Content filtering - Part II

 

(Please bear in mind that this article is for information purpose only, the names of softwares and utilities mentioned in this article, are at best, illustrations. The readers can evaluate the same at their own risk.)

Previously, we discussed the existence of risks and dangers associated with sites containing illegal and inappropriate content, also the ever-present menace of delinquency on the part of our employees. This time we will evaluate the available options.

Some of the available options are :

(1) SonicWALL Content Filtering Service

(2) Content Protect 2.0

SonicWALL Content Filtering Service (CFS) :

SonicWall CFS boasts that it delivers the traditional advantages of a gateway architecture1 while providing scalability and manageability at low costs. The solution is capable of enforcing protection and productivity policies by using content rating and caching architecture that blocks objectionable and inappropriate web content, such as pornography, nudity, and violence. CFS boasts the capability of blocking access to unproductive sites such as sports, online shopping, gaming and streaming audio/video sites.

SonicWALL CFS uses a dynamic database and rating system that blocks objectionable and inappropriate web content SonicWALL CFS provides ratings for over 50 categories, including pornography, drugs, gambling, chat/instant messaging and streaming media/MP3. The database resides in managed co-location facilities around the world, ensuring redundancy and optimum performance. It rates over 4 million URLs, IP addresses, and domains. Hundreds of sites are added daily, their ratings determined by human as well as artificial intelligence. Human rating enables the distinction between, say, a pornography and a sex education site.

For requested sites not already contained in the database, a Dynamic Rating Engine is used to categorise the site based on content in the web page and the context of phrases. These dynamic ratings are then placed in the database for future reference by subsequent requests. A third-party service provider maintains the database, so that scalability is not an issue for businesses, educational institutions, and libraries that subscribe to the 1 The gateway architecture improves on the server architecture by consolidating management and processing in a single device, thereby reducing capital and operational expenses. service. The database lists not only the actual website URLs, but also the IP addresses and domains, therefore the users are protected from sites that utilise constantly changing dynamic IP addresses to evade blocking by traditional content filtering solutions.

As per the available specifications and product literature, SonicWALL CFS requires no additional hardware or software, and therefore would be suitable for small and mid-size businesses, educational institutions, and libraries.

Contentprotect :

ContentProtect has been developed by ContentWatch, a provider of Internet protection solutions for homes, businesses, education, and government organisations. The ContentProtect boasts of being capable of providing the good filtering technology within a single-server appliance. Designed with ease of use in mind, the appliance is plugged in to the network and with minimal configuration begins enforcing the organisation’s Internet Usage Policy. The vendors claim that the appliance requires no software installation or configuration on individual computers and will automatically protect the network and employees by blocking access to websites that conflict with the organisation’s Internet Usage Policy, leading to increased employee productivity and focus while reducing the risk of inappropriate content entering the workplace.

The product specifications suggest that the application asks for minimal configuration requirements for connecting the appliance in-line to the network is a Plug-and-Play Configuration.

It also boasts that there is no need for double filtering if client software is loaded, even though client is logged on to the corporate network due to the Intelligent Filtering Detection. The application permits administrators to create organisation, group, or individual filtering settings for employees through its Multiple Filtering Profiles.

Another USP being touted by the vendors is the Dynamic Content Analysis which uses dynamic contextual analysis (in conjunction with word and URL lists) to filter web content; analysing content on the fly.

Like all other firewalls, the application also gives the option of Time Management, whereby the administrators can set the time of day when users can access the Internet as well as a time quota feature that permits administrators to assign a block of time to a user. The administrator can create customised lists of unacceptable or acceptable websites. One of the best features in ContentProtect is the Remote Management Capability, thus an administrator can manage Internet policies, users, and computers, as well as view reports from anywhere and any computer as long as an Internet connection is available.

Incidentally ContentWatch — the developers of ContentProtect have also acquired NetNanny which is a very popular content filtering application.

The above were two out of the many options available to various businesses, educational institutions and to home users. As a first step, one can first determine their own needs and then based on their requirements, evaluate the options being offered in the market.

 

Article by Samir Kapadia Chartered Accountant