If you dont want to Inflict Java Runtime Environment on your Linux Install i have found a really rough workaround.

I have only used this because i forgot to install Java while at home. I don’t Recommend anyone use this on a day to day basis. (as opposed to everything else i blog)

Start Windows XP throughVMware player & open Internet Explorer this will use the ActiveX  ProxyAuthentication.

(Vwmare is set to share my local network connections via NAT)

Once windows has authenticated the proxy now knows my MAC address & i can just put the proxy.newcastle.edu.au:8080 into firefox on linux & its all happy.