Configuring the Windows Update (and OS) to use Proxy

A slightly more technical tip this time around, but a problem I've encountered nonetheless in my endeavour for free internet.

1. For those of you not aware, your operating system has to be original (or rather M$ needs to be convinced its original) before you can update it(yes Vista can bypass WGA checks - but you won't find it in this post)!

2. To download updates, you need to most likely use Windows Update, which is part of the operating system - as such, if you do use a corporate proxy to access the internet, you will need to use the same proxy to get these updates - unfortunately, there's no straightforward window to go to and enter these settings.

3. To do this, you will have to use command prompt. Go to Start --> Run...--> cmd
Note that this should be done with elevated privileges i.e. either run with User Account Control (UAC) disabled, or you'll have to create a shortcut on your desktop, and then right click, and Run as Administrator...

4. Type "netsh" (sans quotes)

5. Type "winhttp" (sans quotes) - this is a nested command

6. Type "set proxy proxyname:Port" (sans quotes) e.g. "set proxy proxy.nus.edu.sg:8080"

Tip: To get more advanced help on any of these commands you can type "/?" at any time at the command prompt.

7. Windows Update should now work, provided your copy is "Genuine".

This setting should hopefully allow all your other programs that require access to the internet without much trouble - e.g. your gadgets in the Sidebar.

Using NUS Internet from Outside NUS

After quite a few weeks of working on this, I've finally got it cracked. To use internet from NUS for whatever reason there maybe, you first have to log in to NUS via Cisco's VPN client. Now this does sound a bit circular, because to access NUS from outside, you would need a valid internet connection to establish a VPN connection to begin with. But however if you happen to be at a place that doesn't charge you for traffic to NUS, but does for everything else, then this is a solution for you.

1. Connect to NUS VPN using the Outside NUS profile on CISCO VPN Client.
2. Set your browser http proxy (and every other proxy) to:
Host: proxy.nus.edu.sg Port: 8080 or proxy.nus.edu.sg:8080
3. If the program of your choice doesn't support proxies (most do), then use a program such as Proxifier

Enjoy your free internet =) Theoretically, the traffic should be encrypted, because if I'm not mistaken, it enjoys the same encapsulation as the rest of the traffic that passes through the VPN tunnel.