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What Is SafeSearch?

As an important function of search engines, SafeSearch can automatically identify and filter out search results that contain pornography, violence, and potentially harmful information in an effort to protect users against insecure information. The rapid development of the Internet has made obtaining information easier than ever before. Through search engines, we can obtain a wealth of contents, but at the same time, we are also exposed to vast amounts of unreliable information. Such information not only endangers the physical and mental health of minors, but also leaves many adults feeling disturbed. To resolve this issue, network administrators can configure SafeSearch on a firewall for all search requests to forcibly filter out search results of specific search engines. In this way, the Internet can better serve our learning, work, and life.

Why Is SafeSearch Important?

While the openness of the Internet allows everyone to access information easily through search engines, it comes with both advantages and disadvantages. Not all information contained in search results is favorable. Some may be pornographic, violent, or bloody. Such harmful information threatens the physical and mental health of minors who lack discernment and can also distract many adults. Specifically, it could significantly impact their work efficiency and may even lead to extreme behaviors.

Why is SafeSearch important?
Why is SafeSearch important?

Internet supervision alone cannot fully address the issue, as it does not deal with the root problem, which is the release of inappropriate information to begin with. What if we were to shift our perspective? Instead of attempting to completely block input, we can explore output control as a means to prevent the release of inappropriate information.

How Does SafeSearch Work?

In search engines, we can customize a Safesearch mode. This feature automatically detects search results and removes content marked as harmful.

Table 1-1 SafeSearch modes

Mode

Description

Filter

All inappropriate information detected (such as images, texts, and links) is masked. Only the filtered content is displayed in search results.

Blur

Unhealthy images are blurred, but inappropriate texts and links related to a search are still displayed.

Disable

All results related to a search are displayed, even if the search results contain inappropriate information.

How does SafeSearch work?
How does SafeSearch work?

Based on the mode selected, SafeSearch can be classified into URL SafeSearch and DNS SafeSearch.

Table 1-2 Common SafeSearch types

Comparison Item

URL SafeSearch

DNS SafeSearch

Control phase

Perform control when an HTTP/HTTPS URL request is initiated.

Perform control in the domain name resolution phase. In this way, the HTTP traffic volume on the entire network can be effectively reduced.

Control granularity

The control granularity is fine, and control can be performed at the directory and file levels.

The control granularity is coarse, and control can be performed only at the domain name level.

Control scope

Control HTTP/HTTPS access.

Only Google, Bing, Yahoo, Yandex, and YouTube are supported.

Control all services corresponding to specified domain names.

  • Predefined DNS category: The categories for a large number of common domain names are predefined in the system. By leveraging these categories, administrators can easily control domain name access. Only Google, Bing, and YouTube are supported.
  • User-defined DNS category: Domain names of certain search websites as well as parameter rules such as IP addresses, CNAMEs, and TTLs in DNS response packets are supported to be user-defined to control domain name access. Users can configure the SafeSearch function for the search engines except Google, Bing, and YouTube.
  • The priority of user-defined DNS SafeSearch is higher than that of predefined DNS SafeSearch.

How Can We Apply SafeSearch?

To enhance browsing security, search engines such as Google, Bing, and YouTube offer users optional SafeSearch configurations. Users can customize the configurations within a search engine to control search results.

In addition, network administrators have the option to lock SafeSearch configurations on a firewall and enable the SafeSearch function for all users within a network. When a search request passes through the firewall, the firewall automatically checks whether the request carries SafeSearch parameters and then forcibly filters out inappropriate or insecure content.

How can we apply SafeSearch?
How can we apply SafeSearch?

Firewalls are usually deployed at network borders as security gateways to defend against known and unknown threats in real time. Network administrators can use HUAWEI Firewall to centrally manage users' SafeSearch configurations and regulate their Internet access behaviors.

About This Topic
  • Author: Zhao Zhigang
  • Updated on: 2024-07-24
  • Views: 998
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