Web Based Content Filtering

Overview:

Web filtering is a technology stops users from viewing certain URLs or websites by preventing their browsers from loading pages from these sites. Web filters are made in different ways and deliver various solutions for individual, family, institutional or enterprise use.

In general, Web filters work in two distinct ways. They can block content as determined by quality of the site, by consulting known lists which document and categorize popular pages across all genres of content. Or, they can evaluate the content of the page live and block it accordingly. Many Web filter tools work off of a constantly updated URL database that shows which websites and domains are associated with hosting malware, phishing, viruses or other tools for harmful activities.

On the surface, web filtering is pretty simple, but like all things, as you start to learn more, everything becomes more complex. With close to a billion active websites on the internet, there’s is no way that every website can be included on a web filtering programs exclusion lists.

Why you should attend Web Filtering:

For anyone concerned with using the internet safely, web filtering can be an excellent tool to help prevent attacks or loss of security. Monitoring and filtering what employees share helps actively enforce IT policies as well prevent data leakage. The security of a business is essential, so when any level of confidential information leaks, it will cause harm to the company. For organizations that offer internet access available to the public, like schools or libraries, recent legislation, CIPA (Child Internet Protection Act) has made it mandatory to implement a filtering solution or lose funding. Web filters are capable of preventing users from accessing sites that execute malicious code on the user’s computer. Even on a small level, web filtering allows companies to block web sites that don’t support an effective work day, as well as not fitting the requirements of their security policies.

Course Outline:

Web Filtering Types

• Blacklist & Whitelist Filters.
• Keyword And Content Filters.

Filter Customizations:

As well as the two main filters listed, customization options also exist:

• Client-side Filtering.
• Server-side Filtering.
• Enterprise Filtering.
• Personal Filtering.
• Malware Control.

Features of Web Filtering Solutions:

In addition to blocking categories of web content, a suitable web filtering solution:

• Identify individual users, the sites visited and the searches performed.
• Make changes to filtering parameters at school level as appropriate.
• Block access to restricted content from mobile devices.
• Provide multi-lingual filtering support.
• Generate reports allowing administrators to view accessed content.
• Filter content without the need to download software onto devices.