Smoothwall Guardian - updates

[Guest theeldergeek]

Does Smoothwall Guardian update it's filtering 'database' automatically during normal updates? That is, do newly discovered sites like proxy by-pass's get added in when updates are performed? If not, how do I ensure that our Guardian is up-to-date in this respect?

[tom_newton]

Yes - you get a nightly update. This is automatic, and you can't turn it off(!) - a stipulation from our friends at IWF.

 

Some days you may get inbetween updates - the system actually checks hourly. These are rare though.

 

Drop me a PM/email/call if you think stuff's getting through as shouldn't.

[Ric_]

I think it's also worth mentioning that you should also send feedback on sites that are slipping through so that everyone can benefit and the product can get better.

[Guest theeldergeek]

Yes - you get a nightly update. This is automatic, and you can't turn it off(!) - a stipulation from our friends at IWF.

 

Some days you may get inbetween updates - the system actually checks hourly. These are rare though.

 

Drop me a PM/email/call if you think stuff's getting through as shouldn't.

 

How can I tell the updates are coming through?

[Guest theeldergeek]

I think it's also worth mentioning that you should also send feedback on sites that are slipping through so that everyone can benefit and the product can get better.

 

Sorry guys, I'm new to Smoothwall, so on a bit of a journey of discovery here. How can I send feedback?

[powdarrmonkey]

Blocklist Feedback Form » SmoothWall Limited

[Guest theeldergeek]

Blocklist Feedback Form » SmoothWall Limited

 

Thanks. I also see there is a 'button' on the bottom of the "Filters" page which takes me to a feedback area, and fills all our details in too. Neat.

[tom_newton]

system » maintenance » licenses

Will show you when all yer "bits" last got a successful update.

 

Hope that helps! Maybe we can tempt you to one of our UI testing days at some point..

[Guest theeldergeek]

system » maintenance » licenses

Will show you when all yer "bits" last got a successful update.

 

Hope that helps! Maybe we can tempt you to one of our UI testing days at some point..

 

You can tempt me, easily, but it's not me you have to convince to let me come!

[Sylv3r]

I think it's also worth mentioning that you should also send feedback on sites that are slipping through so that everyone can benefit and the product can get better.

 

Excellent point. We send things on the odd occasion when things slip through the net, but the more schools that do this - the more benefit we all receive.

[Guest theeldergeek]

Excellent point. We send things on the odd occasion when things slip through the net, but the more schools that do this - the more benefit we all receive.

 

So if I spot a site like "pr0n-u-like.com" for example (which should have ideally not got through the filter), I can submit it to be included in the next round (or so) of updates?

[tom_newton]

Absolutely, yes.

The feedback facility is slightly crude, but we're working on new and better

 

Also, if you have a whole variety of sites giving you gyp, we can put you on auto-feedback mode for a while, which helps us tune to new types of site, eg. if kids were getting on games by typing "online games" in french (which we already block BTW...) we'd use that to hoover up some examples to "train" the next batches of updates.

[powdarrmonkey]

So if I spot a site like "pr0n-u-like.com" for example (which should have ideally not got through the filter), I can submit it to be included in the next round (or so) of updates?

 

I have the following approach: block it immediately in a seperate policy list, report a batch of them at some convenient time, and then when the confirmations come through remove them from my list again. (Online shopping stuff is a favourite for this.)

[Guest theeldergeek]

I have the following approach: block it immediately in a seperate policy list, report a batch of them at some convenient time, and then when the confirmations come through remove them from my list again. (Online shopping stuff is a favourite for this.)

 

We have a custom "global block list" where I can put URL's that no-one should be accessing, so I like the idea of doing them in batches and then removing them when they are added in to the system.

Edited May 28, 2010 by theeldergeek

[tom_newton]

What do you think would be a good method for warning you (As admin) that the stuff you've blocked is part of the blocklist?

Obviously just taking them out of your list silently is a cack idea, as it may be that you have sites in your custom lists for other reasons. Email digest? Graphical display of the list with icons by those which are now in main blocklist?

[john]

Some form of automated e-mail would be good I think or pehaps some form of validation on it so it goes red if you are entering something that is already on the list or something like that ?

[Mekpilot]

I have also had several recent incidents when the smoothwall will shutdown the web content filter service because the overnight updates did not apply correctly and I had to re-download and apply to get things back up. Once I can live with, but twice in the span of a week is not a good sign.