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Web Shield and its function with Browser Extension


Userlevel 4
With a phising/malware filter in the Browser Extension, what is Web Shield module in WSA really used for? The documentation is unclear about this (it's probably outdated, click Web Shield to the left to see more info).
 
It seems to me the Web Shield is obsolete since the Browser Extension was released as a part of WSA. If it's not, can anyone explain it's role in WSA? Any thoughts of this?
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Best answer by Shawn 17 June 2014, 23:25

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34 replies

Well, that's really quite disappointing, and at the very least, it should be made absolutely clear that the Extension is absolutely needed for the filtering to work (because the extension does everything).
Userlevel 4
@ wrote:
So, just to verify what I understand and seem to be seeing.
 
The Web Shield slider in WSA under PC Security does absolutely nothing except change the color of the Webroot Console and trigger an alert/warning.
 
Additionally, the two tick boxes under Advanced Settings, Firewall:  "Detect and block malicious websites" and "Show safety ratings when using search engines" - ALSO do absolutely nothing except for what's listed above.
 
The only thing that actually seems to control the web url filtering and the green checkmarks next to search engine results seems to be the Add-on for IE, and the extensions for Chrome and Firefox.  The only time URLs are filtered for me is when the extension is installed and enabled.  The tick boxes and sliders in WSA do not have any effect on the results.
 
Is this correct?  I'm running Win 7 x64 with latest versions of Chrome, IE, Firefox, and WSA Internet Security Plus 8.0.6.28.
Very much correct. It's just a gimmick in the GUI of WSA for novice/average users. The more features in the GUI the better the product must be, right? Empty features that no normal user will notice...
 
6 months now and no fix to the problem. Sales are important I guess!
 
So, just to verify what I understand and seem to be seeing.
 
The Web Shield slider in WSA under PC Security does absolutely nothing except change the color of the Webroot Console and trigger an alert/warning.
 
Additionally, the two tick boxes under Advanced Settings, Firewall:  "Detect and block malicious websites" and "Show safety ratings when using search engines" - ALSO do absolutely nothing except for what's listed above.
 
The only thing that actually seems to control the web url filtering and the green checkmarks next to search engine results seems to be the Add-on for IE, and the extensions for Chrome and Firefox.  The only time URLs are filtered for me is when the extension is installed and enabled.  The tick boxes and sliders in WSA do not have any effect on the results.
 
Is this correct?  I'm running Win 7 x64 with latest versions of Chrome, IE, Firefox, and WSA Internet Security Plus 8.0.6.28.
Userlevel 7
@
No prob my friend. Teamwork!:)
Userlevel 4
@ wrote:
@ wrote:
At the same time I can confirm that the Web Shield is broken with Internet Explorer 11.
 
Devs should probably investigate if it's an IE 11 issue or not. Not sure what browser you tested with Shawn.
@I have just tested with IE. I can also confirm this. Good find @. The problem is only with IE. With FF the shield works as intended.
I'm glad we could find the reason why I and everyone else misunderstood the problem. 🙂 Devs will fix this now once we've located the issue! Thanks for confirming ams963!
Userlevel 7
@ wrote:
At the same time I can confirm that the Web Shield is broken with Internet Explorer 11.
 
Devs should probably investigate if it's an IE 11 issue or not. Not sure what browser you tested with Shawn.
@I have just tested with IE. I can also confirm this. Good find @. The problem is only with IE. With FF the shield works as intended.
Userlevel 4
At the same time I can confirm that the Web Shield is broken with Internet Explorer 11.
 
I just installed Chrome and it works properly. When turning off Web Shield in user interface the URL-blocker is disabled in Chrome, as is intended.
 
Devs should probably investigate if it's an IE 11 issue or not. Not sure what browser you tested with Shawn.
Userlevel 7
Shawn wrote:

For the excellent question about what does the Webthreat Shield toggle button do in the WSA agent, it appears to require a captcha to change the color of the GUI and nothing more.:D I was still able to get search annotations and blocked web pages, I even tried disabling the ID Shield and Phishing Shield just in case they were assisting.



@

 

My experience is different. Disabling the Web Shield disables the phishing protection that is the URL blocking feature but keeps the URL checkmarks in a search enabled. Disabling the extension disables both the phishing and the checkmark features. Please refer to http://www.wilderssecurity.com/threads/webroot-secureanywhere-discussion-update-thread.364655/page-4#post-2383096 and http://www.wilderssecurity.com/threads/webroot-secureanywhere-discussion-update-thread.364655/page-4#post-2383149
Userlevel 4
@ wrote:
@ wrote:
It was as I suspected then! Hopefully the settings for ID-shield and Web Filter will be more logical eventually... and perhaps the Web Shield will be removed entirely. :D 
 
Anyhow...
 
Thank you for an answer! I think many of us needed to hear this info!
Sorry if I sounded harsh truly I'm not that way I'm just passionate about the things I know and can remember about WSA and all the way back to the Prevx years! LOL
 
Cheers and have a Goodnight,
 
Daniel ;)
No, it's okay. 🙂 We're all very passionate about WSA/PrevX. That's why we're discussing it; because we care and want to help Webroot making WSA even better! The fact that English is not my first language didn't make it any easier. 😃
Userlevel 7
Badge +62
GREAT news thanks Shawn. 🙂
Userlevel 7
Badge +56
@ wrote:
It was as I suspected then! Hopefully the settings for ID-shield and Web Filter will be more logical eventually... and perhaps the Web Shield will be removed entirely. :D 
 
Anyhow...
 
Thank you for an answer! I think many of us needed to hear this info!
Sorry if I sounded harsh truly I'm not that way I'm just passionate about the things I know and can remember about WSA and all the way back to the Prevx years! LOL
 
Cheers and have a Goodnight,
 
Daniel 😉
Userlevel 7
Badge +56
Digging a little further and this is part of ID Shield as well! So top 2 are for Web Shield and the bottom 2 are for ID Shield.
 
Daniel
 

Userlevel 4
@ wrote:
Hello all!!!!!!
One thing we have to be careful of and remember is that the business product does not have the webfiltering extension and does not use Brightcloud services yet. The consumer product does have extension that utilizes Brightcloud services. 
 
For the excellent question about what does the Webthreat Shield toggle button do in the WSA agent, it appears to require a captcha to change the color of the GUI and nothing more.:D I was still able to get search annotations and blocked web pages, I even tried disabling the ID Shield and Phishing Shield just in case they were assisting. 
 
I have escalated this and it is being testing by QA for a deeper analysis which will be discussed with development.
 
The business Webthreat Shield still works as expected just FYI.
 
Thanks all, let me know if I missed answering anyones questions, 
It was as I suspected then! Hopefully the settings for ID-shield and Web Filter will be more logical eventually... and perhaps the Web Shield will be removed entirely. :D 
 
Anyhow...
 
Thank you for an answer! I think many of us needed to hear this info!
Userlevel 7
Badge +56
Sounds like a great Idea! ;)
 
Thanks,
 
Daniel
Userlevel 5
Hello all!!!!!!
One thing we have to be careful of and remember is that the business product does not have the webfiltering extension and does not use Brightcloud services yet. The consumer product does have extension that utilizes Brightcloud services. 
 
For the excellent question about what does the Webthreat Shield toggle button do in the WSA agent, it appears to require a captcha to change the color of the GUI and nothing more.:D I was still able to get search annotations and blocked web pages, I even tried disabling the ID Shield and Phishing Shield just in case they were assisting. 
 
I have escalated this and it is being testing by QA for a deeper analysis which will be discussed with development.
 
The business Webthreat Shield still works as expected just FYI.
 
Thanks all, let me know if I missed answering anyones questions, 
Userlevel 4
@ wrote:
Shadek I think we are on the same page and like I said I did a test and I know what I have checked in settings so I seen it was missing under firewall and I remember Joe mentioned to me that was the best place to put the boxes for the Web Shield but maybe they could make more clear as I think this one is from the Identity Shield? Also it says nothing here: http://www.webroot.com/En_US/SecureAnywhere/PC/WSA_PC_Help.htm#C4_Firewall/CH4b_ChangingFirewallAlertSettings.htm
 
Daniel ;)
 


 
Definitely. I think Spock would've said; it's not logical. :D
 
Perhaps the devs should look into it as the settings are not concentrated to one area but in several. It's extremely confusing and even more so when the documentation of WSA isn't very describing about certain things!
Userlevel 7
Badge +56
Shadek I think we are on the same page and like I said I did a test and I know what I have checked in settings so I seen it was missing under firewall and I remember Joe mentioned to me that was the best place to put the boxes for the Web Shield but maybe they could make it more clear as I think this one is from the Identity Shield? Also it says nothing here: http://www.webroot.com/En_US/SecureAnywhere/PC/WSA_PC_Help.htm#C4_Firewall/CH4b_ChangingFirewallAlertSettings.htm
 
Daniel ;)
 

Userlevel 4
@ wrote:
While we are waiting I did some testing and here is my results:
 
1. Turned off now Brown GUI and Gray Tray Icon with exclamation mark.


 


 
2.


 
3. It justs turns off the Web Blocking of bad sites.
 


 
4. And I would not want this all the time! So again the Web Shield has 2 parts but if I leave as is I don't want the GUI and Tray Icon like it is.
 


 
Daniel
 
Very good post. I see what it means now as I missed that specific setting that was altered.
 
If I understand correctly the Web Shield is;
 
1) Web Shield in WSA interface
2) Webroot Filtering Extension (WFE)
 
WSA need WFE running in browser at all times or it will not protect against threats proactively on the Internet. You can control settings of WFE in Firewall settings in WSA. 
 
WFE should always be enabled and if the following scenarios were to happen it would lead to:
 
Web Shield disabled:
If you disable Web Shield in WSA interface, you will only be protected against mailicous search results. Phishing sites and other malicious sites are not blocked by Brightcloud if Web Shield is disabled. 
 
Web Shield enabled; 
WFE will protect against phishing sites and check links in search results.
 
 
Do I get it right?
 
Userlevel 7
Badge +62
Very interesting... Daniel...:S
Userlevel 7
Badge +56
While we are waiting I did some testing and here is my results:
 
1. Turned off now Brown GUI and Gray Tray Icon with exclamation mark.


 


 
2.


 
3. It justs turns off the Web Blocking of bad sites.
 


 
4. And I would not want this all the time! So again the Web Shield has 2 parts but if I leave as is I don't want the GUI and Tray Icon like it is.
 


 
Daniel
Userlevel 4
@ wrote:
We will have to wait for a reply from a Webroot Staff member as I feel your not getting it. @ Can you please ping someone for this?
 
Thanks,
 
Daniel ;)
Agreed, once again. Perhaps it's that English is not my native language that makes it hard for us. :)
 
Just to clarify what Webroot Staff needs to explain in order for me to understand;
 
1) What is the connection between Web Shield and Webroot Filtering Extension (I can't find any, extension works just as fine with Web Shield disabled)?
2) Is Web Shield really needed when you have Webroot Filtering Extension installed?
 
Gabriel
Userlevel 7
Badge +56
Sure thing - let me find someone who can disambiguate 🙂
Userlevel 7
Badge +56
We will have to wait for a reply from a Webroot Staff member as I feel your not getting it. @ Can you please ping someone for this?
 
Thanks,
 
Daniel 😉
Userlevel 7
Ah, so it was directed at me. ;)
 
I think that we are getting at cross purposes in terms of the term 'Web Shield' and perhaps I am misunderstanding somewhere there/using the term incorrectly.
 
EDIT: I will butt out of this debate as I think that I am confusing the issue. :(
 
Regards
 
 
Baldrick
Userlevel 4
@ wrote:
@ wrote:
Hi shadek
 
As I understand it the Web Shield is the engine and the Browser Extension is the interface to the engine in terms of what is detected, etc.  Without the Browser Extension you are still protected by the Web Shield but not informed about it in detail.
 
My understanding...which may be incorrect.
 
Regards
 
 
Baldrick
Sorry but you are incorrect I believe the old 2013 Web Shield does not exist anymore not needed now with the new 2014 Web Shield built on BrightCloud Technology.
 
Daniel
That is exactly my point. Web Shield is not needed in WSA 2014! Webroot Filtering Extension has replaced it. Then why would you need the Web Shield in the interface of the WSA 2014 product? It seems to me the WFE is enough. 🙂

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