Using Netsweeper Broadband Filter

• What are the categories and how can I use them to block sites?
• How do I block a site?
• How do I unblock a site?
• How do I override the filter for normal browsing?
• Can I stop my child from instant messaging?
• How many computers can I put Netsweeper on?
• How can I limit the time my computer is used by my kids?

 

What are the categories and how can I use them to block sites?

Netsweeper uses categories to block or allow groups of sites. There are many preset categories in the settings.  Here is what you do to select categories to block or release from being blocked.

1. Double click on the Netsweeper icon in the system tray, near the time. It will appear as a red circle with a lower case "n" in it.
2. Click "Switch Current Profile" from the menu list on the right.
   
3. Select the profile you wish to change. and click "OK."
4. Log into that profile.
   
5. Click "Customize Current Profile."
   
6. Login using your master account password. 
7. Click "Next" on the first screen to take you to the Categories screen.
8. There are five major categories. Each category has subcategories which can be viewed by clicking the "+" in front of the category. 
9. Check the site categories which you would like to block. Make sure the site categories you do not wish to block are unchecked.
10. Click "Next" 5 times until you see the finish button. click finish. You have successfully updated your Categories so that the filter will block those you left checked in the setting for this profile.

 

How do I block a site?

When an unacceptable site slips through the category filtering, you may want to add this site to the list of specific sites that you want always blocked for a particular user. Here is a way you can add a site to the list of blocked sites.

1. Double click on the Netsweeper icon in the system tray, near the time. It will appear as a red circle with a lower case "n" in it.
2. Click "Switch Current Profile" from the menu list on the right.
   
3. Select the profile you wish to change. and click "OK."
4. Log into that profile.
   
5. Click "Customize Current Profile."
   
6. Login using your master account password. 
7. Click "Next" on the first screen to take you to the categories configuration screen. Click "Next" again and again until you view a screen that has a blocked sites list, titled Over Ride Configuration.
8. The bottom box on this page is a list of blocked sites specified. To add a site click the "Add" button.

9. Type in the URL or address of the site you want blocked. If you want everything at that domain blocked, type in just the domain.com part of the address. If you only want that page to be blocked, specify the full URL. If the site has multiple subdomains, such as 
   • www.yahoo.com
   • my.yahoo.com
   • mail.yahoo.com
   • personals.yahoo.com 
   • groups.yahoo.com
and you only want to block one of them, specify the subdomain in the URL or address field. For Example: To block only the personals at yahoo from the profile, type in personals.yahoo.com. The other subdomains should be allowed as long as they do not get blocked by the categories.

10. Click "OK."
11. Click "Next" and "Finish." 

 

How do I unblock a site?

Periodically you run across a site that is either miscategorized or is blocked by category yet you need to get to it.  Here is a way you can add a site to the list of allowed sites.

1. Double click on the Netsweeper icon in the system tray, near the time. It will appear as a red circle with a lower case "n" in it.
2. Click "Switch Current Profile" from the menu list on the right.
   
3. Select the profile you wish to change and click "OK."
4. Log into that profile.
   
5. Click "Customize Current Profile."
   
6. Login using your master account password. 
7. Click "Next" on the first screen to take you to the categories configuration screen. Hit "Next" again and again until you view a screen that has an allowed sites list, titled Over Ride Configuration.
8. The top box on this page is a list of allowed sites specified. To add a site click the "Add" button.

9. Type in the URL or address of the site you want allowed. If you want everything at that domain blocked, type in just the domain.com part of the address. If you only want that page to be blocked, specify the full URL. If the site has multiple subdomains, such as 

• www.yahoo.com
• my.yahoo.com
• mail.yahoo.com
• personals.yahoo.com 
• groups.yahoo.com

and you only want to allow one of them, specify the subdomain in the URL or address field.  You can enter www.yahoo.com to allow the search engine.  The other subdomains should be blocked if yahoo.com was blocked.
10. Click "Next" and "Finish." 

 

How do I override the filter for normal browsing?

There are two ways to do this. For long term surfing, setup a new profile that is created using an adult preset. The other is to set Netsweeper to snooze.

For long term surfing
You can set up a filter profile for an adult profile which will have its own password. You can then set this profile with filter settings that do not block any categories.

1. Double click the "n" in the system tray.
2. Select "Add a New Profile."
3. Type in the password that is the original setup password for Netsweeper and click "OK."
4. Type in the profile name, perhaps AdultUnfiltered (no spaces). Type in and confirm the password you are setting for this profile. Create a password hint so you can get back into this profile. Select the preset for "Adult" for this profile.
5. Click "OK", then click "YES" when the warning comes up. 

Once you have this profile, you can switch to the adult profile

1. Double left click the "n" in the system tray.
2. Select "Switch Current Profile." 
3. Select the AdultUnfiltered profile. Click "OK."
4. Type in your password for the profile. Click "OK."

 

Short term override

1. Double click the "n" in the system tray.
   
2. Click "Snooze" from the task menu. 
   
3. Select the time period you wish to override filter for from the "Time" drop down menu. Use your "Username" and "Password" for the master account. Click "OK."

 

Can I stop my child from instant messaging?

Profiles that are categorized with the preset value of "Under 12" by default have instant messaging blocked. You can block instant messaging in any profile. 

1. Double click on the "n" icon in the system tray.
   
2. Switch to the profile you wish to stop instant messaging in by clicking "Switch Current Profile." 
   
3. Select the profile you wish to change.  Click "OK."
4. Log into that profile.
   
5. Click "Customize Current Profile." Type in the master password.  Click "OK."
   
6. Click "Next" on the first screen.
7. Click "Next" on the "Category Configuration" page. 
8. Click "Next" on the "Application Blocking Configuration" page.
9. Check the top box for "Block Instant Messaging." you can set the time period to "Always" or set a period of time.
10. Click "Next" to the Override Configuration page.
11. Click "Next" to the "Finished" page. Click "Finish."

 

How many computers can I put Netsweeper on?

The broadband filter is one filter account per computer.

 

How can I limit the time my computer is used by my kids?

Each profile can limit web activities for periods of time.

1. Double click on the "n" icon in the system tray.
   
2. Switch to the profile you wish to give time limits to by clicking "Switch Current Profile." 
   
3. Select the Profile you wish to change. Click "OK."
4. Log into that profile.
   
5. Click "Customize Current Profile." Type in the master password.  Click "OK."
   
6. Click "Next" on the first screen.
7. Click "Next" on the "Category Configuration" page.
8. On the "Application Blocking Configuration" page, set the time periods you wish to block Web browsing, File sharing, and Downloading. Click "Next." 
9. Set the period of time on this screen for Instant messengers, email, Newsgroups, Internet phone calls.
10. Click "Next" to the "Override Configuration" page.
11. Click " Next" to the " Finished" page. Click "Finish."