Allow Search Results for Some Categories Without Allowing the Entire Category

Sometimes users are blocked from seeing search results because the content filtering on the Smoothwall Filter matches search result pages to a blocked category. When users perform simple searches using a word with double meaning, like 'chicks', for example, the search results might contain material that causes the search results page to be categorised as adult content.

You can allow access to the search results for some categories, without allowing the entire category. You do this with a separate allow policy for the Search Engines category. However, allowing Search Engines would enable users to perform searches for all types of content. Therefore, you must apply the allow policy selectively.

Divide your blocked categories into two groups. Categories we do not want to allow search results for, and categories we do want to allow search results for. Once done, we then implement the block policies and insert an allow policy for the web search between them.

Procedure

  1. Create a block web filter policy to block all categories that you do not want to see search results for:
    • Who: "Everyone, or the relevant user or groups to apply this policy to."
    • What: "All the categories that you DO NOT want to see search results for."
    • Where: "Everywhere, or the relevant location to apply this policy to."
    • When: "Always, or the relevant time slot to apply this policy to."
    • Action: "Block"
  2. Create an allow web filter policy to allow the Search Engines category:
    • Who: "Everyone, or the relevant user or groups to apply this policy to."
    • What: "Search Engines"
    • Where: "Everywhere, or the relevant location to apply this policy to."
    • When: "Always, or the relevant time slot to apply this policy to."
    • Action: "Allow" - This bypasses the HTTPS inspection, content modification and antimalware rules.
  3. Create a block web filter policy to block categories that you do want to see search results for:
    • Who: "Everyone, or the relevant user or groups to apply this policy to."
    • What: "All the categories that you DO want to see search results for."
    • Where: "Everywhere, or the relevant location to apply this policy to."
    • When: "Always, or the relevant time slot to apply this policy to."
    • Action: "Block"