Getting started with ProxEfence

ProxEfence is a server-based Internet filter. The program should be installed on one server-computer, through which all passing Internet traffic will be filtered. Local network computers will connect to Internet or extranet through the ProxEfence proxy server. All filtering settings are set on the Server Computer.

Network Installation Guide

Please refer to the www.softforyou.com/prx-network_guide.html

Downloading, Installing and Running ProxEfence

You can download ProxEfence from our website:
www.softforyou.com/prx-download.php
Install and run proxy server.

After starting the program the icon-logo of ProxEfence will appear in the right bottom corner of the monitor - in the system tray.
You should right-click on this icon to open the menu that contains the following items:

- Testing Program - to open the ProxEfence Testing Program manual in a new window.
- Getting Started - to open the ProxEfence Getting Started manual in a new window.
- -----------
- Restart Proxy
- Setting up Filtration - to open http://setup.pef
- Registration
- About
- -----------
- Exit - stop the proxy server and unload the program from the computer

If you are using a Personal Firewall on Server, you should configure your firewall not to block ProxEfence modules.
For example, Windows XP with Service Pack 2 contains a built-in firewall, and if it is turned on then you should add ProxEfence modules: PefService.exe, ProxEfenceW.exe located in the "…/Program Files/SoftForYou/ProxEfence" directory, into the Exceptions list of this firewall.
We recommend that you disable all your personal firewalls (including built-in Windows XP firewall) temporarily to make sure that the proxy server is working properly.

Please refer to the ProxEfence manual for more information about on how to find free port.

How to set up Web Browsers and E-Mail Clients

Web Browsers of all computers in the network should have access to the Internet through the ProxEfence proxy server.

Setting up Internet Explorer
Push the “Tool” button, then select “Internet Options”, select “Connections” tab.
When connected to the Internet by dial-up or Virtual Private Network (VPN), push the “Settings…” button, check the ‘Use a proxy server for this connection’ checkbox. You should enter the IP address of the proxy server in the "Address" field.
Use "localhost" as the IP address for your Server computer.
Use your Server computer's IP address as the IP address for Client computers.
Use 8008 as a port number if you did not change the port before.
When connected to the Internet by cable or wireless, press the “LAN settings” button and enter the IP address and port as for “Settings…”.

Use the manual to set up Mozilla FireFox and Opera web browsers.

Use the manual to set up e-mail clients (Outlook, Mozilla, etc.)

Setting up Filtration

To start filtration settings, you should enter ‘http://setup.pef’ to any web browser.
You can always access the filtration settings using the program icon on the system tray. You only need to click it with the right mouse button and select 'Setting up Filtration' item.

ProxEfence can deliver different levels of restrictions for Internet access for every computer user. In this version of the program, users are defined by the IP address of the computer they use. Users who have the same level of restriction can be combined into groups to simplify the settings. Every group has its particular settings. If a user has individual settings, the administrator should add an additional group with only that user and set the setting for this ‘group’ of one user.

Setting Groups
Start adjusting the settings from the very left button of the “Group” menu. In the “Group” window you can add, delete or edit groups of users. Set filtration for each Group of users not for each user. Every Group includes users who have identical filtration settings.
The manual describes this process in more detail.

Setting Users
Go to the next window - “Users”. Here you can add, delete or edit users. The list of all proxy server groups will be in the left column of the window. You can select and work with users of one particular group or with all groups on the list.
The manual describes this process in more detail.

Filter Settings
This tab opens the main window to set up filtration rules for the selected Group of Users. Select a group from the list on the left. Select a protocol (right upper corner) for which you will do the settings.

General Internet Settings – common settings for all protocols.
These settings include:

Blocked Categories. Determines what categories of web sites a selected group of users can access. More details are in the manual.

Timetable. This window determines permitted times of Internet access with 30 minute increments for every day of the week. More details are in the manual.

Time Limits. This window sets a summary time limit for Internet access for every day of the week. More details are in the manual.

Traffic Limits. This window sets limitations of Internet traffic for every day of the week. More details are in the manual.

HTTP settings
The HTTP protocol is typically used in web browsers.
The following settings may be made to set up the protocol:

Turn on or shut down a network completely, including Internet.

Turn on or shut down filtration entirely.

To allow or forbid Internet access by IP addresses.

Managing Web Sites. The administrator can edit lists of allowable or blocked websites and can turn on or off embedded databases of Web Sites. He can also check to see if a web site belongs to any categories among all available lists. See manual for details.

Blocked Words in URL. If a URL includes a word from the list, and that word belongs to at least one of the selected categories, then access to this URL will be blocked. The list of words can be edited. The program has a preset list of categorized words. Details are in the manual.

Content Filtration. Dynamic filtration of content by key phrases and web page structures. There are settings according to desired filtration strength. Details are in the manual.

HTTPS settings
The HTTPS protocol is typically used in web browsers.
The following settings may be made to set up the protocol:

Turn on or shut down a network completely, including Internet.

Turn on or shut down filtration entirely.

To allow or forbid Internet access by IP addresses.

Blocked Words in URL. If a URL includes a word from the list, and that word belongs to at least one of the selected categories, then access to this URL will be blocked. The list of words can be edited. Details are in the manual.

Mail settings - Settings for e-mail protocols: POP3, IMAP4, SMTP.
These protocols are used for e-mail clients typically.
The following settings may be made to set up the protocol:

Turn on or shut down a network completely, including Internet.

Turn on or shut down filtration entirely.

To allow or forbid Internet access by IP addresses.

SOCKS settings - settings for protocols: SOCKS 4, SOCKS 5.
These protocols are used for IM, FTP clients typically.
The following settings may be made to set up the protocol:

Turn on or shut down a network completely, including Internet.

Turn on or shut down filtration entirely.

To allow or forbid Internet access by IP addresses.

Main Settings

The settings are:

To turn on or shut down filtration entirely for all groups.

Field for administrator’s e-mail address that will be shown in the "Forbidden" window for feedback response.

Please refer to the ProxEfence manual for more information about using ProxEfence.