Free proxying service (or how to connect Adium to MSN in school)

[echoz]

Hello boys and girls. Hope the common tests weren't that bad for you all.

Here's a new tip.

Introducing Your-Freedom, the worlds most advanced proxy tunnelling solution. They are by far, one of the only people who have a Mac version of their software for use.

What this translate for us Mac users, who are too poor to afford our own dedicated servers in data centres and all that, would be simply to allow us to connect our favourite programs by bypassing the school's firewall.

This further implies that AdiumX, yes adium, the great Mac IM client, would be able to connect to MSN through it.

Rejoice.

Now enough of all that intro crap. Here's the guide.

Application installation and configuration.
1. Logon to www.your-freedom.net using your favourite web browser.
2. Sign up for a free account.
3. Download the client. (It should be called yf-20050301-01.pkg.sitx with lots of warning about not being officially supported and all that).
4. Uncompress it using Stuffit.
5. Install.
6. Start the app. It'll launch the configuration screen.
7. First thing you've to fill in is the proxy server.

Proxy server: proxy.np.edu.sg
Port: 8080

8. Next, it'll detect if the proxy works (it should!) and then it'll look for available freedom servers.
9. Select the first one. Which basically will have it auto detect.
10. Next you'll be prompted for your user account login and password, enter accordingly.
11. And you're done for the setup and configuration!

How to get Adium working
1. Start Your-Freedom client.
2. Click on "Start Connection" and make sure it actually works. (This means at the status screen, you'll have an external IP instead of the words N/A).
3. Start Adium and get into its Preferences.
4. Under the "Accounts" section highlight the MSN account you want to connect to from school and hit "Edit"
5. Hit the "Proxy" tab.
6. Check the "Connect using proxy" checkbox and select "Socks 5 Proxy" from the drop down list.
7. Enter the following. Leave the rest blank.

Server: localhost
Port: 1080

8. Click "Ok"
9. Check the checkbox next to your account.
10. Wait. It should work.

This should only be done in school. To use Adium at home on your own connection, just uncheck the "Connect using proxy" option when you're at home and it should be fine.

You heard it here first. For Mac users. (Of course, there is the Windows equivalent.)


Disclaimer

This should be more stable then using the school's proxy server on aMSN but by no means is it perfect. The best solution would still be to have your own Socks proxy server.

[diskollama]

Yeah, I've been teaching the windows script kiddies in my class on how to use hopster and http-tunnel to get around the school's firewall.

Hmm. You're using your own dedicated server, I presume? If so, how much are you paying if you're renting the server or do you just co-lo? I'm looking for someone to share co-lo hosting with. Paying $120 a month just to host my files and maybe a few tools just ain't worth it

[echoz]

Its colocated. Can't disclose the sum as this is a private contract between the datacentre and my group.

[diskollama]

Oh... Its contracted. Nevermind. Thanks anyways.

[calebk]

What do I type in the initial server address and port fields? After only filling up the proxy fields, the program doesn't allow me to save and exit. I've also encountered a galm error on Adium when trying to login. What's the login server and port for Adium?

[diskollama]

For the YourFreedom client, use the wizard to set everything up, only at the proxy section do you need to input the school's proxy(proxy.np.edu.sg port 8080), it should select a server and port for you. After you input all the necessary data, save and exit. I just tried it in school just now, and it works fine.

Point adium to localhost as the proxy @ port 1080. login server messenger.hotmail.com port 1863, and you're all set.

[calebk]

thank you so much.

[heckcare_der]

will we get into trouble by using Your Freedom? 

[echoz]

Nope

[heckcare_der]

veru sure?

[echoz]

I've numerous classmates using it... What do you think?

[MacX]

I've numerous classmates using it... What do you think?

And that makes it legal?

[echoz]

So you're saying that tor is illegal too?

[MacX]

So you're saying that tor is illegal too?

That would depend on whether the network owner (in this case NP) consents to your running it on their network. The same issue applies to your proxying service. Do you have permission from NP to run this? Be clear, I'm not saying that the service itself is illegal.

[echoz]

Precisely. I'm in NP and no where in the AUP says that proxying is not allowed.

[MacX]

Precisely. I'm in NP and no where in the AUP says that proxying is not allowed.

But does it expressly state that it is allowed? Otherwise, under the current law it is your responsibility to seek permission. Obviously, NP has chosen to filter certain services from the network, and what you are doing is bypassing these controls. It is not only NP's right to deny you the use of the network, but also to take action under criminal law (Computer Misuse Act) for unauthorised usage of the network.

BTW, the whole point of this is: you want to provide/use this, it's at your own risk. Telling people that it's totally safe and that there's no risk of trouble is, however, not responsible behaviour.

[echoz]

MSN messenger on its own connects fine.

Its only when it comes to IM apps that reverse engineer the protocol itself where the problem starts. The current version of the protocol is MSNP13 which is used by MSN8. Adium, based on Gaim's code branch is way behind and thus requires a proxy service to allow connections.

In fact, ICQ on its own, connects fine.

So in a sense, IM apps are allowed. Hell, the lecturers here themselves use IM apps. (And I suppose you'd run along the lines that "just because the lectueres use it, it doesn't mean its legal blah blah blah", but frankly that's not the whole point. I'm just here trying to help the fellow mac users in my school get a better computing experience.)

But hey, if you feel uncomfortable with the information posted here, by all means kill the whole thread.

[diskollama]

So, lets say if I use any web-based msn(all of which act as a proxy to the msn messenger network in one way or another) in school, am I liable for computer misuse charges?

[MacX]

The answer can only come from the NP management. Again, my point is, you do not as yet have enough information to reasonably tell another person that using this service (or any other service as you have listed) will not 'get them into trouble'.

[jeaimentvous]

Didn't know NP blocks Adium too? I'm in TP and adium's fine, just that MSN Messenger dosen't work. Then again, who uses msn now?