How to Access blocked sites behind a firewall.

INTRODUCTION:

Due to facebook and youtube's popularity, many users have become somewhat addicted to it. Companies block this sites from users who over indulge in using theses site. The reason? A significant loss of productivity may affect the company's overall performance, since employees may spend much more of their time on facebook or youtube rather than working. So for those facebook users whose access to facebook is being blocked by your firewall this tutorial might be just for you. Please note that I have tested it only on Sonicwall. 

Please use the following tutorial at your own discretion and at your own risk.

 Or much better since this is over a secure connection. Talk it over with your IT department or with the Management. Happy facebooking.

Needed Materials:

• Sonicwall Firewall Appliance.
• Combination of http and ssl connection or https mode.
• Google chrome (IE also works).

Tips

• Use google chrome in Incognito mode to avoid 3rd party programs from recording your browsing activities but this may vary depending on your Firewall Appliance.

Accessed Sites:

1. www.facebook.com
2. www.youtube.com

Procedure:

1.)    Open your browser. (IE also works).

2.)    Simply type ’https://’ before the domain name on the address bar and press enter.

Example: https://www.facebook.com.

3.)     Instead of a sonicwall notification, voila! You have successfully accessed the site.

4.)    But once you click on the links within the site, it will return to normal ‘http://’ mode and will once again show the Sonicwall blocked site notification. So you will have to type again ‘https://’ before the URL on the address bar.

5.)    So to avoid typing ‘https://’ each time you click on a link you will have to set up your account to automatically open the site in ‘https://’ mode.

6.)    Facebook Configuration:

a.       Login to your account

b.      Click on account. And go to account settings>account security.

c. Check secure browsing and and click save. 

Note: This only works with websites that have SSL mode support activated. You can also install google chrome extension 'Facebook Secure Connection (Force Https SSL)'.