What is a MySpace proxy, how does it affect your business

MySpace.com is quickly becoming one of the internet's most popular social networking websites. Millions of users have created profiles in hopes of meeting new people, businesses have created profiles in hopes of attracting new customers, and bands have created profiles in hopes of attracting a bigger audience.

With so many people logging in to MySpace.com it has began to create problems at workplaces and schools. In order to help stop their employees from wasting time on MySpace.com at work many companies have begun to block access to that site. You would think that simply blocking the site would be a simple and quick solution, correct? Well if you did you are wrong. Proxy websites have always been available, but now they are being custom built to allow you to access MySpace.com.

MySpace proxy:
A proxy web site is simply a web site that allows you to unblock certain websites and surf the internet while remaining anonymous. Proxy websites have always been around, but not all of them were able to access websites that required advanced scripting or complicated sessions. So programmers began building customized proxies and named them MySpace proxies.

MySpace proxies are simply customized proxies. They allow users to access MySpace and other social networking sites from work or school if that site is blocked. The proxy works by using its own servers to browse the internet for you. This allows the user to remain anonymous while surfing the internet. Their IP address is blocked from others, the proxy removes cookies, so there is no trace of what you have been doing, and it also removes other harmful stuff that can access your computer when surfing the internet.

Problems for the workplace:
MySpace proxies do affect work places because it allows your employees to access web sites that your company has deemed inappropriate for whatever reason. This creates problems because it is in direct violation of the company's policy and procedures, it can cut into the employee's productivity due to distractions, and it also wastes company time because while the employees are supposed to be working they might be surfing the internet through a proxy.

Some solutions:
Many companies have blocked access to MySpace.com because it distracts employees, it can create problems if something gets downloaded, however innocently it might happen, and most employers feel MySpace.com is something that should be accessed on your own time not your company's time. By using proxies employees are directly violating their employer's wishes; if they get caught the consequences can be horrible, the ultimate consequence maybe getting fired.

Companies are not only blocking MySpace, but they are beginning to block the proxy websites as well. By blocking the more popular web sites employees are not able to surf the internet at will, but the bad news is more and more proxies are being created. They are being created faster than network administrators are able to block them. With the creation of new proxies network administrators are having a hard time simply blocking the proxy websites. Rather than just block the individual websites the network administrators can create their own type of proxy that will actually block anonymous proxies from accessing their network.

Companies are also blocking the most common search words that are used to find anonymous proxy websites. Some of these words include "unblocking", "MySpace proxy", and "unlocking". If an employee is determined enough they will simply access the search engines at home and write down a list of proxy websites to try. But this simply fix is usually enough to dissuade the normal employee who is just simply looking for a way to pass some extra time.

MySpace proxies can become a real problem in the workplace so every network administrator needs to take a look at the company's internet security and determine which method to block access to these proxies is the best for that company.