Custom URLs

Custom URLs are user-created collections of website URLs, which can be used as part of the URL Category Match in Filter Rules. Typically, Custom URLs are used to override the system-level Web Categories list and also to maintain customer-specific domains and URLs for use in Rules.

For example, you may want to override the Social Networking web category by only applying a Rule to Facebook domains. You may also want to have your own list of Blocked Sites which applies only to the Sales Department. These are both use cases for Custom URLs.

Managing Custom URLs

To access the Custom URLs section, visit your USS Dashboard, and then click Products ⟶ Web Security ⟶ Custom URL.

The list of current Custom URL Categories is shown on the left. Click a Category to see the Custom URL Patterns contained in the Category.

Searching URL Categories

You can locate a specific URL pattern using the Search bar.

Enter your search query and click (or just hit `Enter`). The Custom URL Categories list will now only show Categories containing the patterns that match your search query.

To return to the full list of Custom URLs, just click the button.

Adding a new Custom URL Category

To add a new Custom URL Category, click the button, and enter a name for the new Category in the form that's displayed.

The name you choose will be displayed in Reports, if web requests are matched to this Category. It will also be displayed in Charts, and on the Filter Rules screen when selecting Custom URLs as a Match.

Renaming Categories

To change the name of a Custom URL Category, simply double-click it. Once you've made any required changes, click to save your changes.

Deleting Custom URL Categories

Removing a Custom URL Category will remove it from any Rules that reference the Category, and will also remove all the URL Patterns that belong to this Category.

To delete a Custom URL Category, just select it and click the button.

Managing Patterns

In the context of Custom URLs, Patterns simply represent URLs, which are made up of the protocol scheme, and the pattern against which to match.

Adding Custom URL Patterns

To add a new Pattern, first select the Custom URL Category to which the new Pattern should belong. Then, click the button and enter the details in the form that's displayed.

Protocol

Whether this pattern should match for HTTP only, HTTPS only, or both. The default is both.

Pattern

The pattern should be a valid URL, excluding the http:// or https:// protocol scheme and any query string (text that appears after a ? in the URL). The table below shows how to construct a valid Custom URL Pattern.

Pattern text

Valid?

domain.com

✓ Yes

domain.com/path/

✓ Yes

http://www.domain.com

❌ No

www.domain.com?foo=bar

❌ No

https://www.domain.com/path/?foo=bar

❌ No

For example, for a URL that was originally of the form https://www.examplesite.com/browse/timewasting?game=pacman&level=8, the pattern to be added would be www.examplesite.com/browse/timewasting

Click to create the new Custom URL Pattern.

Updating Patterns

To edit a Pattern, double-click it. Make the changes you require, and then click .

Deleting Patterns

To delete a Pattern, select it and click the button.

Using Custom URLs in Rules

Custom URLs can be used within Filter Rules in order to match web requests. For example, you may want to block Social Media using the system Web Category but allow Facebook for a particular user or group.

Read more about Filter Rules

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