A URL (Uniform Resource Locator) identifies a resource on a remote server and gives the network location on that server. The URL path is the string of information that comes after the top level domain name. You can use the HTTP-proxy to block websites that contain specified text in the URL path. You can add, delete, or modify URL path patterns.
To use the HTTP request proxy action to block content based on patterns in URL paths, you must edit the HTTP Request category of the HTTP proxy action and specify the URL path patterns for the content you want to block. You can use these wildcard characters with alphanumeric text to create pattern matches:
- Asterisk (*) — Use * for zero or more instances of any alphanumeric character.
- Question mark (?) — Use ? for any one alphanumeric character.
For example:
- To block an entire website and all its content, you must type /* after the domain name. To block all pages that have the host name www.example.net, type www.example.net/*.
- To block all pages that have a specific path after any host name, such as www.example.net/wpadmin, type */wp-admin/*.
- To block all website URL paths that contain the word sex, such as www.example.net/sexuality, type *sex*.
For a directory with the name of the individual word sex, such as www.example.net/sex/images, type */sex/*. - To block website URL paths ending in *.exe, type *.exe.
- To block website URL paths ending in three characters, type example.???. This would block example.com, example.org, and example.gov, but not example.io.
For more information, go to About Rules and Rulesets and About Regular Expressions.
If you filter URLs with the HTTP request URL path ruleset, you must configure a complex pattern that uses full regular expression syntax from the advanced view of a ruleset. It is easier and gives better results to filter based on header or body content type than it is to filter by URL path.
To block websites with specific text in the URL path:
- In the HTTP Proxy Action configuration, select HTTP Request > URL paths.
The Rules (simple view) list appears. - Configure the rule action.
For more information, go to Add, Change, or Delete Rules. - To change settings for another category in this proxy, see the topic for that category.
- Save the configuration.
If you modified a predefined proxy action, when you save the changes you are prompted to clone (copy) your settings to a new action.
For more information on predefined proxy actions, go to About Proxy Actions.