Monthly Archives: February 2017

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)

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.

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.

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

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.

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:

Please note:

The WFilter pc shall have two network cards.
NIC1 shall be connected to the mirroring port.
NIC2 shall be connected to the management VLAN, which can communicate with other VLANs.
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”.

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

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

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.