View blocked Web sites with a proxy Video

View blocked Web sites with a proxy Video Transcript

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>> Hulu is a great service, unless you don't live in the United Sates, in which case, it's blocked. BBC's iPlayer also rocks unless you don't live in the U.K., in which case it's probably blocked, too. Using something called a proxy can get you around these blocks and give you access to the video services you want. Proxies take all your Internet requests and relay them from their location, so you appear to be in that location. For instance, a proxy address for a London server would make it look as if your computer here in the U.S. was actually in London and the BBC iPlayer wouldn't block you. Thanks to Live Hacker for posting Hengehog's [assumed spelling] steps for using proxies in Firefox. Here's how you do it. Go to "tools" and select "add-ons". Click "get ad-ons." Search for "foxy proxy" and choose "foxy proxy basic." Then click to add to Firefox and press "install." Restart Firefox, and you should see the add-ons window again. If not, go select it again from "tools." Select "foxy proxy" and click "preferences." Click "add new proxy." Under the general tab, enter a name for your proxy, whatever you want, and then the proxy details tab, select "manual proxy configuration" and then enter the IP address of the proxy you're using. Now, how do you find one of those? You'll need to search online and find a reputable and reliable proxy. They change from country to country. They can even change over time. Once you've got that, select "auto proxy configuration" and enter the URL, the website you want to use the proxy for. Otherwise, you would end up using the proxy for everything, and that could cause other problems. Now, press "ok." Go to the "mode" drop-down menu, select the proxy you just created, and press "close." Now, visit the website you were blocked from before and see if it works. Proxies come and go, and some that start reliable may degrade over time as more people discover them. Be sure you trust the proxy you're using. Malicious proxies can spread malware. Also remember that the sites that are trying to block you may not view your actions kindly. Otherwise, they wouldn't have been trying to block you in the first place, but if you're a citizen traveling abroad and you've paid your license fees or cable bill, here's one way to see content you're missing while you're away. That's it for now. I'm John Merrick, CNET.com. [Music]