Block Facebook/Messenger in Smoothwall

[TriggerHappyUK]

Good morning All,

 

Really hope you can help.

 

I have a new technician who is of the 'always on social media' age. I'm about to have a word with them regarding the amount of time they spend on Facebook, or more accurately, Messenger.

 

It is banned for everyone in the school (students, staff, admin, SLT, etc) except for us two.

 

If it comes to it, is there a way of blocking Facebook/Messenger in Smoothwall by IP address? So I can block access from their office computer.

 

I'm not a Smoothwall expert and have recently taken over the NM role. I assume that our sysadmin accounts are added to an exemption group. I would like them to still have full access to the internet (research and downloading drivers, etc) but no access to Facebook/Messenger.

 

Is this possible?

 

Thanks for reading,

 

C

[simpsonj]

Yep - Add the IP Address as a location on Smoothwall, then create a policy blocking messenger from that location.

[TriggerHappyUK]

Yep - Add the IP Address as a location on Smoothwall, then create a policy blocking messenger from that location.

 

Sorry, still a bit of a noob with Smoothwall.

 

I've setup the location for the IP, but can't work out how to create a policy blocking it from that location. Smoothwall was already up and running before I got here. I was shown how to block/allow sites, but not how to configure anything else. Is it in one of these options?

 

 

 

Many thanks,

 

C

[simpsonj]

Guardian - Web filter - Policy Wizard gives you a step by step guide to create a new policy.

 

Then Guardian - Web filter - Manager Policies to move the policy up so it come into force before any Allows (if that makes sense?).

[the_quick]

If his phones uses random MAC addresses, this will not work. So you need to check if the filtering is done by IP or user.

[TriggerHappyUK]

If his phones uses random MAC addresses, this will not work. So you need to check if the filtering is done by IP or user.

 

It's for their work computer. I don't want to block their phones. Can get into all sorts of trouble. Luckily, the mobile signal around the school is terrible. Especially in our office.

 

Guardian - Web filter - Policy Wizard gives you a step by step guide to create a new policy.

 

Then Guardian - Web filter - Manager Policies to move the policy up so it come into force before any Allows (if that makes sense?).

 

Thank you for this. Looks to have done the trick.