FortiGuard Center - Threat Research & Response

Security Risk

• Malicious Websites

  Malicious Websites

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  Sites that host software that is covertly downloaded to a user's machine to collect information and monitor user activity, and sites that are infected with destructive or malicious software, specifically designed to damage, disrupt, attack or manipulate computer systems without the user's consent, such as virus or trojan horse.

• Phishing

  Phishing

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  Counterfeit web pages that duplicate legitimate business web pages for the purpose of eliciting financial, personal or other private information from the users.

• Spam URLs

  Spam URLs

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  Websites or webpages whose URLs are found in spam emails. These webpages often advertise sex sites, fraudulent wares, and other potentially offensive materials.

Potentially Liable

• Child Abuse

  Child Abuse

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  Websites that have been verified by the Internet Watch Foundation to contain or distribute images of non-adult children that are depicted in a state of abuse. Information on the Internet Watch Foundation is available at http://www.iwf.org.uk/.

• Discrimination

  Discrimination

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  Sites that promote the identification of racial groups, the denigration or subjection of groups, or the superiority of any group.

• Drug Abuse

  Drug Abuse

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  Websites that feature information on illegal drug activities including: drug promotion, preparation, cultivation, trafficking, distribution, solicitation, etc.

• Hacking

  Hacking

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  Websites that depict illicit activities surrounding the unauthorized modification or access to programs, computers, equipment and websites.

• Illegal or Unethical

  Illegal or Unethical

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  Websites that feature information, methods, or instructions on fraudulent actions or unlawful conduct (non-violent) such as scams, counterfeiting, tax evasion, petty theft, blackmail, etc.

• Plagiarism

  Plagiarism

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  Websites that provide, distribute or sell school essays, projects, or diplomas.

• Proxy Avoidance

  Proxy Avoidance

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  Websites that provide information or tools on how to bypass Internet access controls and browse the Web anonymously, includes anonymous proxy servers.

• Violence

  Violence

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  This category includes sites that depict offensive material on brutality, death, cruelty, acts of abuse, mutilation, etc.

Bandwidth Consuming

• File Sharing and Storage

  File Sharing and Storage

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  Websites that permit users to utilize Internet servers to store personal files or for sharing, such as with photos.

• Freeware Downloads

  Freeware Downloads

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  Sites whose primary function is to provide freeware and software downloads. Cell phone ringtones/images/games, computer software updates for free downloads are all included in this category.

• Internet Radio and TV

  Internet Radio and TV

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  Websites that broadcast radio or TV communications over the Internet.

• Internet Telephony

  Internet Telephony

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  Websites that enable telephone communications over the Internet.

• Peer-to-peer File Sharing

  Peer-to-peer File Sharing

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  Websites that allow users to share files and data storage between each other.

• Streaming Media and Download

  Streaming Media and Download

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  Websites that allow the downloading of MP3 or other multimedia files.

Controversial

• Abortion

  Abortion

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  Websites pertaining to abortion data, information, legal issues, and organizations.

• Advocacy Organizations

  Advocacy Organizations

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  This category caters to organizations that campaign or lobby for a cause by building public awareness, raising support, influencing public policy, etc.

• Adult Materials

  Adult Materials

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  Mature content websites (18+ years and over) that feature or promote sexuality, strip clubs, sex shops, etc. excluding sex education, without the intent to sexually arouse.

• Alcohol

  Alcohol

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  Websites which legally promote or sell alcohol products and accessories.

• Alternative Beliefs

  Alternative Beliefs

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  Websites that provide information about or promote religions not specified in Traditional Religions or other unconventional, cultic, or folkloric beliefs and practices. Sites that promote or offer methods, means of instruction, or other resources to affect or influence real events through the use of spells, curses, magic powers, satanic or supernatural beings.

• Extremist Groups

  Extremist Groups

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  Sites that feature radical militia groups or movements with aggressive anti-government convictions or beliefs.

• Gambling

  Gambling

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  Sites that cater to gambling activities such as betting, lotteries, casinos, including gaming information, instruction, and statistics.

• Lingerie and Swimsuit

  Lingerie and Swimsuit

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  Websites that utilizes images of semi-nude models in lingerie, undergarments and swimwear for the purpose of selling or promoting such items.

• Marijuana

  Marijuana

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  Sites that provide information about or promote the cultivation, preparation, or use of marijuana.

• Nudity and Risque

  Nudity and Risque

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  Mature content websites (18+ years and over) that depict the human body in full or partial nudity without the intent to sexually arouse.

• Pornography

  Pornography

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  Mature content websites (18+ years and over) which present or display sexual acts with the intent to sexually arouse and excite.

• Sex Education

  Sex Education

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  Educational websites that provide information or discuss sex and sexuality, without utilizing pornographic materials.

• Sports Hunting and War Games

  Sports Hunting and War Games

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  Web pages that feature sport hunting, war games, paintball facilities, etc. Includes all related clubs, organizations and groups.

• Tobacco

  Tobacco

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  Websites which legally promote or sell tobacco products and accessories.

• Weapons

  Weapons

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  Websites that feature the legal promotion or sale of weapons such as hand guns, knives, rifles, explosives, etc.

General Interest - Business

• Armed Forces

  Armed Forces

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  Websites related to organized military and armed forces, excluding civil and extreme military organizations.

• Business

  Business

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  Sites sponsored by or devoted to business firms, business associations, industry groups, or business in general. Information Technology companies are excluded in this category and fall in Information Technology.

• Finance and Banking

  Finance and Banking

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  Financial Data and Services -- Sites that offer news and quotations on stocks, bonds, and other investment vehicles, investment advice, but not online trading. Includes banks, credit unions, credit cards, and insurance. Mortgage/insurance brokers apply here as opposed to Brokerage and Trading.

• General Organizations

  General Organizations

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  Sites that cater to groups, clubs or organisations of individuals with similar interests, either professional, social, humanitarian or recreational in nature. Social and Affiliation Organizations: Sites sponsored by or that support or offer information about organizations devoted chiefly to socializing or common interests other than philanthropy or professional advancement.Not to be be confused with Advocacy Groups and Political Groups.

• Government and Legal Organizations

  Government and Legal Organizations

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  Government: Sites sponsored by branches, bureaus, or agencies of any level of government, except for the armed forces, including courts, police institutions, city-level government institutions. Legal Organizations: Sites that discuss or explain laws of various government entities.

• Information and Computer Security

  Information and Computer Security

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  Sites that provide information about or free downloadable tools for computer security, but not ordinary Freeware and Software downloading.

• Information Technology

  Information Technology

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  Information Technology peripherals and services, cell phone services, cable TV/Internet suppliers.

• Search Engines and Portals

  Search Engines and Portals

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  Sites that support searching the Web, news groups, or indices/directories. Sites of search engines that provide info exclusively for shopping or comparing prices, however, fall in Shopping and Auction.

• Secure Websites

  Secure Websites

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  Sites that institute security measures such as authentication, passwords, registration, etc.

• Web Hosting

  Web Hosting

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  Sites of organizations that provide hosting services, or top-level domain pages of Web communities.

• Web-based Applications

  Web-based Applications

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  Sites that mimic desktop applications such as word processing, spreadsheets, and slide-show presentations.

Categorization Criteria

FortiGuard URL Database Categories are based upon the Web content viewing suitability of three major groups of customers: enterprises, schools, and home/families. They also take into account customer requirements for Internet management. The categories are defined to be easily manageable and patterned to industry standards.

Each category contains websites or web pages that have been assigned based on their dominant Web content. A website or webpage is categorized into a specific category that is likely to be blocked according to its content. When a website contains elements in different categories, web pages on the site are separately categorized.

Descriptions of the categories above are designed to assist the reader with category comprehension only; they are not meant to depict any form of symbolic representation of the individuals who own or surf these sites.