WFilter ICF vs. proxy-based internet filtering solutions

Proxy-based internet filtering solution requires you to setup a proxy server, either transparent or non-transparent, then you can setup policies to filter web access. There are a lot open source or free products. This solution has below advantages and disadvantages.

Advantages:

  1. Free or open source.
  2. Can filter websites.

Disadvantages:

  1. Most are linux-based. You need a linux pc to setup the proxy.
  2. No support.
  3. Less features. Only for domain filtering.
  4. Add network latency.

Comparison

Proxy-based internet filtering solution is similar to the “website black list” in your router/firewall. If you only need to block some sites, it’s an option.

With WFilter ICF, you will get:

  1. Enterprise-level internet monitoring and filtering features.
  2. Dedicated support.
  3. No influence to network performance.
  4. Easier to be deployed.

WFilter ICF vs. internet filtering appliances

With rich enterprise-level features, internet filtering appliances(UTM) are very popular in business networks. In this article, I would discuss the difference of WFilter ICF internet content filtering solution with internet filtering appliances solutions. Internet filtering appliances have below advantages and disadvantages.

Advantages:

  1. More features. UTM appliances integerate more features, including web filter, VPN, firewall, anti-virus…
  2. Easier to be deployed.

Disadvantages:

  1. Most appliances can only work for 2-3 years.
  2. Bad expansion. In case you have more network clients, you need to buy new appliances.
  3. Very expensive. Even upgrade is not free.

Comparison

Despite of the above disadvantages, Internet filtering appliances are ideal for business network security.  Though it is more difficult to be deployed with less features, WFilter ICF software also has below advantages:

  1. Software solution without additional device, can be deployed with minimal change to network topology.
  2. License is upgradable and movable.
  3. Free upgrade for lifetime.
  4. Most cost-effective.
  5. If you prefer UTM solutions, please also check our: WFilter NG firewall.

WFilter ICF vs. dns internet filtering solutions

DNS internet filtering solution provides you a configurable dns server. Dns query to a blocked domain will be redirected to a denial page. This solution has below advantages and disadvantages.

Advantages:

  1. Easier to be deployed. You only need to change your dns server to get filtered.
  2. Can filter domains via a black list or url category.
  3. Can provide usage history and reports.

Disadvantages:

  1. The filtering dns server may not be as fast as public domain servers.
  2. Clients can break filtering by modifying dns servers.
  3. All clients can only share a same blocking policy.
  4. Can not block applications.
  5. Can only record dns query quest. No bandwidth reports or visited url reports.

Comparison

Compared to this internet filtering solutions, WFilter ICF is more difficult to be deployed. However, WFilter is much more powerful:

  1. When pass-by deployed, WFilter has no influence to your network performance.
  2. Client can not bypass filtering because WFilter inspects all network packets.
  3. You can set individual blocking policy for each client.
  4. More filtering features, including web filtering, web downloading blacklist, url keywords filtering, application control, ip-mac binding…
  5. More monitoring features and reports. WFilter can record visited domains, url, bandwidth… You can get various reports and statistics.

So if you only need to filter some domains or categories for the whole network, dns filtering would be a good choice. If you need more detailed reports or more dedicated blocking policy, WFilter ICF can be more helpful.

 

 

WFilter ICF vs. client & browser plugin internet filtering solutions

Client or browser plugin internet filtering solutions require you to install a client agent or browser plugin in client pc to filter websites. This solution has below advantages and disadvantages.

Advantages:

  1. Easier to be deployed. You can install client agent or plugin instantly.
  2. Can block domains or filter websites via cloud-based url category database.

Disadvantages:

  1. Can not filter smart phones internet access.
  2. Need to be installed in every client pc.
  3. Clients can break filtering by changing browser, or killing the agent process.

Comparison

Compared to this internet filtering solutions, WFilter ICF is more difficult to be deployed. However, WFilter is more powerful and easier for maintaince:

  1. WFilter can filter the whole network by one installation.
  2. All type of clients can be filtered, including smartphone, andriod, mac, windows, linux.
  3. No client installation is required.
  4. More features: internet usage monitoring and reporting, application control, web filter…

So, for personal/family usage, client & browser plugin web filtering solution might be a good choice. But when you need to manage a business network, WFilter ICF provides a better solution.

Comparison of WFilter ICF and other internet filtering solutions

WFilter internet content filter(ICF) is a windows software internet filtering solution for business networks. As an IT administrator, you may face several choices when deploying internet filtering in your network. In this topic, I will try to provide a comparison of WFilter ICF and other solutions.

As we have highlighted in WFilter homepage, WFilter can be deployed in pass-by mode, with minimal change to network topology. It requires no client installation. Please also check:

1. WFilter ICF vs. client & browser plugin internet filtering solutions.

2. WFilter ICF vs. dns internet filtering solutions.

3. WFilter ICF vs. internet filtering appliances.

4. WFilter ICF vs. proxy-based internet filtering solutions.

5. WFilter ICF vs. WFilter NG firewall.

WFilter is also very cost-effective, please check: WFilter price list.

How to block online file storage websites and file transfer applications?

Online storage solutions provide client applications and webpages for uploading and downloading files to and from their service. To stop business sensitive data being uploaded, you may want to block file storage websites and certain kind of applications.

In this post, I will try to explain the detailed steps with WFilter Enterprise.

First you need to install WFilter and make a correct deployment. Then you can add blocking policies.

1. Block online storage websites.

To block websites by categories, you need to enable “Block webpages by categories” and click “New…” in the dropdown list to create a category filtering rule. Then set “online storage” to “Deny”.

This option enables you to block most online storage websites, including both http and https sites.(ie: wetransfer.com)

block_filestorage01 block_filestorage02

2. Block file transfer applications.

To block file transfer applications, please click “edit” in “Applications” of your blocking policy. Then set certain protocols in “File transfers” to “Deny”. This option blocks pc and mobile applications clients. A supported protocol list can be found at WFilter supported protocols list.

block_filestorage03

Please note that the supported protocols and websites of WFilter can not cover all file transfer types.  If you want to block an application not in the supported list, please feel free to contact us. We will add it for you by free.

Also, for complete blocking of file transfers, you’re recommended to enable “website whitelist” of WFilter, so only work related websites can be accessed. And you also need to forbid usb and bluetooth devices.

 

 

 

How to block non-domain devices to access internet in network?

Some users asked about how to prevent non-domain devices to have internet access in business network. So this is the guide, using WFilter Enterprise.

As you know,  WFilter can be integrated with microsoft active directory. So you can monitor and filter internet usage by domain usernames. For details, please check: Active directory Integration of WFilter

To stop non-domain devices, please follow below steps:

1. Set a restricted policy to devices in “Default IP Policy” of “user-device list”.

So devices will only have restricted internet access.

block_non_domain01_en

2. Set real policy to domain users in “Users” of “user-device list”.block_non_domain02_en

3. Modify the “Policy Apply” option.

In “Advanced Settings” of “Account Monitoring Settings”, you need to set “Policy Apply” to “User Policy First”. So user policy will overwrite device policy.

block_non_domain03_en

 

Following upbove steps,  non-domain devices have restricted internet access only. When logged with a domain user, user policy will be applied.

 

WFilter Pass-by deployment for multiple VLANs network.

WFilter Enterprise( WFilter internet content filter) supports monitoring and filtering of multiple VLANs clients from a central WFilter pc.

Below is the deployment diagram:wfilter-vlan

Please note:

  1. The WFilter pc shall have two network cards.
  2. NIC1 shall be connected to the mirroring port.
  3. NIC2 shall be connected to the management VLAN, which can communicate with other VLANs.
  4. The mirroring port shall be configure to monitor the uplink port. (Connected to the up-layer router or firewall)

In WFilter, you also need to setup the “mirroring adapter” and “blocking adapter” in “System Settings”->”Monitoring Settings”. The mirroring adapter shall be the adapter connected to the mirroring port, while the blocking adapter shall be connected to the management VLAN.

 

How to block facebook videos streaming with WFilter NG firewall?

Sometimes, you might want to block facebook video streaming to save your bandwidth. There is predefined protocol named “facebook videos” in WFilter, which can help you to block facebook video by a few clicks. Here is the protocol description: facebook videos protocol and ports.

In another post, I’ve demonstrated how to block facebook videos with WFilter Enterprise. In this post, I will guide you to block facebook videos with “WFilter NG firewall”, which is a linux NG firewall designed for business networks.

1. New a block facebook policy in “App Control”.blockfb_video01

2. Set “facebook videos” to “Deny” in “streaming”.
blockfb_video02

3. That’s all. Now facebook videos will be blocked.
blockfb_video1 blockfb_video2

Please note, because short/small videos come from a same source as images, so blocking of facebook video does not short video cuts. Only medium or large size videos can be blocked.

How to block hotspot shield VPN in network with WFilter NG firewall?

Hotspot shield is a popular VPN service, with free version available.  When launched, it will try to connect a lot TLS sites for traffic relaying. If you do packet sniffer with wireshark, you will see  traffic  from famous sites like “google.com, baidu.com…”. But in fact, it’s hotspot vpn traffic in the camouflage of normal TLS.

Anyway, our team has worked out a protocol pattern to block Hotspot shield traffic completely in your network. WFilter identifies Hotspot via signature matching, so no matter in which transfer type or client version, all Hotspot traffic can be blocked. Here is a protocol description of hotspot shield VPN: protocol and port range of Hotspot shield.

Below are the steps with WFilter NG firewall:

1. New a “block hotspot” app control policy.

block_hotspot_01

2. Set “Hotspot shield” to “Deny”.block_hotspot_02

3. That’s all. Now hotspot shield will never be able to connect.

hotspot_blocked

4. The blocking event in WFilter NG firewall.

block_hotspot_03

Please note: all WFilter products can support blocking of hotspot shield, including WFilter NG firewall and WFilter Enterprise.