topic Re: How to request new URL Category in General Topics

How to request new URL Category

Nig — Wed, 10 Aug 2016 09:13:54 GMT

The UK Government has informed Local Authorities that they should implement measures to prevent radicalization and extremism, which includes filtering Internet access available in LA provided public facilities, such as Libraries, and Schools.

As the support provider of the firewall services in one such authority, we have been asked to implement URL filtering to assist with this, but there does not seem to be any one existing category that would likely cover radicalization, terrorism or extremism.

How would we go about requesting this as an additional URL category? I know we cold create a custom category, but really, as support folks, we don't have the time to expend the effort on working out what sites would be appropriate to include, nor do we have any real inclination of what would need to be included!

Any advice appreciated.

Regards

Nig

Re: How to request new URL Category

LCMember1959 — Wed, 10 Aug 2016 10:00:20 GMT

End of August Palo Alto will introduce a new URL Category:

"Extremism"
Websites promoting terrorism, racism, fascism or other extremist views discriminating people or groups of different ethnic backgrounds, religions or other beliefs. The default policy action for this category is "Block"

Would this cover your needs?

Re: How to request new URL Category

reaper — Wed, 10 Aug 2016 10:36:41 GMT

on top of the new 'extremism' URL category introduced in PAN-DB , you can also incorporate DynamicBlockLists/ExternalBlockLists

PAN-OS 7.1 URL Filtering - Dynamic Block List - External Block List EDL

This allows you to download external lists of to-be-blocked hosts from a reliable source (like spamhaus for spam and exploits.

If the UK Gov were to provide a public list of blocked sites (as they mandate the ISPs) this list can be loaded onto your firewalls as well

Re: How to request new URL Category

Nig — Wed, 10 Aug 2016 14:24:20 GMT

I reckon that will the customer very happy, thank you:-)

Re: How to request new URL Category

Nig — Wed, 10 Aug 2016 14:26:54 GMT

That looks like a useful feature.

As in most UK government legislation they are quite short in detail with this so no provided list AFAIK.

Many thanx.