Anonymous browsing on university network?

Hello everyone,

My university allows connections to its wired and wireless networks based on MAC addresses detected on the client computers.

I was wondering, what steps would I have to take to ensure that my computer is completely invisible to the uni network? Of course, the first thing that would have to be changed is the MAC address...is it sufficient to change this in Network Properties? (continued connection would be ensured by spoofing the MAC address of another computer, for example a library computer).

What other steps are necessary? I was thinking a completely separate OS (though this is a hassle), an anonymous browser like Topark, and changing the pc name to something generic...what other steps are necessary? I'm interested in this mostly from a theoretical point of view, although I totally believe in the right to anonymous browsing.

Thanks to everyone for their help.

 

How I love to run across users like you at work. HR has a field day with them.

 

wackyT:

the guy is at Standford...that pretty much says it all.

 

hey man..I'm jus tryin to get by.

 

OK. Why do you need to get by network security if you're a student at the university? Stealing is never right. Too bad you never learned that on your way to college. You'll make a good corporate executive, lawyer, or politician someday.

 

Use some obscure home network workgroup, instead of something generic like "home" that everyone else has. Then at least you'll at least not be automatically letting others see your shared files.

 

Just don't abuse the system that is in place and ruin it for everyone. It is nice that they use tuition and such to give students something nice like wireless internet all over campus.

 

Passive101, that would require rocaveli to think of someone else besides himself. I think that would be asking too much of him.

 

Piracy/stealing bandwidth aren't the only reasons to browse anonymously. Perhaps he doesn't want the university watching his online banking, or rifling through his files, or watching all the porn he paid hard-earned cash for? Remember that IT/HR departments can be just as full of thieves and scoundrels as the rest of the world.

 

well, then one should not use the University's private network. I don't by it at all...there is zero reason to log into a University network anonymously if it is legit. It's not the same as doing the same thing on the web...

 

I am closing down this thread. While there isn't anything necessarily illegal with anonymous browsing, university networks keep a tab of mac addresses for a reason. They need to make sure the things you view and/or download are appropriate. To use a university network, you must abide by their "EULA," which is almost always a part of Campus Code of Conduct (and violations can mean going to SJA [Student Judicial Affairs]).