MIMESWEEPER FOR WEB - SECURE THE WEB LIKE YOU SECURE EMAIL

What is MIMEsweeper for Web?

MIMEsweeper for Web  is part of the MIMEsweeper family of products.  It enables customers to implement broad Content Security policies on Web, HTTP and passive FTP transfers. 

URL filters are no longer sufficient to provide adequate web protection. MIMEsweeper for Web goes far beyond the role of traditional web URL filters by acting as a tool that security-checks content of pages and enclosed data being both downloaded from and uploaded to the Web.

Download the Reviewers Guide for MIMEsweeper for Web

Why do I need MIMEsweeper for Web?

Businesses have become increasingly aware of Content Security threats within the context of e-mail, such as exposure to viruses and malicious code or the inadvertent loss of sensitive company information. These threats have been effectively addressed through the MAILsweeper part of the MIMEsweeper family.

In contrast, aside from blocking access to certain inappropriate sites, the Web is often seen as safer than email, as nothing appears to leave or enter the network. Consequently, organizations think they are not at risk from the Web, in the same way as they are with e-mail. However, this is simply not the case.

There are many Web-based threats, which are just as dangerous as e-mail threats. Whereas URL blockers will manage access to inappropriate pages, many unblocked or seemingly  legitimate pages can contain Viruses and malicious code that can be intentionally or inadvertently downloaded from the Web and damage the company's network. Hidden mailtos and cyberwoozles, can siphon off sensitive company information and have a negative impact on company reputation and profitability. Data may also leave a company if a user should by-pass the internal e-mail system security, by posting information to the Web (e.g. chat rooms) or by using Web based e-mail accounts (e.g. Yahoo mail, Hotmail).

Web Content Security is about much more than just blocking certain Web sites and protection from Web-borne viruses.

The Solution

MIMEsweeper for Web directly addresses threats associated with Web usage, by enforcing your Web security policy right down to the individual user level if required, taking into account the needs of the business and of the individual.

For example, it may be an organizational policy that no one other than the IT department has legitimate reasons for downloading executable files; or that all users can access sports or news sites, but only out of normal working hours. MIMEsweeper for Web enables policies such as these to be easily implemented, putting organizations in control of Web usage in the workplace.

MIMEsweeper for Web offers policy-based protection against threats to network and business integrity by offering the following benefits:

Network Integrity

• Identification and cleaning or blocking of viruses in Web transfers by integrating with a range of 3rd party AV tools and by intelligent analysis based on filename
• Blocking of executables, Java/VBscript and ActiveX
• Protection against network congestion by managing Web activity

Business Integrity

• Web user authentication to protect against unauthorized users accessing the Web
• Protection against loss of sensitive material through Web-based e-mail systems e.g. Hotmail accounts and bulletin boards
• Protection against loss of confidential information from cookies
• or hidden mailtos
• Blocking of content from undesirable sites based on intelligent key word analysis, PICs rating and URL
• Filtering of undesirable file types
• Auditing and reporting of usage with built-in graphical tools

Content Management

• notification to users of progress of pages being downloaded (Browser Comforting)
• blocking or delivery of web-data based on validation
• customer-definable auditing and reporting

URL Management

MIMEsweeper for Web offers optional restriction of more than 689 million web pages (URLs) in 40 categories with provision for 14 languages. MIMEsweeper for Web 4.1 also offers support for Microsoft Windows 2000 as well as performance gains of up to 50 per cent when using Windows 2000 multiprocessor support.

The new “URL Filter Category” database add-on feature to MIMEsweeper for Web enables organizations to bar access to selected categories through a regularly updated URL Filter Category database. Organizations receive the updates automatically via the Internet, relieving their network managers from the burden of constant manual updates.

The database is continuously updated by a team of 40 researchers, automated tools and customer submissions. Up to 15,000 updates are added every week into the 40 clearly defined categories, which include “Adult/Sexually Explicit,” “Finance and Investment,” and “Gambling.” The URL Filter Category restricts access to all sites contained in the categories selected, and category subsets can be applied to different departments within the organization. For Web pages that have not been specifically blocked by a selected URL category, MIMEsweeper for Web analyzes and restricts the web page according to the organization’s security policy.

How does it work?

MIMEsweeper for Web is a trademark of Clearswift Inc.