The Websense Master Database

URL Categories

Accurate, Current, and Comprehensive

With more than 90 URL categories and over 36 million Web sites representing more than 50 languages, the Websense Master Database is the industry's most accurate, current and comprehensive classification of URLs. Websense utilizes a combination of proprietary classification software and human inspection techniques to categorize and maintain URLs to ensure real-time protection against today's blended threats. Content is sourced by our patent-pending ThreatSeeker Network, global researchers around the globe and customer submissions.

Learn more about the variety of proprietary classification software and human inspection techniques Websense Security Labs uses to maintain the database.

• Web Reputation
• Websense Security Filtering (also known as Security PG)
• Bandwidth Categories (also known as Bandwidth PG)
• Productivity Categories (also known as Productivity PG)
• Baseline URLs

Web Reputation
The Websense ThreatSeeker Network leverages years of experience to provide content-aware Web reputation intelligence that enables customers to manage suspicious Web sites. The Extended Protection category includes the following classifications:

• Potentially Damaging Content - sites likely to contain little or no useful content
• Elevated Exposure - sites that camouflage their true nature or that include elements suggesting latent malign intent.
• Emerging Exploits - sites found to be hosting known and potential exploit code.

* The Extended Protection categories are only available with Websense Web Security Suite v6.3.1 and above.

 

Websense Security Filtering (also known as Security PG)
Websense Security Filtering adds a higher level of protection from Web-based threats by providing additional security-related Web site categories. These additional categories allow organizations to develop policies to block access to sites associated with spyware, phishing, keylogging, and malicious mobile code.

• Botnets - sites that host the command-and-control centers for networks of bots that have been infiltrated into users' computers. Excludes Web crawlers.
• Keyloggers - Sites or pages that download programs that run in the background recording all keystrokes, and which may also send those keystrokes (potentially including passwords or confidential information) to an external party.
• Malicious Web sites - Sites that contain code that may intentionally modify end-user systems without their consent and cause harm.
• Phishing and Other Frauds - Sites that counterfeit legitimate business sites for the purpose of eliciting financial or other private information from users.
• Potentially Unwanted Software - Sites that use technologies that alter the operation of the user's hardware, software, or network in ways that diminish control over the user experience, privacy, or the collection and distribution of personal information.
• Spyware - Sites or pages that download software that, without the user's knowledge, generate HTTP traffic (other than simple user identification and validation).

Bandwidth Categories (also known as Bandwidth PG)
Parent category that contains the categories:

• Internet Radio and TV - Sites whose primary purpose is to provide radio or TV programming on the Internet.
• Internet Telephony - Sites that enable users to make telephone calls via the Internet or to obtain information or software for that purpose.
• Peer-to-Peer File Sharing - Sites that provide client software to enable peer-to-peer file sharing and transfer.
• Personal Network Storage and Backup - Sites that store personal files on Internet servers for backup or exchange.
• Streaming Media - Sites that primarily provide streaming media content, such as movie trailers.

 

Productivity Categories (also known as Productivity PG)
Parent category that contains the categories:

• Advertisements - Sites that provide advertising graphics or other ad content files.
• Freeware and Software Download - Sites whose primary function is to provide freeware and software downloads.
• Instant Messaging - Sites that enable instant messaging.
• Message Boards and Forums - Sites that host message boards, bulletin boards, and other unaffiliated discussion forums.
• Online Brokerage and Trading - Sites that support active trading of securities and management of investments.
• Pay-to-Surf - Sites that reward users for Internet activity such as viewing Web Sites, advertisements, or email.

Baseline URLs
Websense has the largest selection of baseline URLS.

Abortion
Sites with neutral or balanced presentation of the issue.

• Pro-Choice - Sites that provide information about or are sponsored by organizations that support legal abortion or that offer support or encouragement to those seeking the procedure.
• Pro-Life - Sites that provide information about or are sponsored by organizations that oppose legal abortion or that seek increased restriction of abortion.

Adult Material
Parent category that contains the categories:

• Adult Content - Sites that display full or partial nudity in a sexual context, but not sexual activity; erotica; sexual paraphernalia; sex-oriented businesses as clubs, nightclubs, escort services; and sites supporting the online purchase of such goods and services.
• Lingerie and Swimsuit - Sites that offer images of models in suggestive but not lewd costume, with semi nudity permitted. Includes classic 'cheese-cake,' calendar, and pinup art and photography. Includes also sites offering lingerie or swimwear for sale.
• Nudity - Sites that offer depictions of nude or seminude human forms, singly or in groups, not overtly sexual in intent or effect.
• Sex - Sites that depict or graphically describe sexual acts or activity, including exhibitionism; also, sites offering direct links to such sites.
• Sex Education - Sites that offer information about sex and sexuality, with no pornographic intent.
• Advocacy Groups - Sites that promote change or reform in public policy, public opinion, social practice, economic activities, and relationships.

Business and Economy
Sites sponsored by or devoted to business firms, business associations, industry groups, or business in general.

• 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.

Drugs
Parent category that contains the categories:

• Abused Drugs - Sites that promote or provide information about the use of prohibited drugs, except marijuana, or the abuse or unsanctioned use of controlled or regulated drugs; also, paraphernalia associated with such use or abuse.
• Marijuana - Sites that provide information about or promote the cultivation, preparation, or use of marijuana.
• Prescribed Medications - Sites that provide information about approved drugs and their medical use.
• Supplements and Unregulated Compounds - Sites that provide information about or promote the sale or use of chemicals not regulated by the FDA (such as naturally occurring compounds).

Education
Parent category that contains the categories:

• Cultural Institutions - Sites sponsored by museums, galleries, theatres (but not movie theatres), libraries, and similar institutions; also, sites whose purpose is the display of artworks.
• Educational Institutions - Sites sponsored by schools and other educational facilities, by non-academic research institutions, or that relate to educational events and activities.
• Educational Materials - Sites that provide information about or that sell or provide curriculum materials or direct instruction; also, learned journals and similar publications.
• Reference Materials - Sites that offer reference-shelf content such as atlases, dictionaries, encyclopedias, formularies, white and yellow pages, and public statistical data.

Entertainment
Sites that provide information about or promote motion pictures, non-news radio and television, books, humor, and magazines.

• MP3 and Audio Download Services - Sites that support downloading of MP3 or other sound files or that serve as directories of such sites.

Gambling - Sites that provide information about or promote gambling or support online gambling, involving a risk of losing money.

Games - Sites that provide information about or promote electronic games, video games, computer games, role-playing games, or online games. Includes sweepstakes and giveaways.

Government
Sites sponsored by branches, bureaus, or agencies of any level of government, except for the armed forces.

• Military - Sites sponsored by branches or agencies of the armed services.
• Political Organizations - Sites sponsored by or providing information about political parties and interest groups focused on elections or legislation.

Health - Sites that provide information or advice on personal health or medical services, procedures, or devices, but not drugs. Includes self-help groups.

Illegal or Questionable - Sites that provide instruction in or promote nonviolent crime or unethical or dishonest behavior or the avoidance of prosecution.

Information Technology
Sites sponsored by or providing information about computers, software, the Internet, and related business firms, including sites supporting the sale of hardware, software, peripherals, and services.

• Computer Security - Sites that provide information about or free downloadable tools for computer security.
• Hacking - Sites that provide information about or promote illegal or questionable access to or use of computer or communication equipment, software, or databases.
• Proxy Avoidance - Sites that provide information about how to bypass proxy server features or to gain access to URLs in any way that bypasses the proxy server.
• Search Engines and Portals - Sites that support searching the Web, news groups, or indices or directories thereof.
• URL Translation Sites - Sites that offer online translation of URLs. These sites access the URL to be translated in a way that bypasses the proxy server, potentially allowing unauthorized access.
• Web Hosting - Sites of organizations that provide hosting services, or top-level domain pages of Web communities.

Internet Communication
Parent category that contains the categories:

• Web Chat - Sites that host Web chat services or that support or provide information about chat via HTTP or IRC.
• General Email - Sites that provide email services open to general use.
• Organizational Email - login sites for corporate or institutional email systems.
• Text and Media Messaging - Sites that enable the sending of messages and other content via SMS, EMS, MMS, or similar protocols.

Job Search - Sites that offer information about or support the seeking of employment or employees.

Militancy and Extremist - Sites that offer information about or promote or are sponsored by groups advocating antigovernment beliefs or action.

Miscellaneous
Parent category that contains the categories:

• Content Delivery Networks - Commercial hosts that deliver content to subscribing Web sites.
• Dynamic Content - URLs that are generated dynamically by a Web server.
• File Download Servers - Web servers whose primary function is to deliver files for download.
• Image Servers - Web servers whose primary function is to deliver images.
• Images (Media) - URLs ending with image filenames.
• Network Errors - URLs with hosts that do not resolve to IP addresses.
• Private IP Addresses - IP addresses defined in RFC 1918, 'Address Allocation for Private Intranets.'
• Uncategorized- Sites not categorized in the Websense Master Database.

News and Media
Sites that offer current news and opinion, including those sponsored by newspapers, general-circulation magazines, or other media.

• Alternative Journals - Online equivalents to supermarket tabloids and other fringe publications.

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

Religion
Parent category that contains the categories:

• Non-Traditional Religions and Occult and Folklore - Sites that provide information about or promote religions not specified in Traditional Religions or other unconventional, cultic, or folkloric beliefs and practices.
• Traditional Religions - Sites that provide information about or promote Bahai, Buddhism, Christian Science, Christianity, Hinduism, Islam, Judaism, Mormonism, Shinto, and Sikhism, as well as atheism.

Shopping
Sites that support the online purchase of consumer goods and services except: sexual materials, lingerie, swimwear, investments, medications, educational materials, computer software or hardware, alcohol, tobacco, travel, vehicles and parts, weapons.

• Internet Auctions - Sites that support the offering and purchasing of goods between individuals.
• Real Estate - Sites that provide information about renting, buying, selling, or financing residential real estate.

Social Organizations
Parent category that contains the categories:

• Professional and Worker Organizations - Sites sponsored by or that support or offer information about organizations devoted to professional advancement or workers' interests.
• Service and Philanthropic Organizations - Sites sponsored by or that support or offer information about organizations devoted to doing good as their primary activity.
• 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.

Society and Lifestyles
Sites that provide information about matters of daily life, excluding entertainment, health, hobbies, jobs, sex, and sports.

• Alcohol and Tobacco - Sites that provide information about, promote, or support the sale of alcoholic beverages or tobacco products or associated paraphernalia.
• Gay or Lesbian or Bisexual Interest - Sites that provide information about or cater to gay, lesbian, or bisexual lifestyles, including those that support online shopping, but excluding those that are sexually or issue-oriented.
• Hobbies - Sites that provide information about or promote private and largely sedentary pastimes, but not electronic, video, or online games.
• Personals and Dating - Sites that assist users in establishing interpersonal relationships, excluding those intended to arrange for sexual encounters and excluding those of exclusively gay or lesbian or bisexual interest.
• Restaurants and Dining - Sites that list, review, advertise, or promote food, dining, or catering services.
• Social Networking and Personal Sites - Sites chiefly devoted to personal expression by individuals (as in diaries or personal blogs) or small groups, often but not necessarily involving multiple links to similar sites.

Special Events - Sites devoted to a current event that requires separate categorization.

Sports
Sites that provide information about or promote sports, active games, and recreation.

• Sport Hunting and Gun Clubs - Sites that provide information about or directories of gun clubs and similar groups, including war-game and paintball facilities.

Tasteless - Sites with content that is gratuitously offensive or shocking, but not violent or frightening. Includes sites devoted in part or whole to scatology and similar topics or to improper language, humor, or behavior.

Travel - Sites that provide information about or promote travel-related services and destinations.

User-Defined - User-defined category.

Vehicles - Sites that provide information about or promote vehicles, including those that support online purchase of vehicles or parts.

Violence - Sites that feature or promote violence or bodily harm, including self-inflicted harm; or that gratuitously display images of death, gore, or injury; or that feature images or descriptions that are grotesque or frightening and of no redeeming value.

Weapons - Sites that provide information about, promote, or support the sale of weapons and related items.

Additional Categories Only Available With Websense Web Security Suiteand Websense Web Security's Extended Protection

• Potentially Damaging Content - Sites likely to contain little or no useful content
• Elevated Exposure - Sites that camouflage their true nature or identity, or that include elements suggesting latent malign intent.
• Emerging Exploits - Sites found to be hosting known and potential exploit code.

Protocol Categories

Accurate, Current, and Comprehensive

With more than 100 protocols in 15 categories, the Websense Master Database is the industry's most accurate, current and comprehensive classification of protocols. Websense utilizes a combination of proprietary classification software and human inspection techniques to categorize and maintain protocol definitions to ensure real-time protection against today's blended threats. This enables organizations to set policies for protocols including: IM, P2P, proxy avoidance and streaming media.

Learn more about the variety of proprietary classification software and human inspection techniques that Websense Security Labs uses to maintain the database.

• Database protocols enable the creation and manipulation of structured sets of information.
   
• File Transfer protocols enable user control over the transfer of files across a network.
   
• Instant Messaging/Chat protocols enable the sending and receiving of synchronous, real-time messages to the desktop. (Also known as chat-room protocols).
   
• Instant Messaging File Attachment protocols enable the sending and receiving of files attached to synchronous, real-time messages to the desktop.
   
• Mail and Collaborative Tool protocols enable the receiving, display, composing, and sending of email. Also, collaboration tool (also known as groupware) protocols enable the sharing of files and applications across workgroups, networks, or enterprises and provide communication and shared workspace for groups.
   
• Malicious Traffic*
  Bot Networks - Command-and-control traffic generated by a bot attempting to connect with a botnet for malicious purposes (e.g. remote control or data theft).
   
• Malicious Traffic - Monitor Only*
  Email-Borne Worms - Outbound SMTP traffic that may be generated by an email-based worm attack.
   
• Other Malicious Traffic - Inbound or outbound traffic suspected of connection with malicious applications, but not comprised within other protocol definitions.
   
• Other protocols not otherwise categorized in the Websense Master Database.
   
• P2P File Sharing protocols that enable file search and sharing across a network without dependence on a central server.
   
• Proxy Avoidance protocols that enable the avoidance or bypassing of proxy server features.
   
• Remote Access protocols that enable authorized access to and use of a desktop computer or private network from a remote location.
   
• Streaming Media protocols that enable the use and playback of audio or video files.
   
• System protocols used in File Management, Infrastructure, Installers, Miscellaneous Utilities, Operating Systems, and Scripting Hosts.
   
• User-Defined - custom protocol category defined by the user.
   
• Web protocols that enable the publication of information on the Web.

* Only available to customers running Websense Web Security Suite version 6.3.1 or later.

Application Categories

Application Categories

With more than 2.5 million applications and executables in 50+ categories, the Websense Master Database is the industry's most accurate, current, and comprehensive classification of applications. Websense utilizes a combination of proprietary classification software and human inspection techniques to categorize and maintain application categories to ensure real-time protection against today's blended threats.

Access/Privacy/Security

• Antivirus Software - Software that detects, filters, and eliminates viruses imported into the network.
• Authentication and Authorization - Software that restricts access to and use of the computer and its contents to authorized users and authorized uses.
• Encryption, PKI - Software that enables the encryption and decryption of data for security purposes.
• Firewalls - Software that protects the desktop from unauthorized remote access.
• Hacking - Software used to attack or evade access controls and privacy measures on other computers.
• Potentially Unwanted Software - Technologies that alter the operation of the user's hardware, software, or network in ways that diminish control over the user experience, privacy, or the collection and distribution of personal information.
• Proxy Avoidance - Applications that enable or facilitate the avoidance or bypassing of proxy server features.
• Remote Access - Software that enables authorized access to and use of a desktop computer or private network from a remote location.
• System Audit - Software used to monitor and log activity on a computer network, including both legitimate use and attempts to access or use network assets in unauthorized fashion, and to assess the status and security of the network.

Audio/Video

• Imaging - Software that enables the creation, manipulation, and display of images to standards significantly lower than with those tools in Graphics.
• Media Players - Software that enables the creation and playback of audio or video files.

Communication

• Collaboration - Software that enables the sharing of files and applications across workgroups, networks, or enterprises and provides communication and shared workspace for groups. Sometimes known as groupware.
• Dedicated Browsers - Software that enables connection to a specified Web site or set of Web sites; typically these browsers refresh frequently or constantly to display new content.
• Email - Software that enables the receiving, display, composing, and sending of email from the desktop. Includes the client side of network applications (e.g. Microsoft Outlook) and bulk email software but not email applications built into Web browsers.
• Instant Messaging - Software that enables the sending and receiving of synchronous, real-time messages on the desktop. (Also known as chat-room software.)
• P2P File Sharing - Software that enables file search and sharing across a network without dependence on a central server.
• Telephony, Conferencing, Fax - Software that enables telephonic transmission of voice and other data, including software for BBS, IP telephony, and dial-up Internet access.
• Web Browsers - Software that interprets HTTP content and presents it on the desktop screen; excludes browsers dedicated to single, or limited, sources.

Critical Functions

• Never Block - Executables needed to enable the desktop machine to perform its basic functions prior to the use of added applications.

Entertainment

• Adult - Software that includes depictions of nudity or sexual activity or other elements that might be objectionable to non-consenting users.
• Gambling - Software that enables online wagering or pay-for-play activity.
• Games - Software that enables the playing of games, whether solo or jointly with other players.
• Screen Savers - Software that creates a display on the desktop screen when no keystrokes or mouse movements have occurred for some specified time.

Malware

• Bots - Bots and associated applications infiltrated into users' computers for malicious purposes (e.g. remote access or data theft). Excludes Web crawlers.
• Keyloggers - Programs that run in the background, recording all keystrokes, and which may also send those keystrokes (which may include passwords or confidential information) to an external party.
• Malicious Software - Software that is designed by an outsider to attack or manipulate the desktop machine or the network, either to cause harm or to make unauthorized use of information or resources.
• Spyware - Software used to log and report on activity on the desktop without the user's knowledge (excludes adware and cookies).

Miscellaneous

• Java Files - Binary files containing code to be executed by a Java interpreter (i.e. files with .class or .jar extensions).
• Other - Executables not otherwise categorized.
• Scripts - Files containing non-malicious code to be executed by a scripting host (i.e. as with .bat, .pl, .vbs extensions).
• Temporary Internet Files - JavaScript files, which load onto the desktop chiefly in association with HTML files.

Productivity

• Contact Managers - Programs that store and manage information about clients, customers, vendors, and other classes of business contacts. Programs elsewhere labeled "personal information managers" are also categorized here, as are personal schedulers.
• CRM - Customer Relationship Management, software that manages all or many aspects of the firm's relationships with customers, such as sales force automation, sales support, customer service, marketing, campaign management, ordering, call center, and fulfillment.
• Data Warehousing, Analytics, Reporting - Software that gathers and stores large quantities of business data, or that performs a variety of analyses of it, or that prepares a variety of reports on it.
• Database - Software that enables the creation and utilization of structured sets of information, the structure being provided by the definition of fields or data objects and the utilization consisting of analysis, synthesis, and comparison across large quantities of such data.
• Document Viewers - Software other than that incorporated into document-creation tools (e.g. word processors) and other than Web browsers that enables the creation and viewing of documents and diagrams.
• ERP, SCM - Enables the tracking and management of some or many core business processes, including purchasing, inventory, human resources, general ledger and other accounting tasks, logistics, and other planning processes.
• Graphics - Software packages that enable sophisticated graphics creation and manipulation to engineering or studio standards. Includes CAD, cartographic, rendering, and animation tools.
• Presentation - Software that enables the creation of charts, slides, or multimedia displays.
• Project Managers - Software used for project planning, estimating, scheduling and management, job tracking, and cost accounting.
• Proprietary - Software developed within the firm for its own use and not as a product or component of a product.
• Reference, Information Tools - Software that provides a body of reference information and means for accessing and displaying it. Also, general desktop tools such as calendars, clocks, and calculators.
• Search, Retrieval, Knowledge Management - Software that enables searches over data on file servers, intranets, or Web sites, and retrieval of relevant results, or that combines search with indexing functions.
• Software Development - Tools used to create, debug, test, compile, and prepare for installation and use of new software programs.
• Spreadsheets - Software that enables the creation and management of dynamic tables.
• Suite, Integrated - Software utilities and other executables that are part of an application suite but that are not specifically associated with any one of the applications.
• Web and Desktop Publishing - Software that enables format conversion, manipulation, and integration of text and image files for the purpose of publication on paper or on the Web.
• Word Processing - Software that enables the creation, editing, viewing, and management of documents.

System

• File Management - Software that enables user control over file format, organization, backup, and transfer, but not manipulation of graphics files.
• Infrastructure - Software used in-system assessment and maintenance, user support, and other administrative tasks other than those classified in System Audit.
• Installers - Executables that install applications.
• Miscellaneous Utilities - Other enabling tools not otherwise classified.
• Operating Systems - The fundamental programs that enable the computer to recognize and accept input, to enable and organize the operation of devices and application programs, to manage stored information, and to direct output in designated modes.
• Scripting Hosts - Native executables that provide an environment within which a variety of native and non-native scripts can execute.

Documentation:

Download the Websense Security Labs Datasheet (PDF).