Blocking iGoogle but not google?

[elsiegee40]

On a related topic, is it possible to force a browser to access original google? Some teachers/pupils have tried to use iGoogle (which is blocked at LEA level), the problem is that somthing makes IE automatically go to ig each time.

Mandatory profiles...

 

Access to iGoogle conveniently forgotten each time

[NeoPlosive]

I originally blocked iGoogle but due to cookies being present on some profiles that had used iGoogle it soon became a bit of a pain in the neck to constantly be dealing with people who had Google blocked.

 

After looking through the logs I realised that the iGoogle modules had a base url of gmodules.com so I blocked *.gmodules.com which pretty much renders iGoogle pages useless.

 

I will look at the redirect url above as a method to finally get rid of iGoogle properly but in the meantime blocking *.gmodules.com has helped a lot.

[Cowardlyduck]

Hi,

 

We have found students are installing Igoogle addons in order to access things like facebook, myspace, etc.

 

We have some people in the school that have legitimate use for Igoogle however.

 

Is there an easy way to block specific IGoogle addons?

 

We use TTC for trafic control.

 

Thanks,

 

Blake

[NeoPlosive]

If the modules use the gmodules.com address then you could block the specific addresses, otherwise if they use the standard domains your blocks should be working.

[AlexB]

We block:-

.igoogle.com

.gmodules.com

.googlecode.com

 

This still allows igoogle to function (so you don't get stuck at a block page forever!) but prevents the bulk of the widgets working.

[link470]

All great ideas so far. Another thing you can do is just create a new DNS entry in your DNS server and set the domain.TLD you want to block to point to 127.0.0.1. The address never gets resolved, and you get nothing but a blank page. Or, change the IP address it points to to google.co.uk's IP address so at least they get Google.

[Gary437]

This is a post which will make some of you smile, but only if you are using Websense v7. This solution will block igoogle in all it's forms.

 

#1 Remove all present recategorization entries for igoogle.

 

#2 In Websense Manager, click on "Recategorize a URL" from the tasks pane on the right hand side of the page.

 

#3 Select a previously created, custom-blocked category or add a new one, select it, then click "add".

 

#4 Click on "Advanced" to show the "Regular Expressions" dialog then click on "Add Expression".

 

#5 Add these two entries:

 

google\.[a-z]*.[/]ig

google\.[a-z]*\.[a-z]*.[/]ig

 

#6 Save your changes, then check if the policy applied to your users has the custom category containing this entry set to "blocked".

 

This works for me, hope it works for you too.

[36Degrees]

Is there anyone out there who currently only uses EMBC's filtering who can advise how to block iGoogle? The little darlings have found a Virtual Stripper module that we can't seem to stop access to. We can block access to the website that appears to host it but the module still works...

[gonzodad]

36degrees - do you want to block just that module, or all of igoogle ?

[36Degrees]

Definitely that module, all of iGoogle if possible.

[gonzodad]

36degrees - we've spoken with netsweeper (who provide the filtering sw in embc) and they are looking at ways they can more effective manage igoogle and the various gadgets. there are a couple of ways we can specifically help you - can you pm me your school details and ill get someone to give you a call and talk thru the options.

cheers

gonz

[tom_newton]

 

I have forwarded my blocks to the county filter so the kids think its county not me:p

 

You sly old dog!