Instant Messaging:

IM Blocking
Instant Messaging (IM) involves direct connections between workstations either locally or across the Internet. Using this feature of the Web Filter, groups and/or individual client machines can be set up to block IM services specified in the library category. (See Blocked IM and P2P Clients and Services for details on blocked IM components and features.)

How IM Works
When the IM module is loaded on the server, the Web Filter compares packets on the network with IM libraries stored on the Web Filter. If a match is found, the Web Filter checks the user’s profile to see whether the user’s connection to the IM service should be blocked, and then performs the appropriate action.

WARNING: The following items are known issues pertaining to the IM module:
• IM can only block by destination IP address if network traffic is being tunneled, sent through a Virtual Private Network (VPN), or encrypted.
• IM will not be blocked if a client-side VPN is set up to proxy traffic through a remote IP address outside the connection protected by the Web Filter.
• Some versions of the AOL client create a network interface that send a network connection through a UDP proxy server, which prevents blocking IM.

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