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AppAware blocks an application, an application category, or a full ecosystem in a single step. Admins use AppAware to block applications such as Discord, uTorrent, Facebook Messenger, and TeamViewer without blocking domains one by one.
After AppAware is enabled, it adds its own column in Query Logs and provides a dedicated reporting dashboard for tracking and managing blocked requests.
This video was produced in 2022 and is technically accurate, but the app design and location of some of these functions have changed.
Block an application using AppAware
To block an application or application category:
- From the DNSFilter dashboard, navigate to Policies > Filtering.
- Select an existing policy to update or select Add Policy to create a new policy.
- Select the AppAware tab.
- Use the search bar, filter toggles, or dropdown menus to find the app or app category to block, then toggle all that apply.
- Select Save Policy to complete the update.
Attempts to view a domain affiliated with a blocked application receive block page notifications. If a blocked application is already installed on a user’s device, the user can no longer use the app.
What is the Ecosystem Applications category?
Applications in this category are separated by application ecosystem because they share associated domains necessary to block an application. As a result, when an ecosystem is blocked, all applications within the ecosystem are blocked, and the ecosystem appears in reporting and the Query Log together.
AppAware block priority
Applications blocked with AppAware take priority over the following:
- Block List
- FirstSight Feature (uncategorized domains)
- Blocked categories
The Allow List takes ultimate priority. For example, if the Box application is blocked in AppAware but box.com is on the Allow List, users can access box.com, and the Box application is likely to function in some capacity.
Blocked apps and app categories
AppAware includes over 2,500 applications in the following categories:
- Beta
- Business
- Cybersecurity
- Ecosystem Applications
- File Sharing
- Financial
- GenAI & ML
- Messaging
- Portal
- Remote Desktop
- Technology
- Uncategorized
- VoIP/Conferencing
- VPN and Proxy
The full, searchable list is in the AppAware tab of a Filtering Policy.
The Beta category lists applications currently in beta release. Selecting these apps may not provide full control of the applications or may cause unexpected behavior during filtering. Test in a limited environment before full deployment.
DNSFilter automatically blocks some Apple iCloud Private Relay domains.
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