URL Filtering Software

With BrowseControl’s URL Filtering feature you can allow and block (whitelist and blacklist) access to specific websites based on their URL, domain, IP addresses, or URL keywords.

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Screenshot of the URL filter from BrowseControl, CurrentWare's web filtering software

URL Filtering With Block & Allow Lists

With the Allowed URLs List of the BrowseControl you can restrict internet access to only specific websites or exempt specific websites that are blocked by the Category Filtering feature.

With the Blocked URLs List you can block specific websites while allowing access to the rest of the internet.

  • Block (Blacklist) URLs with the URL filtering block list to block users from accessing websites
  • Allow (Whitelist) URLs with the URL filtering  allow list to set exceptions for websites you would like to allow
  • Create unique URL filtering policies for each user/PC group

Category URL Filtering database

BrowseControl’s category filtering database provides you with a convenient way to blacklist millions of websites across over 100 URL categories.

Start blocking access social media, porn, games, malicious sites such as malware or phishing sites, and more in just a few clicks!

  • Meet CIPA compliance by blocking categories of websites that are not age-appropriate such as porn
  • Effortlessly block millions of websites across 100+ URL categories
  • Customize the website category database locally to suit the needs of your environment
Screenshot of the URL filter from BrowseControl, CurrentWare's web filtering software
BrowseControl - blacklist websites and block applications

Why Use Internet Filtering Software?

  • Increase Productivity: Nearly 82% of employees surveyed in the “On Cyberslacking: Workplace Status and Personal Internet Use at Work” report admitted to using the internet for personal reasons during work hours. A web filter can be used to block access to commonly abused websites such as Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube.
  • Network Security: Suspicious or malicious websites can stealthily infect networks with drive-by downloads. All an employee has to do is stumble upon one of these sites on social media or a phishing email for an exploit to compromise the network. A web filter adds an added layer of security by blocking these websites from being accessed in your network.
  • Data Loss Prevention: Unauthorized cloud services, social networks, and web apps provide channels where sensitive data can be leaked. A web filter can proactively prevent access to these channels and stop employees from mishandling data.
  • Workplace Behavior: URL filtering limits access  NSFW content such as pornography, reducing inappropriate web usage that would otherwise contribute to a hostile work environment.
  • Bandwidth Management: Streaming videos from Netflix can consume up to 7GB of data per hour. Employees that use the company internet to stream videos waste valuable bandwidth and ruin the productivity of their coworkers by dramatically slowing down the speed of the internet.

Port Filter to Block Unused Network Ports

  • Deny by Default: All ports should be closed by default unless there is a documented, reviewed, and approved business case.
  • Defense in Depth: Combine BrowseControl’s host-based port filtering with a perimeter-based firewall for a defense-in-depth approach.
  • Risk Assessment: Any port can be exploited by an attacker. Blocking unused ports reduces the attack surface of your network.
    cybersecurity expert on a laptop ion front of servers
    Click Here for Transcript

    Need to restrict internet access in your network? In this tutorial you will learn how to block websites using a free trial of BrowseControl, CurrentWare’s web content filtering software.

    With BrowseControl you can...

    • Block or allow websites based on URL, category, domain, or IP address
    • Schedule unique internet restrictions throughout the day
    • Assign custom policies for each group of computers or users, and...
    • Enforce internet usage policies, even when devices leave the network

    There are 3 ways to block employee internet access with BrowseControl...

    1. Block access to specific websites with the Block List
    2. Restrict internet access to only certain sites with the Allow List,
    3. and using the Category Filtering feature to block access to content categories such as Porn, Virus Infected, or Social Media

    For complete control over internet and application use in your network, you can combine BrowseControl with BrowseReporter, CurrentWare’s internet monitoring software.

    All right, let’s get started...

    To begin, sign up for a free trial of BrowseControl at CurrentWare.com/Download. After filling out the form you will be provided with the files you need to get started with BrowseControl.

    To install BrowseControl, run CurrentWare.exe on the administrator’s computer and follow the installation instructions; this will install the CurrentWare Console and Server.

    After that, deploy the CurrentWare Client Setup file (cwClientSetup.exe) on all of the computers you would like to control.

    From there you can import your Active Directory organizational units or manually create your desired policy groups.

    For full installation instructions, please visit our knowledge base at CurrentWare.com/Support.

    Now that you have BrowseControl installed, I’ll show you how to block specific websites based on their URL, domain, or IP address using the URL Filter.

    This feature can be used to block your employees from accessing distracting websites like Facebook, TikTok, or Instagram.

    1. First, decide whether you want to control internet access based on users or computers and select the desired mode.
    2. Next, click on URL Filter then select “Blocked List”
    3. From the drop-down menu, select the group of computers or users that you want to restrict
    4. Enter the URL, domain, or IP address of the websites you want to block to the master URL list, then press the Enter key or click “Add”. BrowseControl will apply a wildcard to the URL, ensuring that any paths within the domain will be blocked as well.
    5. In the master URL list, select the websites you want to block for the chosen group, then click “Add to Blocked List”
      • If you would like to add the selected websites to the block list of multiple groups, you can press the drop-down arrow and select “add to multiple groups”, select the desired groups, then click “add to blocked list”
      • If you have a large number of websites you would like to block, you can also use the import feature to import an existing list.
    6. Finally, click “Apply to Clients”.

    That’s it! You have now blocked your employees, students, or patrons from accessing those specific websites.

    Next, I’ll show you how to restrict internet access to only certain sites.

    This feature is ideal if you want to prevent your employees, students, or patrons from accessing websites that are not explicitly allowed by your organization.

    The process is identical to how you would block a website, except this time you will set the internet to “off” and add the websites you would like to allow to the Allow List.

    With this method, your users will only be able to access the exact websites that have been approved by your company.

    Here are the full instructions

    1. First, decide whether you want to control internet access based on users or computers and select the desired mode.
    2. Next, click on URL Filter then ensure that “Allowed List” is selected
    3. From the drop-down menu, select the group of computers or users that you want to restrict
    4. Set the internet to “Off”. This will ensure that only the websites that are added to the allowed list can be accessed.
    5. Enter the URL, domain, or IP address of the website you want to allow to the master URL list, then press the Enter key or click “Add”. BrowseControl will apply a wildcard to the URL, ensuring that any paths within the domain will be allowed as well.
    6. In the master URL list, select the websites you want to allow for the chosen group, then click “Add to Allowed List”
    7. If you would like to add the selected websites to the Allowed list of multiple groups, you can press the drop-down arrow and select “add to multiple groups”, select the desired groups, then click “add to Allowed list”
    8. If you have a large number of websites you would like to allow, you can also use the import feature to import an existing list.
    9. Finally, click “Apply to Clients”.

    Next, I’ll show you how to block websites based on content categories such as Porn, Virus Infected, and Social Media

    With BrowseControl’s category filtering feature you can block billions of websites across over 100 URL categories. More than 10,000 new domains are added each day, making it simple to restrict internet access even as new sites emerge.

    Here’s how:

    1. First, decide whether you want to control internet access based on users or computers and select the desired mode.
    2. Click on “Category Filtering”
    3. From the drop-down menu, select the group of computers or users that you want to restrict
    4. Select the web content categories you would like to block, then click “Add to Blocked List”
    5. Finally, click “Apply to Clients”.

    That’s it!

    The Allow List can also be used in tandem with the Category Filtering feature to allow websites that would otherwise be blocked based on their content category.

    For example, you could use Category Filtering to block Social Media while still allowing access to LinkedIn.

    Now that you’ve seen the 3 key ways you can block a website with BrowseControl, I’d like to show you how to restrict internet access at certain times.

    With BrowseControl’s Internet Scheduler you can schedule custom block or allow lists throughout the day.

    This feature will bring some flexibility to your internet restriction policies; in this example, we will allow our employees to browse the internet during lunchtime.

    Here’s how to use the internet scheduler

    1. First, decide whether you want to control internet access based on users or computers and select the desired mode.
    2. Click on “internet scheduler”
    3. From the drop-down menu, select the group of computers or users that you want to restrict
    4. Click “New Schedule”
    5. Set the start and end time of the schedule
    6. Select the schedule type
      • Internet on will allow internet access to all websites that are not on the URL Block List
      • Custom allowed list will only allow access to specific websites
      • Custom blocked list will block access to a specific list of websites and allow access to the rest of the internet
      • Custom Category blocked list will block specific categories and allow access to the rest of the internet
    7. Set your desired schedule frequency
      • Daily will enable the schedule every day during the specified time period
      • Weekly will enable the schedule only on specific days of the week
      • Monthly will enable the schedule only on specific months
    8. Click “Add Schedule”
    9. If you selected one of the custom block or allow list options, you can click the link provided under the “schedule type” column to set the websites or categories that you would like on the list.
    10. And finally, Click “Enable scheduler” if it is not already enabled

    That’s it for today. If you’re ready to start blocking websites you can get a free trial of BrowseControl at CurrentWare.com/Download.

    If you have any questions during your evaluation our support team is available to help you over a phone call, live chat, or email.

    See you next time!

    How to Block a Website With BrowseControl

    Learn how to block a website with BrowseControl, CurrentWare’s URL filtering software. Easily restrict access to distracting, inappropriate, or unsafe sites on any internet browser.

    Check Out Our Great Reviews on Capterra!

    "As a 'novice' I was able to set up with help from support in about an hour. Previous software took forever and didn't work as advertised. This software worked right out of the box."

    Dr. Gerard B, Office Manager
    2-10 Employees

    "This software was easy to install and customize to our needs. Category Filtering is such a time saver and of course saving time is saving money!"

    Scott S, Senior Systems Engineer
    201-500 Employees

    "BrowseControl is the best software for internet filtering. We can block specific websites and applications...[being able to] add and remove the restrictions instantly is a great feature. They have a great customer support to solve our queries."

    Ajoob S, Engineer
    501-1000 Employees

    "The software actually does what was advertised and the support is great! We were able to have the software up and running on the same day with no issues or even a call/email to their support."

    Ken W, IT Manager
    201-500 Employees

    BrowseControl

    Try BrowseControl for Free

    Fully functional. Easy to use. Install in minutes.

    Combine Website Blocking and Monitoring
     for Enhanced Protection and Productivity

    Block Websites and Apps

    BrowseControl is both an application to block websites and a Windows app blocker, making it is the best website blocker for schools, libraries, and businesses.

    • Block Websites: Block websites based on category, URL, domain, or IP address.
    • Granular Policies: Customize internet restrictions for each user, device, or department.
    • Block Apps: Add the apps you want to block to the app blocker to prevent the launching of distracting or high-risk apps.
    Screenshot of category filtering window from BrowseControl web filter. Porn and social media categories blocked.
    Employee productivity dashboard with productive vs unproductive time charts and data

    Monitor Internet Use

    BrowseReporter is the best employee monitoring software for tracking web use.

    • Productivity Tracker: See how much time is spent on unproductive web browsing. What is considered productive can be customized to fit your needs.
    • Monitor Web Traffic: Get reports on words used in search engines, websites visited, and applications used.
    • Reduce Distractions: Noisy data such as CDNs and advertisements are filtered out; the reports show genuine browsing behavior from company computers.

    Manage Remote Devices

    BrowseControl blocks apps, distractions, and high-risk sites with malicious content and other security threats no matter where your Windows devices are.

    • Offsite Features: Use the offsite mode to continue restricting Windows devices when they leave the network.
    • Browser Console: Remotely manage internet control policies through the web-based central management console.
    • Local Cache: Updates to policies will sync with devices once they reconnect to the server.
    A photo of a glowing model of earth. A man's hands surround the Earth. Icons representing data and internet surround them
    Paper document that says "Internet Usage Policy"

    FREE DOWNLOAD
    Internet Use Policy Template

    Download this FREE internet use policy to set standards for acceptable internet usage in your organization.

    • Disclose the organization’s intent to monitor internet use
    • Communicate acceptable standards for technology use
    • Describe your users' rights and responsibilities

    BrowseControl Web Filtering Features

    Internet Off
    Internet ON/OFF

    One click to completely block
    users from browsing the web

    URL Filter
    URL Filter

    Allowed list or Blocked list for
    specific URLs

    Category Filtering
    Category Filtering

    Block websites based on specific web content categories

    Application Blocker
    Application Blocker

    Block specific Windows
    applications from launching

    Bandwidth Tracker
    Google Safe Search

    Search engine filters prevent explicit results in search engines

    Customized Message
    Customize Message

    Display a customized warning
    message on blocked websites

    Download Filter
    Download Filter

    Block files from being downloaded from the internet

    Port Filter
    Port Filter

    Close unused and high-risk
    TCP/UDP ports

    Internet Quota
    Internet Quota

    Set a time-based quota for
    internet browsing

    Internet Scheduler
    Internet Scheduler

    Schedule internet use policies for specific times of the day

    Internet Timer
    Timer

    Allocate specific time for your
    users to access the Internet

    Stealth
    Stealth Mode

    Restrict internet use without
    alerting users

    Internet Off

    Centralized Console

    Manage all your users from the
    centralized console with Active
    Directory import or syncing

    Internet Off

    Platform Security

    Protect your CurrentWare console
    with 2FA, passwords, privilege
    management, and more

    Internet Off

    Offsite Management

    Extend onsite Internet usage
    policies to laptops running outside
    the corporate network

    Internet Off

    SQL Server Supported

    Database scaled for enterprise and
    large business operations using
    Microsoft SQL Server

    The BrowseControl Logo, web filtering software

    Try BrowseControl for Free

    Fully functional. Easy to use. Install in minutes.