SparkleBox?

[TechSupp]

Do we know why SparkleBox has become blocked on the YHgFL network? Its actually blocked as it does not give the weighted phrase block when its down to content its found. Getting it in the neck here as they all think its me as I try and control what they print due to cost restrictions i.e. we don't have the money!

[Little-Miss]

I dont know why its sudden blocked at your end....but i have heard a rumour why other LA's have blocked it...

[mwalpole]

Hi,

 

Sorry it has taken me a while to reply to this, but this is the reason we have blocked sparklebox.

 

We became aware on Monday of a site that is causing concern to other grids around the country – SparkleBox. I took the decision to add this to the blocked list on Monday because of the issues which have been brought to my attention. It appears that there are three key issues with the site:

1. The site is operating illegally in that the company operating the site has no registration with the Data Protection Registrar

2. The site signposts users to an un-trusted social networking site

3. The site offers the download of a toolbox with an unknown 'payload' – for example, the download could be collecting browsing history or initiate an internal attack on school systems immediately, or at some unknown future time.

 

We are currently investigating the toolbox in detail to see whether we can identify the exact nature of the threat, but there is a difficulty with anything like this in identifying what is buried in the code.

 

We feel that this threat needs to be taken seriously – and we do so not only with this website, but with any others that we have justifiable concerns about. Clearly, this website has a number of users in the region and I feel that this is an opportunity to re-state our position on threats such as these.

 

Clearly, teachers can still access the site by using the elevated logon, but we do think that any teachers who are tempted to do so should be made aware of the issues regarding its use – the installation of any ‘toolkit’ or browser toolbar carries a risk and may be a breach of existing acceptable use policies.

 

It may be an opportunity to point out to schools the existence of our ‘Guidance for creating a school eSafety policy’ and ‘End user AUP guidance’ which are available from Policies / Schools / eSafety / YHGfL - YHGfL. We are also in the process of reviewing our local authority AUP with the Network and eLearning Groups and should be making detailed proposals to CAB in December.

[ayoward]

Hi,

 

Sorry it has taken me a while to reply to this, but this is the reason we have blocked sparklebox.

 

We became aware on Monday of a site that is causing concern to other grids around the country – SparkleBox. I took the decision to add this to the blocked list on Monday because of the issues which have been brought to my attention. It appears that there are three key issues with the site:

1. The site is operating illegally in that the company operating the site has no registration with the Data Protection Registrar

2. The site signposts users to an un-trusted social networking site

3. The site offers the download of a toolbox with an unknown 'payload' – for example, the download could be collecting browsing history or initiate an internal attack on school systems immediately, or at some unknown future time.

 

We are currently investigating the toolbox in detail to see whether we can identify the exact nature of the threat, but there is a difficulty with anything like this in identifying what is buried in the code.

 

We feel that this threat needs to be taken seriously – and we do so not only with this website, but with any others that we have justifiable concerns about. Clearly, this website has a number of users in the region and I feel that this is an opportunity to re-state our position on threats such as these.

 

Clearly, teachers can still access the site by using the elevated logon, but we do think that any teachers who are tempted to do so should be made aware of the issues regarding its use – the installation of any ‘toolkit’ or browser toolbar carries a risk and may be a breach of existing acceptable use policies.

 

It may be an opportunity to point out to schools the existence of our ‘Guidance for creating a school eSafety policy’ and ‘End user AUP guidance’ which are available from Policies / Schools / eSafety / YHGfL - YHGfL. We are also in the process of reviewing our local authority AUP with the Network and eLearning Groups and should be making detailed proposals to CAB in December.

 

It should be pointed out that the I in this statement is our Chief Exec. Marc hasn't taken this decision himself.

 

Andrew

[L_Smith]

Will the BGFL be blocking it? It would be useful to know so i could inform everyone in advance.

[ayoward]

Will the BGFL be blocking it? It would be useful to know so i could inform everyone in advance.

 

I honestly have no idea. I believe it was discussed at the NEN Regional Managers meeting, but I think it is up to individual grids to make their own decision.

 

Andrew

[Marci]

Heh - looks as tho SparkleBox aren't too thrilled about it: The SparkleBox Teacher Resources Blog: Dear SWGfL (again)

[leco]

Heh - looks as tho SparkleBox aren't too thrilled about it: The SparkleBox Teacher Resources Blog: Dear SWGfL (again)

 

Would read it - but erm, as I'm at school, the site is blocked;)

[Marci]

S'not blocked on libproxy...

[leco]

S'not blocked on libproxy...

 

Ok, Ok no need to gloat. I still haven't got round to getting anything other than primaryproxy.

[soveryapt]

Does anyone have any further information on the actual risks posed by SparkleBox? Is it the resources or just the toolbar / links from the site that are a risk?

 

Looking into it for my school (in LancsNGFL) which currently isn't blocked, but with risks being identified the head has requested I block it internally on our NED whilst we find out further information, and as I'm not the most popular person for doing so ....

 

Thanks

[leco]

In school I have had, from the LA, the information provided by YHGfL, which I'd read in here first. The head is in the process of requesting unfiltered access for specific uses - one of which I suspect will be Sparklebox.

[mwalpole]

I have read these posts on here, and asked our managers here.

 

At the present, the only reason Sparklebox is blocked is because of those listed in our Chief executives email that I copied into this thread.

 

The unfiltered access takes the form of a username and password to use on login.yhgfl.net. It allows totally unfiltered internet access to any website, as you would have at home.

[lionsl2005]

ITS blocked in LGFL as well. we received the same email as YHGFL posted here.

[mpe]

In school I have had, from the LA, the information provided by YHGfL, which I'd read in here first. The head is in the process of requesting unfiltered access for specific uses - one of which I suspect will be Sparklebox.

Should they be able to do this considering that the first issue identified involves the operators breaking the law.

[leco]

Should they be able to do this considering that the first issue identified involves the operators breaking the law.

 

The decision is with the head, he has all the information currently available.

[TechSupp]

Heh - looks as tho SparkleBox aren't too thrilled about it: The SparkleBox Teacher Resources Blog: Dear SWGfL (again)

 

Blocked here the same as Leco, anyone able to give us the jist of their reply?

 

I've taken the position of not passing on the "work around" as Sparkebox is not 'mission critical' just a resource and I'm not willing to take the risk of allowing a user to access a site that has been blocked for good reasons by our appointed filtering service, if I did why don't I just take on all the legal resposibilities to filter everything..don't think so. Anyway, just think of all the printing costs I'm saving by people not having access to Sparkebox (anyway most think I blocked it becuase of that reason!)

[blackcat]

Last week I was asked to unblock the site urgently because the teachers depend upon it. It became blocked at a 'higher' level than the school. I certainly hadn't changed anything. I came in today (part time) and there was a bit of a panic and I had to block it straightaway. No reasons given - JFDI.

[soveryapt]

Anyway, just think of all the printing costs I'm saving by people not having access to Sparkebox (anyway most think I blocked it becuase of that reason!)

 

That would be my reason to block it here! lol ..

 

I wanted page 7, 9, 15, and 21 from this 65 page document, but I didn't know how to just print those pages

 

:doh::doh:

 

 

[TechSupp]

That would be my reason to block it here! lol ..

 

 

 

:doh::doh:

 

 

 

or the " I didn't know how toprint these ladybirds 4 to a sheet so I just prinetd the out in full colour A4!!!" How big do you want a ladybird. Sparklebox must take the blame for this as well as they produce the resources in stupid sizes instead of more realistic ones!

[Japtastic]

cms.lambeth.lgfl.net - Welcome

 

Any way to remove this globally considering it wasn't installed via AD.

 

Any one made a script yet?

[Face-Man]

I've been told by somebody I trust that there is a very very good reason for this site not to be used by children. And as they have to be the first priority for schools/LA/RBC unfortunately teachers will have to cope without this resource.

 

see post 50 of Sparklebox ...still banned ? - Early years - TES Connect

[LeMarchand]

see post 50 of Sparklebox ...still banned ? - Early years - TES Connect

 

Whilst I feel that if this is true it should be fairly easy for the relevant authorities to check and so shut down the site, I was appalled when after hinting that this may be the cause to a teacher her reaction was, "So what? The resources are good."

 

I also suggested to another member of staff that they could download the documents at home and print them at school. The response was that the school should then pay for her internet connection! Here's an idea, love, why don't you make your own resources if you're too tight to pay a few quid per month to save you hours of work? (Is what I wish I'd had the bottle to point out).

[AyatollahPies]

Reading the comments on the Blog on Sparklebox, you can clearly see the gulf between how teachers see ICT and how we have to support it. Some rather worrying comments on there, similar to what LeMarchand reports.

 

Also, how on earth did Teachers cope before ICT took hold of everything? Some of them are screaming blue murder over how they can't cope without it. If they are so reliant on one teaching resource then god help us all!

[synaesthesia]

I actually had some concerns about Sparklebox (mostly the toolbar) when I first started in educational IT, however soon found those concerns to be completely unfounded. The amount of resources on the site are a huge boost to teaching and it's amazing how many teaching staff use it to good effect.

The only problem I have with it personally is that by default it changes your homepage/search engine to Conduit/Sparklebox, and that it doesnt like 800x600. Not a huge problem these days but in many schools there's a few PC's that need to use this resolution, sometimes for sight-restricted pupils.

 

Keeping an interested eye, I'm not particularly suspicious but with the amount of infections I'm seeing in schools (that allegedly have come from our very own council) I'd like to at least rule it out. 95% happy to continue it's use in schools though.