Many companies and organizations use web filters such as Websense to filter what users may and may not access using their internet connection. There are many web-based proxies that quickly get around these filters, but they often end up being added to the block list of the content filters. In the past, I’ve used AnchorFree’s HotSpot Sheild. However, it puts adverts at the top of every page and has grown increasingly unreliable. Today, however, I happened upon Vidalia. Vidalia is a cross-platform TOR controller. In English, Vidalia allows you to connect to the internet by going through a number of other computers. This means that you are only making one, unfiltered connection using your company’s internet connection. Another computer then grabs the information you request (ie., MySpace.com), downloads it, and then sends it to you through that one connection. The advantages to this are that you get unfiltered internet while still being able to access local network services.
Once you get Vidalia installed, there are a few extra configuration steps that you must take. To get Mac OS X to direct its connections through Vidalia (thus circumventing filters), you have to tell Mac OS X to use the proxy that Vidalia installed on your Mac. What I did for ease of use was create a special network location that uses the proxy, and another that doesn’t. Open System Preferences, go to the Network tab, and create a new network location (mine is called CCTL). Then, click the “Advanced” button and select the “Proxies” tab. Select “Web Proxy (HTTP)” and use the address “127.0.0.1″ and the port “8118.” Screenshots are attached below.
Now that you have everything configured, it’s time to actually take a look in the Vidalia application. To ensure that you’re actually connected to TOR, launch Vidalia. Then, click “View the Network.” As long as there is one or more connection listed as “Open” in the pane at the bottom center, you’re connected. You can also see extra information, such as what country the TOR server is in. Screenshots below.
Now you should be past all web filters! Try it out, and if you get sick of the speed decrease, simply go to the Apple menu, Location, and select “Automatic.” This will switch your connection back to the default, disabling TOR.
Tor and a VPN like HotSpotShield are hardly apples to apples. Tor will do nothing to protect you when using unencrypted WiFi and like you say “This means that you are only making one, unfiltered connection using your company’s internet connection.”. This is still a point of exposure.