All Sourceforge.net Being Blocked by SmartFilter

An unnamed reader writes: "I just noticed that all sites. '*.sourceforge.net' are being blocked by all corporations using SmartFilter including mine. SmartFilter lists all of them as 'MP3' sites. Below is the error I get. How come they do not block Microsoft? I can download an MP3 player from there, too (Media Player does play MP3s)." Here's the error: "Access is restricted to the site (http://www.sourceforge.net/) you requested. Per the firm's Information Security & Privacy Policy, all Internet browsing is monitored and logged. Please contact the Information Security Center at ext 7114 for more information. SmartFilter Control List category MP3 Sites is restricted. " The aptly named SmartFilterWhere tool shows which sites are painted over by SmartFilter's broad brush; in this case, software development site (and Slashdot sister site) SourceForge is blocked by the latest SmartFilter versions -- 3.0, 3.0.1 and 3.1 -- but not version 2. You might also be interested in The Censorware Project's analysis of the efficacy of SmartFilter as applied to Utah schools and libraries, or Peacefire's explanation of how and how well SmartFilter works.

Comments

of course they are

[RealisticWeb.com]

Haven't we all learned by now that free software is violation of intelectual proparty rights of proprietary companies? SF.net produces free software that will (if left un-checked) undermine the american economy, raise consumer prices for software and eliminate thousands of jobs. Not to mention helping the spread of terrorisim and threteing national security. They should be shut down and censored at all costs.

Response by horny teens

[Dark Paladin]

Dude, check it out! I just heard that this place called Sourceforge is like, totally blocked by our school's filters!

Man, we got to check this out. It must have some sweet porn or soemthing on it.

Yeah, we got to get there. All right, bypassing filtering software...oh, yeah. Here it is! Dude, we're in! Sweet porn, here we come!

Click that one - Jboss! Must be a dominatrix or something.

WTF - there's no porn here! It...it's just geek code stuff.

The filter tricked us. Dude, those filter guys are so sneaky.

Next thing you know, they'll be trying to get us to study or something.

gnu.org?

[cpeterso]

Does SmartFilter gnu.org as a religious web site?

I just listed Slashdot!

[toupsie]

I figured it should be listed under "Cult/Occult".

Re:Filtering solutions generally stink

[Squareball]

I like these filtering products.. they are GREAT for telling you WHERE all of the good stuff is.. I love looking through the sites that they block.. they are always the best sites.. FREE pr0n ;) WaReZ, they got it all!

Apologies from us here at SmartFilter Corp.

[wackybrit]

We're sorry to hear that you are upset at a new feature built into our latest version of SmartFilter. We do, however, appreciate all feedback, and this has certainly been useful in locating a bug within our software.

It appears our QA department inadvertently made an error in the data files for SmartFilter. SourceForge is not, technically, banned as being an MP3 site, but is in a new category we added called 'Sites for Geeky Losers'. The pointer for this category has remained pointed at 'MP3 Sites' in our symbol table. We will be fixing this in our next release.

Regards,
Chuck "Jesus" Smythe
SmartFilter Corp. -- Banning the sites that we don't like.

classification of sites: Maybe...

[einhverfr]

They should list riaa.org as an MP3 site-- has more to do with MP3s than Sourceforge.net ;)

I called the extension

[Torgo's Pizza]

When I dialed extension 7114, I promptly got a person to talk about this. He stopped me at first saying he was 'just a guy in accounting'. He 'pretended' not to know what I was talking about. I let him have it with both barrels and told him that this policy was unacceptable. He still feigned ignorance claiming that I had the wrong extension and didn't know what I was talking about. Another lie.

I then pointed out that this number was on the web page that had the explaination to why the site was being blocked and that it was posted on Slashdot. This corporate lackey kept up his charade and asked what Slashdot was. Seriously, what kind of fool does this person think I am? I said I wasn't going to put up with this type of corporate behavior and someone was going to set things right. He finally took my name and number down and said he'd get back to me. I hope that my actions will correct this situation.

Hmmm... some security personnel has just shown up at my cubicle wanting to talk to me. They no doubt want to congratulate me on my pro-active response to the situation.

Re:Why are you helping them?

[cliveholloway]

Nice idea - I just popped over and added http://www.microsoft.com under criminal skills.

well? what are you waiting for? :)

cLive ;-)

Not surprising

[jesser]

They're in the business of filtering smart, after all.