Re: [Dfey-general-discuss] Uproar over google introducing SSL search

[Joe O'Dell]

> It's refreshing to see that ssl STILL outsmarts content filters...

Hah,

We've been having a week-long battle at my school, as the e2bN proxy (Protex) 
has barred access to Google completely, and with minimal access to Google UK. 
Thing is, the student emails are Google Apps-Hosted, and so we've had no email 
access for over a week.

The only way they could solve it was to open up google to everyone, something 
they mentioned would be "at your risk"; So basically, if anything goes wrong, 
it's our fault for wanting access to our email.

> Anyone know of other search engines reachable over ssl [without installing 
> software]?


Yahoo, Ask and *cough* Bing are all accessible, but as they don't provide it 
over SSL, it's all filtered as usual through the proxy. :(

I would love to see them ban Protex, and get a proper system, but that would 
just involve tightening Securus' filtering settings!

Anyway, enjoy your weekends all,

Joe
-------------------------------------------------------
Joe O'Dell

GreenerClassrooms Project Co-Ordinator
http://www.greenerclassrooms.org.uk

Fedora Ambassador & Contributor (FreeMedia)
http://fedoraproject.org/wiki/User:Ascenseur

bedsLUG Co-Ordinator
beds.lug.org.uk

DFEY Member (SouthEast)
dfey.org



On 18 Jun 2010, at 01:51, Tim Dobson wrote:

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> 
> 
> I'm suprised it's taken google so long to come up with ssl search
> though. I remember using ssl'd gmail for a long time and I'd have though
> it'd have happen ages ago...
> 
> 
> 
> Nice to see the move to ssl is inspired by one of my favorite books:
> http://www.mattcutts.com/blog/google-secure-search/
> 
> oh the irony!
> 
> Tim
> 
> - -------- Original Message --------
> Subject: Re: [safetynet] safetynet Digest, Vol 52, Issue 10
> Date: Thu, 17 Jun 2010 16:07:17 +0100
> From: Lisa Bushby <address@hidden>
> Reply-To: address@hidden
> To: address@hidden
> 
> 
> HTTPS://Google.com -  Googles New Beta version Search Engine
> 
> Dear all ,
> 
> It's very refreshing to see Google actually taking responsibility for
> how their tools are being used in our Education environment !.  I know
> that were not really given a choice in that a high number of LEA's have
> blocked the site ,and in turn have blocked Googlemail and Google apps
> for education, but I still think its a bit of a break through -  Well
> done Becta - for raising the profile of Internet Safety in our schools !
> 
> I cannot beleive that they did not see that this could cause an issue in
> the first place !  I bet someone is in big trouble !
> 
> Googles Online Official Post from Monday !
> 
> An update on encrypted web search in schools
> 
> Monday, June 14, 2010 at 8:59 AM
> We recently launched a beta version of encrypted (SSL) search at
> https://www.google.com to prevent people from intercepting our users’
> search terms and results. However, because encrypted search creates an
> obscured channel between a user’s computer and Google, users who go to
> https://www.google.com can bypass some schools’ content filters. This
> can make it hard for schools to stop students from accessing adult content.
> 
> 
> One option is for schools to use our SafeSearch lock feature, which is
> designed to help keep adult content out of our search results. But given
> how many computers some institutions have this is proving impractical in
> many cases. So to prevent students from bypassing their filters, some
> schools are blocking encrypted search. However, a side effect of this
> action is that it also blocks other services hosted at Google’s secure
> URL, including Google Apps for Education, and many of our other services
> which require authentication to keep information safe.
> 
> 
> We’re working hard to address this issue as quickly as possible and in a
> few weeks we will move encrypted search to a new hostname – so schools
> can limit access to SSL search without disrupting other Google services,
> like Google Apps for Education. Longer term, we are exploring other
> options like moving authentication to its own hostname so that we can
> return encrypted search to https://www.google.com.
> 
> 
> Safety and security matter to Google, and we are committed to working
> with our partners in education so that we help keep students safe and
> secure on the Internet.
> 
> 
> Posted by Dave Girouard, President, Google Enterprise
> 
> 
> 
> 
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