Security | Internet Guardian

Owned by Katie Dufner (Unlicensed), created
Last updated: Jun 02, 2022 by Savannah Swanson
2 min read

Internet Guardian is a service that helps protect you from internet threats by stopping malicious links, phishing links and other malicious software from reaching their intended destinations. It does not block content, it blocks sites that have evidence of malware or other forms of maliciousness.  The service and its deployment will mostly be invisible to you as it works at the network level. The only way you will know that it is active is if you accidentally click on a malicious link or navigate to a web page that has malicious software on it. At that time, a web page will pop up to inform you that you have been protected. Simple as that!

Example of a blocked site.

 

 

That said, the service is not perfect. We still need you to practice the same safe computing habits that you have been practicing to date.  Perhaps most importantly, we are now asking you to report suspicious email using the Report Message in Outlook. The system office will then add them to the protection list if they are not on there already.  

  
How does this service work. It works by keeping track of malicious sites. It does not block content, it blocks sites that have evidence of malware or other forms of maliciousness. This means that sometimes a known good site might become temporarily unavailable. Examples of this could be your favorite radio station website or TV news website that serves up advertisements along with their content. These ads sometimes contain malware which could harm you - thus the good site gets added to the “bad” list until they fix their issue (often the same day).  

 

By adopting this service, we have added what we hope to be a safety net for all of us, as we work to combat cyber criminals that work against us. If you experience issues with Internet Guardian, please submit an IT service request.

 

What should I do if I think the block page is in error?
If you have a business or academic need to access a blocked site, you may submit an inquiry by clicking on the "contact your network administrator" link, which can be found on the protection page.  If you have an urgent need, contact the Minnesota State Service Desk (877-466-6728).

 

What happens if a user, or group of users, needs to access a blocked site?
The user or group of users with a legitimate academic or business need can request access to a blocked site by contacting their local IT support staff. The request will then be evaluated by campus IT staff and the system office security team to determine the potential risk and impact to your institution.