Did you know that 40% of Internet surfing done at work is not work-related?
Employees everywhere are wasting time shopping, swapping music files, gaming,
even visiting porn sites. But with Blue Coat Web Filter you can add web
filtering to your business, and take control of your Internet with very
little effort and cost. To help ease the burden on your IT resources, Blue
Coat Web Filter has been integrated directly into WinProxy, thus minimizing
the setup, configuration and management burden that is prevalent with other
solutions. Blue Coat Web Filter utilizes an advanced approach to web
filtering, featuring a database of nearly 7 million rated Web sites and
domains along with artificial intelligence for rating new uncategorized
sites, ultimately protecting your employees and organization from
inappropriate Internet content.
With Content Control from Blue Coat, you can:
- Tighten network security with effective, accurate URL filtering technology
- Free up overtaxed IT resources
- Reduce legal liability
- Improve employee productivity
URL Filter Categories
Adult/Mature Content (1)
Sites that contain material of adult nature that does not necessarily contain excessive violence, sexual content, or nudity. These sites include very profane or vulgar content and sites that are not appropriate for children.
Pornography (3)
Sites that contain sexually explicit material for the purpose of arousing a sexual or prurient interest.
Sex Education (4)
Sites that provide graphic information (sometimes graphic) on reproduction, sexual development, safe sex practices, sexuality, and birth control. Also includes sites that offer tips for better sex as well as products used for sexual enhancement.
Intimate Apparel/Swimsuit (5)
Sites that contain images or offer the sale of swimsuits or intimate apparel or other types of suggestive clothing. Does not include sites selling undrgarments as a subsection of other products offered.
Nudity (6)
Sites containing nude or seminude depictions of the human body. These depictions are not necessarily sexual in intent or effect, but may include sites containing nude paintings or photo galleries of artistic nature. This category also includes nudist or naturist sites that contain pictures of nude individuals.
Alcohol/Tobacco (8)
Sites that promote or offer for the sale alcohol/tobacco products, or provide the means to create them. Also includes sites that glorify, tout, or otherwise encourage the consumption of alcohol/tobacco. Does not include sites that sell alcohol or tobacco as a subset of other products.
Illegal/Questionable (9)
Sites that advocate or give advice on performing illegal acts such as service theft, evading law enforcement, fraud, burglary techniques and plagiarism. Also includes sites that provide or sell questionable educational materials, such as term papers.
Gambling (11)
Sites where a user can place a bet or participate in a betting pool (including lotteries) online. Also includes sites that provide information, assistance, recommendations, or training on placing bets or participating in games of chance. Does not include sites that sell gambling related products or machines. Also does not include sites for offline casinos and hotels (as long as those sites do not meet one of the above requirements).
Violence/Hate/Racism (14)
Sites that depict extreme physical harm to people or property, or that advocate or provide instructions on how to cause such harm. Also includes sites that advocate, depict hostility or aggression toward, or denigrate an individual or group on the basis of race, religion, gender, nationality, ethnic origin, or other involuntary characteristics.
Weapons (15)
Sites that sell, review, or describe weapons such as guns, knives or martial arts devices, or provide information on their use, accessories, or other modifications. Does not include sites that promote collecting weapons, or groups that either support or oppose weapons use.
Abortion (16)
Sites which provide information or arguments in favor of or against abortion, describe abortion procedures, offer help in obtaining or avoiding abortion, or provide information on the effects, or lack thereof, of abortion.
Arts/Entertainment (20)
Sites that promote and provide information about motion pictures, videos, television, music and programming guides, books, comics, movie theatres, galleries, artists or reviews on entertainment.
Business/Economy (21)
Sites devoted to business firms, business information, economics, marketing, business management and entrepreneurship. This does not include sites that perform services that are defined in another category (such as Information Technology companies, or companies that sell travel services).
Cult/Occult (22)
Sites that promote or offer methods, means of instruction, or other resources to affect or influence real events through the use of spells, curses, magic powers, satanic or supernatural beings.
Illegal Drugs (25)
Sites that promote, offer, sell, supply, encourage or otherwise advocate the illegal use, cultivation, manufacture, or distribution of drugs, pharmaceuticals, intoxicating plants or chemicals and their related paraphernalia.
Education (27)
Sites that offer educational information, distance learning and trade school information or programs. Also includes sites that are sponsored by schools, educational facilities, faculty, or alumni groups.
Cultural Institutions (29)
Sites sponsored by cultural institutions, or provide information about museums, galleries, theatres (not movie theaters). Includes groups such as 4H and the Boy Scouts of America.
Financial Services (31)
Sites that provide or advertise banking services (online or offline) or other types of financial information, such as loans. Does not include sites that offer market information, brokerage or trading services.
Brokerage/Trading (32)
Sites that provide or advertise trading of securities and management of investment assets (online or offline). Also includes insurance sites, as well as sites that offer financial investment strategies, quotes, and news.
Games (33)
Sites that provide information and support game playing or downloading, video games, computer games, electronic games, tips, and advice on games or how to obtain cheat codes. Also includes sites dedicated to selling board games as well as journals and magazines dedicated to game playing. Includes sites that support or host online sweepstakes and giveaways.
Government/Legal (34)
Sites sponsored by or which provide information on government, government agencies and government services such as taxation and emergency services. Also includes sites which discuss or explain laws of various governmental entities.
Military (35)
Sites the promote or provide information on military branches or armed services.
Political/Activist Groups (36)
Sites sponsored by or which provide information on political parties, special interest groups, or any organization that promotes change or reform in public policy, public opinion, social practice, or economic activities.
Health (37)
Sites that provide advice and information on general health such as fitness and well-being, personal health or medical services, drugs, alternative and complimentary therapies, medical information about ailments, dentistry, optometry, general psychiatry, self-help, and support organizations dedicated to a disease or condition.
Computers/Internet (38)
Sites that sponsor or provide information on computers, technology, the Internet and technology-related organizations and companies.
Hacking/Proxy Avoidance (39)
Sites providing information on illegal or questionable access to or the use of communications equipment/software, or provide information on how to bypass proxy server features or gain access to URLs in any way that bypasses the proxy server.
Note: This category also includes any service which will allow a person to bypass our filtering system (Proxy Avoidance). This includes image search engines, translation services, and anonymous surfing services.
Search Engines/Portals (40)
Sites that support searching the Internet, indices, and directories.
Note: This category is used for sites which have been "parked" or contain a standard template, but does not have ratable content. These sites will be revisited periodically to ensure that their content does not change
Web Communications (42)
Sites that allow or offer Web-based communication via e-mail, chat, instant messaging, message boards, etc.
Note: If a site is rated as Web Communications, it will also be rated as one of the following: Chat/Instant Messaging, Email, or Usenet News Groups
Spyware/Malware Sources (43)
Sites which distribute Spyware and other Malware. Spyware is defined as software which takes control of your computer, modifies computer settings, collects or reports personal information, or misrepresents itself by tricking users to install, download, or enter personal information. This includes drive-by downloads; browser hijackers; dialers; intrusive advertising; any programwhich modifies your homepage, bookmarks, or security settings; and keyloggers.It also includes any software which bundles spyware (as defined above) as part of its offering. Information collected or reported is "personal" if it containsuniquely identifying data, such as email addresses, name, social security number, ip address, etc. A site is not classified as spyware if the user is reasonably notified that the software will perform these actions (ie, it alerts that it will send personalinformation, be installed, or that it will log keystrokes).
Note:Sites rated as spyware should have a second category assigned with them.
Spyware Effects/Privacy Concerns (44)
Sites to which spyware (as defined in the Spyware/Malware Sources category) reports it findings or from which it alone downloads advertisements. It does not contain sites which server advertisements for other web pages inaddition to the spyware advertisements, only those sites which are uniquely used by spyware. It also contains sites that contain serious privacy issues. As well, this includes sites to which software can connect to "phone home" or send user information to. It also includes sites that make extensive use of tracking cookies without a posted privacy statement. Includes the sites to which browserhijackers redirect the user. Usually does not include sites that can be marked as Spyware/Malware.
Note: Sites rated as spyware effects should have a second category assigned with them.
Job Search/Careers (45)
Sites that provide assistance in finding employment, and tools for locating prospective employers.
News/Media (46)
Sites that primarily report information or comments on current events or contemporary issues of the day. Also includes radio stations and magazines. Does not include sites that can be rated in other categories.
Personals/Dating (47)
Sites that promote interpersonal relationships.
Reference (49)
Sites containing personal, professional, or educational reference, including online dictionaries, maps, census, almanacs, library catalogues, genealogy-related sites and scientific information.
Chat/Instant Messaging (51)
Sites that provide chat or instant messaging capabilities or client downloads.
Email (52)
Sites offering web-based email services, such as online email reading, e-cards, and mailing list services.
Newsgroups (53)
Sites that offer access to Usenet news groups or other messaging or bulletin board systems.
Religion (54)
Sites that promote and provide information on conventional or unconventional religious or quasi-religious subjects, as well as churches, synagogues, or other houses of worship. Does not include sites containing alternative religions such as Wicca or witchcraft (Cult/Occult) or atheist beliefs (Political/Activist Groups).
Shopping (58)
Sites that provide or advertise the means to obtain goods or services. Does not include sites that can be classified in other categories (such as vehicles or weapons).
Auctions (59)
Sites that support the offering and purchasing of goods between individuals. Does not include classified advertisements.
Real Estate (60)
Sites that provide information on renting, buying, or selling real estate or properties.
Society/Lifestyle (61)
Sites providing information on matters of daily life. This does not include sites relating to entertainment, sports, jobs, sex or sites promoting alternative lifestyles such as homosexuality. Also, personal homepages fall within this category if they cannot be classified in another category.
Gay/Lesbian (62)
Sites that provide information, promote, or cater to gay and lesbian lifestyles. Does not include sites that are sexually oriented.
Restaurants/Dining/Food (64)
Sites that list, review, discuss, advertise and promote food, catering, dining services, cooking and recipes.
Sports/Recreation/Hobbies (65)
Sites that promote or provides information about spectator sports, recreational activities, or hobbies. Includes sites that discuss or promote camping, gardening, and collecting.
Travel (66)
Sites that promote or provide opportunity for travel planning, including finding and making travel reservations, vehicle rentals, descriptions of travel destinations, or promotions for hotels or casinos.
Vehicles (67)
Sites that provide information on or promote vehicles, boats, or aircraft, including sites that support online purchase of vehicles or parts.
Humor/Jokes (68)
Sites that primarily focus on comedy, jokes, fun, etc. May include sites containing jokes of adult or mature nature. Sites containing humorous Adult/Mature content also have an Adult/Mature category rating.
Streaming Media/MP3 (69)
Sites that sell, deliver, or stream music or video content in any format, including sites that provide downloads for such viewers.
Software Downloads (71)
Sites that are dedicated to the electronic download of software packages, whether for payment or at no charge.
Pay to Surf (72)
Sites that pay users in the form of cash or prizes, for clicking on or reading specific links, email, or web pages.
For Kids (87)
Sites designed specifically for children.
Web Advertisements (88)
Sites that provide online advertisements or banners. These sites will always be allowed. Does not include advertising servers which serve adult-oriented advertisements.
Note: This category is also used to classify sites which merely record a "hit" and the forward or redirect you to a different page. An example of this type of site is rd.companion.yahoo.com.
Web Hosting (89)
Sites of organizations which provide top-level domain pages, as well as web communities or hosting services.