Site Categories provided by the Bluecoat Software, with definitions and Proposed Actions - for Comment
Category
Category Number
Description
Proposed Action
Sites which provide information or arguments in favor of or
against abortion, describe abortion procedures, offer help in
Abortion
16
Open
obtaining or avoiding abortion, or provide information on the
effects, or lack thereof, of abortion.
Sites that contain material of adult nature that does not
necessarily contain excessive violence, sexual content, or
Adult/Mature Content
1
Block Universal
nudity. These sites include very profane or vulgar content and
sites that are not appropriate for children.
Sites that offer for sale, promote, glorify, review or in any way
advocate the use or creation of alcoholic beverages, including
Alcohol
23
but not limited to beer, wine, and hard liquors. It does not include
Open
sites that sell alcohol as a subset of other products such as
restaurants or grocery stores.
Sites that provide information, promote, or cater to alternative
sexual expressions in their myriad forms. Includes but is not
limited to the full range of non-traditional sexual practices,
Alternative
93
interests, orientations or fetishes. This category does not include
Open
Sexuality/Lifestyles
sites that are sexually gratuitous in nature which would typically
fall under the Pornography category, nor does it include lesbian,
gay, bi-sexual, transgender or any sites which speak to one's
sexual identity.
Sites that promote and provide information on religions such as
Witchcraft or Satanism. Occult practices, atheistic views, voodoo
rituals or any other form of mysticism are represented here.
Alternative
Includes sites that endorse or offer methods, means of
22
Block Universal
Spirituality/Occult
instruction, or other resources to affect or influence real events
through the use of spells, incantations, curses and magic
powers. This category includes sites which discuss or deal with
paranormal or unexplained events.
Sites that promote and provide information about motion
pictures, videos, television, music and programming guides,
Arts/Entertainment
20
books, comics, movie theatres, galleries, artists or reviews on
Block in Core Time
entertainment. Also includes sites dedicated to or run by zoos or
amusement parks.
Auctions
59
Sites that support the offering and purchasing of goods between
Block in Core Time
individuals. Does not include classified advertisements.
Category
Category Number
Description
Proposed Action
Sites that primarily offer access to personal pages and blogs.
This classification includes but is not limited to content that
Blogs/Personal Pages
63
shares a common domain such as web space made available by
Block Core Time
an ISP or some other hosting service. Personal home pages and
blogs tend to be dynamic in nature and their content may vary
from innocuous to extreme.
Sites that provide or advertise trading of securities and
management of investment assets (online or offline). Also
Brokerage/Trading
32
Block Core Time
includes insurance sites, as well as sites that offer financial
investment strategies, quotes, and news.
Sites devoted to business firms, business information,
economics, marketing, business management and
entrepreneurship. This does not include sites that perform
Business/Economy
21
Open
services that are defined in another category (such as
Information Technology companies, or companies that sell travel
services). Does not include shopping sites.
Sites that provide chat, text messaging (SMS), instant
Chat/Instant Messaging
51
messaging, voice/telephony (VoIP) capabilities or client
Block Core Time
downloads that facilitate these types of communication.
Sites that sponsor or provide information on computers,
Computers/Internet
38
technology, the Internet and technology-related organizations
Open
and companies.
Servers that provide commercial hosting for a variety of content
such as images and media files. These servers are typically
Content Servers
97
Open
used in conjunction with other web servers to optimize content
retrieval speeds.
Sites that nurture cultural understanding and foster volunteerism
such as 4H, the Lions and Rotary Clubs. Also encompasses non-
profit associations that cultivate philanthropic or relief efforts.
Cultural/Charitable
29
Sites that provide a learning environment or cultural
Open
Organisations
refinement/awareness outside of the strictures of formalized
education such as museums and planetariums are included
under this heading.
Sites that offer education information, distance learning, or trade
school information or programs. Includes sites that are
Education
27
Open
sponsored by schools, educational facilities, faculty, or alumni
groups.
Sites offering web-based email services, such as online email
Email
52
Block Core Time
reading, e-cards, and mailing list services.
Category
Category Number
Description
Proposed Action
Sites that are extreme in nature and are not suitable for general
consumption. Includes sites that revel and glorify in gore, human
or animal suffering, scatological or other aberrant behaviors,
perversities or debaucheries. It includes visual or written
depictions deemed to be of an unusually horrific nature. These
Extreme
7
Block Universal
are salacious sites bereft of historical context, educational value
or artistic merit created solely to debase, dehumanize or shock.
Examples would include necrophilia, cannibalism, scat and
amputee fetish sites.
Sites that provide or advertise banking services (online or
offline) or other types of financial information, such as loans.
Financial Services
31
Block Core Time
Does not include sites that offer market information, brokerage
or trading services.
Sites designed specifically for children. This category is used in
For Kids
87
conjunction with other categories - it is not a stand-alone
Open
category.
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
Gambling
11
Blocked Universal
sites that sell gambling-related products/machines or sites for
offline casinos and hotels, unless they meet one of the above
requirements.
Sites that support playing or downloading video games,
computer games, or electronic games. Includes sites with
information, tips or advice on such games or how to obtain cheat
Games
33
Block Core Time
codes. Also includes magazines dedicated to computerized
games and sites that support or host online sweepstakes and
giveaways.
Sites sponsored by or which provide information on government,
government agencies and government services such as taxation
and emergency services. Includes sites which discuss or explain
laws of various governmental entities. Also includes sites that
Government/Legal
34
Open
advertise legal services, lawyers for hire, adoption services,
information about adoption, immigration information, and
immigration services.
Category
Category Number
Description
Proposed Action
Sites that distribute, promote or provide hacking tools and/or
information which may help gain unauthorized access to
computer systems and/or computerized communication
Hacking
17
systems. Hacking encompasses instructions on illegal or
Blocked Universal
questionable tactics, such as creating viruses, distributing
cracked or pirated software or other protected intellectual
property.
Sites that provide advice and information on general health such
as fitness and well-being, personal health or medical services,
drugs, alternative and complementary therapies, medical
Health
37
Open
information about ailments, dentistry, optometry, general
psychiatry, self-help, and support organizations dedicated to a
disease or condition.
Sites that primarily focus on comedy, jokes, fun, etc. May include
sites containing jokes of adult or mature nature. Sites containing
Humour/Jokes
68
Blocked Core Time
humorous Adult/Mature content also have an Adult/Mature
category rating.
Sites that promote, offer, sell, supply, encourage or otherwise
advocate the illegal use, cultivation, manufacture, or distribution
Illegal Drugs
25
Open
of drugs, pharmaceuticals, intoxicating plants or chemicals and
their related paraphernalia.
Sites that advocate or give advice on performing illegal acts
such as service theft, evading law enforcement, fraud, burglary
Illegal/Questionable
9
techniques and plagiarism. Also includes sites that provide or
Block Universal
sell questionable educational materials, such as term papers.
Sites that contain images or offer the sale of swimsuits or
Intimate
intimate apparel or other types of suggestive clothing. Does not
5
Block Core Time
Apparel/Swimsuit
include sites selling undergarments as a subsection of other
products offered.
Sites that provide assistance in finding employment, and tools
Job Search/Careers
45
Open
for locating prospective employers.
Sites that provide information regarding, support, promote, or
cater to one's sexual orientation or gender identity including but
not limited to lesbian, gay, bi-sexual, and transgender sites. This
LGBT
94
Open
category does not include sites that are sexually gratuitous in
nature which would typically fall under the Pornography
category.
Sites that promote or provide information on military branches or
Military
35
Open
armed services.
Category
Category Number
Description
Proposed Action
Sites that primarily report information or comments on current
events or contemporary issues of the day. Also includes news
News/Media
46
Open
radio stations and news magazines. Does not include sites that
can be rated in other categories.
Sites that primarily offer access to newsgroups, messaging or
bulletin board systems, or group blogs where participants can
Newsgroups/Forums
53
Open
post comments, hold discussions, or seek opinions or expertise
on a variety of topics.
Servers with non-malicious, non-offensive content or resources
used by applications, but not directly viewable by web browsers.
Non-viewable
96
Open
Includes but is not limited to visitor tracking, ranking and content
filtering systems.
Sites containing nude or seminude depictions of the human
body. These depictions are not necessarily sexual in intent or
effect, but may include sites containing nude paintings or photo
Nudity
6
Open
galleries of artistic nature. This category also includes nudist or
naturist sites that contain pictures of nude individuals.
Sites that provide a secure, encrypted, off-site backup and
restoration of personal data. These online repositories are
typically used to store, organize and share videos, music,
Online Storage
56
Blocked Universal
movies, photos, documents and other electronically formatted
information. Sites that fit this criteria essentially act as your
personal hard drive on the Internet.
Sites that host images or videos or provide search capabilities
for images and videos that include potentially pornographic
Open Image/Media
content (e.g., that return thumbnail images) along with non-
50
Open
Servers
pornographic content (as defined in our Pornography category).
Sites that explicitly exclude offensive content are not included in
this category.
Sites that pay users in the form of cash or prizes, for clicking on
Pay to Surf
72
Blocked Universal
or reading specific links, email, or web pages.
Sites that distribute software to facilitate the direct exchange of
files between users. P2P includes software that enables file
Peer-to-Peer (P2P)
83
Open
search and sharing across a network without dependence on a
central server.
Personals/Dating
47
Sites that promote interpersonal relationships.
Blocked Core Time
Sites that are designed to appear as a legitimate bank or retailer
Phishing
18
with the intent to fraudulently capture sensitive data (i.e. credit
Blocked Universal
card numbers, pin numbers).
Category
Category Number
Description
Proposed Action
Sites that are under construction, parked domains, search-bait
Placeholders
98
Blocked Universal
or otherwise generally having no useful value.
Sites sponsored by or which provide information on political
parties, special interest groups, or any organization that
Political/Activist Groups
36
Open
promotes change or reform in public policy, public opinion, social
practice, or economic activities.
Sites that contain sexually explicit material for the purpose of
Pornography
3
Blocked Universal
arousing a sexual or prurient interest.
Sites that provide information on how to bypass proxy server
features or gain access to URLs in any way that bypasses the
Proxy Avoidance
86
proxy server. This category includes any service which will allow
Blocked Universal
a person to bypass the Blue Coat filtering system, such as
anonymous surfing services.
Sites that provide information on renting, buying, or selling real
Real Estate
60
estate or properties. Also includes vacation property rentals such Blocked Core Time
as time-shares and vacation condos.
Sites containing personal, professional, or educational
reference, including online dictionaries, maps, censuses,
Reference
49
Open
almanacs, library catalogues, genealogy-related sites and
scientific information.
Sites that promote and provide information on conventional or
unconventional religious or quasi-religious subjects, as well as
churches, synagogues, or other houses of worship. Does not
Religion
54
Open
include sites containing alternative religions such as Wicca or
witchcraft (Alternative Spirituality/Occult) or atheist beliefs
(Political/Activist Groups).
Sites that primarily focus on providing information about and/or
Remote Access Tools
57
methods that enable authorized access to and use of a desktop
Open
computer or private network remotely.
Restaurants/Dining/
Sites that list, review, discuss, advertise and promote food,
64
Open
Food
catering, dining services, cooking and recipes.
Sites that support searching the Internet, indices, and
Search Engines/Portals
40
Open
directories.
Sites that provide information (sometimes graphic) on
reproduction, sexual development, safe sex practices, sexuality,
Sex Education
4
Open
birth control, tips for better sex, and sexual enhancement
products.
Category
Category Number
Description
Proposed Action
Sites that provide or advertise the means to obtain goods or
services. Includes sites that list prices or have a clear way to
order merchandise and also includes retail shopping outlets,
Shopping
58
classified advertisements, price comparisons, hot deals,
Open
bargains, etc. Does not include sites that can be classified in
other categories (such as Vehicles or Weapons).
Sites that enable people to connect with others to form an online
community. Typically members describe themselves in personal
web page profiles and form interactive networks, linking them
with other members based on common interests or
acquaintances. Instant messaging, file sharing and web logs
(blogs) are common features of Social Networking sites. Note:
Social Networking
55
These sites may contain offensive material in the community-
Blocked Core Time
created content. Sites in this category are also referred to as
"virtual communities" or "online communities". This category
does not include more narrowly focused sites, like those that
specifically match descriptions for Personals/Dating sites or
Business sites.
Sites providing information on matters of daily life. This includes
but is not limited to pet care, home improvement, fashion/beauty
tips, hobbies and other tasks that comprise everyday life. It does
Society/Daily Living
61
Blocked Core Time
not include sites relating to entertainment, sports, jobs, personal
pages or other topics which already have a specific category.
Sites that are dedicated to the electronic download of software
Software Downloads
71
Open
packages, whether for payment or at no charge.
Sites that promote or provide information about spectator sports
or recreational activities. It does not include sites dedicated to
Sports/Recreation
65
Open
hobbies such as gardening, collecting, board games,
scrapbooking, quilting, etc.
Category
Category Number
Description
Proposed Action
Sites to which spyware (as defined in the Spyware/Malware
Sources category) reports its findings or from which it alone
downloads advertisements. It does not contain sites which serve
advertisements for other web pages in addition to spyware
Spyware Effects/Privacy
advertisements; only those sites uniquely used by spyware.
44
Blocked Universal
Concerns
Includes sites that contain serious privacy issues, such as
"phone home" sites to which software can connect and send
user information; and sites to which browser hijackers redirect
users. Usually does not include sites that can be marked as
Spyware/Malware.
Sites which distribute spyware and other malware. Spyware and
malware are defined as software that takes control of a
computer, modifies computer settings, or collects or reports
personal information without the permission of the end user. It
also includes software that misrepresents itself by tricking users
to install, download, or enter personal information. This includes
sites or software that perform drive-by downloads; browser
hijackers; dialers; software that does intrusive advertising; any
program which modifies your browser homepage, bookmarks, or
Spyware/Malware
43
security settings; and keyloggers. It also includes any software
Blocked Universal
Sources
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 (e.g. it alerts that it will send personal
information, be installed, or that it will log keystrokes).
Sites that sell, deliver, or stream music or video content in any
Streaming Media/MP3s
84
format, including sites that provide downloads for such viewers.
Blocked Universal
Sites considered to have suspicious content and/or intent. This
categorization is determined by analysis of web reputation
Suspicious
92
Open
factors. If a site is determined to be clearly malicious or benign, it
will be placed in a different category.
Sites that offer for sale, promote, glorify, review or in any way
advocate the use or creation of tobacco or tobacco related
products including but not limited to cigarettes, pipes, cigars and
Tobacco
24
Blocked Universal
chewing tobacco. It does not include sites that sell tobacco as a
subset of other products such as grocery stores.
Sites that promote or provide opportunity for travel planning,
including finding and making travel reservations, vehicle rentals,
Travel
66
Blocked Core Time
descriptions of travel destinations, or promotions for hotels or
casinos.
Sites that provide information on or promote vehicles, boats, or
Vehicles
67
aircraft, including sites that support online purchase of vehicles
Blocked Core Time
or parts.
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
Violence/Hate/Racism
14
Blocked Universal
aggression toward, or denigrate an individual or group on the
basis of race, religion, gender, nationality, ethnic origin, or other
involuntary characteristics.
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 information
on BB guns, paintball guns, black powder rifles, target shooting,
Weapons
15
or bows and arrows unless the site also meets one of the above
Blocked Universal
requirements. Also does not include sites that promote collecting
weapons, or groups that either support or oppose weapons use.
Sites that provide online advertisements or banners. Does not
Web Advertisements
88
include advertising servers which serve adult-oriented
Blocked Universal
advertisements.
Sites with interactive, web-based office/business applications.
Web Applications
85
Excludes email, chat/IM or other sites that have a specific
Open
content category.
Sites of organizations which provide top-level domain pages, as
Web Hosting
89
Open
well as web communities or hosting services.
