Websites

Block these websites: If you want to block a specific URL or website, or a subset of webpages of a specific domain, regardless of its category, define it here. This has the effect that websites defined here can be blocked even if they belong to a category you want to allow.

  1. Click the Plus icon to open the Add whitelist/blacklist object dialog window.
  2. Make the following settings:

    • Name: Enter a descriptive name for the whitelist/blacklist object.
    • Match URLs based on: Domain Enter one or more domain names. If you check Include subdomains subdomains will also be matched (example.com will also match www.example.com and mail.example.com). If you do not select Include subdomains only an exact domain name will match.
    • Match URLs based on: Regular Expression. Enter the regular expressions that you want to use to match against the entire URL. If you check Perform matching on these domains only you can specify a list of domains that must match before the regular expression is applied. Using a regular expression is useful if you need to match against the path.
    • Cross Reference – For detailed information on using regular expressions for web filtering, see the Sophos Knowledge Base.

      Note – Entries must be correct regular expressions. For instance, *.example.com is not valid. If you are trying to match a domain name, try not to use .* as that can expand into the path. For example, the regular expression http://.*example\.com will also match http://www.google.com/search?www.example.com

    • Comment (optional): Add a description or other information.

  3. Click Save.

Cross Reference – For more information on the end user blocking page, see the Sophos Knowledge Base.

Allow these websites: If you want to allow a specific URL or website, or a subset of webpages of a specific domain, regardless of its category, define it here. This has the effect that websites defined here can be allow even if they belong to a category you want to block.

  1. Click the Plus icon to open the Add Whitelist/Blacklist Object dialog window.
  2. Make the following settings:

    • Name: Enter a descriptive name for the whitelist/blacklist object.
    • Match URLs based on: Domain Enter one or more domain names. If you check Include subdomains subdomains will also be matched (example.com will also match www.example.com and mail.example.com). If you do not select Include subdomains only an exact domain name will match.
    • Match URLs based on: Regular Expression. Enter the regular expressions that you want to use to match against the entire URL. If you check Perform matching on these domains only you can specify a list of domains that must match before the regular expression is applied. Using a regular expression is useful if you need to match against the path.
    • Cross Reference – For detailed information on using regular expressions for web filtering, see the Sophos Knowledge Base.

      Note – Entries must be correct regular expressions. For instance, *.example.com is not valid. If you are trying to match a domain name, try not to use .* as that can expand into the path. For example, the regular expression http://.*example\.com will also match http://www.google.com/search?www.example.com

    • Comment (optional): Add a description or other information.

  3. Click Save.

Control sites tagged in the Website List: For sites that have an associated tag, you can control whether they are allowed, blocked, warned, or count toward available quota time. You can associate a tag with a website on the Web Protection > Web Filter Profiles > Filter Actions > Websites tab.

  1. Click the Plus icon to add a new tag, or click the Folder icon to select from existing tags.
  2. For each tag, select Allow, Warn, Block, or Quota.
  3. Click Save.