Tunnel out to internet

Question

I'm on a network with no internet access, but I have SSH access to a server that sits on my internal network, and the internet.

I would like certain programs to be able to access the internet, like windows update and my antivirus software etc.

If I install a proxy server on that server I can use the internet from my pc. But I don't want to do that.

Is there a way that I can configure a web browser and perhaps putty to let me "tunnel out?" through the server to the internet.

Answer 1

Later versions of OpenSSH can be configured to act as a SOCKS proxy. Run the following command:

ssh -Dlocalhost:1080 host -N

And then instruct your network applications to use the SOCKS server listening at localhost:1080.

Answer 2

in PuTTY, go into the Tunnels page in your session settings. Set up a Dynamic forward (as opposed to Remote or Local). This is a SOCKS proxy. Any program that will allow the use of a SOCKS proxy will be able to use it as such.