Re: [FW-1] Pop-up blocking through Firewall-1?

[opsec@FW1-NOSPAMWEBSENSE.COM]

Title: RE: [FW-1] Pop-up blocking through Firewall-1?

Hi Jeff,

Yes, Websense might be able to help with pop up ads.  Let me try and give you the over all perspective on this solution.  First, as has been mentioned numerous times on this mailing list, any time you begin to use the HTTP Security Server to handle your HTTP traffic, there will need to be adjustments done to the FireWall itself to handle the additional load.  If you think of the HTTP Security Server basically as a transparent proxy server, and that this additional load must be accommodated for (since the Security Server runs in the same kernel memory space as the FireWall itself), then you'll begin to get an idea of what needs to be adjusted.  There are a number of good help files available both on Phoneboy's and Check Point's site about the adjustments that need to be done to the FireWall.

Now, Websense does have an Ads category in our Premium Group 1.  It does a great job on blocking all types of ads, both pop up and banner.  However, I have encountered a number of sites where the pop up box will still happen, but the content of it will be empty.  Meaning that the site where the pop up is coming from is allowed by Websense, but the content of the pop up is blocked by the Ads category.  A bit less annoying, but it may not fully address your situation.  However, this option can dramatically save on bandwidth since you're not having to download all of those banner ads all the time.

There are a number of programs that you can install on the local workstations that will prevent pop ups.  I'm sure if you run a search through Tucows site that you could turn up a couple.  That could be a pain in the back side for you if you have a lot of workstations, but it may provide a more complete solution to the pop up issue if that is your only concern.

I hope I've provided enough information for you to decide.

-----Original Message-----
From: Jarmoc, Jeff [mailto:Jeff.Jarmoc@GRUBB-ELLIS.COM]
Sent: Friday, November 15, 2002 9:16 AM
To: FW-1-MAILINGLIST@beethoven.us.checkpoint.com
Subject: [FW-1] Pop-up blocking through Firewall-1?

Does anyone know of a way to block pop-ups through firewall-1?  I'm hoping the HTTP security server can work some magic here.  Would Websense help?  I know there's a category for ads, but I'm not sure if this helps with pop ups.

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