BleepingComputer.com: Small Business Web Filtering

I'm looking for intelligent software or hardware (rather have software) to setup web filtering for a small business. I don't want employees to be able to go on any social networking sites, pornography sites, etc. Just want them to be able to go on certain sites pertaining to general business. If somebody could point me in the right direction, that would be great.

There are many ways to solve your problem. Not only hardware/software, but also just configuration: use a DNS that filters, like OpenDNS.

A well know commercial provider of web filtering lists is Websense.

Take a look at this Wikipedia list:
https://secure.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/wiki/List_of_content-control_software

This post has been edited by Didier Stevens: 28 July 2011 - 03:45 AM

Didier Stevens, on 28 July 2011 - 03:44 AM, said:

Thanks for your reply. What would be the fastest and easiest solution for me? I only need the filtering on 3 computers. I'd like it to be a free solution if possible. I am leaning towards OpenDNS, bu would like some suggestions.

This post has been edited by JAWS95678: 28 July 2011 - 07:38 AM

Can't say what would be the best solution in your case, but I would definitely start with OpenDNS.

Didier Stevens, on 28 July 2011 - 08:33 AM, said:

How difficult is it to setup OpenDNS? Do I have to manually enter website I don't want to my employees to use or does it have some type of intelligent filtering?

It's easy. You create an account, they have good step by step instructions and videos.

Didier Stevens, on 28 July 2011 - 08:43 AM, said:

Good deal. I will try it out and get back to you if I have any questions/problems. Thanks for you help Didier!

I setup OpenDNS on my router, have 5 computers on the network, and only want 3 of them to have web filtering as I said before. To accomplish this, I manually added OpenDNS's DNS to the 3 computer's that needed web filter and used my ISP's DNS for the computer's that didn't need it.

I have a couple questions to someone that is familiar with OpenDNS. I didn't make a domain name for my IP address which is currently dynamic. I don't want one and would rather use OpenDNS Updater to update my IP address every time it changes. Now, do I have to install the updater on each PC I want to filter or what?

JAWS95678, on 29 July 2011 - 08:06 AM, said:

No, all your PCs are accessing the Internet through the router, which is issued a public dynamic IP address by your provider.
The updater program will report this public IP address to OpenDNS. You only need one PC to do this, unless this PC will be shutdown from time to time during working hours.
If that's the case, you're better of installing it on a PC that will always be powered on during business hours, or if there is no such PC, install it on all PCs.

Didier Stevens, on 29 July 2011 - 09:07 AM, said:

Thanks once again Didier.