something to be aware of is that DJ Process works in the Civil Service (as I once did from 2002-2006)
from memory, many Departments use at least two chained proxies between the desktop users and their Cable and Wireless public internet gateway. (which is always something like gw-xxx.energis.gsi.gov.uk). One of these appears to be MS proxy server
There are also two levels of filtering software – a slightly customised version of Websense for URL blocking, and CS Mimesweeper for forum and email content monitoring and filtering.
It is not uncommon for all of this to play up at times of heavy demand, leading to similar problems as DJ Process mentions, or even seeing what your colleagues were looking for online(I once ended up with cricket scores on my screen!).
its possible that Bad Sekta has a similar arrangement in his private sector employers, if they have a lot of public sector contracts they are encouraged to mirror the govt IT security procedures.
Of course there is no real incentive to fix this as staff are discouraged from personal net use (although in reality provided they don’t try to call up porn or skive off work altogether few get in trouble)
