Trying to maintain privacy on a College//university computer?

Questions
1

Hello, while using a university PC, what could I do to maintain privacy? I really need to use a password manager. What’s the best alternative for using a password manager on a university PC? I use Bitwarden. Using Notesnook on a public PC and then logging off, is it secure? Or maybe I should stick to perhaps making my notes.

Additionally, when attempting to use a VPN on university WiFi, my phone simply does not connect to the network. My devices simply remain in a state of standby while it does not fully connect to the VPN or the wifi. In this kind of state, I can’t access the wifi.

2

Use the web version. Be sure to delete all site data and cookies and history once you’re done however.

Yes. Again, be sure to delete all history, site data and cookies.

Ask your university IT if they are blocking VPNs on personal devices. If so, ask them why. If not, you should be able to connect.

I have not heard of any educational institute making this a restriction. But I don’t know where you live and which university this is.

All that said, if you can avoid using your university computer, please do.

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3

Is there anyway to bypass a VPN blockage?

4

Use Tor browser and see if that works?

ProtonVPN has a browser extension too so give that a try?

Which country are you in? (you don’t have to disclose if you don’t want to but I ask for context).

Edit: if using Mullvad VPN, try their obfuscation options they have. You can also request server override options and give that a try too.

Edit 2: you can also choose not to connect to college WiFi and choose to use your cellular data. But cost is a big variable here depending on where you live.

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5

I tried Orbot, and it didn’t work. Im from South America. Also, btw, I use Mullvad

6

Okay

Let me ask you some more follow up questions:

  1. Which devices and OS are you trying to get to use your VPN on?
  2. Are these all personal devices?
  3. Are you trying this on your university computers?
  4. Which smartphone do you use? iPhone or Android (or GrapheneOS)?
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7

First find out and clarify from your university IT department if they are in fact blocking VPN connections on personal devices on which you are connected to university WiFi.

And then go about trying the obfuscation options I mentioned that you can see in your Mullvad app too.

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8
  1. Tablet and phone
  2. Yes
  3. Nope, but I asked because in many classes we are obligated to use a university PC.
  4. I use an iPhone and Android tablet.
  5. I’ve tried obfuscation, and it didn’t work :frowning:
9

Set the options you want in the Mullvad app. And reboot your devices once and let it auto connect to school WiFi and let Mullvad try to auto connect. See if this works.

There’s no reason for Tor browser on Android and Orbot on iOS to not work. I can’t see a way your school being able to block this.

The last resort is to use your cellular plan only to bypass your school network. But this is very odd and I’ve never experienced this.

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10

just ensure all your usage of their computers is strictly school related.

if you need to do personal stuff on school time just be sure to use your phone or bring a personal laptop/tablet.

and if you do use a password manager for your school accounts be sure it is a dedicated account of that password manager with a password distinct from your personal one.

also there were in the past some phone apps that could emulate a keyboard to type out passwords onto a computer without any additional software.

as for vpn blocking see:

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11

In my experience with my college: While they do not block external vpns on their wifi guest network, they do block private dns surprisingly, this led me to kind of spiral not using my nextdns configuration on my phone.

I unfortunately never asked why, but I always assumed it is to prevent bypasses. but on devices that are connected to a public network? I mean ok that’s… Weird

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12

I don’t see the point of this. If VPNs can be used, why block encrypted DNS? Makes no sense to me.

But interesting - never heard of such restrictions before. Weird indeed.

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13

right? and this is on a guest network, where students connect personal devices especially, jee.

You’re correct it is very weird for that factor

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14

In my university, I can use NextDNS, but no VPN. I thought the VPN restrictions in schools were normal. Im kinda of surprised with this.

15

It’s absolutely not normal. It’s straight up censorship if you ask me.

16

yeah educations try to employ methods to prevent students from browsing any potentially inappropriate sites off of their network, especially from computer labs.
but it is weird that how they configure it affects even personal devices from their guest network. on my phone I would be using Mobile data either way… Super weird

17

I can confirm this is not the case in US and Canada. But other countries might. I’m also willing to bet European countries don’t do this either.

18

im in a european country, at least here they do
of course I can’t confirm elsewhere

19

Well Europe is big. Not sure if you’re speaking for the whole continent or whether you can confirm that from experience. But Cyprus might do this so it may track for you.

Edit: got it, saw your edited comment.

20

was gonna say can’t confirm elsewhere other than my home country unless I ask people around or something.

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