Ray, MSAD/RSU #60 would be willing to be a test site for this.

 Eric Chellis

Network Manager
MSAD #60

388 Somersworth Rd.

North Berwick, ME 03906

207.676.2234 x302 (Voice)
207.451.3296 (Cell)




On Thu, Oct 25, 2012 at 8:22 AM, Rick Lange <
[log in to unmask]> wrote:

> Hi Ray,
> I am the Network Manager for MSAD-61, and I am definitely interested in
> testing this filtering method.  HTTPS (in particular
> https://www.facebook.com) is a loophole that our students quickly found
> out about, to circumvent the filter.   We have a JoeBox and MecGuard
> enabled at the HS/MS.   Please feel free to contact me at the address below
> so we can discuss the details.
> Thank You,
> Rick Lange
> IS Network Manager
> Maine School Administrative District 61
> 900 Portland Rd.
> Bridgton, ME 04009
> [log in to unmask]
> __________________________________
>
>
>
> On Wed, Oct 24, 2012 at 12:43 PM, Ray Soucy <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
>
>> After months of development with MECnet, we're finally ready to start
>> testing the new Joebox code base that introduces transparent HTTPS
>> filtering for MECguard.
>>
>> I'm currently looking for a volunteer site (or two) to test this new
>> filtering method.  Ideally this would be a site that does not
>> currently filter HTTPS so it could be enabled or disabled on a
>> per-group basis without having to make sweeping changes to your
>> existing environment.
>>
>>
>>
>> Here are the details on the new release of MECguard SSL:
>>
>> - Transparent process, when enabled for a group the Joebox intercepts
>> HTTPS traffic for clients the same way it does for HTTP.
>>
>> - The Joebox establishes separate SSL sessions between the requested
>> site and the client, decrypting and scanning page content, then
>> re-encrypting and delivering to the client.  This process is isolated
>> within the MECguard process and there is no way to log or sniff data
>> in the brief time it is unencrypted to preserve user privacy.
>>
>> - Because the Joebox now decrypts HTTPS requests to scan them,
>> MECguard is able to filter HTTP and HTTPS using the same methods.
>> This means a simpler configuration, and full support for HTTP
>> filtering features, including full URL block/allow support, filter
>> bypass/override support, and features such as "Force Google Safe
>> Search".
>>
>> - The Joebox generates SSL certificates of its own on-demand.  This
>> means that users who navigate to an HTTPS website will see a prompt to
>> accept the SSL certificate the same way they would if using a
>> self-signed certificate.  This certificate can be remembered by the
>> browser to avoid future warnings.  To avoid SSL warnings completely
>> and provide a seamless user experience, you can download and import
>> the private SSL certificate authority generated by the Joebox which
>> will allow clients to trust the SSL certificates generated by the
>> Joebox (this actually works very, very nicely)
>>
>> - Because both HTTP and HTTPS are filtered in the same way, blocking
>> sites like Facebook will actually work without the previous
>> work-arounds of using firewall rules or having to setup proxy servers
>> for HTTPS.
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> New features have been added to MECguard for both HTTP and HTTPS:
>>
>> - A new feature has been added to force Youtube Safety Mode similar to
>> the Force Google Safe Search feature.
>>
>> - Support for Youtube School ID has been added.
>>
>> - The log viewer has been re-designed to be more responsive.  Full
>> URLs are now logged for HTTPS like they are for HTTP.
>>
>> - MECguard Anti-Virus scanning has been added (still experimental),
>> this feature is powered by ClamAV.
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> If you're interested in becoming a test site in the next few weeks,
>> please drop me a note.
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> --
>> Ray Patrick Soucy
>> Network Engineer
>> University of Maine System
>>
>> T: 207-561-3526
>> F: 207-561-3531
>>
>> MaineREN, Maine's Research and Education Network
>> www.maineren.net
>>
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