Problem
It may be found that certain search terms need to be blocked manually on the Smoothwall - this is typically linked to trends and challenges on social media platforms.
Resolution
The Guardian web filter can filter based on search terms. We can create a custom category with search terms included, that we want to block users from searching for. For this to work effectively, certain requirements do need to be met.
NOTE: HTTPS decrypt and inspect has to be enabled, as a minimum, for the category "Web Search". Without HTTPS inspection, the Guardian filter cannot see the searches or the results.
Step-by-Step
- Log in to your Smoothwall Filter Admin UI.
- Navigate to Guardian > Policy Objects > Categories.
- Create a new custom category to be used specifically for blocking unwanted search terms, or else edit an existing category that can be used for this purpose.
- Expand the advanced section and find the Search term filtering input field. Add any search terms that should be blocked here in square brackets and save the change. As an example:
[ momo ]
The Sussex Problem
Due to how the Smoothwall reads the entered search terms, care must be taken in the formatting, specifically in space-bracing the search terms.
For example
[sex]
Here the Smoothwall will read the characters 'sex' as a simple string and search for references to those three letters in any given word.
That would also block searches for Sussex and Middlesex. To avoid this, spaces should be used within the brackets, as so:
[ sex ]
Now the search term is read as a word in its own right and actioned accordingly.
Once the new category has been created, add this to a block policy under Guardian > Web filter >Manage policies. For details on creating Guardian web filter policies, see the following: Smoothwall Filter & Firewall: Creating Web Filter Policies.