Saving Bandwidth thru Web Filtering

Good Day UVI,

As indicated in the ITS Systems update sent on August 15, 2008, the web filtering system for the UVI network has been installed and is fully functional. The main purpose of this devices called BLUECOAT is to replace the PROXY servers on both islands and to optimize the traffic over the wide area network. The other capability the system has is to better manage the use of our Internet Bandwidth. As you have all observed, Internet systems are very slow much of the time and to allow bandwidth to be used to support teaching and learning applications and research, we can disallow bandwidth for non-academic purposes.

The system we use for filtering and optimizing breaks the websites into several categories. The list and definition of these categories are attached for your review. There are nine categories of web sites that have been selected to filter at this time. These categories are defined below.

Attached to this email you will also find a copy of the screen that will be received if a bandwidth is not allowed to a particular site. If you deem that the site you are trying to access is necessary to support your teaching, learning or research, please make a request for access to the Office of the Provost. In addition, there are computer stations in the Center for Excellence in Teaching and Learning (formerly the faculty resource rooms in the west corner of the library on STT, and upstairs in the library on STX) where all Internet content is available.

Video streaming and music downloads take a great deal of bandwidth, however mp3 and video can be great teaching tools. These sites will continue to be available from the UVI network, except for the residence halls. Residence Hall traffic competes heavily with classes and Blackboard traffic. Students in the residence halls will have access to a 7x24 lab on both campuses to use to access mp3 or streaming video for academic purposes. We request that both faculty and students use this privilege to access material for teaching and learning and not for personal use or entertainment.

Web filtering according to the guidelines above, will be activated on or about August 24, 2008. I will keep you updated on any progress we make to increase the bandwidth coming into campus. We continue to rely heavily on the contribution from VI-EPSCoR in terms of providing dollars for bandwidth and providing money for many aspects of the infrastructure upgrade. Please let me know what question I can answer.

Gambling
Sites where a user can place a bet or participate in a betting pool, participate in a lottery, or receive information, assistance, recommendations, or training in such activities. Does not include sites that sell gambling-related products/machines or sites for offline casinos and hotels, unless they meet one of the above requirements.
Illegal Drugs
Sites that promote, offer, sell, supply, encourage or otherwise advocate the illegal use, cultivation, manufacture, or distribution of drugs, pharmaceuticals, intoxicating plants or chemicals and their related paraphernalia.
Illegal/Questionable
Sites that advocate or give advice on performing illegal acts such as service theft, evading law enforcement, fraud, burglary techniques and plagiarism. Also includes sites that provide or sell questionable educational materials, such as term papers.
Peer-to-Peer (P2P)
Sites that distribute software to facilitate the direct exchange of files between users, including software that enables file search and sharing across a network without dependence on a central server.
Phishing
Sites that are designed to appear as a legitimate bank or retailer with the intent to fraudulently capture sensitive data (i.e. credit card numbers, pin numbers).
Pornography
Sites that contain sexually explicit material for the purpose of arousing a sexual or prurient interest.
Proxy Avoidance
Sites that provide information on how to bypass proxy server/appliance features or gain access to URLs in any way that bypasses the proxy server/appliance. This category includes any service which attempts to allow a person to bypass the Blue Coat filtering system, such as anonymous surfing services.
Spyware Effects/Privacy Concerns
Sites to which spyware (as defined in the Spyware/Malware Sources category) reports its findings or from which it alone downloads advertisements. Also includes sites that contain serious privacy issues, such as “phone home” sites to which software can connect and send user info; sites that make extensive use of tracking cookies without a posted privacy statement; and sites to which browser hijackers redirect users. Usually does not include sites that can be marked as Spyware/Malware. Note: Sites rated as spyware effects typically have a second category assigned with them.
Spyware/Malware Sources
Sites which distribute spyware and other malware. Spyware is defined as software which takes control of your computer, modifies computer settings, collects or reports personal information, or misrepresents itself by tricking users to install, download, or enter personal information. This includes drive-by downloads; browser hijackers; dialers; intrusive advertising; any program which modifies your homepage, bookmarks, or security settings; and keyloggers. It also includes any software which bundles spyware (as defined above) as part of its offering. Information collected or reported is "personal" if it contains uniquely identifying data, such as email addresses, name, social security number, IP address, etc. A site is not classified as spyware if the user is reasonably notified that the software will perform these actions (ie, it alerts that it will send personal information, be installed, or that it will log keystrokes). Note: Sites rated as spyware should have a second category assigned with them.


Tina M. Koopmans