Okay, so I know this subreddit isn’t exactly for this kind of question, but regardless:
My network administrator has Ao3 blocked for various different reasons. When I’m on my phone or tablet, I usually just use a VPN app. When I’m on my laptop, which is a school laptop, using a VPN isn’t possible. I do want to try and use my laptop to write my fics as it is much easier to type on it though, and it runs a bit smoother. As such, I found a few proxy AO3 sites that might work instead.
I AM a bit worried, however, because I know whoever made these sites can see my IP address, my username and my password, and I’m not keen on being tracked down or, heaven forbid, having my fic tampered with or even deleted (it’s only one chapter long but I’m very protective of it). I haven’t signed in on any of those sites for this reason.
So, fic writers. Have any of you ever used a proxy site for AO3? What are the risks? Will my account get stolen and my fic deleted or messed with? Am I worrying too much about this? Are there any alternatives to this???
EDIT: After reading many of your comments, I realize that writing a fic on AO3 on my SCHOOL laptop prrrooobably isnt the best idea… but as I’ve got no alternative, at least for the next half year, and am not too worried about my writing being found (am a bit worried about being caught on AO3, to be honest, hence separate loophole browser) I’m probably going to settle for writing my drafts on a word document on a separate account, then transferring them to AO3 on the separate browser. My only grievance with this method is I have to sign into AO3 every time I want to use it on my laptop but all things considered, I think that’s for the best.
Thank you for all the advice, I really appreciate it!
Friendly bit of advice. Do not use school-issued laptops for personal projects like fanfiction unless you are prepared for it to be found.
Why don’t you just write in word on your laptop, then email the finished chapters to yourself and then upload them to AO3 on your phone/tablet?
Just get a bluetooth keyboard for your phone/tablet so you can write on one of them. They’re pretty cheap nowadays. I wouldn’t risk writing on a school device where the school has admin access to it.
Regarding proxy sites, AO3 has several legitimate proxy sites if you want to go that route.
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I mean, you don’t need access to AO3 in order to write? Just write in a Google doc and then use whatever device you can access the site on to post.
(Not endorsing writing fic on a school laptop but that’s your life.)
yeah, work or school laptops are not secure that way… i would highly not recommend (especially if they have already blocked access to ao3)
It wouldn’t be disastrous if it was found…just inconvenient and a little bit embarrassing. Tampered with by strangers, though…
That’s a good idea. I just worry about it being found by my school or parents. The documents, I mean.
Part of my problem with writing on my phone or tablet is that the website is slower, and less editing features are available. Still, that is something to look into. Would the school do anything if they somehow found my account on my laptop?
No, I haven’t. Will my info get stolen if I use it?
Very true.
(The stuff I’m writing right now isn’t heavily explicit, so I don’t worry as much about people finding it).
The school itself didn’t block Ao3, my network provider did. I don’t think they would find my fic, just because I’m using a separate, unblocked browser loophole that closes each time I turn my laptop off but that is a very fair point. It’s something to consider. I don’t have another laptop I could use, though.
Don’t write on the website. Write in Google Docs or Notes or a word processing app. Then transfer to the site when you’re ready to post.
They blocked AO3 for a reason. If you read the terms and conditions of you having the laptop, there’s probably a policy against the type of content on AO3, and disciplinary action could be taken. It’s unlikely, but it’s possible. That laptop belongs to the school and is subject to their rules.
Edit: Also, don’t let your browser save your passwords on the laptop. Change your passwords as soon as you give the laptop back to the school. Protect your accounts.
It’s official and verified by Ao3, though I do agree with the others that writing on a school laptop is risky. Are you writing your fics on Ao3?
your network provider? damn… sounds serious. (change network provider if possible.
also.of.you want to go deeper into the workaround route. then i would highly recommend getting your own laptop for that purpose. you can find cheap used ones pretty much anywhere. especially if you just need it for writing it doesn’t need to be fancy
That’s a good idea. I found a link to AO3 that isn’t blocked by my network administrator and is one of the verified links. I have to sign in to my AO3 account every time I use the separate browser, so I’m not too worried about my accounts but I will be sure to change my passwords when I graduate. I rarely ever save passwords on my laptop, except for my Microsoft account. Actually, come to think of it, that’s the account I have my fic drafts and backups saved on so I might wanna secure that-
Yes, but I have copies backed up elsewhere. Not on my laptop, though.
My older brother does have an old laptop he isn’t using. It should still be okay for writing, unless he already took it apart. I will ask him about it. Thank you for the advice!
EDIT: changing my network provider isn’t really an option. I’m still probably going to try and write using my school laptop until I have another option; the browser I’m using signs me out every time I shut down, so I don’t think I’m at risk of someone finding my AO3 account, should they snoop through my device after I close the browser. There isn’t anything sexual or explicit in the stuff I write; it’s just random. And sometimes with gore. At least on the account I’m using right now, I think I’d be okay with people finding it. I just don’t want it to be tampered with by any foreign entity running a proxy site.