Category

Description

Adult/Mature Content

Sites that contain material of adult nature that does not necessarily contain excessive violence, sexual content, or nudity. These sites include very profane or vulgar content and sites that are not appropriate for children.

Chat/Instant Messaging

Sites that provide chat or instant messaging capabilities or client downloads.

Gambling

Sites where a user can place a bet or participate in a betting pool, participate in a lottery, or receive information, assistance, recommendations, or training in such activities. Does not include sites that sell gambling-related products/machines or sites for offline casinos and hotels, unless they meet one of the above requirements.

Games

Sites that provide information and support game playing or downloading, video games, computer games, electronic games, tips, and advice on games or how to obtain cheat codes. Includes magazines dedicated to video games and sites that support or host online sweepstakes and giveaways.

Hacking

Sites that distribute, promote, or provide hacking tools and/or information which may help gain unauthorized access to computer systems and/or computerized communication systems. Hacking encompasses instructions on illegal or questionable tactics, such as creating viruses, distributing cracked or pirated software, or distributing other protected intellectual property.

Illegal Drugs

Sites that promote, offer, sell, supply, encourage or otherwise advocate the illegal use, cultivation, manufacture, or distribution of drugs, pharmaceuticals, intoxicating plants or chemicals and their related paraphernalia.

Illegal/Questionable

Sites that advocate or give advice on performing illegal acts such as service theft, evading law enforcement, fraud, burglary techniques and plagiarism. Also includes sites that provide or sell questionable educational materials, such as term papers.

Pay to Surf

Sites that pay users in the form of cash or prizes, for clicking on or reading specific links, email, or web pages.

Peer-to-Peer (P2P)

Sites that distribute software to facilitate the direct exchange of files between users, including software that enables file search and sharing across a network without dependence on a central server.

Personals/Dating

Sites that promote interpersonal relationships.

Phishing

Sites that are designed to appear as a legitimate bank or retailer with the intent to fraudulently capture sensitive data (i.e. credit card numbers, pin numbers).

Pornography

Sites that contain sexually explicit material for the purpose of arousing a sexual or prurient interest.

Proxy Avoidance

Sites that provide information on how to bypass proxy server/appliance features or gain access to URLs in any way that bypasses the proxy server/appliance. This category includes any service which attempts to allow a person to bypass the Blue Coat filtering system, such as anonymous surfing services.

Remote Access Tools

Sites that primarily focus on providing information about and/or methods that enables authorized access to and use of a desktop computer or private network remotely.

Spyware Effects/Privacy Concerns

Sites to which spyware (as defined in the Spyware/Malware Sources category) reports its findings or from which it alone downloads advertisements. Also includes sites that contain serious privacy issues, such as “phone home” sites to which software can connect and send user info; sites that make extensive use of tracking cookies without a posted privacy statement; and sites to which browser hijackers redirect users. Usually does not include sites that can be marked as Spyware/Malware. Note: Sites rated as spyware effects typically have a second category assigned with them.

Spyware/Malware Sources

Sites which distribute spyware and other malware. Spyware is defined as software which takes control of your computer, modifies computer settings, collects or reports personal information, or misrepresents itself by tricking users to install, download, or enter personal information. This includes drive-by downloads; browser hijackers; dialers; intrusive advertising; any program which modifies your homepage, bookmarks,  or security settings; and keyloggers. It also includes any software which bundles spyware (as defined above) as part of its offering. Information collected or reported is "personal" if it contains uniquely identifying data, such as email addresses, name, social security number, IP address, etc. A site is not classified as spyware if the user is reasonably notified that the software will perform these actions (ie, it alerts that it will send personal information, be installed, or that it will log keystrokes). Note: Sites rated as spyware should have a second category assigned with them.

Violence/Hate/Racism

Sites that depict extreme physical harm to people or property, or that advocate or provide instructions on how to cause such harm. Also includes sites that advocate, depict hostility or aggression toward, or denigrate an individual or group on the basis of race, religion, gender, nationality, ethnic origin, or other involuntary characteristics.

Weapons

Sites that sell, review, or describe weapons such as guns, knives or martial arts devices, or provide information on their use, accessories, or other modifications. Does not include sites providing information on BB guns, paintball guns, black powder rifles, target shooting, or bows and arrows, unless the site also meets one of the above requirements. Also does not include sites that promote collecting weapons, or groups that either support or oppose weapons use.