Indirectly. HTTPS filtering (SSL inspection) is separate. However, if categorization is disabled, you cannot block HTTPS sites based on category, even if SSL inspection is on.
Kerio Control does not rely solely on static blocklists. Instead, it uses . When a user requests a website, the Kerio appliance queries a remote categorization server (provided by Kerio’s parent company, GFI Software, or a third-party partner like McAfee). The server returns a category ID (e.g., 92 for “Gambling”). The appliance then applies your content rules. Indirectly
Article ID: KC-WF-001 Product: Kerio Control (formerly WinRoute) Affected Versions: 9.x, 8.x, and legacy 7.x Symptoms: Web filtering fails, content rules are ignored, and the administration interface shows a warning that categorization is disabled. Introduction Kerio Control is a robust unified threat management (UTM) appliance that provides firewall, VPN, and web content filtering. One of its most valuable features is the ability to block or allow websites based on dynamic URL categorization (e.g., “Social Networking,” “Adult Content,” “Streaming Media”). Kerio Control does not rely solely on static blocklists
nslookup categorization.gfi.com Alternatively, use (depending on version): The server returns a category ID (e
Yes. Use Kerio’s test tool (if installed): /usr/local/kerio/winroute/bin/kwfmgr --test-categorization example.com
No. The free version (limited to 5 users) does not include cloud categorization. Web filtering will always show as disabled. Conclusion The message “Kerio Control web filter is not activated – categorization is disabled” is not a minor glitch—it signals that category-based content filtering is completely offline. Most often, the culprit is an expired license, DNS failure, or an outbound firewall rule blocking the appliance’s own traffic.
| Preventive Measure | Why | |--------------------|-----| | Set up monitoring alerts | Receive email notification if categorization stops. | | Regularly check license expiry | Add a calendar reminder 30 days before renewal. | | Use redundant DNS servers | Prevents single-point-of-failure resolution issues. | | Document upstream proxy changes | Any proxy change requires updating Kerio. | | Test after updates | Category servers change IPs; test every quarter. | Q1: Can I use Kerio Control without cloud categorization? Yes, but only with static URL lists, IP-based rules, or by disabling web filtering entirely. Dynamic filtering will not work.