How Websense Works

Websense is based on pass-through filtering technology, the most accurate, reliable and scalable method of Internet filtering. Pass-through filtering requires all requests for Web pages to pass through an Internet control point such as a firewall, proxy server or caching device. Websense is integrated with these control points and checks each request to immediately determine whether it should be allowed or denied. All responses are logged for reporting purposes.

Websense filters Internet content by working in conjunction with the Websense Master Database of millions + sites, organized into 85+ categories, including MP3, gambling, shopping and adult content. You can choose to block, permit, limit by time-based quota or postpone access to individual categories by user, group, workstation or network.

New sites are added to the database daily, and Websense Enterprise automatically downloads updates to the database every night to ensure you’re keeping up with the rapid evolution of the Internet.

Enterprise Solution

Sites are categorized based on the definitions below. These categories have been broken down to allow organizations to better adjust the level of access they want to give their users. In case of uncertainty, a collaborative decision is made as to whether a site is included, and in what category it is placed. Our database is regularly checked for accuracy and quality.

Categories are tools. Like other tools, they to be used for particular purposes. When they are separated from those purposes, or turned to purposes for which they were not intended, they often are less useful and sometimes may be misunderstood.

The categories used by Websense are to sort out the millions of Websites on the Internet have been designed to collect together in useful groupings the kinds of sites of interest and concern to its subscribing customers. They are not intended to characterize any site or group of sites or the persons or interests who publish them, and they should not be construed as doing so. Likewise, the labels attached to Websense categories, necessary aspects of the tool, are convenient shorthand and are not intended to convey, nor should they be construed as conveying, any opinion or attitude, approving or otherwise, toward the subject matter or the sites so classified.

1. Abortion Advocacy

Sites with neutral or balanced discussion of the issues are classified under the main category “Abortion Advocacy.”

1.1 Pro-Life

1.2 Pro-Choice

2. Advocacy Groups

Sites sponsored by or devoted to organizations that promote change or reform in public policy, public opinion, social practice, economic activities and relationships. Excludes commercially sponsored sites (4, 13, 22), sites dedicated to electoral politics or legislation (10.2) or to the abortion issue (1), sites advocating hate or violence (16, 20, 29).

3. Adult Material

3.1. Adult Content. Sites featuring full or partial nudity reflecting or establishing a sexually oriented context, but not sexual activity (3.3); sexual paraphernalia; erotica and other literature featuring, or discussions of, sexual matters falling short of pornographic; sex-oriented businesses such as clubs, nightclubs, escort services, password/verification sites. Includes sites supporting online purchase of such goods and services.

Sites featuring full or partial nudity reflecting or establishing a sexually oriented context, but not sexual activity (3.3); sexual paraphernalia; erotica and other literature featuring, or discussions of, sexual matters falling short of pornographic; sex-oriented businesses such as clubs, nightclubs, escort services, password/verification sites. Includes sites supporting online purchase of such goods and services.

3.2 Nudity. Sites offering depictions of nude or seminude human forms, singly or in groups, not overtly sexual in intent or effect.

Sites offering depictions of nude or seminude human forms, singly or in groups, not overtly sexual in intent or effect.

3.3 Sex. Sites depicting or graphically describing sexual acts or activity, including exhibitionism.

Sites depicting or graphically describing sexual acts or activity, including exhibitionism.

3.4 Sex Education. Sites offering information on sex and sexuality, with no pornographic intent.

Sites offering information on sex and sexuality, with no pornographic intent.

3.5 Lingerie & Swimsuit. Sites offering views of models in suggestive but not lewd costume; suggestive female breast nudity. Also classic “cheesecake” art and photography.

Sites offering views of models in suggestive but not lewd costume; suggestive female breast nudity. Also classic “cheesecake” art and photography.

4. Business & Economy

Sites sponsored by or devoted to individual business firms, but not supporting ecommerce (22) and not firms engaged in computer or Internet businesses (13) or the sale of alcohol or tobacco (23.1), travel services (27), vehicles (28), or weaponry (29). Includes commercial real estate, but not residential real estate (21.2).

4.1 Financial Data & Services. Sites offering news and quotations on stocks, bonds, and other investment vehicles, investment advice; but not online trading. Includes banks, credit unions, credit cards, and life insurance.

Sites offering news and quotations on stocks, bonds, and other investment vehicles, investment advice; but not online trading. Includes banks, credit unions, credit cards, and life insurance.

5. Drugs (as characterized by U.S. law)

5.1 Abused Drugs. Sites that discuss or promote or provide information about prohibited, scheduled, or otherwise controlled or regulated drugs and their abuse; also, paraphernalia associated with such use and abuse.

Sites that discuss or promote or provide information about prohibited, scheduled, or otherwise controlled or regulated drugs and their abuse; also, paraphernalia associated with such use and abuse.

5.2 Prescribed Medications. Sites providing information about approved drugs and their medical use.

Sites providing information about approved drugs and their medical use.

5.3 Supplements/Unregulated Compounds. Sites providing information about or promoting the use of chemicals not regulated by the FDA (as naturally occurring compounds, for example).

Sites providing information about or promoting the use of chemicals not regulated by the FDA (as naturally occurring compounds, for example).

5.4 Marijuana. Sites whose primary function is to provide information specifically about or promoting the use of marijuana.

Sites whose primary function is to provide information specifically about or promoting the use of marijuana.

6. Education

6.1 Educational Institutions. Sites sponsored by schools and other educational facilities or by faculty or alumni groups, or that relate to educational events and activities.

Sites sponsored by schools and other educational facilities or by faculty or alumni groups, or that relate to educational events and activities.

6.2 Cultural Institutions. Sites sponsored by museums, galleries, theatres (but not movie theatres), and other cultural institutions.

Sites sponsored by museums, galleries, theatres (but not movie theatres), and other cultural institutions.

6.3 Educational Materials. Sites whose primary function is to provide historical information, scientific/research pages, or educational curriculum materials.

Sites whose primary function is to provide historical information, scientific/research pages, or educational curriculum materials.

7. Entertainment

Sites that provide information about or promote motion pictures, non-news radio and television, books, humor, music, and magazines (other than those devoted primarily to adult material (3), business (4), electronic games (9
), information technology (13), alcohol and tobacco (23.1), health (11), hobbies (23.5), sports (25), travel (27), vehicles (28), or weaponry (29)).

7.1 MP3. Sites that support downloading of mp3 files or that serve as directories of such sites.

Sites that support downloading of mp3 files or that serve as directories of such sites.

8. Gambling

Sites that provide information about or promote gambling or that support online gambling. Risk of losing money possible.

9. Games

Sites that provide information about or promote electronic games, video games, computer games, role-playing games, or online games, but not board or card games (23.5); also sites that support or host online games. Includes sweepstakes and giveaways.

10. Government

Sites sponsored by government branches or agencies; all levels of government (i.e., *.gov)

10.1 Military. Sites sponsored by military branches or agencies (i.e., *.mil)

Sites sponsored by military branches or agencies (i.e., *.mil)

10.2 Political Groups. Sites sponsored by or providing information about political parties and interest groups focused on elections or legislation.

Sites sponsored by or providing information about political parties and interest groups focused on elections or legislation.

11. Health

Sites that provide information or advice on personal health or medical services, health insurance, procedures, or devices, but not drugs (5). Includes self-help groups.

12. Illegal/Questionable

Sites that provide instruction in or promote crime (except computer crime (13.1)) or unethical or dishonest behavior or evasion of prosecution therefore.

13. Information Technology

Sites sponsored by or providing information on computer- and Internet-industry firms.

13.1 Hacking. Sites providing information on or promoting illegal or questionable access to or use of communications equipment and/or software.

Sites providing information on or promoting illegal or questionable access to or use of communications equipment and/or software.

13.2 Proxy Avoidance Systems. Sites that provide information on how to bypass proxy server features or to gain access to URLs in any way that bypasses the proxy server.

Sites that provide information on how to bypass proxy server features or to gain access to URLs in any way that bypasses the proxy server.

13.3 Search Engines & Portals. Sites that support searching the Web, news groups, or indices or directories thereof.

Sites that support searching the Web, news groups, or indices or directories thereof.

13.4. Web Hosting. Sites or organizations that provide hosting services, or top-level domain pages of Web communities.

Sites or organizations that provide hosting services, or top-level domain pages of Web communities.

13.5 URL Translation Sites. Sites that offer online translation of URLs including those that offer online language translation of Web sites by submitting the URL of the target site.

Sites that offer online translation of URLs including those that offer online language translation of Web sites by submitting the URL of the target site.

14. Internet Communication

14.1 Web Chat. Sites that host Web Chat services, Chat sites via HTTP, on-IRC chat rooms. Home pages devoted to IRC. Sites that offer forums or discussion groups.

Sites that host Web Chat services, Chat sites via HTTP, on-IRC chat rooms. Home pages devoted to IRC. Sites that offer forums or discussion groups.

14.2 Web-based Email. Sites that host Web-based email. Any Web based email service, either browser or software based.

Sites that host Web-based email. Any Web based email service, either browser or software based.

15. Job Search

Sites that offer information on or support seeking employment.

16. Militancy/Extremist

Sites that offer information on or promote or are sponsored by groups advocating antigovernment beliefs or action.

17. News & Media

Sites that offer current or real-time news, including those sponsored by newspapers, magazines, trade and academic journals, radio and television stations and networks, wire services; but not current financial quotes (4.1) or sports (25).

17.1 Alternative Journals – On-line equivalents to supermarket tabloids or non-mainstream periodicals Note: This category may contain material which is sexual in nature.

– On-line equivalents to supermarket tabloids or non-mainstream periodicals Note: This category may contain material which is sexual in nature.

18. Racism/Hate

Sites that promote the identification of racial groups, the denigration or subjection of groups (racially identified or otherwise), or the superiority of any group.

19. Religion

19.1 Non-Traditional Religions. Sites that provide information on or promote religions not listed in 21.2 and on other unconventional religious or quasi-religious subjects, including cults.

Sites that provide information on or promote religions not listed in 21.2 and on other unconventional religious or quasi-religious subjects, including cults.

19.2 Traditional Religions. Sites that provide information on or promote Buddhism, Baha’i, Christianity, Christian Science, Hinduism, Islam, Judaism, Mormonism, Shinto, and Sikhism; also atheism.

Sites that provide information on or promote Buddhism, Baha’i, Christianity, Christian Science, Hinduism, Islam, Judaism, Mormonism, Shinto, and Sikhism; also atheism.

20. Shopping

Sites that support online purchasing of consumer goods but not including sexual paraphernalia (3.1), investments (4.1), computer software or hardware (13), supplements (5.3), alcohol and tobacco (23.1), travel services (27), vehicles and parts (28), or weaponry (30). Included are sites exclusively devoted to selling sports or religious goods.

20.1 Internet Auctions. Sites that support the offering and purchasing of goods between individuals.

Sites that support the offering and purchasing of goods between individuals.

20.2 Real Estate. Sites that provide information on renting, buying and selling residential real estate.

Sites that provide information on renting, buying and selling residential real estate.

21. Society & Lifestyle

Sites that provide information on matters of daily life, excluding sex (3), entertainment (7), jobs (15), sports (25), and those topics covered in subsections below.

21.1 Alcohol/Tobacco. Sites that provide information on, promote, or support the sale of alcoholic beverages, tobacco products, and any associated paraphernalia. Excludes self-help groups like AA, which are in Health.

Sites that provide information on, promote, or support the sale of alcoholic beverages, tobacco products, and any associated paraphernalia. Excludes self-help groups like AA, which are in Health.

21.2 Gay & Lesbian Issues. Sites that provide information on or cater to gay and lesbian lifestyles, including those supporting online shopping; but not sexually oriented (3.1, 3.3) or issue-oriented (2).

Sites that provide information on or cater to gay and lesbian lifestyles, including those supporting online shopping; but not sexually oriented (3.1, 3.3) or issue-oriented (2).

21.3 Personals/Dating. Sites that promote interpersonal relationships, excluding those of exclusively gay or lesbian appeal.

Sites that promote interpersonal relationships, excluding those of exclusively gay or lesbian appeal.

21.4. Restaurants & Dining. Sites that list, review, advertise, or promote food, catering, or dining services.

Sites that list, review, advertise, or promote food, catering, or dining services.

21.5 Hobbies. Sites that provide information on or promote private and largely sedentary pastimes, but not electronic, video, or online games (9). h5>

Sites that provide information on or promote private and largely sedentary pastimes, but not electronic, video, or online games (9).

21.6 Personal Web Sites. Web sites published by an individual for personal use and interchange; not published by an organization.

Web sites published by an individual for personal use and interchange; not published by an organization.

22. Special Events

Sites devoted to a current event that requires separate categorization owing to objectionable content, bandwidth demand, or potential effect on productivity. Some such sites will disappear; others will be reviewed after 90 days for possible reclassification.

23. Sports

Sites that provide information on or promote sports, active games, and recreation.

23.1 Sport Hunting/Gun Clubs. Gun club sites or directories of gun club sites. Includes war-game and paintball sites.

Gun club sites or directories of gun club sites. Includes war-game and paintball sites.

24. Tasteless

Sites that cannot be categorized elsewhere but offer offensive, grotesque, frightening, lurid, material with no redeeming value.

25. Travel

Sites that provide information on or promote various travel-related services and destinations, including those that support online purchase or reservations.

26. Vehicles

Sites that provide information on or promote vehicles, including those that support online purchase of vehicles or parts.

27. Violence

Sites that provide information on or promote violent activity. Sites containing excessive profanity may be classified here if not under Tasteless (26).

28. Weapons

Sites that provide information on, promote, or support the sale of weapons and related items.

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