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{{Infobox company
{{Infobox company
| name = Forcepoint LLC
| name = Forcepoint LLC
| logo = [[File:Forcepoint Logo.png|100px]]
| logo = [[File:Forcepoint Logo.svg|100px]]
| former_names = Websense, <nowiki>Raytheon|Websense</nowiki>
| former_names = Websense, <nowiki>Raytheon|Websense</nowiki>
| type = [[Joint Venture]]<ref>http://www.bizjournals.com/washington/blog/fedbiz_daily/2016/01/raytheon-websense-joint-cyber-venture-changes-name.html</ref>
| type = [[Joint Venture]]
| foundation = 2016
| foundation = 1994
| location = [[Austin]], [[Texas]]
| location = [[Austin]], [[Texas]]
| key_people = Matthew Moynahan, CEO
| key_people = Matthew Moynahan, CEO
| area_served =Worldwide
| area_served =
| industry = [[Information security]]
| industry = [[Information security]]
| products = <!-- This is for categories of products, or products which are notable enough to have their own articles. Not a good place for promotion. -->
| products =
| net_income = $328 million (2015)<ref>{{cite web|title=Raytheon Reports Solid Fourth Quarter and Full-Year 2015 Results (press release)|url=http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/raytheon-reports-solid-fourth-quarter-and-full-year-2015-results-300211040.html|website=PR Newswire|accessdate=October 23, 2016|date=January 28, 2016}}</ref>
| net_income =
| num_employees = <!-- Provide a reliable source, and indicate the date below -->
|revenue=$566 million (2016)<ref name="Wilkers 2017">{{cite web | last=Wilkers | first=Ross | title=Raytheon-led cyber joint venture adds to government leadership team, eyes international growth | website=Washington Technology | date=May 8, 2017 | url=https://washingtontechnology.com/articles/2017/05/08/forcepoint-grows-govt-team.aspx | access-date=May 24, 2017}}</ref>
| num_employees =2,300 (2016)<ref name="Kuranda 20172">{{cite web | last=Kuranda | first=Sarah | title=Forcepoint 'Repositions' Some Employees, Head Of Sales Departs | website=CRN | date=February 6, 2017 | url=http://www.crn.com/news/security/300083652/forcepoint-repositions-some-employees-head-of-sales-departs.htm | access-date=May 24, 2017}}</ref>
| num_employees_year = <!-- Year of num_employees data -->
| num_employees_year = <!-- Year of num_employees data -->
| parent = [[Raytheon]]
| parent = [[Raytheon]]
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| homepage = {{URL|http://www.forcepoint.com}}
| homepage = {{URL|http://www.forcepoint.com}}
| footnotes =
| footnotes =
}}
}}<b>Forcepoint</b>, previously known as <b>Websense</b> or <b>Raytheon|Websense</b>, is an Austin-based company owned by U.S. defense contractor [[Raytheon]] and private equity firm [[Vista Equity Partners]]. It develops and markets cybersecurity software to prevent employees from viewing inappropriate or malicious content, or leaking confidential data. It also sells firewall, cloud access, and cross-domain IT security products.


'''Forcepoint''', previously known as '''Websense''' and '''Raytheon|Websense''', is an [[Austin]]-based company owned by US defense contractor [[Raytheon]], in a [[joint venture]] with private equity firm [[Vista Equity Partners]],<ref>http://www.zdnet.com/article/raytheon-websense-rebrands-as-forecepoint-acquires-intel-securitys-stonesoft/</ref> specializing in [[information security|computer security software]].<ref name="updated classification">{{citation |title= Websense Plugs Data Leaks, Plays Malware Guard On Mobiles For The Office= ''Fast Company'' |author= Nidhi Subbaraman |url= http://www.fastcompany.com/1820962/websense-plugs-data-leaks-plays-malware-guard-mobiles-office }}</ref> It offers businesses and government institutions services for [[content filtering|content security]]<!--Is this different from network security (linked later in the sentence)?-->, [[Data loss prevention software|data protection]], [[Cloud computing security|cloud security]], [[network security]], [[analytics#security analytics|analytics]], [[Content-control software|webfiltering]], and [[Cross-domain solution|cross domain access and transfer]] to protect organization's networks from cybercrime, malware, and data theft, as well as prevent users from viewing sexual or other inappropriate content and discourage employees from browsing non-business-related websites.<ref name="2012 description update">{{citation |title= Websense Updates Malware, Data Theft Defenses = ''CRN'' |author= Ken Presti |url= http://www.crn.com/news/security/240003407/websense-updates-malware-data-theft-defenses.htm;jsessionid=eHK+65LQ5lNBrfLzatVZbw**.ecappj02 }}</ref> Forcepoint uses a combination of classification engines, filtering categories, data fingerprints, and word filters selected by customers.
Forcepoint was founded in 1994 as an IT reseller called NetPartners. It was renamed Websense in 1999 and went public the following year. Vista Equity Partners acquired Websense in 2013 for $906 million, taking it off the public market. Raytheon acquired an 80% interest in Websense in April 2015 for $1.9 billion. Afterwards, Websense acquired network security vendor Stonesoft from Intel and renamed the combined company "Forcepoint." The company has a policy against selling its products to governments that engage in internet censorship. However, sometimes those governments obtain Forcepoint products and use them to control what websites its citizenry have access to.


==History==
==Corporate history==
Forcepoint was founded by Phil Trubey in 1994, and went public in the year 2000.<ref name="founder">{{cite web|url = http://www.accessmylibrary.com/coms2/summary_0286-28681445_ITM|work = San Diego Business Journal|title = He's All Business On the Internet, Phil Trubey Unveils His Latest Venture Even Though He Could Retire Today|date = 2000-12-11|accessdate = 2008-08-04}}</ref> Forcepoint offers security services.<ref name="Gartner">{{cite report|url=http://www.mcafee.com/ca/resources/reports/rp-gartner-magic-quadrant-secure-web-gateway.pdf|publisher=[[Gartner]] via [[McAfee]]|date=25 May 2011|accessdate=13 April 2017|format=PDF|first=Lawrence|last=Orans|first2=Peter|last2=Firstbrook|deadurl=yes|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20131203225409/http://www.mcafee.com/ca/resources/reports/rp-gartner-magic-quadrant-secure-web-gateway.pdf|archivedate=3 December 2013|df=}}</ref>
===Websense===
Websense was founded in 1994<ref name="Freeman 2016">{{cite web | last=Freeman | first=Mike | title=Taking stock: Region aims to grow cyber industry | website=sandiegouniontribune.com | date=August 28, 2016 | url=http://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/sdut-cyber-security-data-breaches-malware-ccoe-spawar-2016aug28-story.html | accessdate=May 23, 2017}}</ref> by Phil Trubey<ref name="Osborne 2001">{{cite web | last=Osborne | first=D.M. | title=Dear John | website=Inc.com | date=April 1, 2001 | url=https://www.inc.com/magazine/20010501/22485.html | accessdate=May 24, 2017}}</ref> during the [[dot-com boom]]<ref name="ODell 2013">{{cite web | last=O'Dell | first=J. | title=Websense, publicly traded since 2000, goes private in $906M buyout | website=VentureBeat | date=May 20, 2013 | url=https://venturebeat.com/2013/05/20/websense-buyout/ | accessdate=May 23, 2017}}</ref> under the name NetPartners.<ref name="four"/> NetPartners started as a reseller for network security products,<ref name="four"/><ref name="Schroeder 2015 p. 149">{{cite book | last=Schroeder | first=B. | title=Fail Fast or Win Big: The Start-Up Plan for Starting Now | publisher=AMACOM | year=2015 | isbn=978-0-8144-3479-6 | url=http://books.google.com/books?id=CdTGAwAAQBAJ&pg=PA149 | access-date=May 24, 2017 | page=149}}</ref> before developing software for controlling employee internet use.<ref name="Osborne 2001"/> In 1998, NetPartners raised $6 million in venture capital funding and had $6 million in annual revenue.<ref name=" Osborne 2001"/> Investors pushed founder Trubey out of the CEO position and appointed John Carrington.<ref name="Osborne 2001"/><ref name="Kirk 2006"/> NetPartners was renamed "Websense" in 1999.<ref name="Lemos 2013"/> The following year, Websense raised $65.7 million in an [[initial public offering]].<ref name="Lemos 2013">{{cite web | last=Lemos | first=Robert | title=Websense to Go Private in $900 Million Buyout by Vista Equity Partners | website=eWEEK | date=May 22, 2013 | url=http://www.eweek.com/security/websense-to-go-private-in-900-million-buyout-by-vista-equity-partners | accessdate=May 23, 2017}}</ref>


In October 2011 [[Facebook]] began working with Forcepoint to assist Facebook in filtering links to malicious websites and malware sites.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://techcrunch.com/2011/10/03/facebook-partners-with-websense-to-protect-users-from-malicious-sites-and-malware/|title=Facebook Partners With Websense To Protect Users From Malicious Sites And Malware
In 2006, former McAfee CEO Gene Hodges succeeded John Carrington as Websense's CEO.<ref name="Kirk 2006">{{cite web | last=Kirk | first=Jeremy | title=McAfee president jumps ship to Websense | website=Network World | date=January 10, 2006 | url=http://www.networkworld.com/article/2317245/lan-wan/mcafee-president-jumps-ship-to-websense.html | accessdate=May 23, 2017}}</ref> Websense acquired a fingerprint security company called PortAuthority for $90 million that year.<ref name="Messmer 2006">{{cite web | last=Messmer | first=Ellen | title=Websense announces deal to buy PortAuthority | website=Network World | date=December 20, 2006 | url=http://www.networkworld.com/article/2302300/lan-wan/websense-announces-deal-to-buy-portauthority.html | accessdate=May 23, 2017}}</ref> This was followed by a $400 million acquisition of email security vendor SurfControl in 2007.<ref name="Garretson 2007">{{cite web | last=Garretson | first=Cara | title=WebSense to offer security inside and out | website=Network World | date=October 5, 2007 | url=http://www.networkworld.com/article/2287209/lan-wan/websense-to-offer-security-inside-and-out.html | accessdate=May 23, 2017}}</ref> Additionally, in 2009 Websense acquired Defensio, a spam and malware company focused on social media, for an undisclosed sum.<ref name="Messmer 2009">{{cite web | last=Messmer | first=Ellen | title=Websense buys Defensio to keep user-generated content clean | website=Network World | date=January 27, 2009 | url=http://www.networkworld.com/article/2273229/lan-wan/websense-buys-defensio-to-keep-user-generated-content-clean.html | accessdate=May 23, 2017}}</ref>
|author=Sarah Perez|date=3 October 2011|accessdate=30 March 2012}}</ref>


On May 20, 2013, Forcepoint was acquired by [[Vista Equity Partners]] and taken private for $24.75 per share,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://community.websense.com/blogs/websense-news-releases/archive/2013/05/20/websense-signs-definitive-agreement-to-be-acquired-by-vista-equity-partners.aspx|title=Websense Signs Definitive Agreement to be Acquired by Vista Equity Partners|date=20 May 2013|accessdate=21 May 2013}}</ref> for a total purchase price of [[US$]]906M.<ref name="acquisition">{{cite web|url=https://venturebeat.com/2013/05/20/websense-buyout/|title=Websense, publicly traded since 2000, goes private in $906M buyout|author=Jolie O'Dell|date=20 May 2013|accessdate=21 May 2013}}</ref> With the closing of the transaction, Forcepoint was no longer a publicly traded company, and its stock was delisted from NASDAQ. The company's main operations moved from San Diego, California to Austin, Texas.
By 2009, Websense had 1,400 employees.<ref name="McMillan 2009"/> It had offices in England, China, Australia, and Israel.<ref name="McMillan 2009">{{cite web | last=McMillan | first=Robert | title=Websense to cut 5 percent of staff | website=Network World | date=August 5, 2009 | url=http://www.networkworld.com/article/2246364/data-center/websense-to-cut-5-percent-of-staff.html | accessdate=May 23, 2017}}</ref> Two years later, Facebook implemented Websense to check every link users share on the site.<ref name="ODell 2013"/><ref name="Fast Company 2011">{{cite web | title=Websense Is Facebook’s Bug (And Spam) Exterminator | website=Fast Company | date=October 18, 2011 | url=https://www.fastcompany.com/1788348/websense-facebooks-bug-and-spam-exterminator | accessdate=May 24, 2017}}</ref> Websense became a private company again in 2013, when Vista Equity Partners acquired it for $906 million.<ref name="ODell 2013"/> Websense headquarters were moved to San Diego that year<ref name="Freeman 2016"/> and to [[Austin, Texas]] in 2014.<ref name="four"/>


On April 20, 2015, defense contractor [[Raytheon]] and Vista Equity Partners entered an agreement to form a new cybersecurity company, combining Raytheon Cyber Products with Websense, Inc. Raytheon had an 80.3% stake, with Vista Partners LLC holding the remaining 19.7%.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://blogs.forcepoint.com/press/raytheon-and-vista-equity-partners-enter-agreement-form-new-cybersecurity-company |title=Raytheon and Vista Equity Partners enter agreement to form new cybersecurity company (Press release)|website=Forcepoint|date=20 April 2015 |author= |accessdate= 24 September 2016}}</ref> ''[[The Wall Street Journal]]'' reported the purchase, commenting that Raytheon was betting it could use its military cybersecurity skills to sell to banks and retailers where other defense peers have struggled to profit. Websense was to form the core of the joint venture with forecast sales of $500 million for 2015 and margins of around 20%.<ref>{{cite news|url = https://www.wsj.com/articles/raytheon-to-plow-1-7-billion-into-new-cyber-venture-1429502769|subscription=yes|title = Raytheon to Plow $1.7 Billion Into New Cyber Venture |date = 2015-04-19}} [https://www.benton.org/headlines/raytheon-plow-17-billion-new-cyber-venture Alternative source for WSJ article]</ref>
===Forcepoint===
Raytheon acquired an 80% interest in Websense in April 2015 for about $1.9 billion.<ref name="Cameron 2015">{{cite web | last=Cameron | first=Doug | title=Raytheon to Plow $1.7 Billion Into New Cyber Venture | website=WSJ | date=April 19, 2015 | url=http://www.wsj.com/articles/raytheon-to-plow-1-7-billion-into-new-cyber-venture-1429502769 | accessdate=May 23, 2017}}</ref><ref name="Dunn 2015">{{cite web | last=Dunn | first=John E | title=Defense giant Raytheon to pay $1.9 billion for Websense | website=Network World | date=April 21, 2015 | url=http://www.networkworld.com/article/2912396/security0/defence-giant-raytheon-to-pay-1-billion-for-websense-says-report.html | accessdate=May 24, 2017}}</ref><ref name="Fortune 2015">{{cite web | title=Intel To Sell Firewall Business to Raytheon Unit | website=Fortune | date=October 28, 2015 | url=http://fortune.com/2015/10/28/intel-sell-stonesoft-raytheon-websense/ | accessdate=May 24, 2017}}</ref> This was followed by a $389 million purchase of Stonesoft and Sidewinder in October 2015.<ref name="Kerner 2016">{{cite web | last=Kerner | first=Sean Michael | title=Raytheon - Websense Rebrands as Forcepoint | website=eWEEK | date=January 14, 2016 | url=http://www.eweek.com/security/raytheon-websense-rebrands-as-forcepoint | accessdate=May 24, 2017}}</ref><ref name="Kuranda 2017"/> Stonesoft was a network security product owned by Intel and previously known as "McAfee Next-Generation Firewall."<ref name="Kuranda 2017">{{cite web | last=Kuranda | first=Sarah | title=Forcepoint Acquires Skyfence From Imperva, Unveils New Strategy | website=CRN | date=February 9, 2017 | url=http://www.crn.com/news/security/300083710/forcepoint-acquires-skyfence-from-imperva-unveils-new-strategy.htm | access-date=May 24, 2017}}</ref> Sidewinder, which was also purchased from Intel, was a firewall previously known as McAfee Firewall Enterprise.<ref name="Kuranda 2017"/>


In January 2016 it was announced that Raytheon|Websense was renamed Forcepoint.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.forcepoint.com/raytheonwebsense-now-forcepoint |title=Raytheon-Websense is Now Forcepoint|website=Forcepoint|date=14 January 2016 |author= |accessdate= 24 September 2016}}</ref>
After these acquisitions, the combined entity was rebranded as "Forcepoint" in January 2016.<ref name="Kerner 2016"/> The new combined entity also included Raytheon's "Cyber Products" business.<ref name="Beat 2016"/> At the time, Forcepoint had 2,000 employees and one-third of its customers were departments in the federal government of the United States.<ref name="Beat 2016">{{cite web | last=Wakeman | first=Nick| title=New name just the start for Raytheon | website=Washington Technology | date=January 14, 2016 | url=https://washingtontechnology.com/blogs/editors-notebook/2016/01/forcepoint-rebrand.aspx | accessdate=May 24, 2017}}</ref> Forcepoint became the smallest of the five businesses owned by Raytheon, but had the highest profit margins.<ref name="Beat 2016"/> The following year, the company began shuffling executives in a re-organization effort that included some layoffs.<ref name="Kuranda 20172"/> The company was divided into four business units: Cloud Security, Network Security, Data & Insider Threat Security, and Global Governments.<ref name="Kuranda 2017"/> In February 2017, Forcepoint announced the acquisition of a cloud-based access broker (CASB) security product from Imperva called Skyfence, for an undisclosed sum.<ref name="Kuranda 2017"/>


==Security software==
Matthew Moynahan was appointed CEO of Forcepoint in April 2016.<ref name="Austin Business Journal 2016">{{cite web | title=Forcepoint names Matthew Moynahan as CEO | website=Austin Business Journal | date=April 29, 2016 | url=https://www.bizjournals.com/austin/blog/techflash/2016/04/austin-cybersecurity-firm-replaces-ceo.html | access-date=August 31, 2017}}</ref> In August 2017, Forcepoint acquired user and entity behavior analytics company RedOwl for an undisclosed amount.<ref name="eWEEK 2017">{{cite web | title=Forcepoint Acquires Security Analytics Vendor RedOwl | website=eWEEK | date=September 25, 2017 | url=http://www.eweek.com/security/forcepoint-acquires-security-analytics-vendor-redowl | access-date=September 28, 2017}}</ref><ref name="Kuranda 2017">{{cite web | last=Kuranda | first=Sarah | title=Forcepoint Acquires RedOwl To Add Security Analytics, UEBA Capabilities | website=CRN | date=August 28, 2017 | url=http://www.crn.com/news/security/300091166/forcepoint-acquires-redowl-to-add-security-analytics-ueba-capabilities.htm | access-date=September 28, 2017}}</ref>
Forcepoint may be implemented as a software application, [[computer appliance]] or [[Cloud computing|cloud]]-based service operating at the [[transport layer]] as a [[transparent proxy]], or at the [[application layer]] as a [[proxy server|web proxy]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.websense.com/content/support/library/web/v75/wcg_deploy/WCG_Deploy.1.3.aspx|title=Explicit and Transparent Proxy Deployments|publisher=Websense|accessdate=30 March 2012|year=2010|deadurl=yes|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120418150020/http://www.websense.com/content/support/library/web/v75/wcg_deploy/WCG_Deploy.1.3.aspx|archivedate=18 April 2012|df=}}</ref> In each scenario, the effect is that it can inspect network traffic to or from the internet for a targeted group of people.


Forcepoint allows system administrators to block access to websites and other protocols based on categories.<ref name="Websense-categories">{{cite web|url=http://www.websense.com/content/URLCategories.aspx|title=URL Categories|publisher=Websense|year=2012|accessdate=2012-04-10}}</ref> These contain lists of sites that may be blocked at will, either at specified times or permanently.<ref name="WebsenseMasterDB">{{cite web|title = The Websense Master Database|work = Websense.com|url = http://www.websense.com/content/MasterDatabase.aspx|accessdate = February 18, 2012 }}</ref>
==Products==
Forcepoint's software and appliance products are some of the most common tools for controlling and monitoring employee internet use at work.<ref name="Richtel 1999">{{cite web | last=Richtel | first=Matt | title=The Way We Live Now: 7-4-99: Salient Facts: Computer Surveillance; Software to Watch Over You | website=The New York Times | date=July 4, 1999 | url=https://www.nytimes.com/1999/07/04/magazine/way-we-live-now-7-4-99-salient-facts-computer-surveillance-software-watch-over.html | accessdate=May 23, 2017}}</ref> They are used to block certain websites, inspect network traffic, and filter e-mails to guard against malicious software.<ref name="four">{{cite web | title=Vista Said to Hire Bank to Sell Network-Security Firm Websense | website=Bloomberg.com | date=March 12, 2015 | url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2015-03-12/vista-said-to-hire-bank-to-sell-network-security-firm-websense | accessdate=May 23, 2017}}</ref> Additionally, Forcepoint software products may control where sensitive files can be downloaded, viewed, or transmitted.<ref name="Tara Seals 2016"/><ref name="Fast Company 2012"/> It may prevent sensitive files from being downloaded to mobile devices like USB sticks or being emailed outside the company.<ref name="Tara Seals 2016"/><ref name="Fast Company 2012"/> Forcepoint may also prevent employees from accessing websites deemed inappropriate for workplace viewing by their employer.<ref name="three"/> For example, employers may prevent employees from viewing pornographic content at work, but also material about sex education, religion, dating, or politics.<ref name="three"/>


As of 2010, Forcepoint was used by the [[United States Department of Health and Human Services]].<ref>{{cite news|url = http://community.websense.com/blogs/cs/archive/2010/12/27/us_2D00_department_2D00_of_2D00_health_2D00_and_2D00_human_2D00_services.aspx|title = U.S. Department of Health and Human Services|date=11 February 2010}}</ref>
Forcepoint also develops and markets firewall products based in part on technology acquired from McAfee's former Stonesoft next generation firewall business and Intel Security's Sidewinder proxy firewall product.<ref name="http://www.channelweb.co.uk 2017">{{cite web | title='Opportunistic partners won't hold water with me' Forcepoint's new EMEA VP outlines priorities | website=CRN | date=August 25, 2017 | url=https://www.channelweb.co.uk/crn-uk/news/3016270/opportunistic-partners-wont-hold-water-with-me-forcepoints-new-emea-vp-outlines-priorities | access-date=August 25, 2017}}</ref> Forcepoint develops and markets cloud access security broker (CASB) products using technology acquired from what previously Imperva's Skyfence product.<ref name="Osborne 2017">{{cite web | last=Osborne | first=Charlie | title=Forcepoint acquires Skyfence in cloud security push | website=ZDNet | date=February 9, 2017 | url=http://www.zdnet.com/article/forcepoint-acquires-skyfence-in-cloud-security-push/ | access-date=August 25, 2017}}</ref> It also sells analytics software to detect insider data leaks and several [[Cross-domain solution|cross domain security]] products.<ref name="Forcepoint 2017">{{cite web | title=Forcepoint | website=Forcepoint | date=August 21, 2017 | url=https://www.forcepoint.com/ | access-date=August 25, 2017}}</ref>


Among other things, the software tracks individual internet usage to collect and report on any browsing behaviors that deviate from the standards set by the library, government or other employer, and its reports can be [[Data drilling|data drilled]] by "risk class, category, URL, application, user, workstation, dates, and more."<ref>[http://www.websense.com/global/en/ProductsServices/ReportingTools/ Websense: reporting tools].</ref>
Generally, the internet browsers on an employee's desktop are modified to direct all traffic through a proxy server.<ref name="InfoWorld p. 52-IA8">{{cite book | title=InfoWorld | publisher=InfoWorld Media Group, Inc. | url=http://books.google.com/books?id=LzwEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA52-IA8 | accessdate=May 23, 2017 | page=52-IA8}}</ref> That server hosts local copies of frequently-visited websites, in order to improve download speed.<ref name="InfoWorld p. 52-IA8"/> Forcepoint software also checks every URL the employee visits against a database of malware websites<ref name="Fast Company 2012"/> or checks it against a database to see if the website is associated with a content category prohibited by their employer for workplace viewing.<ref name="three"/> All of the employee's internet traffic is logged and analyzed.<ref name="InfoWorld p. 52-IA8"/> Forcepoint software may then use data on an employee's internet use to identify risky behaviors.<ref name="Tara Seals 2016">{{cite web | author=Tara | author2=Seals | title=Raytheon - Websense Becomes Forcepoint | website=Infosecurity Magazine | date=January 14, 2016 | url=https://www.infosecurity-magazine.com/news/raytheonwebsense-becomes-forcepoint/ | access-date=May 24, 2017}}</ref>


Forcepoint maintains R&D facilities in San Diego and Los Gatos, CA; Reading, England; Sydney, Australia; Raanana, Israel; and Beijing, China. The company reported 500 R&D employees in 2012.<ref>{{cite news|title = UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION, FORM 10-K, Websense|author = Michael A. Newman, Chief Financial Officer|date = 2012-12-31|url = https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1098277/000109827713000010/wbsn2012123110k.htm#sB5331F4E9C58389BD5A4D24572E26F24}}</ref>
===Version history===
By 1997, three years after Forcepoint was founded, the company had published version 3 of its software.<ref name="PC Mag p. 95-IA5">{{cite book | title=PC Mag | publisher=Ziff Davis, Inc. | url=http://books.google.com/books?id=FxChL0Kr_3EC&pg=PA95-IA5 | accessdate=May 23, 2017 | page=95-IA5}}</ref> Version 3.0 introduced the software's first graphical, web-based administrative user interface.<ref name="InfoWorld p. 68">{{cite book | title=InfoWorld | publisher=InfoWorld Media Group, Inc. | url=http://books.google.com/books?id=41EEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA68 | accessdate=May 23, 2017 | page=68}}</ref> At the time, Forcepoint's software was only used to prevent employees from viewing certain types of content at work, but in 2006 features were added to detect when employees were attempting to visit websites suspected of hosting malicious code.<ref name="Garretson 2006">{{cite web | last=Garretson | first=Cara | title=Websense touts preemptive threat-protection technology | website=Network World | date=November 6, 2006 | url=http://www.networkworld.com/article/2300653/lan-wan/websense-touts-preemptive-threat-protection-technology.html | accessdate=May 23, 2017}}</ref>


===Blocking errors===
In 2007 Websense introduced a product to control content a user can see on social media websites,<ref name="McMillan 2007">{{cite web | last=McMillan | first=Robert | title=DEFCON - Websense lures Web 2.0 attackers with HoneyJax | website=Network World | date=August 4, 2007 | url=http://www.networkworld.com/article/2293518/lan-wan/defcon---websense-lures-web-2-0-attackers-with-honeyjax.html | accessdate=May 23, 2017}}</ref> an endpoint security product,<ref name="twelve">{{cite web | last=Messmer | first=Ellen | title=Websense touts data-leak prevention endpoint control | website=Network World | date=December 20, 2007 | url=http://www.networkworld.com/article/2281782/lan-wan/websense-touts-data-leak-prevention-endpoint-control.html | accessdate=May 23, 2017}}</ref> a website reputation ranker,<ref name="Garretson 20072">{{cite web | last=Garretson | first=Cara | title=RSA '07:Websense enhances threat-detection software | website=Network World | date=February 7, 2007 | url=http://www.networkworld.com/article/2294889/lan-wan/rsa--07-websense-enhances-threat-detection-software.html | accessdate=May 23, 2017}}</ref> and a small business version.<ref name="eight">{{cite web | last=Messmer | first=Ellen | title=Websense introduces Express for SMB market | website=Network World | date=July 2, 2007 | url=http://www.networkworld.com/article/2292119/computers/websense-introduces-express-for-smb-market.html | accessdate=May 23, 2017}}</ref> Additionally, a product was added to the Websense suite that identifies sensitive files in un-secure locations on the corporate network and looks for records of those files being transmitted.<ref name="Messmer 2007">{{cite web | last=Messmer | first=Ellen | title=Websense security software now blocks unauthorized data | website=Network World | date=June 11, 2007 | url=http://www.networkworld.com/article/2290920/lan-wan/websense-security-software-now-blocks-unauthorized-data.html | accessdate=May 23, 2017}}</ref>
A comparative study in 2002, looked at how blocking pornography websites affected the search of legitimate health-related information. When configured at the least-restrictive settings (only blocking sites in the category of pornography), all blocking software blocked the least number of health-related sites, and blocked most of the pornography. As more restrictive settings were tested, the health-related searches were considerably impeded, while the efficiency of blocking pornographic websites increased only marginally. Forcepoint had similar results with the other programs.<ref>{{cite journal|last1 = Richardson|first1 = Caroline R.|last2 = Resnick|first2 = Paul J.|last3 = Hansen|first3 = Derek L.|last4 = Derry|first4 = Holly A.|last5 = Rideout|first5 = Victoria J.|year = 2002|title = Does Pornography-Blocking Software Block Access to Health Information on the Internet|journal = [[Journal of the American Medical Association]]|volume = 288|number = 22|pages = 2887–2894 |url= http://jama.ama-assn.org/content/288/22/2887.short|doi=10.1001/jama.288.22.2887}}</ref>


In a 2005 report the Rhode Island branch of the [[ACLU|American Civil Liberties Union]] called Forcepoint a deeply flawed technology.<ref name="riaclu" /> It further notes that, although the blocking technology has improved over the years since 2002, it still remains a "blunt instrument" and that in public libraries equipped with Forcepoint people of all ages "are still denied access to a wide range of legitimate material." <ref name="riaclu">{{cite web|url = http://www.riaclu.org/20050418.html|archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20081205070114/http://www.riaclu.org/20050418.html|title = R.I. ACLU releases report on "troubling" internet censorship in public libraries|author1 = The Rhode Island affiliate|author2 = American Civil Liberties Union|date = April 2005|archivedate = 2008-12-05}}<br>* [http://www.riaclu.org/friendly/documents/2005libraryinternetreport.pdf full report] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080511185218/http://www.riaclu.org/friendly/documents/2005libraryinternetreport.pdf |date=2008-05-11 }}.</ref>
Websense introduced its first appliance product in 2009.<ref name="Messmer 20092">{{cite web | last=Messmer | first=Ellen | title=Websense unveils its first Web security appliance | website=Network World | date=April 6, 2009 | url=http://www.networkworld.com/article/2266561/lan-wan/websense-unveils-its-first-web-security-appliance.html | accessdate=May 23, 2017}}</ref> The following year some products were consolidated into the Triton software, which became responsible for increasingly large portions of the company's revenue.<ref name="Messmer 2010">{{cite web | last=Messmer | first=Ellen | title=Websense debuts unified security architecture | website=Network World | date=February 9, 2010 | url=http://www.networkworld.com/article/2245721/security/websense-debuts-unified-security-architecture.html | accessdate=May 23, 2017}}</ref> In February 2012, Forcepoint released a cloud-based suite of IT security products for smartphones, tablets, laptops, USB drives, and other mobile devices.<ref name="Fast Company 2012">{{cite web | title=Websense Plugs Data Leaks, Plays Malware Guard On Mobiles For The Office | website=Fast Company | date=February 29, 2012 | url=https://www.fastcompany.com/1820962/websense-plugs-data-leaks-plays-malware-guard-mobiles-office | accessdate=May 23, 2017}}</ref> Upgrades to the suite in 2012 added the ability to identify confidential information in an image file.<ref name="Messmer 2012">{{cite web | last=Messmer | first=Ellen | title=Websense adds 'criminal encryption' detection to security gateway | website=Network World | date=July 10, 2012 | url=http://www.networkworld.com/article/2189801/security/websense-adds--criminal-encryption--detection-to-security-gateway.html | accessdate=May 23, 2017}}</ref> Three new products or revisions were introduced in 2016, all focused on security risks caused by employees.<ref name="Tara Seals 2016"/>


A 2006 report by [[Brennan Center for Justice]] says that web filtering programs used in schools were error-prone. For Forcepoint it discovered that a page discussing pornographic content had been blocked despite not containing any pornography, and a whole website had been blocked because one of its pages had sexual content.<ref>{{citation |title= Internet filters: a public policy report |author1=Marjorie Heins |author2=Christina Cho |author3=Ariel Feldman |publisher= Brennan Center for Justice |year= 2006 |pages= 38–39 |url= http://www.fepproject.org/policyreports/filters2.pdf }} [http://www.fepproject.org/policyreports/filters2intro.html intro]</ref>
===Censorship===
Forcepoint has a policy against selling to governments and ISPs that engage in internet censorship,<ref name="Garling 2011"/> however it has been criticized for a "perceived link to censorship of free speech and the dissemination of knowledge."<ref name="ODell 2013"/>


In 2007 [[Norman Finkelstein]]<ref>[http://www.normanfinkelstein.com/article.php?pg=11&ar=1351#rdrl Websense filtering out this site], official website of [[Norman Finkelstein]], "Reader letters: reply from Websense stating that www.normanfinkelstein.com has been reviewed and now categorized as 'News and Media'"</ref> and [[Noam Chomsky]]{{Citation needed|date=June 2012}}'s websites were blocked by network administrators blocking the 'racism/hate speech' category for approximately 24 hours until Finkelstein complained.
In 2009 it was discovered that the Yemeni government was using Forcepoint's products to monitor the public's internet use.<ref name="Garling 2011"/> Forcepoint responded by cutting off the country's access to Forcepoint's database updates.<ref name="Garling 2011"/> In 2011, Forcepoint said it would join the Global Network Initiative (GNI), which is focused on privacy and internet freedom.<ref name="Garling 2011">{{cite web | last=Garling | first=Caleb | title=Websense Joins Goohoosoft’s Fight For Human Rights | website=WIRED | date=December 8, 2011 | url=https://www.wired.com/2011/12/websense-gni/ | accessdate=May 24, 2017}}</ref> Joining the organization entails voluntarily submitting the company to an annual audit in an effort to uncover use of the company's products by oppressive regimes.<ref name="Garling 2011"/>


A 2008 study on the use of Forcepoint within the [[Technical College System of Georgia|Technical Colleges of Georgia]] found that only two categories were blocked in all of the colleges surveyed, and that 39 categories out of the 43 listed were blocked by some, but not all, colleges, with numbers ranging from two colleges blocking a given category to 23 out of the 24 respondents.<ref name="Stanley2008">{{cite journal|last1 = Stanley|first1 = Carol|last2 = Jerry|first2 = Stovall|year = 2008|title = The Blocked Blog (or Websense and the Technical Colleges' Fight for Academic Freedom)|journal = [[Georgia Library Quarterly]]|volume = 45|issue = 1|url = http://digitalcommons.kennesaw.edu/glq/vol45/iss1/3|accessdate = February 16, 2012 }}</ref> The software offers clients an optional ''continue button'' which permits users to access an otherwise blocked category if it is work related.<ref name="WebsenseMasterDB" />
A 2002 study in <i>JAMA</i> found that Forcepoint had the best-performing web-filtering products in terms of blocking pornography while allowing health information.<ref name="three">{{cite journal | last=Richardson | first=Caroline R. | last2=Resnick | first2=Paul J. | last3=Hansen | first3=Derek L. | last4=Derry | first4=Holly A. | last5=Rideout | first5=Victoria J. | title=Does Pornography-Blocking Software Block Access to Health Information on the Internet? | journal=JAMA | volume=288 | issue=22 | date=December 11, 2002 | issn=0098-7484 | doi=10.1001/jama.288.22.2887 | pages=2887–2894 | url=http://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/fullarticle/195607 | accessdate=May 23, 2017}}</ref> A 2006 report by [[Brennan Center for Justice]] found that Forcepoint often blocked websites that discussed pornography, but did not actually feature pornography.<ref>{{citation |title= Internet filters: a public policy report |author1=Marjorie Heins |author2=Christina Cho |author3=Ariel Feldman |publisher= Brennan Center for Justice |year= 2006 |pages= 38–39 |url= http://www.fepproject.org/policyreports/filters2.pdf }} [http://www.fepproject.org/policyreports/filters2intro.html intro]</ref> Forcepoint software also blocked a furniture website called "the-strippers.com."<ref name="three"/> In the author's study, 0-15 percent of the sites blocked by Forcepoint should have been viewable by the user and 10 percent of objectionable websites were let through, rather than blocked.<ref name="three"/>

For approximately 24 hours in 2009, Forcepoint classified router company [[Cisco]]'s website under 'hack sites'.<ref name="leyden">{{cite news|work=[[The Register]]|author=John Leyden|date=2009-03-20|title=Websense mistakes Cisco.com for hack site|url=https://www.theregister.co.uk/2009/03/20/websense_blocks_cisco/ }}</ref> Forcepoint has a submission form on the website to report mistaken categorization, although it is only available with an account.<ref>{{cite web|title = Tools and Policies|work = Websense|url = http://www.websense.com/content/toolsandpolicies.aspx|accessdate = February 19, 2012 }}</ref>

In 2011 it was reported by a blogger that Forcepoint would block pages that contained pornographic links anywhere in its content, even in the comments section; "a malicious attacker could get your whole site blocked at any time by the simple procedure of leaving dangerous, malicious or pornographic links in a blog's comments".<ref name="jillian blog"/>

The blocking categories can contain errors, and can be used, accidentally or on purpose, to prevent people from seeing legitimate content. For example, Forcepoint categories include: "Professional and Worker Organizations", "Social and Affiliation Organizations", "Political Organizations", "Advocacy Groups", "[[Gay]] or [[Lesbian]] or [[Bisexual]] Interest", "[[Sex education]]", "Traditional Religions" and "Non-traditional Religions and Occult and Folklore".<ref name="westcensoringeast">{{cite web|url = http://opennet.net/west-censoring-east-the-use-western-technologies-middle-east-censors-2010-2011|work = [[OpenNet Initiative]]|title = West Censoring East: The Use of Western Technologies by Middle East Censors, 2010-2011y|date = March 2011|accessdate = 2012-01-28}}</ref> In response to a complaint from the [[American Civil Liberties Union]] in 2011 (part of their "[[Don't Filter Me]]" project), Forcepoint clarified its definition of the "Gay or Lesbian or Bisexual Interest" category, after it became apparent that some administrators mistakenly believed that this category had to be enabled to ensure that sexually explicit websites were blocked in schools.<ref name="ACLU">{{cite web|url=https://www.aclu.org/files/assets/websense_filtering_fact_sheet.pdf|format=PDF|publisher=[[American Civil Liberties Union]]|title=Don't Filter Me!|date=10 November 2011|accessdate=2011-04-10}}</ref>

==Usage by governments==
{{see also|Internet censorship}}
The ability of public libraries, governments or other employers to block content based on ideology has proved [[#Controversy|controversial]] due to the subjects being blocked are controlled by an organization or even a single individual. The blocking of sites can exceed that which is required by bodies responsible for the oversight of these institutions, and, in the case of educational institutions, criticism has been leveled at the decision making process.<ref name="Stanley2008" />

Due to these problems, a report issued in 2002 referred to Forcepoint as "censorware,"<ref name="peacefire">[http://peacefire.org/censorware/WebSENSE/ Peacefire WebSENSE Examined]</ref> although [[Bolo Bhi]]{{who|date=May 2016}} did not concur in 2012.<ref>{{cite news|title = Thank You Websense, From Pakistan|author = Sana Saleem|publisher=[[Bolo Bhi]]|type=Press release|date = 2012-03-02|url = http://bolobhi.org/press-releases/civil-society-thank-websense/}}</ref>

In 2004 [[Amnesty International]] listed Forcepoint as one of several foreign companies that had reportedly provided technology that was used to [[Internet censorship in China|censor and control the use of the Internet in China]].<ref name="amnesty china">[https://www.amnesty.org/en/library/asset/ASA17/001/2004/en/9dc9d9e2-d64d-11dd-ab95-a13b602c0642/asa170012004en.pdf China: Controls tighten as Internet activism grows] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120925110123/http://www.amnesty.org/en/library/asset/ASA17/001/2004/en/9dc9d9e2-d64d-11dd-ab95-a13b602c0642/asa170012004en.pdf |date=2012-09-25 }} "[[Cisco Systems]], [[Microsoft]], [[Nortel Networks]], Websense and [[Sun Microsystems]]", citing Amnesty International: People's Republic of China: State Control of the Internet in China, ASA, 17/007/2002, November 2002.</ref>

The OpenNet Initiative reported in 2004 that Forcepoint technology was used by the government in [[Yemen]] to enforce censorship of the Internet.<ref>Internet Filtering in Yemen in 2004–2005: A Country Study. OpenNet Initiative.</ref>

In 2008 it was denounced again by the [[Yemen Times]].<ref name="yemen times">{{cite news|work=[[Yemen Times]]|title=Internet censorship in Yemen|author=Jane Novak|issue=1135 (volume 8)|date=6–9 March 2008|url=http://yementimes.com/article.shtml?i=1135&p=local&a=5|quote=The government ISP automatically denies Internet requests from Yemeni users by using Forcepoint and Antlabs to filter Internet content. Forcepoint enables the government to block websites by category and to define specific Internet sites to block|deadurl=yes|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20080510083109/http://yementimes.com/article.shtml?i=1135&p=local&a=5|archivedate=10 May 2008|df=}}</ref> The company has a policy of not doing business with governments that force censorship of the Internet or oppress rights. The only exceptions are for preventing minors from watching adult content and for child pornography.<ref name="legal info">{{cite web|title=Anti-Censorship Policy|work=Official website|publisher=Forcepoint|accessdate=2016-10-11|url=http://www.websense.com/content/censorship-policy.aspx |quote= Forcepoint does not sell to governments or Internet Service Providers (ISPs) that are engaged in government-imposed censorship... [and] does not engage in any arrangements with foreign governments (or government-imposed arrangements) that could be viewed as oppressive of rights. }}</ref> In 2009 Forcepoint issued a statement that it was discontinuing the database downloads to the Yemeni ISP, due to the violation of its stated policy,<ref>{{citation|url=http://community.websense.com/blogs/websense-features/archive/2009/08/17/websense-issues-statement-on-use-of-its-url-filtering-technology-by-isps-in-yemen.aspx|date=August 17, 2009|title=Websense Issues Statement on Use of its URL Filtering Technology by ISPs in Yemen|work=Official blog|publisher=Websense}}</ref><ref>{{citation|url=http://community.websense.com/blogs/websense-features/archive/2009/08/20/websense-sets-the-record-straight-on-its-anti-censorship-policy.aspx|title= Websense Sets the Record Straight on its Anti-Censorship Policy|author=Mike Newman|date=20 August 2009|work=Official blog|publisher=Websense}}</ref> but reporters from ONI infer that Forcepoint software was still being used by Yemen's ISP, YemenNet, to censor Internet access as late as August 2010.<ref name="oni 2010-2011">[http://opennet.net/west-censoring-east-the-use-western-technologies-middle-east-censors-2010-2011 West Censoring East: The Use of Western Technologies by Middle East Censors, 2010-2011 ], March 2011, Helmi Noman and Jillian C. York. "From this we may infer, but not definitively establish, that Forcepoint categorizations were still being received and updated in Yemen as of August 2010."</ref> Forcepoint was finally discontinued in Yemen sometime around January 2011 <ref name="oni 2010-2011"/> and apparently it is no longer being used in any Middle East or North Africa country.<ref name="jillian blog">[http://jilliancyork.com/2011/03/28/west-censoring-east-or-why-websense-thinks-my-blog-is-pornography/ West Censoring East: Or Why Websense Thinks My Blog is Pornography], Jilian C. York (coauthor of the 2010-2011 ONI report), March 28, 2011 "I will say that Yemen has stopped using [Forcepoint] and we're not aware of any other countries–at least in the Middle East and North Africa–that use the software."</ref>

On November 1, 2011, Forcepoint General Counsel, Michael Newman, released a public letter to "challenge all other American technology vendors to join us in prohibiting repressive regimes from using American technology to prevent open communications."<ref name="Newman">{{cite web|url=http://community.websense.com/blogs/websense-insights/archive/2011/11/01/websense-statement-on-improper-use-of-technology-for-suppression-of-rights-and-in-violation-of-trade-sanctions.aspx|title=Websense Statement on Improper Use of Technology for Suppression of Rights and in Violation of Trade Sanctions|date=2011-11-01|accessdate=2012-03-27|publisher=Websense|first=Michael|last=Newman}}</ref> The letter's call for action included, "If you are an executive at a security company that makes software that can be used to censor Internet activity in repressive regimes, we ask that you support the right course of action and stop selling repressive tools to oppressive regimes."<ref name="Newman"/> The company joined the Global Network Initiative the same year.<ref name="York"/>

In response, the Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF) noted, "Websense [Forcepoint] is pointing the technology sector in the direction of promoting freedom; BlueCoat represents the aiding oppressors. The choice for other tech companies is clear, and kudos to Websense for leading the way."<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2011/11/week-internet-censorship%20|accessdate=2012-03-27|publisher=[[Electronic Frontier Foundation]]|date=2011-11-07|title=This Week in Internet Censorship Egypt Imprisons Alaa, Other Pro-democracy Bloggers|first=Maira|last=Sutton|first2=Trevor|last2=Timm}}</ref> In March 2012, the EFF also praised Websense for denouncing Pakistan's censorship plans.<ref name="York">{{cite web|url=https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2012/03/filtering-software-companies-should-follow-websenses-lead|title=Filtering Software Companies Should Follow Websense's Lead|author=Jillian C York|publisher=[[Electronic Frontier Foundation]]|accessdate=2012-03-30}}</ref>

==See also==
*[[List of parental control software]]


==References==
==References==
{{reflist}}
{{reflist|30em}}

==Further reading==
* ''Access Denied: The Practice and Policy of Global Internet Filtering'', Ronald Deibert, John G. Palfrey, Rafal Rohozinski, Jonathan Zittrain, MIT Press, 2008. {{ISBN|0-262-54196-3}}, {{ISBN|978-0-262-54196-1}}


==External links==
==External links==
*{{official website|http://websense.com}}
* [https://www.forcepoint.com/ Official website]

[[Category:Companies established in 1994]]
[[Category:Content-control software]]
[[Category:Companies based in Austin, Texas]]

Revision as of 15:08, 3 October 2017

Forcepoint LLC
FormerlyWebsense, Raytheon|Websense
Company typeJoint Venture[1]
IndustryInformation security
Founded1994
HeadquartersAustin, Texas
Key people
Matthew Moynahan, CEO
$328 million (2015)[2]
ParentRaytheon
Websitewww.forcepoint.com

Forcepoint, previously known as Websense and Raytheon|Websense, is an Austin-based company owned by US defense contractor Raytheon, in a joint venture with private equity firm Vista Equity Partners,[3] specializing in computer security software.[4] It offers businesses and government institutions services for content security, data protection, cloud security, network security, analytics, webfiltering, and cross domain access and transfer to protect organization's networks from cybercrime, malware, and data theft, as well as prevent users from viewing sexual or other inappropriate content and discourage employees from browsing non-business-related websites.[5] Forcepoint uses a combination of classification engines, filtering categories, data fingerprints, and word filters selected by customers.

History

Forcepoint was founded by Phil Trubey in 1994, and went public in the year 2000.[6] Forcepoint offers security services.[7]

In October 2011 Facebook began working with Forcepoint to assist Facebook in filtering links to malicious websites and malware sites.[8]

On May 20, 2013, Forcepoint was acquired by Vista Equity Partners and taken private for $24.75 per share,[9] for a total purchase price of US$906M.[10] With the closing of the transaction, Forcepoint was no longer a publicly traded company, and its stock was delisted from NASDAQ. The company's main operations moved from San Diego, California to Austin, Texas.

On April 20, 2015, defense contractor Raytheon and Vista Equity Partners entered an agreement to form a new cybersecurity company, combining Raytheon Cyber Products with Websense, Inc. Raytheon had an 80.3% stake, with Vista Partners LLC holding the remaining 19.7%.[11] The Wall Street Journal reported the purchase, commenting that Raytheon was betting it could use its military cybersecurity skills to sell to banks and retailers where other defense peers have struggled to profit. Websense was to form the core of the joint venture with forecast sales of $500 million for 2015 and margins of around 20%.[12]

In January 2016 it was announced that Raytheon|Websense was renamed Forcepoint.[13]

Security software

Forcepoint may be implemented as a software application, computer appliance or cloud-based service operating at the transport layer as a transparent proxy, or at the application layer as a web proxy.[14] In each scenario, the effect is that it can inspect network traffic to or from the internet for a targeted group of people.

Forcepoint allows system administrators to block access to websites and other protocols based on categories.[15] These contain lists of sites that may be blocked at will, either at specified times or permanently.[16]

As of 2010, Forcepoint was used by the United States Department of Health and Human Services.[17]

Among other things, the software tracks individual internet usage to collect and report on any browsing behaviors that deviate from the standards set by the library, government or other employer, and its reports can be data drilled by "risk class, category, URL, application, user, workstation, dates, and more."[18]

Forcepoint maintains R&D facilities in San Diego and Los Gatos, CA; Reading, England; Sydney, Australia; Raanana, Israel; and Beijing, China. The company reported 500 R&D employees in 2012.[19]

Blocking errors

A comparative study in 2002, looked at how blocking pornography websites affected the search of legitimate health-related information. When configured at the least-restrictive settings (only blocking sites in the category of pornography), all blocking software blocked the least number of health-related sites, and blocked most of the pornography. As more restrictive settings were tested, the health-related searches were considerably impeded, while the efficiency of blocking pornographic websites increased only marginally. Forcepoint had similar results with the other programs.[20]

In a 2005 report the Rhode Island branch of the American Civil Liberties Union called Forcepoint a deeply flawed technology.[21] It further notes that, although the blocking technology has improved over the years since 2002, it still remains a "blunt instrument" and that in public libraries equipped with Forcepoint people of all ages "are still denied access to a wide range of legitimate material." [21]

A 2006 report by Brennan Center for Justice says that web filtering programs used in schools were error-prone. For Forcepoint it discovered that a page discussing pornographic content had been blocked despite not containing any pornography, and a whole website had been blocked because one of its pages had sexual content.[22]

In 2007 Norman Finkelstein[23] and Noam Chomsky[citation needed]'s websites were blocked by network administrators blocking the 'racism/hate speech' category for approximately 24 hours until Finkelstein complained.

A 2008 study on the use of Forcepoint within the Technical Colleges of Georgia found that only two categories were blocked in all of the colleges surveyed, and that 39 categories out of the 43 listed were blocked by some, but not all, colleges, with numbers ranging from two colleges blocking a given category to 23 out of the 24 respondents.[24] The software offers clients an optional continue button which permits users to access an otherwise blocked category if it is work related.[16]

For approximately 24 hours in 2009, Forcepoint classified router company Cisco's website under 'hack sites'.[25] Forcepoint has a submission form on the website to report mistaken categorization, although it is only available with an account.[26]

In 2011 it was reported by a blogger that Forcepoint would block pages that contained pornographic links anywhere in its content, even in the comments section; "a malicious attacker could get your whole site blocked at any time by the simple procedure of leaving dangerous, malicious or pornographic links in a blog's comments".[27]

The blocking categories can contain errors, and can be used, accidentally or on purpose, to prevent people from seeing legitimate content. For example, Forcepoint categories include: "Professional and Worker Organizations", "Social and Affiliation Organizations", "Political Organizations", "Advocacy Groups", "Gay or Lesbian or Bisexual Interest", "Sex education", "Traditional Religions" and "Non-traditional Religions and Occult and Folklore".[28] In response to a complaint from the American Civil Liberties Union in 2011 (part of their "Don't Filter Me" project), Forcepoint clarified its definition of the "Gay or Lesbian or Bisexual Interest" category, after it became apparent that some administrators mistakenly believed that this category had to be enabled to ensure that sexually explicit websites were blocked in schools.[29]

Usage by governments

See also: Internet censorship

The ability of public libraries, governments or other employers to block content based on ideology has proved controversial due to the subjects being blocked are controlled by an organization or even a single individual. The blocking of sites can exceed that which is required by bodies responsible for the oversight of these institutions, and, in the case of educational institutions, criticism has been leveled at the decision making process.[24]

Due to these problems, a report issued in 2002 referred to Forcepoint as "censorware,"[30] although Bolo Bhi[who?] did not concur in 2012.[31]

In 2004 Amnesty International listed Forcepoint as one of several foreign companies that had reportedly provided technology that was used to censor and control the use of the Internet in China.[32]

The OpenNet Initiative reported in 2004 that Forcepoint technology was used by the government in Yemen to enforce censorship of the Internet.[33]

In 2008 it was denounced again by the Yemen Times.[34] The company has a policy of not doing business with governments that force censorship of the Internet or oppress rights. The only exceptions are for preventing minors from watching adult content and for child pornography.[35] In 2009 Forcepoint issued a statement that it was discontinuing the database downloads to the Yemeni ISP, due to the violation of its stated policy,[36][37] but reporters from ONI infer that Forcepoint software was still being used by Yemen's ISP, YemenNet, to censor Internet access as late as August 2010.[38] Forcepoint was finally discontinued in Yemen sometime around January 2011 [38] and apparently it is no longer being used in any Middle East or North Africa country.[27]

On November 1, 2011, Forcepoint General Counsel, Michael Newman, released a public letter to "challenge all other American technology vendors to join us in prohibiting repressive regimes from using American technology to prevent open communications."[39] The letter's call for action included, "If you are an executive at a security company that makes software that can be used to censor Internet activity in repressive regimes, we ask that you support the right course of action and stop selling repressive tools to oppressive regimes."[39] The company joined the Global Network Initiative the same year.[40]

In response, the Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF) noted, "Websense [Forcepoint] is pointing the technology sector in the direction of promoting freedom; BlueCoat represents the aiding oppressors. The choice for other tech companies is clear, and kudos to Websense for leading the way."[41] In March 2012, the EFF also praised Websense for denouncing Pakistan's censorship plans.[40]

See also

References

  1. ^ http://www.bizjournals.com/washington/blog/fedbiz_daily/2016/01/raytheon-websense-joint-cyber-venture-changes-name.html
  2. ^ "Raytheon Reports Solid Fourth Quarter and Full-Year 2015 Results (press release)". PR Newswire. January 28, 2016. Retrieved October 23, 2016.
  3. ^ http://www.zdnet.com/article/raytheon-websense-rebrands-as-forecepoint-acquires-intel-securitys-stonesoft/
  4. ^ Nidhi Subbaraman, Websense Plugs Data Leaks, Plays Malware Guard On Mobiles For The Office= Fast Company
  5. ^ Ken Presti, Websense Updates Malware, Data Theft Defenses = CRN
  6. ^ "He's All Business On the Internet, Phil Trubey Unveils His Latest Venture Even Though He Could Retire Today". San Diego Business Journal. 2000-12-11. Retrieved 2008-08-04.
  7. ^ Orans, Lawrence; Firstbrook, Peter (25 May 2011). (Report). Gartner via McAfee https://web.archive.org/web/20131203225409/http://www.mcafee.com/ca/resources/reports/rp-gartner-magic-quadrant-secure-web-gateway.pdf. Archived from the original (PDF) on 3 December 2013. Retrieved 13 April 2017. {{cite report}}: Missing or empty |title= (help); Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  8. ^ Sarah Perez (3 October 2011). "Facebook Partners With Websense To Protect Users From Malicious Sites And Malware". Retrieved 30 March 2012.
  9. ^ "Websense Signs Definitive Agreement to be Acquired by Vista Equity Partners". 20 May 2013. Retrieved 21 May 2013.
  10. ^ Jolie O'Dell (20 May 2013). "Websense, publicly traded since 2000, goes private in $906M buyout". Retrieved 21 May 2013.
  11. ^ "Raytheon and Vista Equity Partners enter agreement to form new cybersecurity company (Press release)". Forcepoint. 20 April 2015. Retrieved 24 September 2016.
  12. ^ "Raytheon to Plow $1.7 Billion Into New Cyber Venture". 2015-04-19. {{cite news}}: Unknown parameter |subscription= ignored (|url-access= suggested) (help) Alternative source for WSJ article
  13. ^ "Raytheon-Websense is Now Forcepoint". Forcepoint. 14 January 2016. Retrieved 24 September 2016.
  14. ^ "Explicit and Transparent Proxy Deployments". Websense. 2010. Archived from the original on 18 April 2012. Retrieved 30 March 2012. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  15. ^ "URL Categories". Websense. 2012. Retrieved 2012-04-10.
  16. ^ a b "The Websense Master Database". Websense.com. Retrieved February 18, 2012.
  17. ^ "U.S. Department of Health and Human Services". 11 February 2010.
  18. ^ Websense: reporting tools.
  19. ^ Michael A. Newman, Chief Financial Officer (2012-12-31). "UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION, FORM 10-K, Websense".
  20. ^ Richardson, Caroline R.; Resnick, Paul J.; Hansen, Derek L.; Derry, Holly A.; Rideout, Victoria J. (2002). "Does Pornography-Blocking Software Block Access to Health Information on the Internet". Journal of the American Medical Association. 288 (22): 2887–2894. doi:10.1001/jama.288.22.2887.
  21. ^ a b The Rhode Island affiliate; American Civil Liberties Union (April 2005). "R.I. ACLU releases report on "troubling" internet censorship in public libraries". Archived from the original on 2008-12-05.
    * full report Archived 2008-05-11 at the Wayback Machine.
  22. ^ Marjorie Heins; Christina Cho; Ariel Feldman (2006), Internet filters: a public policy report (PDF), Brennan Center for Justice, pp. 38–39 intro
  23. ^ Websense filtering out this site, official website of Norman Finkelstein, "Reader letters: reply from Websense stating that www.normanfinkelstein.com has been reviewed and now categorized as 'News and Media'"
  24. ^ a b Stanley, Carol; Jerry, Stovall (2008). "The Blocked Blog (or Websense and the Technical Colleges' Fight for Academic Freedom)". Georgia Library Quarterly. 45 (1). Retrieved February 16, 2012.
  25. ^ John Leyden (2009-03-20). "Websense mistakes Cisco.com for hack site". The Register.
  26. ^ "Tools and Policies". Websense. Retrieved February 19, 2012.
  27. ^ a b West Censoring East: Or Why Websense Thinks My Blog is Pornography, Jilian C. York (coauthor of the 2010-2011 ONI report), March 28, 2011 "I will say that Yemen has stopped using [Forcepoint] and we're not aware of any other countries–at least in the Middle East and North Africa–that use the software."
  28. ^ "West Censoring East: The Use of Western Technologies by Middle East Censors, 2010-2011y". OpenNet Initiative. March 2011. Retrieved 2012-01-28.
  29. ^ "Don't Filter Me!" (PDF). American Civil Liberties Union. 10 November 2011. Retrieved 2011-04-10.
  30. ^ Peacefire WebSENSE Examined
  31. ^ Sana Saleem (2012-03-02). "Thank You Websense, From Pakistan" (Press release). Bolo Bhi.
  32. ^ China: Controls tighten as Internet activism grows Archived 2012-09-25 at the Wayback Machine "Cisco Systems, Microsoft, Nortel Networks, Websense and Sun Microsystems", citing Amnesty International: People's Republic of China: State Control of the Internet in China, ASA, 17/007/2002, November 2002.
  33. ^ Internet Filtering in Yemen in 2004–2005: A Country Study. OpenNet Initiative.
  34. ^ Jane Novak (6–9 March 2008). "Internet censorship in Yemen". Yemen Times. No. 1135 (volume 8). Archived from the original on 10 May 2008. The government ISP automatically denies Internet requests from Yemeni users by using Forcepoint and Antlabs to filter Internet content. Forcepoint enables the government to block websites by category and to define specific Internet sites to block {{cite news}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  35. ^ "Websense Issues Statement on Use of its URL Filtering Technology by ISPs in Yemen", Official blog, Websense, August 17, 2009
  36. ^ Mike Newman (20 August 2009), "Websense Sets the Record Straight on its Anti-Censorship Policy", Official blog, Websense
  37. ^ a b West Censoring East: The Use of Western Technologies by Middle East Censors, 2010-2011 , March 2011, Helmi Noman and Jillian C. York. "From this we may infer, but not definitively establish, that Forcepoint categorizations were still being received and updated in Yemen as of August 2010."
  38. ^ a b Newman, Michael (2011-11-01). "Websense Statement on Improper Use of Technology for Suppression of Rights and in Violation of Trade Sanctions". Websense. Retrieved 2012-03-27.
  39. ^ a b Jillian C York. "Filtering Software Companies Should Follow Websense's Lead". Electronic Frontier Foundation. Retrieved 2012-03-30.
  40. ^ Sutton, Maira; Timm, Trevor (2011-11-07). "This Week in Internet Censorship Egypt Imprisons Alaa, Other Pro-democracy Bloggers". Electronic Frontier Foundation. Retrieved 2012-03-27.

Further reading

  • Access Denied: The Practice and Policy of Global Internet Filtering, Ronald Deibert, John G. Palfrey, Rafal Rohozinski, Jonathan Zittrain, MIT Press, 2008. ISBN 0-262-54196-3, ISBN 978-0-262-54196-1

External links

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