Channel Register

Websense makes hash of MS classification

Mistook downloads for doobies

Free whitepaper – Essential archive requirements for eDiscovery

Microsoft's software download site was briefly categorised as a marijuana-related site and blocked by censorware outfit Websense on Monday. Websense blamed human error for the slip-up (or should that be splif-up), which it was able to quickly correct.

Click for full-size image

Here is the news - Bong

"For a brief period of time on Monday, the Websense database categorized www.microsoft.com/downloads incorrectly. Our system detected the error immediately," Websense said in a statement.

"The error was corrected via a Websense database feature called real-time database update (a free service included with the latest version of our product - Websense Enterprise v6.1) within approximately 15 minutes of discovery," it added.

What about the cookies?

Patrick Swisher, director of database ops at Websense, explained that one of a number of new URL locations on Microsoft's download site was mis-labeled by one of its staff. "Other variants were correctly identified. Somebody slipped. The person involved has a good heart and not up to any mischief, even though it might look that way."

Only a few people were blocked by the misclassification, according to Swisher, who said such mistakes are "rare". ®

Many thanks to Reg reader Richard for drawing this amusing SNAFU to our attention. He came upon the error while trying to download components needed for an x64 CAD application.

Free whitepaper – Five essential considerations for Exchange 2007 implementations

Don’t Miss

Pirates ahoy!Sign up, sign up for The Register IT security newsletter

Narrowcasting for the email classes

SunFormer top Sun exec mourns end of a franchise

Watermelons, Elton John, and killing SGI

HTC Touch Diamond 2Win an HTC Touch Diamond2!

Reg Lucky Draw Last call for iPhone botherer promo

thumbs down teaser 75Disties braced for autumn reseller collapses

Is that why they call it fall?