ANALYSIS OF THE EFFECTIVENESS OF SQUID PROXY IN WEBSITE FILTERING IN A NETWORK ENVIRONMENT

The increasing dependence on internet technology in daily activities has brought both benefits and challenges, particularly regarding productivity and network security. Unrestricted access to all types of websites may lead to decreased efficiency, bandwidth waste, and exposure to harmful or inappropriate content. Therefore, website filtering mechanisms are necessary to maintain a healthy and secure network environment. This study aims to analyze the effectiveness of implementing Squid Proxy as a website filtering solution within a local network environment. Which includes stages such as problem identification, data collection, system design, product testing, and evaluation. The proxy system was configured using Squid Proxy with Access Control Lists (ACLs) on an Ubuntu 22.04 server to regulate user access, restrict specific domains, and monitor traffic activities. Testing was carried out using Wireshark to measure changes in bandwidth performance and access control effectiveness. The results demonstrate that Squid Proxy can efficiently block access to unwanted websites, enhance browsing speed through caching, and improve bandwidth utilization. Additionally, the integration of ACL-based filtering with user authentication ensures better access management and reduces security risks such as malware infiltration and data misuse. Overall, the findings confirm that Squid Proxy is a reliable and cost-effective open-source firewall solution that enhances network performance, increases bandwidth efficiency, and provides a secure digital environment for users