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Outpost Firewall

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The Content plugin options

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There are four sections to the Content plugin options:

1 - Word text box

To add a new word to be filtered type the string in here and click on the 'Add' button. You can also use this field box to search your current strings. Just type what you are looking for and it will show entries that match what you have typed as you type it.

2 - Word list box

This is your full list of blocked words. To modify an entry search for it by typing its name in the Word field box and the 'Modify' button will become active. Click on the button and the entry in the Word field box will become highlighted. You can now type in the changes and when you are happy click on 'Add'.

3 - Site text box

To add a new site to be blocked just add it here entering the hostname and then click on the 'Add' button.

4 - Site list box

This is your full list of blocked sites. To modify an entry double click on it and it will appear in the Size field box and the 'Modify' button will become active. Make the changes that you want and then click on the 'Modify' button.

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Ways of using the Content filter

You might want to use the blocked words part of the Content filter to stop your children being able to access sites you don't think are suitable. For example, to stop them being able to access Warez sites (Warez is a term used to discribe illigal software that has been 'ripped' to remove any copy protection that the software may come with) you would need to add the following kinds of words (these are by no means all, but these are a good start): Warez, Appz, Gamez, Programz, Ripz, Softwarez, Cracks, Crackz, Keygens, Keygenz, Patches, Serials, Serialz, and Romz.

You may find that including certain words stops you from being able to access legitimate sites, using the word Patches for example may stop you being able to get the latest patches for games etc. If this is happening you may prefer to remove the problem words and add whole sites to be blocked. Another use for blocking whole sites is to stop applications from being able to contact certain sites, for example, MSN Messenger will try and contact the sites ads.msn.com or services.msn.com to collect adverts to display to you. Why let Messenger eatup your bandwidth? Just add the site to your blocked sites list and you won't have to see all those annoying ads.

Couldn't you just create an application rule for MSN Messenger blocking communication to these sites?

Well yes you could, but these are ad servers, ads displayed on other sites that you visit may be being served from sites like ads.msn.com and if you just make a blocking rule for MSN Messeneger it won't stop Internet Explorer from being able download ads from those servers if the site you are visiting use ads from ad servers like ads.msn.com.

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Content Log

There are 4 columns in the Content log

1. Date/Time
   This is the Date and Time the Action occurred.
2. Action
   This is a description of what type of blocking has occurred.

3. URL
   This is the web site that the blocking occurred at.
4. Keyword
   This is the web site or word that triggered the blocking.

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This is an unofficial guide, the information expressed here may differ from Agnitum's. There is a support forum (no longer run by Agnitum, but by users) if you need more help this is a good place to start. Where information here conflicts with what Agnitum have told you always go with the information given to you by Agnitum.

Guide/site and images ©Stephen Cox