Web Site Filtering

[NickCat11]

Can anyone recommend some open source whitelist software they have used that will allow me to block all websites, except for a handful of them. I'm redoing a network down at a local sprint store and the owner wants to restrict basically all sites except for sprint and a few others. Thanks.

 

[SOHO-NZ]

I would use K9 from Bluecoat - it's not OPEN SOURCE, but it is Free. -
(Although may not be for Commercial use)

 

[NickCat11]

Cool, I'll check it out. Thanks!

 

[ITMAN]

Hi

I use a program called Browse Control at my full time offices - bascially 9-12 and 2-5 it blocks all sites i add, but allows everything else, but i can work the other way round. 12-2 i allow all traffic

its about £100 but unlike normal filters, it works on a whitelist primarily, so you restrict all BUT the sites on the list

It also does other stuff like auto boot and shutdown of pc's, and the have a great other tool called browse reporter which can log all sites, and then you can import them into browse control, and shedule full internet access etc

here be the linky http://www.browsecontrol.com/overview.htm

James

 

[Menaice]

You might want to try this place i heard good things

http://www.opendns.com/

 

[NickCat11]

You might want to try this place i heard good things

http://www.opendns.com/

I know all about opendns but I needed something more along the lines of a whitelist. Opendns blocks sites through specific filters. I need something that will block all sites except for a handful.

 

[coco3_man]

Try a Router

Some routers allow you to control what sites you can access. I used a D-Link once to block all traffic except for 1 address. I am sure those features still exist on routers.

You would have to do some research to find the correct one.

Tom

 

[pipeman]

I know all about opendns but I needed something more along the lines of a whitelist. Opendns blocks sites through specific filters. I need something that will block all sites except for a handful.

You could use OpenDNS for this. All you have to do is under Dashboard > Settings tab > Content Filtering > choose "Custom" and select all of the categories. Then below that it gives you the option to whitelist whatever sites you want.

Another option is to setup a Smoothwall router. It is open source and gives you ultimate control over your network. It does require a spare computer though.

 

[acs]

In the past I have blocked all sites by adding a false proxy 127.0.0.1 in the internet explorer settings and then allowed ,in my case just 1 web site, by allowing that web site address to bypass the proxy.

Of course this will not stop them installing any other browser but at least they will note be able to get to firefox etc to download.

 

[NickCat11]

You could use OpenDNS for this. All you have to do is under Dashboard > Settings tab > Content Filtering > choose "Custom" and select all of the categories. Then below that it gives you the option to whitelist whatever sites you want.

Another option is to setup a Smoothwall router. It is open source and gives you ultimate control over your network. It does require a spare computer though.

I'll have to give that a shot. I didn't realize there was a drop-down menu where it says "always block" that give me the option to "never block". Thanks for pointing that out. Have you used opendns like this before? Will it block out sites that don't fall under any categories? I guess I'll do some testing with it. Thanks!

 

[ComputerRepairStpete]

You can do it your self also from windows go to

system drive \windows\system32\drivers\etc\hosts

edit host file in any editor and place the IP address of any website that you want block and you are done.

 

[Rodel]

that's what i have done in my clients pc's...people sometimes can't resist on visiting to a porno site...

 

[NickCat11]

You can do it your self also from windows go to

system drive \windows\system32\drivers\etc\hosts

edit host file in any editor and place the IP address of any website that you want block and you are done.

Considering I want to block ALL ip addresses accept for a handful, this is not a feasible solution. I have already resolved the issue, so I'm all set. Thanks

 

[Bloogen]

Mind letting us know what solution you chose and how you executed it?

 

[NickCat11]

He ended up going with the opendns solution. We implemented it through his router instead of individual pc's. Like a previous poster mentioned, I checked all the custom boxes off and listed his list of sites that he wanted his employees to be able to access. He's happy which means I'm happy