Content Filtering

What is Content Filtering?

Web content filtering is the practice of blocking access to internet content that may be considered offensive, inappropriate or dangerous. Content filtering is a method used to prevent web-borne threats from entering the IT network.

Content filtering software ensures malicious websites cannot be accessed. Malware and ransomware attacks on businesses are increasing and phishing is a major business risk. By implementing a content filtering layer, businesses can improve their defences against these threats and prevent costly data breaches. Web content filtering is about managing the types on web content users (employees, guests, students) can access while connected to a business’s wired or wireless network.

How Content Filtering works?

Content filtering works by using hardware or content filtering software-based solutions to establish rules about the types of sites that may be visited. Using keywords or other common traits between sites, web content is classified into categories such as adult, alcohol, gambling.

Web content filtering tools can be configured to prevent end users from accessing harmful or inappropriate websites.  The techniques that result in malware and/or stolen login credentials and data, often enter the network as web-borne threats, hidden in websites, and even online ads. With content filtering software, phishing and malware laden websites can be blocked and end users can be prevented from downloading infected files.

By using a web content filtering solution, an enterprise can manage employee access of dangerous websites, even when working remotely, without interrupting normal working patterns. By applying content filtering the web-borne threats can be controlled.

How Content Filtering helps combat phishing and ransomware attacks

Blocking phishing and ransomware attacks requires a combination of measures.  A web filtering solution is recommended to block attempts to visit the malicious websites where the phishing pages are hosted. A content filter sits between your end users and the Internet and applies controls over the websites that can be accessed and the files that can be downloaded. The main function of a web filter is content control to restrict access to NSFW websites and block phishing websites and malware downloads.

Cloud content filtering solutions such as WebTitan can be used to control the websites that employees can access on their corporate-issued phones and mobile devices and will provide protection no matter where an employee accesses the Internet.

What is DNS Content Filtering

DNS content filtering is another way to control the types of web content that can be accessed via wired or wireless networks. Businesses use DNS content filtering to enforce internet usage policies and prevent employees from accessing malicious websites. Internet Service Providers use DNS content filtering to ensure customers cannot access any content that violates laws in their country.

DNS content filtering occurs at the DNS lookup stage. In a fraction of a second, a series of checks are performed to determine if the user should be allowed to visit a particular webpage.  These checks are important as new web pages and web content are constantly being uploaded and the content of existing webpages regularly changing. If websites are found to violate an organizations filtering policies, access to those web pages will be blocked.

With DNS content filtering, controls are applied before any content is downloaded. If the website passes all the checks, the content will be displayed in the user’s browser. If the checks fail, it will display a local DNS block page. The block page explains that the webpage cannot be displayed as well as the reason why. DNS content filtering solutions allow policies to be applied for the entire organization, for different user groups, roles or individual users. Enterprise level DNS content filtering solutions have highly granular controls, so it is possible to precisely control the types of content that can be accessed.

Content Filtering Software for Schools

Keeping objectionable content away from children is one of the more obvious use cases for web content filtering. Content filtering software for schools is also a requirement for schools for CIPA compliance. CIPA requires schools to implement measures to prevent children from accessing obscene images.

WebTitan OTG for Chromebooks is a cloud content filtering solution for the education sector that allows schools to carefully control the websites that can be access by students both in the classroom and offsite. Schools can easily devise filtering policies for all pupils or specific groups of students and apply those filtering polices in the cloud. The solution allows schools to enforce the use of Safe Search and prevent access to age-inappropriate web content to keep students safe.

WebTitan OTG for Chromebooks delivers fast and effective user- and device-level content filtering and empowers students to discover the Internet in a safe and secure fashion, while also ensuring compliance with federal and state laws such as the U.S. Children’s Internet Protection Act (CIPA).

Content Filtering With WebTitan Cloud

WebTitan DNS content filtering provides flexible controls for content filtering of online activity.  WebTitan Cloud is a DNS based web content filtering solution that provides complete protection from online threats such as viruses, malware, ransomware, phishing and comprehensive content filtering. WebTitan Cloud is a low maintenance solution that can be set up in five minutes to stop your users from accessing inappropriate content online.

Our intelligent AI driven real time content categorization engine combines industry leading anti-virus and cloud based architecture. This makes the WebTitan Cloud content filter an ideal solution for organizations needing maximum protection and minimal maintenance. WebTitan customer testimonials speak for themselves.

WebTitan DNS security solutions help stop web security threats by:

• Blocking users from landing on malware laden website
• Scanning file downloads for malware.
• Preventing users from accessing categories of websites deemed to be suspicious, dangerous or inappropriate.
• Preventing internal employee breaches  - c2 call backs from phishing links
• Stopping compromised devices from communicating with command-and-control services.
• Less pressure on other security solutions such as AV and firewall
• AI powered threat detection
• Blocking of domains regardless of http or https
• Continuous updating of url classification databases

WebTitan Cloud is an ideal alternative to OpenDNS Cisco Umbrella. We also have a detailed Cisco Umbrella pricing comparison for prospective new customers.  

Do you have more questions about DNS Content Filtering? Contact us today.