How to block Social Networking and allow LinkedIn using App Rules?

08/23/2021 30 18212

DESCRIPTION:

This KB article describes how to block Social Networking while allowing access to LinkedIn. The method described here uses App Rules feature on your SonicWall.

RESOLUTION:

Resolution for SonicOS 6.5

This release includes significant user interface changes and many new features that are different from the SonicOS 6.2 and earlier firmware. The below resolution is for customers using SonicOS 6.5 firmware.

1. Login to the SonicWall management GUI.

2. Click Manage in the top navigation menu.

3. Navigate to the Policies | Objects | Match Objects page, Click on Add

4. Click on New Match Object to open the Add/Edit Match Object window.

5. Enter the following options

• Object Name: LinkedIn Signatures
• Match Object Type: Application List
• Application Category: Social-Networking
• Application: SOCIAL-NETWORKING LinkedIn (370)

6. Add in the details as per the screenshot below.



7. Create another Match Object and add the details as per screenshot below:

• Object Name: Social Networking Signatures
• Match Object Type: Application Category List
• Application Categories: SOCIAL-NETWORKING (76)

8 .Next step is to create two Application Rules to block Social Networking and to allow LinkedIn.

9. Navigate to Policies | Rules | Application Contol page and ensure that the App Rules are enabled, by clicking on the Gear Icon and clicking on the box to enable App Rules

10 . Click on Add New Policy to open the Edit App Control Policy window.

11. Enter the details
 

• Enter a name for this policy. For example, Allow LinkedIn.
•   Under Policy Type, select App Control Content.
•   Set Address to Any. (Note: This field is for including IP addresses, inside or outside)
•  Set Exclusion Address to None.
•   Under Match Object select the match object created earlier - LinkedIn Signatures
•   Under Action Object select Bypass DPI.
•   Under Users/Groups | Included, select a user group to be included under this policy.
•   Under Users/Groups | Excluded, select a user group to be excluded from this policy.
•  Keep under settings as default.
•   Click on OK to save.

12. Click on Add New Policy to open the Edit App Control Policy window.

13. Add the details

• Enter a name for this policy. For example, Block Social Networking.
•   Under Policy Type, select App Control Content.
•   Set Address to Any. (Note: This field is for including IP addresses, inside or outside)
•   Set Exclusion Address to None.
•   Under Match Object select the match object created earlier - Social Networking
  
•    Under Action Object select Reset/Drop.
•   Under Users/Groups | Included, select a user group to be included under this policy.
•   Under Users/Groups | Excluded, select a user group to be excluded from this policy.
•  Keep other settings as default.
•   Click on OK to save.

14. Now, test rules from a workstation behind the SonicWall.

Resolution for SonicOS 6.2 and Below

The below resolution is for customers using SonicOS 6.2 and earlier firmware. For firewalls that are generation 6 and newer we suggest to upgrade to the latest general release of SonicOS 6.5 firmware.

1. Login to the SonicWall management GUI.

2. Navigate to the Firewall | Match Objects page.

3. Click on Add New Match Object to open the Add/Edit Match Object window.

4. Add in the details as per the screenshot below.

Object Name: LinkedIn Signatures
Match Object Type: Application List
Application Category: Social-Networking
Application: SOCIAL-NETWORKING Linkin (370)

5. Create another Match Object and add the details as per screenshot below:

Object Name: Social Networking Signatures
Match Object Type: Application Category List
Application Categories: SOCIAL-NETWORKING (76)

6.Next step is to create two App Rules to block Social Networking and to allow LinkedIn.

7. Navigate to Firewall | App Rules page.

8. Enable check box Enable App Rules.

9. Click on Add New Policy to open the Edit App Control Policy window.

10. Add the details as per screenshot below to create a rule to block Social Networking:

•  Enter a name for this policy. For example, Block Social Networking.
•   Under Policy Type, select App Control Content.
•   Set Address to Any. (Note: This field is for including IP addresses, inside or outside)
•   Set Exclusion Address to None.
•   Under Match Object select the match object created earlier - Social Networking Signatures
•    Under Action Object select Reset/Drop.
•   Under Users/Groups | Included, select a user group to be included under this policy.
•   Under Users/Groups | Excluded, select a user group to be excluded from this policy.
•  Keep other settings as default.
•   Click on OK to save.

11. Click on Add New Policy to open the Edit App Control Policy window.

12. Add the details below as per screenshot to create a rule to allow LinkedIn.

•  Enter a name for this policy. For example, Allow LinkedIn.
•   Under Policy Type, select App Control Content.
•   Set Address to Any. (Note: This field is for including IP addresses, inside or outside)
•  Set Exclusion Address to None.
•   Under Match Object select the match object created earlier - LinkedIn Signatures
•   Under Action Object select Bypass DPI.
•   Under Users/Groups | Included, select a user group to be included under this policy.
•   Under Users/Groups | Excluded, select a user group to be excluded from this policy.
•  Keep under settings as default.
•   Click on OK to save.

13. Now, test rules from a workstation behind the SonicWall.