Chapter 32 Content Filtering

Content Filtering Profiles

A content filtering profile conveniently stores your custom settings for the following features.

•Category-based Blocking

The ZyWALL can block access to particular categories of web site content, such as pornography or racial intolerance.

•Restrict Web Features

The ZyWALL can disable web proxies and block web features such as ActiveX controls, Java applets and cookies.

•Customize Web Site Access

You can specify URLs to which the ZyWALL blocks access. You can alternatively block access to all URLs except ones that you specify. You can also have the ZyWALL block access to URLs that contain particular keywords.

Content Filtering Configuration Guidelines

When the ZyWALL receives an HTTP request, the content filter searches for a policy that matches the source address and time (schedule). The content filter checks the policies in order (based on the policy numbers). When a matching policy is found, the content filter allows or blocks the request depending on the settings of the filtering profile specified by the policy. Some requests may not match any policy. The ZyWALL allows the request if the default policy is not set to block. The ZyWALL blocks the request if the default policy is set to block.

External Web Filtering Service

When you register for and enable the external web filtering service, your ZyWALL accesses an external database that has millions of web sites categorized based on content. You can have the ZyWALL block, block and/or log access to web sites based on these categories.

Keyword Blocking URL Checking

The ZyWALL checks the URL’s domain name (or IP address) and file path separately when performing keyword blocking.

The URL’s domain name or IP address is the characters that come before the first slash in the URL. For example, with the URL www.zyxel.com.tw/news/ pressroom.php, the domain name is www.zyxel.com.tw.

The file path is the characters that come after the first slash in the URL. For example, with the URL www.zyxel.com.tw/news/pressroom.php, the file path is news/pressroom.php.

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ZyWALL USG 50 User’s Guide