Block Websites With BrowseControl’s URL Filter

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A URL, or Uniform Resource Locator, is a reference or address used to access resources on the internet. It is a string of characters that provides the means to locate a particular resource, such as a web page, document, image, or file, on the World Wide Web. 

A URL typically consists of several components:

• Scheme: Indicates the protocol used to access the resource, such as “http,” “https,” “ftp,” etc.
• Host: Specifies the domain name or IP address of the server where the resource is located.
• Port: Optional, it specifies a port number on the server. If not specified, it usually defaults to the standard port for the chosen scheme (e.g., 80 for HTTP, 443 for HTTPS).
• Path: Specifies the specific location or directory on the server where the resource is located.
• Query Parameters: Optional parameters that can be appended to the URL to provide additional information to the server.
• Fragment: Optional, it identifies a specific section within the resource, often used in web pages.

You can think of a URL as the address of a house on the internet. The scheme is like the street name (e.g., Main Street), the host is like the house number (e.g., 123), and the path is like the specific apartment or room within the house (e.g., Apartment 4B).

Here’s an example of a URL:

BC Feature: Category Filtering – Dec 2021

 

• Scheme: https
• Host: www.currentware.com
• Path: /products/browsecontrol/category-filtering/

 

In this case, there are no specified query parameters or fragments. The URL represents a secure (HTTPS) connection to the host “www.currentware.com,” and the resource is located at the specified path “/products/browsecontrol/category-filtering/.”

URL filtering is a method used to control and manage access to websites based on their URLs (Uniform Resource Locators). It is a component of web filtering that allows administrators to define policies to either allow or block access to specific websites or categories of websites.

URL filtering is commonly employed in various environments, such as businesses, educational institutions, and public Wi-Fi networks, to enforce security, compliance, and productivity policies.

How the URL Filtering Process Works

URL Categorization

URL filtering systems often rely on databases that categorize websites into different groups based on content, purpose, or other criteria. These categories can include topics like social media, gambling, adult content, or specific types of applications.

CurrentWare’s URL categorization tools include a website content category database that sorts domains across 100+ URL categories.

Policy Definition
Administrators define URL filtering policies based on the organization’s requirements. Policies may specify which categories of websites are allowed or blocked for users on the network. These policies can be tailored to meet security, productivity, or compliance goals.

All of BrowseControl’s web filtering tools can be customized based on groups of users or computers, including its URL filtering, web content filtering, and application blacklisting features. Updating policies takes only a few clicks from the central admin console, which can be accessed from the convenience of a web browser.

Real-Time URL Analysis

When a user attempts to access a website, the URL filtering system intercepts the request and checks the URL against the predefined policies and the categorization database. It evaluates whether the requested website falls within a blocked category or URL/domain.

If the website falls within a restricted category or URL/domain, the user is prevented from accessing it and is instead presented with a custom block page or redirected to a different URL, such as the organization’s acceptable use policy. Otherwise, the website loads as usual.  

Logging and Reporting

URL filtering systems often log information about user web activity, including details about accessed websites, blocked content, and user behavior. This logging is valuable for compliance monitoring, security analysis, and reporting.

BrowseControl web filtering software operates from the same central console as BrowseReporter employee internet monitoring software. The modules can be purchased together to achieve the advanced control and visibility required to keep your organization safe and compliant.

Updates and Maintenance

As part of the URL filtering process, the URL filtering database needs regular updates to stay current with the evolving nature of the web. These updates may include new website categorizations, changes to existing categories, and additions or removals of specific websites.

CurrentWare’s URL filtering services ensure that its web category database is regularly updated to identify and categorize new websites as they emerge. 

While URL filtering is a component of web filtering, the two terms are not entirely synonymous. Web filtering is a broader concept that encompasses various methods and techniques to control and manage access to content on the internet, while URL filtering specifically refers to the process of filtering or controlling access based on the URLs (Uniform Resource Locators) of websites.

Learn More: What’s the Best Way to Block Websites?

SPECIAL NOTE
BrowseControl’s web filtering tools are capable of blocking websites based on domain, URL, IP Address, URL keyword, and web content category.

Its integrated URL filter allows you to either whitelist specific URLs/domains to only allow access to specific websites or you can block specific URLs/Domains/Content categories.

The URL whitelist can also be used to allow access to websites that would otherwise by blocked based on their category (e.g. Block the social media category while allowing access to LinkedIn)

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URL filtering and DNS filtering are both methods used to control and manage access to websites on a network, but there are a few key differences.

The traditional URL filtering process operates at the full URL level to block specific web pages (e.g. https://www.currentware.com/products/browsecontrol/category-filtering/, while DNS filtering operates at the domain level (www.currentware.com) to block an entire website.

Here are the key differences between a URL and a domain: 

• URL (Uniform Resource Locator):

• A URL is a complete web address used to access a specific resource on the internet. It includes the protocol (such as HTTP or HTTPS), the domain (or host), the path to the resource, and optionally, query parameters and fragments.
• Example URL: https://www.example.com/path/to/resource?param=value#section
• Components of a URL: scheme, domain, path, query parameters, and fragment.

• Domain:

• A domain is part of a URL and represents the human-readable address of a specific location on the internet. It’s a hierarchical label system used to identify a group of related resources or an individual entity on the internet.
• Example Domain: www.example.com
• Components of a Domain: subdomain (optional), domain name (e.g., example), top-level domain (e.g., .com).

CurrentWare’s internet management solutions include an integrated URL categorization tool that you can use to block access to and identify millions of websites across over 100 URL categories. The URL category database is constantly updated to address new websites as they emerge. 

 

CurrentWare supports local database customization, allowing you to assign custom categories to websites that override the default categorizations provided.  

 

You can also use the URL Category Lookup Tool to identify the content categories a given domain belongs to.

 

If you believe a website has been categorized incorrectly you can submit a URL for reclassification here.