WebSense blocking PowerSwitch

caspian · Post by **caspian** » 08 Apr 2007, 18:11

Most lunchtimes during the week I flick through the latest PowerSwitch forum posts at work. On Friday I discovered that the entire site was blocked by our Web filtering software, WebSense. PowerSwitch has been categorised by some brain-dead censor as an "advocacy" group. Even if you take the view that PS fits this description (I don't) then surely many Web sites, including political sites and most blogs, would also be off-limits?

Now, I don't want to get into a debate about Web filtering software. Personally, I think the whole notion is ridiculous and against the spirit of free speech that the Web is supposed to exemplify. However, WebSense is used in many companies, and this decision will limit the number of people who can access the site. Is there any way we can get WebSense to rescind this stupid decision?

snow hope · Post by **snow hope** » 08 Apr 2007, 19:18

We have supplied Wensense to some companies and I agree we need to do something about it. Maybe an email from James would do the trick?

RevdTess · Post by **RevdTess** » 08 Apr 2007, 21:58

I have a friend who runs a website on computer security whose site got classified as a 'hacking' site and thus blocked by websense from viewing by most of his potential client base. He did eventually get the categorisation changed but it was a battle.

The thing is, I prefer powerswitch to be classified as advocacy if the alternative is 'message boards & clubs' which are blanket banned by my employer...

Greenbeast · Post by **Greenbeast** » 08 Apr 2007, 22:55

web filtering and blocking does have its place let me assure you, i am the IT tech for a grammar school and websense is extremely useful for me

the only thing i can suggest is to find a proxy avoidance website, but you'll probably have to keep finding new ones to use as they keep updating the blocking database and they are really hot on proxy avoidance at the moment

Post by **mikepepler** » 09 Apr 2007, 08:27

I used to use this site in my old job to get to blocked sites:
http://www.anonymsurfen.com/

It gives a choice of proxies to use.

caspian · Post by **caspian** » 09 Apr 2007, 11:34

Proxy avoidance will probably fail, because, as mentioned above, WebSense are onto that in a big way already. In any case, it's not just about the fact that *I* can't get to the site at work. PowerSwitch will be blocked for a lot of other people as well. Doesn't really help to spread the message.

Greenbeast · Post by **Greenbeast** » 09 Apr 2007, 11:37

true and i completely agree, in no way should this site be censored

you can get round websense with proxy avoidance but you'll need to keep moving (obviously as and when they block the site you are using)