K12USA.com Introduces SSL Intercept, Helping K–12 Schools Content Filter Encrypted HTTPS Traffic in Real Time

Island Heights, NJ, July 22, 2016 --(PR.com)-- K12USA.com, a leading technology company specializing in K–12 schools, has developed an SSL-interception feature that dynamically filters previously un-filterable HTTPS traffic. It solves a huge problem faced by K–12 schools in recent years.

When Edward Snowden exposed the NSA for its spying escapades in 2013, website owners - including Google, Yahoo!, YouTube, and Wikipedia - switched from HTTP (hyper text transfer protocol) to HTTPS (hyper text transfer protocol secure). Encrypting data over a secure socket layer (SSL), HTTPS protects against eavesdropping, tampering, and man-in-the-middle attacks.

However, for K–12 schools - which are required to block pornographic and other inappropriate content considered harmful to minors - HTTPS is problematic. Garden-variety Internet filters can’t view encrypted HTTPS content. As a result, the pages can’t be content filtered.

One solution is to create a blacklist and block URLs. But some sites contain both good and bad content - like Google, Wikipedia, and YouTube - so banning them outright would deprive students and staff of important resources. With new sites emerging every day, blacklists are also difficult to maintain.

Far more effective is dynamic, real-time filtering. It examines the content on each page and decides if it’s acceptable or not. For example, certain pages on Wikipedia, such as “Porn Stars,” would not be allowed. But something like “Star Wars” would be permitted.

K12USA SSL Intercept functions like a trusted man in the middle (TMITM) to:
- Decrypt incoming and outgoing traffic
- Unencrypt the content
- Dynamically filter the content in real time by examining what’s on the page
- Determine if the on-page content is permissible or not
- Re-encrypts the page and accepts or rejects it, depending on its permissibility score

“The switch to HTTPS was a challenge for Internet filters that could no longer view and properly filter traffic,” says K12USA.com founder and CEO James Punderson. “Our SSL intercept is an easy, inexpensive solution that allows SecureSchool to filter and block previously untouchable content.”

SecureSchool SSL Intercept is available in two versions that can be mixed and matched to suit a school’s filtering needs:

1. Advanced SSL Intercept offers dynamic, real-time filtering and requires the installation of certificates on participating workstations
2. Simple SSL Intercept needs no certificates and is ideal for BYOD (bring your own device) environments, where installing certificates on every device would be burdensome

For more information, visit www.K12USA.com, call 877-225-0100, or email support@K12USA.com.

About K12USA.com: Founded in 1999 by former teacher and school IT consultant James Punderson IV, K12USA.com develops streamlined, intuitive tech tools for K–12 schools throughout the U.S. Their product line features about 20 appliance- and cloud-based devices, including SecureSchool content filter; WirelessTrakker wireless-network-management system; and TroubleTrakkerPRO, an online IT helpdesk. Every subscription comes with free and unlimited tech support, free updates and upgrades, and free two-way ground shipping (in the continental U.S.). All products and services are available for a free 30-day trial.