Has school destroyed your creativity and self-confidence? I'm working on a book called Recovering From School, to help you heal the damage caused. Join the Patreon or Newsletter to be notified about updates. Paid Patreon members will get early draft previews, as well as a free digital copy when it's done.

How To Unblock Websites At School On Linux Without VPN

Part of the Mega Guide: How To Unblock Anything At School

A VPN, or Virtual Private Network, protects your online activities private by encrypting your data so that others can see what you're doing on the internet. This is useful for safeguarding your privacy and bypassing restrictions.

But sometimes, the network you're on might prevent VPN installations or connections, like in certain offices or schools. Or, your device might have security measures or restrictions that prevent new apps from being installed.

Luckily there are other ways to unblock Websites on Linux!

Schools block websites for reasons that often seem as oppressive as they are illogical. They want to impose sameness, keep distractions at bay, and maintain a appearance of order. In the process, they suppress curiosity and creativity, reducing us into unquestioning followers of their agenda.

The sites that might offer a bit of relief, a moment of reprieve, or even a glimmer of understanding, are often unreachable. These aren't just trivial distractions; they're sometimes the only sources of comfort and connection for those of us feeling isolated and disconnected. Here is a list of commonly blocked sites and our instructions to unblock them:
[Facebook] [Spotify] [Pinterest] [YouTube] [Google] [TikTok] [Instagram] [Reddit] [Discord] [Telegram] [WhatsApp] [Snapchat] [LinkedIn] [Twitter]

Unblocking Websites On Linux using Free DNS Servers

What Are DNS Servers?

Think of you need to find a person's home, but you only know their identity, not their address. You’d probably ask someone who is aware of where they reside, right?

In the online world, DNS servers (Domain Name System servers) are like those knowledgeable people. When you enter a website's address (like www.example.com) into your browser, DNS servers convert that name into an IP address (a numeric address) that your computer can understand and employ to access Websites on Linux.

How Changing DNS Servers Can Help Bypass Censorship

Sometimes, some websites might be blocked by your internet service provider or your school's authorities. They do this by forcing your DNS queries (requests to access a website) go through servers that either redirect them.

Here's how changing your DNS servers can help:

Different DNS Servers: By changing to a different DNS server (like Google's public DNS or Cloudflare's DNS), you might bypass these restrictions. These alternative servers might not have the same exact restrictions or might allow access to Websites on Linux.
Accessing Restricted Sites: If a particular DNS server is known for allowing access to certain websites, using that server can help you get around the restrictions put in place by your school.

There exist a lot of complimentary DNS providers. This guide explain how to set up OpenDNS, however you can swap the IP addresses for alternative options if you choose.

There is a big list of DNS servers here: https://public-dns.info/

Here are some of the popular ones:
Google: 8.8.8.8 and/or 8.8.4.4
Cloudflare: 1.1.1.1

How to Change DNS Servers on Linux

Changing DNS servers on Linux can be done via the command line by editing configuration files or using network management tools. Here’s a step-by-step guide for several methods:

Method 1: Using `resolv.conf` File

Open Terminal: Open your terminal.
Edit the resolv.conf File:
- Use a text editor to open the /etc/resolv.conf file. For example:
```
sudo nano /etc/resolv.conf
```
- Add or change the nameserver lines to your desired DNS servers. For instance:
```
nameserver 8.8.8.8
nameserver 8.8.4.4
```
  These addresses are Google's public DNS servers. You can replace them with the IP addresses of your preferred DNS servers.
Save and Exit:
- If you’re using nano, press Ctrl+X, then Y to confirm changes, and Enter to save.
Check the Changes:
- You can verify the changes by using:
```
cat /etc/resolv.conf
```

Method 2: Using NetworkManager

If you’re using a system with NetworkManager (common in many desktop distributions), you can change DNS settings via the nmcli command:

List Connections:
```
nmcli connection show
```
Modify the Connection:
- Replace <connection-name> with the name of your connection. For example, if your connection is called Wired connection 1, the command might look like:
```
sudo nmcli connection modify "Wired connection 1" ipv4.dns "8.8.8.8,8.8.4.4"
```
- You can also specify DNS servers for IPv6 if needed:
```
sudo nmcli connection modify "Wired connection 1" ipv6.dns "2001:4860:4860::8888,2001:4860:4860::8844"
```
Restart NetworkManager:
```
sudo systemctl restart NetworkManager
```

Method 3: Using `systemd-resolved` (if applicable)

Some distributions use systemd-resolved for DNS resolution.

Check the Status:
```
systemctl status systemd-resolved
```
Edit the Resolved Configuration:
- Open the /etc/systemd/resolved.conf file:
```
sudo nano /etc/systemd/resolved.conf
```
- Under the [Resolve] section, add or modify the DNS line. For example:
```
[Resolve]
DNS=8.8.8.8 8.8.4.4
```
- Optionally, you can also set FallbackDNS for fallback servers.

Restart systemd-resolved:

sudo systemctl restart systemd-resolved

Ensure /etc/resolv.conf Points to systemd-resolved:

sudo ln -sf /run/systemd/resolve/stub-resolv.conf /etc/resolv.conf

Notes

NetworkManager and systemd-resolved might override manual changes to /etc/resolv.conf, so adjusting settings through these tools is often preferable.
Permissions: Most of these commands require sudo or root permissions.
Restarting Services: After making changes, restarting network services or the computer might be necessary for the changes to take effect.

Choose the method that matches your system’s configuration and network management tools.

Unblocking Websites On Linux using Free Proxy Servers

What Are Proxy Servers?

Let's imagine the internet as a big, open library where you can read and access all sorts of materials and information. Now, imagine there's a special librarian who controls what materials you can see based on certain restrictions. If the librarian doesn't want you to see certain books, they can restrict your access to those materials.

A proxy server is like a clever friend who can help you get around this librarian. Here's how it works:

Your Request: When you want to access a website, instead of going directly to the librarian (which is like your internet connection), you ask your friend (the proxy server) to assist you.
The Friend (Proxy Server): Your friend goes to the librarian, asks for the book for you, and then brings it back to you. In this way, the librarian never knows it’s actually you making the request.
Changing Proxies: If the librarian becomes aware of your friend and blocks their access, you can just find a different friend (a different proxy server) to assist you. By switching proxies, you can keep accessing the books that were previously blocked.

In simpler terms, a proxy server acts as a go-between that helps you access content without the restrictions you would face directly. By switching proxies, you can bypass internet censorship, which is like getting around the librarian's barriers.

How to Change Proxy Servers on macOS

Changing proxy servers on a Linux system using the command line involves configuring environment variables or editing configuration files, depending on whether you're setting a temporary proxy or a more permanent system-wide one. Here’s a step-by-step guide:

Temporary Proxy Configuration

For a temporary proxy setup, you can export proxy environment variables directly in your terminal session. This will affect only the current terminal session.

Open your terminal.

Set the proxy environment variables. You need to specify the proxy server's address and port. Here's how to do it for HTTP, HTTPS, and FTP proxies:

export http_proxy="http://proxyserver:port"
export https_proxy="https://proxyserver:port"
export ftp_proxy="ftp://proxyserver:port"

Replace proxyserver with the proxy server's address and port with the port number. If your proxy requires authentication, include your username and password:

export http_proxy="http://username:password@proxyserver:port"
export https_proxy="https://username:password@proxyserver:port"
export ftp_proxy="ftp://username:password@proxyserver:port"

To make sure your proxy settings are applied, you can check the environment variables:
```
echo $http_proxy
echo $https_proxy
echo $ftp_proxy
```

Permanent Proxy Configuration

For a permanent setup, you’ll need to modify system configuration files or profiles so that the proxy settings persist across sessions and reboots.

For Individual User:

Edit the .bashrc or .bash_profile file (or equivalent for your shell). Open the file in a text editor:
```
nano ~/.bashrc
```

Add the export commands at the end of the file:

export http_proxy="http://proxyserver:port"
export https_proxy="https://proxyserver:port"
export ftp_proxy="ftp://proxyserver:port"

Save and exit the text editor. For nano, press CTRL+X, then Y, and Enter.
Reload the configuration:
```
source ~/.bashrc
```

For System-Wide Configuration:

Edit the /etc/environment file to set global proxy variables:
```
sudo nano /etc/environment
```

Add the proxy settings:

http_proxy="http://proxyserver:port"
https_proxy="https://proxyserver:port"
ftp_proxy="ftp://proxyserver:port"

Save and exit the text editor.
Reload the environment settings:
```
source /etc/environment
```

Proxy Settings for Specific Applications

Some applications or tools have their own proxy settings, such as wget, curl, or package managers like apt:

wget: You can configure proxies in /etc/wgetrc or ~/.wgetrc:

use_proxy = on
http_proxy = http://proxyserver:port
https_proxy = https://proxyserver:port

curl: Use the -x or --proxy option for a specific command:
```
curl -x http://proxyserver:port http://example.com
```

apt: Configure proxy settings in /etc/apt/apt.conf.d/proxy:

Acquire::http::Proxy "http://proxyserver:port";
Acquire::https::Proxy "https://proxyserver:port";

By following these steps, you can configure and manage proxy settings on your Linux system via the command line.

Where to find free proxies? We have a list here.

If you like what we're doing here, you can become a Patron and sign up for our newsletter!