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12:36, 29th March 2024 (GMT+0)

RPOL Backdoor?

Posted by Heath
Heath
member, 2931 posts
If my opinion changes,
The answer is still 42.
Sat 17 Feb 2018
at 01:26
  • msg #1

RPOL Backdoor?

Is there any way to log into RPOL so that it won't be flagged as a "game site" at work and be automatically blocked?  I'm not sure what triggers those flags exactly, but it's annoying and short of going to IT, I don't know a workaround.
evileeyore
member, 70 posts
GURPS GM and Player
Sat 17 Feb 2018
at 08:45
  • msg #2

RPOL Backdoor?

Likely what's causing the 'flags' is that someone logged in from your work once, IT saw it in the daily history, checked it and then flagged the site.  So, it's unlikely to be anything on RPol's end.


If VPNs aren't flagged as no-nos by your work that might be a 'work around'.  Of course you could also get a smart phone and use your own data stream.
GammaBear
member, 814 posts
Gaymer
Sat 17 Feb 2018
at 22:07
  • msg #3

RPOL Backdoor?

I had a job once that was strict on what could or couldn't be accessed. Unfortunately, RPOL wasn't allowed. Fortunately, proxy sites were.
MrKinister
member, 10 posts
Wed 28 Feb 2018
at 21:47
  • msg #4

RPOL Backdoor?

Yeah, those flags are just lists of sites that say "this is a gaming site, this is an adult site, this is a gambling site". It is up to your IT admins. In one of my previous jobs, this site was wide open. In other jobs, I couldn't get to Facebook.

Anyway, the list is blocked at your admin's discretion, it is not RPoL.
RobRebel
member, 12 posts
Thu 1 Mar 2018
at 16:58
Heath
member, 2934 posts
If my opinion changes,
The answer is still 42.
Tue 27 Mar 2018
at 22:57
  • msg #6

RPOL Backdoor?

Thanks for all the suggestions.  I tried all these, but short of something from RPOL that won't be recognized as a "gaming site," I don't think anything will work.

The problem arises from getting in through a backdoor and then having to sign in, which then appears to alert it as a game site again and having it blocked.
Mr_Qwerty
member, 49 posts
Tagmar, D&D, oWoD
Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Wed 28 Mar 2018
at 01:02
  • msg #7

RPOL Backdoor?

Can you run programs from an USB stick? TORProject.org's TOR Browser may do the trick.
LonePaladin
member, 712 posts
Creator of HeroForge
Wed 28 Mar 2018
at 05:10
  • msg #8

Re: RPOL Backdoor?

Heath:
short of something from RPOL that won't be recognized as a "gaming site,"

The problem really is that the definition of "gaming" covers three disparate fields: tabletop RPGs, console video games, and gambling. The last version is probably what most schools and employers seek to block, but this ends up including the other two simply because they use the same term.
evileeyore
member, 78 posts
GURPS GM and Player
Wed 28 Mar 2018
at 06:53
  • msg #9

Re: RPOL Backdoor?

LonePaladin:
The problem really is that the definition of "gaming" covers three disparate fields: tabletop RPGs, console video games, and gambling. The last version is probably what most schools and employers seek to block, but this ends up including the other two simply because they use the same term.

Having worked on that end of the line (IT) it really is a matter of "Anything that could reduce work productivity".

So, someone spending time at work playing roleplaying games?  Yeah, it's gonna get shut down.  Even gaming news sites and gaming message boards which are just about talking about video or roleplaying games (like ENWorld, SJGames, RPGNet, etc) are gonna be on the "No go" list.


See... when you sign in that makes a cookie.  Those are looked at by IT.  And it's their job to add all those sites to the 'no go' list.  Some banware can even detect when a cookie is being made from a No Go site and then shut that site out, even if you're using a VPN.
stargate525
member, 433 posts
Wed 28 Mar 2018
at 12:56
  • msg #10

Re: RPOL Backdoor?

evileeyore:
Some banware can even detect when a cookie is being made from a No Go site and then shut that site out, even if you're using a VPN.

So would private/incognito avoid that?
horus
member, 452 posts
Wayfarer of the
Western Wastes
Wed 28 Mar 2018
at 13:45
  • msg #11

Re: RPOL Backdoor?

In reply to stargate525 (msg # 10):

A lot of that would depend on the particular software your company is using to block sites.

Look at something called Finjan.  That ought to be a real eye-opener.
JohnB
member, 2058 posts
Demigod of the Stunties
Wed 28 Mar 2018
at 14:21
  • msg #12

Re: RPOL Backdoor?

stargate525:
evileeyore:
Some banware can even detect when a cookie is being made from a No Go site and then shut that site out, even if you're using a VPN.

So would private/incognito avoid that?



Probably not.  RPoL sets a cookie as soon as you log in and uses that to remember who you are (and check whether you should have access) when you open up a game or a thread.
evileeyore
member, 80 posts
GURPS GM and Player
Wed 28 Mar 2018
at 23:52
  • msg #13

Re: RPOL Backdoor?

stargate525:
So would private/incognito avoid that?

Very highly unlikely as JohnB says.  Since the 'better' banware is reading cookies (to determine what website is creating it, and thus disallowing certain sites to create cookies) as they are created (or later for the IT operator to check further sites for banning) it's really not concerned with the user ID status.
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