Specifications

Barracuda Web Filter Release 3.3
36 Chapter 3: Configuring, Monitoring, and Managing the Barracuda Web Filter
Creating block and accept filters
This section describes the BLOCK/ACCEPT tab, which provides a wide range of filters that enhance
the default spyware and virus detection capabilities of the Barracuda Web Filter.
This section contains the following topics:
Best practices ..................................................................................... 36
Filtering and blocking features ........................................................... 37
Content filtering...........................................................................37
Application filtering..................................................................... 37
Domain filtering........................................................................... 38
URL pattern filtering ...................................................................38
Custom categories filtering .......................................................... 38
MIME type blocking.................................................................... 39
IP-based filtering.......................................................................... 39
IP-based exemption from filtering and blocking .......................... 39
Block messages .................................................................................. 39
Exception policies .............................................................................. 40
HTTPS filtering option ....................................................................... 41
Testing Web site access ...................................................................... 42
Best practices
When creating block or accept filters, keep the following best practices in mind:
• You can apply domain, pattern, content, application, and MIME type blocking filters to
authenticated and unauthenticated users. Before you create or modify a filter, make sure to use
the drop-down menu on the right side of the interface to select which type of user you want the
filter applied to.
• Use exception policies to override a filter on per-user or group basis. For example, if you
configure your content filters to block access to auction sites for both authenticated and
unauthenticated users but a member of your Purchasing department requires access to these
sites, you can create an exception policy that allows access to only this individual.
• When a user tries to access content that is blocked by one of the Barracuda Web Filter filters, the
user receives a block message that contains login fields (shown in Figure 3.2). If you want to
hide the login fields because you have not created any exception policies that allow users to
bypass the block filter, go to the
BLOCK/ACCEPT > Block Messages page and change the
Enable login override of block pages setting to No.