AboutRalph Becker Expertise General networks, including LAN (ethernet, cable modem, DSL), dialup (modems), WAN (frame relay, ATM), and other related networking technologies.
Experience I have worked for 20 years in various network companies, in capacities including development, customer service, and operations. Check out my bio/ratings page!
http://www.allexperts.com/expert.cgi?m=1&catID=1049&expID=20679
Question hi, im connected to the internet via a local LAN that my friends are running in my neighbourhood. The system administrator has blocked some of the port due to which i cant run programs like limewire and msn messenger. How do i make those programs run. Secondly, the system admin. can see what websites iam visiting and what programs im running so im a bit concerned about my privacy. How do i make myself completly anonymous on LAN?
Thanks for ur answer!
Answer Hi Jafar, and thanks for your question.
The fact is that you cannot achieve privacy on a LAN unless you are using a VPN. In fact, anyone else on the LAN can run a packet capture program (like ethereal, www.ethereal.com) and see all the traffic that goes to or from your computer. This is simply the nature of a LAN. This is especially true of the administrator - they control what access you have and can in fact limit what you can do and where you can go. After all, it is their network (or it is the network owned by their employers), so they have every right to control things, and prevent the LAN users from going where they don't want you to go. It may well be impossible to bypass these restrictions.
As I said at first, the exception is using a VPN, of Virtual Private Network. Here is a definition:
Using a VPN, you connect to a remote network securely, usually using a password or other authentication. Once you are connected, all your traffic is encrypted and cannot be viewed by the packet tracers on your LAN. All you access and traffic is dictated by the LAN that your VPN is connected to. You have essentially complete privacy, at least as far as you trust the LAN your VPN is connected to.
If you read through the HowStuffWorks article, it gives you an excellent overview of the technology. The links at the end can give you help getting started setting up a VPN. You can also do a Google search of "vpn" to find a lot more help.
