Comment Feed for Is there a file download disguise service out there? (Coffeehouse on Channel 9)

Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Is there a file download disguise service out there?

blowdart — Mon, 13 Apr 2009 07:13:59 GMT

:p I know that's sarcasm but ... if you look at the rules enforced by StyleCop (which wants braces and parameters on separate lines) and think about source control it's easy to see why it's preferred. By separating it makes diff comparisons very easy, there's no change of missing the insertion of (for example) two function parameters in a line rather than one.

Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Is there a file download disguise service out there?

Dorian Muthig — Mon, 13 Apr 2009 04:29:45 GMT

lol
Noone cares, just write it all in one line and omit spaces whereever you can. NOW, if you can still comfortably read your code, you're good. :)

Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Is there a file download disguise service out there?

RoyalSchrubber — Sun, 12 Apr 2009 21:41:37 GMT

It's recession, people should start saving on new lines.. :)

Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Is there a file download disguise service out there?

blowdart — Sun, 12 Apr 2009 19:15:49 GMT

C# is NOT JavaScript or C.

K&R braces are passée.

Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Is there a file download disguise service out there?

Minh — Sun, 12 Apr 2009 17:45:29 GMT

Ewwwweee

I need my white spaces

Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Is there a file download disguise service out there?

RoyalSchrubber — Sun, 12 Apr 2009 17:37:37 GMT

haha, brace yourself - for this is how real men indent braces:

if(exp) {

} else {

}

:P

Re: Re: Re: Re: Is there a file download disguise service out there?

Minh — Sun, 12 Apr 2009 17:30:51 GMT

How would you write it?

Re: Re: Re: Is there a file download disguise service out there?

RoyalSchrubber — Sun, 12 Apr 2009 17:20:28 GMT

if you write like this

if (exp)
{

}
else
{

}

you're still writing in Basic haw haw.. :P

<bracist_whining />

Re: Re: Is there a file download disguise service out there?

Minh — Sun, 12 Apr 2009 16:59:13 GMT

Fixed a bug & converted to C#

    protected void downloadBtn_Click(object sender, EventArgs e)
    {
        string auth = authTxt.Text;
        string url = urlTxt.Text;

        if (auth == "" || url == "") return;
        if (ValidateAuth(auth) == false) return;

        HttpWebRequest req = (HttpWebRequest)WebRequest.Create(url);
        HttpWebResponse resp = (HttpWebResponse)req.GetResponse();

        string fileName = Path.GetFileName(url);

        this.Response.Clear();
        this.Response.AppendHeader("Content-Disposition",
                                   "attachment; filename=" + fileName + ".zip");
        
        this.Response.AppendHeader("Content-Length", resp.ContentLength.ToString());
        this.Response.ContentType = "application/download";

        int bufferSize = 4096;
        byte[] inBuffer = new byte[bufferSize];

        int bytesRead = 0;
        Stream respStr = resp.GetResponseStream();
        do
        {
            bytesRead = respStr.Read(inBuffer, 0, bufferSize);

            if (bytesRead == bufferSize)
            {
                this.Response.BinaryWrite(inBuffer);
            }
            else
            {
                byte[] shortBuffer = new byte[bytesRead];
                Array.Copy(inBuffer, shortBuffer, bytesRead);
                this.Response.BinaryWrite(shortBuffer);
            }

            this.Response.Flush();
        }
        while (bytesRead > 0);

        this.Response.End();
        respStr.Dispose();
    }

    private bool ValidateAuth(string auth)
    {
        if (auth == "666") return true;

        return false;
    }

Re: Re: Is there a file download disguise service out there?

SlackmasterK — Sat, 11 Apr 2009 06:36:10 GMT

One can always plug in their cell...

Re: Is there a file download disguise service out there?

fknight — Sat, 11 Apr 2009 00:46:19 GMT

I get around this by downloading the podcasts at my house. They're not going to spoil or go bad by the time work lets out.

Additionally, I do have to agree that you shouldn't be trying to work around company policy. Having said that, I think employers who *do* restrict Internet access to such a degree should also provide separate wireless access capability - separate from the corporate network - for non-work-related Internet access during non-work hours (lunch, etc.) if they wish to promote morale.

Re: Re: Re: Re: Is there a file download disguise service out there?

SlackmasterK — Fri, 10 Apr 2009 23:22:20 GMT

However, IT policies have a habit of being instituted based on the behaviors of people who don't know how to keep their computer safe and running well. If your company has a call center, Gawd help you.

Re: Re: Re: Is there a file download disguise service out there?

AndyC — Fri, 10 Apr 2009 22:09:03 GMT

So go to the IT guys and point out that you need to access work related podcast X, Y and Z. Chances are they'll whitelist them and let you get on. Contrary to popular belief, it is rarely the aim of IT guys to make others lives difficult.

Re: Re: Re: Is there a file download disguise service out there?

DCMonkey — Fri, 10 Apr 2009 20:39:00 GMT

I guess those studies are accurate, given the amount of trouble you are willing to go thorugh to circumvent the policy :)

Re: Re: Is there a file download disguise service out there?

Minh — Fri, 10 Apr 2009 14:37:23 GMT

Thanks slackmasterK... that looks like it'll work... I'd change the file name portion to reflect the actual file name, but that looks good.

Re: Re: Is there a file download disguise service out there?

Minh — Fri, 10 Apr 2009 14:35:59 GMT

I hate to say this but:

it's thier network, they pay for it, they manage it.

get over it.

No, I will not get over it. Sorry, I'm not going to lemming through life. There are plenty of studies that suggest this kind of draconian lock down of sites like this affect people's productivity negatively.

If a company decided to fire someone for downloading MP3s for the ride home, then that's not the company I would want to work for. The IT market isn't THAT bad.

Re: Is there a file download disguise service out there?

figuerres — Fri, 10 Apr 2009 11:33:45 GMT

I hate to say this but:

it's thier network, they pay for it, they manage it.

get over it.

if you get caught you are risking losing your job.
esp. as they will be able to show that you know the policy and you used time at work to activly hack around the policy.

is this worth losing a job over ??

esp. with the way things are right now.

Re: Is there a file download disguise service out there?

SlackmasterK — Fri, 10 Apr 2009 02:59:31 GMT

Create a simple webform with a textbox and a button. Set it to 403 on any but your work IP. Host it at home.
Upon clicking the button, it passes the textbox.text (URL) into:

Imports System.Data
Imports System.Data.SqlClient
Imports System.Data.Sql
Imports System.Net
Imports system.io

Partial Class DownloadFile
Inherits System.Web.UI.Page

Protected Sub page_load(ByVal sender As Object, ByVal e As EventArgs) Handles Me.Load
Dim url As String = Request.QueryString("DownloadUrl")
If url Is Nothing Or url.Length = 0 Then Exit Sub

'Initialize the input stream
Dim req As HttpWebRequest = WebRequest.Create(url)
Dim resp As HttpWebResponse = req.GetResponse()
Dim bufferSize As Integer = 1

'Initialize the output stream
Response.Clear()
Response.AppendHeader("Content-Disposition:", "attachment; filename=download.zip")
Response.AppendHeader("Content-Length", resp.ContentLength.ToString)
Response.ContentType = "application/download"

'Populate the output stream
Dim ByteBuffer As Byte() = New Byte(bufferSize) {}
Dim ms As MemoryStream = New MemoryStream(ByteBuffer, True)
Dim rs As Stream = req.GetResponse.GetResponseStream()
Dim bytes() As Byte = New Byte(bufferSize) {}
While rs.Read(ByteBuffer, 0, ByteBuffer.Length) > 0
Response.BinaryWrite(ms.ToArray())
Response.Flush()
End While

'Cleanup
Response.End()
ms.Close()
ms.Dispose()
rs.Dispose()
ByteBuffer = Nothing
End Sub
End Class

Call that function via your page:

    'Initialize the input stream (From app server)
    Dim req As HttpWebRequest = WebRequest.Create(url)
    Dim resp As HttpWebResponse

    Try
    resp = req.GetResponse()
    Catch ex As WebException
    MsgBox("Error 404: Export File not found on server")
    resp = Nothing
    Exit Sub
    End Try
    Dim bufferSize As Integer = 1 ' Buffers larger than 1 byte screw up the file; i.e. 16384 drops half the file

    'Initialize the output stream (To user)
    Response.Clear()
    Response.AppendHeader("Content-Disposition:", "attachment; filename=download.zip")
    Response.AppendHeader("Content-Length", resp.ContentLength.ToString)
    Response.ContentType = "application/download"

    'Populate the output stream
    Dim ByteBuffer As Byte() = New Byte(bufferSize) {}
    Dim ms As MemoryStream = New MemoryStream(ByteBuffer, True)
    Dim rs As Stream = req.GetResponse.GetResponseStream()
    Dim bytes() As Byte = New Byte(bufferSize) {}
    While rs.Read(ByteBuffer, 0, ByteBuffer.Length) > 0
    Response.BinaryWrite(ms.ToArray())
    Response.Flush()
    End While

Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Is there a file download disguise service out there?

bureX — Thu, 09 Apr 2009 23:06:05 GMT

Really easy:

- Download WMA files :P

- Get an unlimited data plan with your provider and use your phone to download podcasts

Easy:

- Remote Desktop connection to a foreign PC (or maybe Radmin will do?)

- Proxy

- Web-proxy (one that supports downloading of files... quite rare)

Medium:

- PHP/ASP script on any supported webhost that downloads any remote file you specify, ZIPs it or changes the file extension, and let's you downlad it.

Advanced:

VPN to your home network

...if they blocked VPN traffic or any kind of GRE packets...

ICMP tunnels to your home PC or server

...if they blocked ICMP traffic...

TCP tunnel on port 53 (DNS) or 80 (HTTP)

Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Is there a file download disguise service out there?

dahat — Thu, 09 Apr 2009 22:42:33 GMT

You mean like... Windows Home Server? ;)

Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Is there a file download disguise service out there?

GoddersUK — Thu, 09 Apr 2009 22:31:00 GMT

How about Live Mesh?

Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Is there a file download disguise service out there?

W3bbo — Thu, 09 Apr 2009 20:47:20 GMT

as Dahat suggested, get a RDP server that supports TS Gateway (where RDP is tunneled over HTTP)

Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Is there a file download disguise service out there?

dahat — Thu, 09 Apr 2009 20:35:46 GMT

1. Setup a Windows Home Server at home
2. Install your podcast DLing software on it (or a desktop PC which saves the content there)
3. Enable Remote Access on your Windows Home Server
4. Login to your home server from work at https://yournamehere.homeserver.com
5. Download all the files you want/need through the glorry of SSL

Re: Re: Re: Re: Is there a file download disguise service out there?

Minh — Thu, 09 Apr 2009 19:38:12 GMT

Dang... They blocked the RDP port

Re: Re: Re: Is there a file download disguise service out there?

intelman — Thu, 09 Apr 2009 19:24:17 GMT

RDP to a remote computer, that usually works for me.