say sumthin rude to mega? lol your done for- and dont ask why someones username is 'fingerbang' lmfao- also if your uncomfortable with a severe amount of cussing and nsfw images, i suggest you dont do this :)
IF U DO DO THIS, TYSM YOU MEAN DA WORLD- I BLESS YOU AND KNOW THAT THERES SOMEONE OUT THERE WHOD TAKE A BULLET FOR YOU (me)
Hey! saw your post and decided to do it for you! I hope I did it right. And sorry if it was too late to post it or not since you posted this comment a month ago!
oml tysm ;-; i wish you the best in life- seriously thank you so so much :)
I have managed to bypass Australian black-list by changing the DNS on my network device from "Auto" to either googles 8.8.8.8 / 8.8.4.4 or
Cloudflare 1.1.1.1 / 1.0.0.1
I know this has worked on some of the schools firewalls that I've suggested this for
Good luck
NONE. OF. THIS. WORKS. FOR. ME!!! Im about to start crying...
Dude, my school network is currently Linewize, and nothing works at all. Fortunately, I'm moving to a different school next year. Hopefully these work on that network.
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