Phone Lines icon GFI Support Home

Articles in this section

See more

Types of Streaming Media That GFI WebMonitor Can Block

Author: Luis Fernandes

Overview

 This article provides relevant information regarding the types of streaming media that can be blocked using GFI WebMonitor. 

Information

Streaming media is multimedia delivered on demand to the end-user over the Internet. Common forms of streamed media include Internet TV (IPTV), movies, Internet radio, educational media, traffic and surveillance cameras, etc.

A client media player can begin playing the data before the entire file has been transmitted. Delivering live content over the Internet is called 'live streaming,’ e.g., a sports event or newscast. Webcasting is content provided over the Internet for a defined audience. Examples of webcasting events include live events, e.g., lectures and online training session, product launch or demonstration, ceremonies, etc.

What Media Types Are There?

Some of the most common media types on the Internet come in the form of these video and audio file extensions:

  • Video Types:
    • MPEG (.mpeg, .mpg files): A non-proprietary streaming media type.
    • AVI (.avi): A widespread non-proprietary media format created by Microsoft.
    • ASF (.asf), WMV (.wmv): Microsoft's video formats.
    • MOV (.mov), QT (.qt) and MP4 (.mp4): Apple (QuickTime) files.
    • FLV (.flv), F4V, (.f4v) and X-FLV: Macromedia Flash/Shockwave formats for delivering other media types (notably on YouTube). It requires a Flash plugin to run.
  • Audio Types: 
    • MP4 Audio.
    • MP3 compression (.mp3): Most common proprietary audio format.
    • Flac: An open format with royalty-free licensing, allows digital audio to be losslessly compressed.
    • Speex: Patent-free audio compression format designed for speech.
    • RealAudio: RealPlayer format.
    • WAV Audio: Waveform Audio file format.
    • WMP (.wmp): Microsoft audio format.
    • Ogg Vorbis (.ogg): A compression format offering higher-quality than .mp3.
    • acc Plus (.aac, .mp3): A variant similar to .mp3 encoding offering higher quality at smaller sizes than .mp3 file.

      Note: Constant updates ensure that GFI WebMonitor can block any new formats released.

To add a policy that blocks Streaming Media Categories follow the steps below:

  • GFI WebMonitor 2013
    1. Navigate to Settings > Policies > Internet Policies.
    2. In the Streaming Media Policies area, click Add Policy.
    3. In the Filter area, select the Streaming Media Categories you wish to block.
    4. Configure the rest of the policy as you see fit, and click the Save button when you are done.
  • GFI WebMonitor 2015 and later
    1. Navigate to Manage > Policies > Add Policy.
    2. Select Applies to and then Websites.
    3. Insert a category and select Streaming Media.
    4. Name the policy at the top of the page.
    5. Select Save to apply the policy

 Note: Some of the rules require HTTPS Scanning to be enabled to work correctly.