Any ISPs that run a watchdog style safe filter?

Forums › New Zealand Broadband › Any ISPs that run a watchdog style safe filter?

berend

62 posts

Master Geek

#67553 3-Sep-2010 13:28

Hi All,

Any suggestions for companies that provide a internet filter like Watchdog does? This is for a school, and we simply want to have a filter so we avoid (legally) embarrassing situations.

Thanks,

Berend.

1 | 2

BDFL - Memuneh
79289 posts

Uber Geek

Administrator

ID Verified

Trusted

Geekzone

Lifetime subscriber

#376266 3-Sep-2010 14:16

Depending on how the IT is configured you could start by using a third party DNS, something like http://www.opendns.com for example, and create an account with them.

This allows you to "filter" DNS requests and block access to some site categories (social networks, gaming, gambling, adult, phishing, etc).

Of course this has to be done with some strong policy on computers connected to your network to prevent users changing hosts files.

This is not 100% though. If you can't find an ISP with this service then you should start thinking of running a proxy and filtering this kind of access...

slister

17 posts

Geek

#376271 3-Sep-2010 14:20

You do realise that watchdog is free for schools?

coffeebaron

6234 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#376272 3-Sep-2010 14:22

www.maxnet.co.nz

Rural IT and Broadband support.

Broadband troubleshooting and master filter installs.
Starlink installer - one month free: https://www.starlink.com/?referral=RC-32845-88860-71
Wi-Fi and networking
Cel-Fi supply and installer - boost your mobile phone coverage legally

Need help in Auckland, Waikato or BoP? Click my email button, or email me direct: [my user name] at geekzonemail dot com

michaelmurfy

meow
13254 posts

Uber Geek

Moderator

ID Verified

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#376281 3-Sep-2010 14:52

+1 for OpenDNS - Used it for quite a few customers now, it's actually quite handy.
People might argue that the speeds are crap etc, but it's actually not bad at all.

Michael Murphy | https://murfy.nz
Referral Links: Quic Broadband (use R122101E7CV7Q for free setup)

Are you happy with what you get from Geekzone? Please consider supporting us by subscribing.
Opinions are my own and not the views of my employer.

muppet

2570 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

#376283 3-Sep-2010 14:59

freitasm: If you can't find an ISP with this service then you should start thinking of running a proxy and filtering this kind of access...

I'd say strongly, do this anyway. Anything else is trivial to work around.

Audiophiles are such twits! They buy such pointless stuff: Gold plated cables, $2000 power cords. Idiots.

OOOHHHH HYPERFIBRE!

xpd

Geek @ Coastguard NZ
13767 posts

Uber Geek

Retired Mod

ID Verified

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#376286 3-Sep-2010 15:13

OpenDNS + Untangle - just started playing with Untangle and impressed so far.

Gavin / xpd / FastRaccoon / Geek of Coastguard New Zealand

LinkTree

berend

62 posts

Master Geek

#376289 3-Sep-2010 15:18

slister: You do realise that watchdog is free for schools?

Nothing is free, but yes for taxpayer funded schools it appears free. This is not for a government school though.

Sharesies

Trade NZ and US shares and funds with Sharesies (affiliate link).

tomgeeknz

923 posts

Ultimate Geek

#376298 3-Sep-2010 15:47

Slingshot/callplus - http://www.watchdog.net.nz/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=87&Itemid=212

SCM

459 posts

Ultimate Geek

#376313 3-Sep-2010 16:10

Snap - http://www.snap.net.nz
They give you the option of opting in for the Watchdog Filter ;)

marpada

476 posts

Ultimate Geek

#376339 3-Sep-2010 17:13

I would not trust much in those DNS blacklist as I guess they can be easily cheated by using a free proxy. My suggestion is a opensource firewall/proxy like it was suggested above.

berend

62 posts

Master Geek

#376346 3-Sep-2010 18:07

marpada: I would not trust much in those DNS blacklist as I guess they can be easily cheated by using a free proxy. My suggestion is a opensource firewall/proxy like it was suggested above.

I don't think opensource/freeware is going to cut this. Clearly as a school you need to make a better effort. Watchdog does deep inspection, so just looking for a commercial provider that does these things.

freitasm

BDFL - Memuneh
79289 posts

Uber Geek

Administrator

ID Verified

Trusted

Geekzone

Lifetime subscriber

#376351 3-Sep-2010 18:29

marpada: I would not trust much in those DNS blacklist as I guess they can be easily cheated by using a free proxy. My suggestion is a opensource firewall/proxy like it was suggested above.

As I said, this only works if you implement policies and you manage the computers - so users wouldn't have administrator access, wouldn't be able to change browser settings, etc.

jbard

1377 posts

Uber Geek

#376354 3-Sep-2010 18:32

I am currently in my last year of school, and believe me an openDNS filter or anything of that sort does not even come close to cutting it, in fact it just makes the kids dig deeper into the computer to find a way around.

This year my school changed to watchdog, which certainly better but not fool proof, some of the year 13 web and computing classes broke through to get onto facebook - and once one students knows how to get through it spreads like wild fire :)

michaelmurfy

meow
13254 posts

Uber Geek

Moderator

ID Verified

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#376400 3-Sep-2010 23:59

freitasm:
marpada: I would not trust much in those DNS blacklist as I guess they can be easily cheated by using a free proxy. My suggestion is a opensource firewall/proxy like it was suggested above.

As I said, this only works if you implement policies and you manage the computers - so users wouldn't have administrator access, wouldn't be able to change browser settings, etc.

Incorrect, a transparent proxy you can place in front of a Internet Connection, usually this would be a box running something like Smoothwall, IPcop or something else. From here users can't bypass it on that network since all traffic flowing to the internet will be put through the Proxy.

If OpenDNS was also running on the router, there is hardly no way of blocking this since the router usually deals with the DNS Queries. If a user decides to use their own DNS like Google DNS then that will combat OpenDNS.

If OpenDNS + a Transparent Proxy was used this makes a really good blocking service, and should be the way to do things, since if a outside laptop connects to the network the rules will be put in place therefore blocking anything you wish to block.

And if that wasn't enough, OpenDNS does blocking of Proxy Services such as hidemyass. There will be the odd one that will decide to find a way to bypass a transparent proxy, but for the average user this will be very hard to bypass.

With having a Transparent Proxy you are also free to add other rules, such as times when people can access the internet, certain sites to whitelist during these times etc.

Ragnor

8222 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

#376408 4-Sep-2010 01:49

As mentioned Maxnet and Snap offer filtering via WatchDog.

You should also implement content filtering at the gateway/firewall for the school, Sonicwall have some good stuff.

1 | 2