How can I block Facebook Chat using the Web Security.cloud service?

Products

• Web Security.cloud
• Advanced Threat Protection Roaming

Issue/Introduction

It is currently possible to block the Chat elements within Facebook using the Web Security.cloud service.

But firstly a disclaimer:

*The following may become unreliable due to the very dynamic nature of Facebook. The URLs Facebook use may change without any notice rendering the following ineffective*

These were tested on Monday 9th January 2017.

The solution will render the following sections within Facebook unusable to the end user.

1. The Message icon along the top will open but not load
2. The Message Link on the left hand pane will result in a full block page being shown
3. The Chat applet along the bottom/right hand side of the screen will load but any attempts at starting a conversation will result in errors for the end user.
4. The rest of Facebook remains usable.

 

Resolution

In order to block the use of Facebook Chat you will need to create a new Block and Log rule within the URL Filtering section.

Step 1 - Create a new URL rule giving it a name and setting the action to 'Block and Log

Step 2 - You can choose to apply the rule to a specific group of users via the Group tab or skipping this tab will apply this rule to all

Step 3 - Navigate to the 'Specific URLs' tab and input the following URLs:

*.facebook.com/ajax/chat/hovercard/*
*.facebook.com/ajax/chat/*
*.facebook.com/ajax/groupcall/*
*.facebook.com/ajax/mercury/*
*.facebook.com/ajax/presence/*
*.facebook.com/messages/*
*.facebook.com/messaging/*
*chat.facebook.com/*

You can also add the following URL to the list. This will block the standalone Messenger website.

*.messenger.com/*

Step 4 - Once these are added into the new rule, save the rule. Then activate it by clicking on the word 'Inactive'.