Can we block all uncategorised content?

The internet is rapidly changing, with new websites and content being created and shared every day.

Occasionally, you may come across content that Smoothwall Filter has not yet categorised, and so is not blocked by your Web Filter policies when you use URL and domain filtering.

Can we block all uncategorised content?

We don’t offer an ‘Uncategorised content’ category for you to block.

The ‘Everything’ category includes all content, categorised and uncategorised, which you could use in a ‘Walled Garden’ setup. However, we don’t recommend this approach.

How do we block an uncategorised website?

Step 1: Block the website

1. Create or edit a Custom Category to include the website.
2. Use the category in a Web Filter Policy to block access.

Step 2: Add the website to our Blocklist

1. Use the Blocklist Feedback Form to let us know about the uncategorised website.
2. If appropriate, we’ll add the website to our list of Built-in Categories. We install updates to our Built-in Categories overnight through Blocklist updates.
3. You won’t need to maintain your Custom category and web filter policy. Simply block the category that now contains the website.

Step 3: Use HTTPS Inspection

Smoothwall Filter uses Real-time content filtering to block inappropriate content on websites based on the page’s content itself, even if the domain or URL is not explicitly listed within a category.

• If you use the Smoothwall On-Premise Appliance to filter devices, you must use HTTPS Inspection for Real-time content filtering to work.
• The Cloud Filter Extension and Smoothwall Browser do this automatically, without requiring you to explicitly allow HTTPS Decrypt and Inspect. Real-time content filtering isn’t available for the Android Filter App.