No more Alternative beliefs for you my friend

Ok so something very strange (at least strange for me) happened today at my workplace..actually now.
We have access to the internet except some sites that are banned like social sites Twitter,Facebook,Instagram etc and pretty much every website that you can send e-mails from.I think it's fair enough because you wouldn't want people being on Facebook or tweeting all day, you would want them to work
E-mails are banned because we signed some confidentiality contracts etc.That i also understand and agree with.
Besides these two categories you can pretty much go anywhere on the web..Youtube,news, google whatever you want,read whatever you want anywhere(at least that's what I thought).
If you type the name of a banned website a big red message will appera saying it is banned etc.
Ok so I was reading here a thread about Skinwalker Ranch and I click on a link to read more on the OP's website(i think it's his) and surprise..it's banned.
What I found strange about it it's that it said at the bottom of the message "Carhegory: Alternative beliefs".
So someone actually (my employer i think) asked for this Cathegory to be created because it wasn't there before.
It seems that I can't have "Alternative beliefs" at my workplace.I can have Youtube and MSM access though..
I wonder how long before they ban ATS..I love lurking around here.
Sorry for the bad spelling but I'm on my phone now.

You're at work, so work.

I see no problem with your employer banning the entire internet if he wanted. You're not paid to browse. Thats just bad work ethic.

a reply to: saudi

You're at work, being paid to work, not browse sites on the Internet.

Your boss has every right to limit the Internet completely, if they wish.

a reply to: StolidPanda

You're missing the point.Browsing is allowed.
Social websites are banned and e-mail websites.
He can just ban the internet if he wants not just specific stuff.

a reply to: TerryDon79

I agree he can ban it if he wants..my point was that besides the websites that you can actually send "stuff" online browsing is allowed.

In your (compulsory) break you can read whatever you want, i do so but i use my own connection for that. First and foremost because I don't need my employee to have records or insight of (what or what not) i do in my own time nor do i want to be restricted by the means my employee seems fit on his connection.

a reply to: saudi

Restricted browsing is allowed.

It's still the bosses/companys decision.

a reply to: saudi

Actually, those categories are often created by whatever basic or advanced software and suite of blocked sites are bought or implemented. So it's more likely that if they got a software bundle or did a sweep of blocks, this category was involved.

The other thing to consider is that in some cases, alternative sites are more lax on security and viruses can intrude. And other than porn and gambling, a good deal of viruses, malware, and attacks can come from lax sites. So I think that your frustration is misplaced.

But it does go right back to what StolidPanda said...it is their company.

a reply to: TerryDon79

Yes it is his decision.
I just see it strange to ban Alternative websites.

a reply to: saudi

Why don't you just ask why they're restricted?

It might just be (as above poster mentioned) the default setting.

a reply to: saudi

That's just unreal! All I can say is "wow", but..........I'd expect we'll see a lot more of that in the future.

a reply to: KyoZero

The other thing to consider is that in some cases, alternative sites are more lax on security and viruses can intrude.

This makes sense.It could be that specific website was banned because of this.
Thanks for the tip.I will see who I can ask.

a reply to: saudi

You have two options

(a) Complain
(b) Suck it up cupcake.

As someone who would be categorized as following an alternative belief. I would go for (b). They are not going to back off and you will cause bad blood. Unless of course you wish to stir the pot. I'd not recommend it. Tilting at that windmill is not a win.

a reply to: saudi

just so you understand how this works, the firewall at your office is set to filter out certain criteria. Like obvious pornography, maybe weapons sites, or whatever the IT guy set up as initial filters for the perimeters of the internet. The sites that get listed in different categories change all the time. They are updated by the firewall as it goes along. So it's possible the site you went to used to work, but had something that placed it into a bad category. Or you boss wants you to be a slave to the MSM.

Either way, get back to work. If I had employees and they were supposed to be working, I wouldn't let them have access unless it was needed to do their job. I know first hand how much time you can waste in this place.

originally posted by: saudi
a reply to: TerryDon79

Yes it is his decision.
I just see it strange to ban Alternative websites.

If you are using a companies resources they could ban any site they want and if you dont like it then I would say browse those alternative sites from your phone but if you are browsing on their resources during the time they are paying you not sure what the complaint is.

Additionally like KyoZero said above out of the box a lot of corp firewall, sec suites use generic grouping types for sites. This is completely normal and then gets modified as the corp feels fit.

a reply to: network dude

I think you and KyoZero may be right and I am being paranoid for nothing.

Or you boss wants you to be a slave to the MSM

a reply to: saudi

Sounds like your employer is using Fortinet products as the category being blocked is one of the defaults? I've set a few of these up and just about everything is blocked unless it is specifically allowed.

For a look at the categories being blocked and some detail, visit this page: Fortiguard Web Filtering Service

I wouldn't take it personally.

I gather some of the Gulf States practice Internet censorship and surveillance.

I won't go into detail but I heard it before.

Anything too gay, gender mixed, pro-other religions, and especially critical of their regimes can cost people their jobs.

Especially the alternative media has delivered proof of connections between regimes and politicians in the West and Mid-East.

Although everybody knows it by now to some extent, not everybody likes to hear it, or likes to hear it broadcast from the rooftops.

But that is specific censorship that reflects on certain countries.
It doesn't mean the "alternative media" is going down worldwide.