Block Web Sites

Configure Computers

Enforce your Internet use policy by preventing the Client computer(s) from accessing Web sites. Use the Block Web Sites panel in the Deployment Utility or in Client Settings.

To set server Web Filtering:

First, choose whether you will apply filtering rules centrally from the Server (database) or locally at the Client. Server-side filtering uses the Web Filter Server to intercept Client web requests and apply centrally managed filtering rules.

• Server Web Filtering Enabled - Check this option to use filtering configured in the Dashboard Management tool. The Local Web Filtering options on this panel are disabled. Web site blocking will occur centrally from rules stored in the database. Clear this option to use local filtering at the Client and activate the remaining options on this panel.

• Revert to Local Web Filtering... - Available if the above option is selected. Check to revert to Local Web Filtering if the Web Filter Server is not available (e.g., the Client has been disconnected from the network). Selecting this option enables the following Local Web Filtering options, and you can set up your "fall back" blocking policy for the Client computer.

1. The local settings will be ignored until the Client fails to connect to the Web Filter Server.

2. When the Client fails to connect to the Web Filter Server, it tries again. When the connection continues to fail, after about 4 seconds, the Client applies the local settings (or no settings if this option is not selected).

Server Web Filtering relies on the Client's presence on the network. If you enable Server Web Filtering and do NOT enable Revert to Local Web Filtering, when the Client is removed from the network no web site blocking will occur.

To set local Web Filtering:

To apply web filtering as part of Client settings, simply define (or import) a list of domains to either block or allow.  You can block or allow up to 1000 web sites using this method. Keep in mind that a long list of web sites may result in Client performance issues.  

• Block Web Sites Access  -  Check this option to turn on blocking and activate the following settings. Clear this option to allow all web site access (not blocked by other settings).

• Block web sites in list - Select this option to BLOCK all the web sites listed.  

• Allow access ONLY to web sites in list - Select this option to ALLOW access to only those web sites listed. Keep in mind this will set limitations to using an allowed web site if it uses content from another site. For example, if you allow cnn.com, not all of the content it provides will be allowed.

• Add - Click this button to add a domain to the list of web sites to Block or Allow. A Web Site Access box appears. Enter the host and domain or domain only (for example, mail.site1.com or site2.com). All pages on the domain should be blocked (or allowed) Click OK to add the new domain to the list.
  
  

• Delete - Select a web site in the list and click Delete to remove it from the list.

• Import - Click this button to import a list of web sites from a text file. See Import/Export Sites to Block.

• Export - Click this button to create a text file from the currently displayed list of web sites. See Import/Export Sites to Block.