How do I verify that WebCatcher is working?

50375 | Reporting FAQ | Web Security Solutions | Updated 22-Oct-2013


Applies to:	Websense Web Filter, Web Security, Web Security Gateway, and Web Security Gateway Anywhere, v7.7 and 7.8

WebCatcher collects URLs that are either unrecognized (not assigned to a category) or security related, and submits them to Websense Security Labs for analysis.

Uncategorized URLs are reviewed for assignment to a category.

After WebCatcher data is analyzed, the results are used to update the Websense Master Database.

WebCatcher writes the data it collects to an XML file that it sends to Websense, Inc., via HTTP post. To understand what data is being collected and sent, you can opt to keep a copy of the file as follows:

Log on to the Web Security manager and navigate to the Settings > General > Account page.

Under WebCatcher, mark the Save a copy of the data being sent to Websense check box.

Click OK and Save and Deploy to cache and save your changes.

The next time WebCatcher runs, a copy of its XML file or files is saved in the Websense bin directory (C:\Program Files or Program Files (x86)\Websense\Web Security\bin\, by default) on the Log Server machine.

The file name indicates whether it contains uncategorized URL information or security-related URL data, and includes the date and time that WebCatcher created the file.

In addition, a webcatcher.log file is created in the Websense\Web Security\bin\ directory on the Log Server machine. Review this file to verify that WebCatcher was able to send URL information to Websense, Inc., and to find information about any errors that might have occurred.