Internet Safety and Security

The prevailing question for the 79% of American homes with internet access is – how can parents keep their children safe on the internet? And it’s no wonder why. More and more kids use the internet these days, for homework help, to chat with friends, and play games. Unfortunately, all kinds of predators have caught on to this trend, and are using the internet to prey on children and teens – sexually, emotionally, and financially.

Children, and most teenagers, simply don’t realize the very real danger that can often be associated with their online activities, especially in chat rooms or message boards. However, there are several ways to protect your kids online, and it all starts with education. Find out what is out there, and then follow these simple guidelines to help keep them safe.

1. Install a really good internet filter, one like Clean Internet, that has a high level of consistency in blocking bad content and allowing good content, and cannot by bypassed or uninstalled by the end user, and make sure you use it to its fullest capacity. Get activity reports, and keep tabs on what sites your kids are visiting – or trying to visit.
2. Place the computer in a family area of your home, where you can easily monitor internet activity. Know what your kids are doing while they are online, and who they may be interacting with.
3. Set rules, especially with teenagers, about what your kids can and cannot do online. Chat rooms, message boards, and instant messengers are the most common means that predators use to lure children or teens into sharing personal information, or into meeting them in person.
4. Educate your children about internet safety. Talk with them about not sharing their full name, phone number, address, or other personal family information, unless they have explicit permission from you. Represent to them, in age appropriate ways, the danger of trusting people online. Younger children especially, do not understand that sometimes people online are not really who they say they are.
5. Make sure that other places where your children might be able to access the internet are safe. Most libraries and schools have internet filters in place, but always ask before allowing your children to use these computers. If internet content blockers aren’t already being used, talk with the school administrators or library directors about getting them.

Using all of these methods is how parents can keep their children safe online, but it is important to remember that nothing is foolproof, and sometimes your kids may access content or have an experience online that is inappropriate or uncomfortable for them. Maintaining an open atmosphere so your kids know they can come to you and talk about these things without being shamed or punished, can often be the most effective internet safety method you employ.

Technorati Tags: Children, Internet Filter, Safety

Internet Filter Children, Internet Filter, Safety

Although there are now countless ways to bypass internet filters, one of the most prevalent techniques for getting around internet filters that many kids employ at school or at home is the use of free proxies that bypass internet filters.

Using a proxy is a very simple method for accessing blocked content, and unfortunately, it usually works. There are three basic kinds of proxies that most users choose: proxy websites, proxy servers, and proxy software.

Proxy software is a program that you download to your computer, and it works by masking your real, valid IP addresses and creating false (or proxy) IP addresses through which you can access the internet. Gaining access this way not only bypasses any internet filters, but also conceals your internet identity and IP address from websites or other users. Proxy software is very easy to install and uninstall, and many of these programs have cloaking systems built in so that you cannot tell if it has been used on your computer.

Proxy websites work differently from software programs, in that they act as a portal. When the user accesses the proxy website, this website becomes a door to the rest of the internet. The internet filter doesn’t block content accessed through the proxy website because it cannot see it – it only sees that the user is viewing the proxy website.

However, some internet filters have found this out, and now place specific blocks on known proxy sites. This causes many proxy websites to “go bad,” meaning they cease to exist or function in the way they are supposed to, but unfortunately, it is very easy for the owners of these sites to simply register another domain name, transfer their files, and set up shop at a new address.

Proxy servers tend to act more like proxy websites. It is the same general “doorway” idea, but proxy servers that are being used to bypass internet filters are often harder for internet filters to detect, and to block, simply because most websites – even acceptable ones – are stored on proxy servers. Any website that is not stored and maintained on a company’s or individual’s own computer network (a tech intensive and usually expensive way to run or manage a website), is stored on a web host’s server, which is another way of saying – a proxy server.

Fortunately, though, some internet filtering services – like Clean Internet – have caught on to the whole free proxy idea, and are taking steps to combat this. Clean Internet, in particular, has found a rather unique way to block proxies, by acting as a proxy server themselves. Their internet filtering service redirects your computer through their server, which blocks unwanted content (including proxy websites or downloadable software). And because you are already accessing the internet through a proxy server, you can’t access other proxy servers. By employing systems like this, it is to be hoped that using free proxies that bypass internet filters will soon be stopped.

Internet Filter

Many Christian families are reluctant to recognize the very real danger that the internet poses to their lives and their relationships. They do not believe that Christian internet filters are necessary for them, and that if you do not go looking for objectionable content then you will never be exposed to it. After all, they rationalize, we are Christians.

This, however, is faulty thinking. As Christians, we should be even more vigilant about resisting temptation and preventing our exposure to immoral, violent, and worldly videos, websites, and internet content. And trust me, exposure will happen. Although it may be entirely inadvertent and unsolicited, there are a thousand ways unwanted content can be accessed. You may click on a misleading link in an email or on a search engine page that takes you to a pornographic website, a formerly trusted website is now displaying ads for adult dating sites, or while visiting an online store a popup window appears offering “adult” products.

Additionally, Christians have a very real enemy that is trying to lead them into sin and destruction all the time. Demons do not sleep, they do not take a break, and they are singularly focused on ruining Christian lives and making us ineffective for God. While temptation is not a sin itself, it is the first step on the road to sin, and must be resisted and removed from our lives if we are to fulfill the purposes for which God created us.

Fortunately, internet temptation can now be very effectively removed with the help of family internet filters. These filters will block access to bad content while allowing good content, and using a Christian service like Clean Internet will ensure that you are working with a company that shares your moral values. Clean Internet’s filter, in particular, is a solid choice for Christian families, Christian schools, and Christian businesses because they offer the highest level of compatibility with operating systems (Windows and Macs) and with practically any internet connection.

The best thing about Clean Internet, though, may be that this filter cannot be bypassed by the end user or uninstalled without contacting their technical support center. As a Christian company, they are truly interested in the welfare of their clients and have developed a filter that will help remove internet temptations, and that can even help you resist temptation and, in a way, protect you even from yourself.

In conclusion, protecting your family online is very important, and the easiest, most effective way to do this is to install a good Christian internet filter. In our modern society, the world intrudes and enters our homes in a variety of ways – including the internet. The Bible tells us to flee temptation, and as Christians, we must be prepared to resist, even in our own homes.

Technorati Tags: christian families, christian internet, family internet, Internet Filter

Internet Filter christian families, christian internet, family internet, Internet Filter

Some people may wonder what the difference is between any regular internet filter and a Christian internet filter, but for most Christians it is important that the company that provides their internet filtering service shares their values and beliefs.

When you think about it, this really makes a lot of sense. After all, how do you know your ideas of what kind of content is inappropriate or objectionable and what the filter blocks are compatible? Moreover, what good is an internet filter that doesn’t block the content you want blocked?

Christian families need effective internet filtering to protect their children, and their marriages. It is sad, but true, that as many as 47% of Christians say pornography is a problem in the home (Internet Filter Review, 2006). A good internet filter can be the first line of defense in safeguarding your home against sexual brokenness and sexual predators.

It isn’t only families that need such internet protection, though. Many churches and Christian schools have internet access, and utilize the internet for research, communication, and even outreach. Christian small business owners often use the internet for business. However, most internet filtering companies do not offer services to businesses or churches, and the few programs that service schools can be easily bypassed and usually are not suitable for use in a Christian learning environment.

Nevertheless, there is at least one solid, reliable, Christian internet filtering company – Clean Internet. Simply put, their internet filter allows the good and blocks the bad. Using a sophisticated filtering algorithm, Clean Internet can block objectionable content on all the major internet protocols, including chat rooms, instant messenger programs, peer-to-peer file sharing networks, and popup windows. In addition, they utilize foreign language filtering so that keyword filtering cannot be bypassed by entering keywords in foreign languages.

Because of Clean Internet’s dynamic filtering system, the filter cannot be bypassed, and with its secure installation, it cannot be uninstalled without calling tech support. This is a very important feature that most other internet filters simply do not have. Clean Internet also uses a flexible platform, so you can choose a filtering solution that is client-based, server-based, or a combination of both, and ensure that you receive the protection you want. Additionally, Clean Internet will not slow down your computer or download connection, which is an important consideration for small businesses, churches, and schools.

Another great feature of Clean Internet is its compatibility with Windows – it works with 95, 98, 2000, XP, and Vista (most others still don’t support Vista yet), and with Macs (through proxy servers). Their service is also compatible with pretty much any internet connection, including dial-up, DSL, cable, and wireless, which means your laptop computer will receive the same level of protection at a wireless hotspot as it does through your home network router.

Conclusively, Clean Internet is a great choice if you’re looking for a Christian internet filter. Their filtering service offers a higher, more dependable level of protection for your family, church, school, or business than other programs, and you will be working with and supporting a Christian company that shares your values and beliefs.

Technorati Tags: christian internet filtering, Internet Filter

Internet Filter christian internet filtering, Internet Filter

As parents, we want to believe our children would never purposely attempt to access internet content that was inappropriate or illegal, but let’s face it – they’re kids. Children are naturally curious, and oftentimes they simply do not understand the dangers of what is out there. Teenagers in particular are more likely to underestimate the risks involved in their online activities, and more likely to have the skills and the desire to bypass internet filters.

Unfortunately, most internet filters are very easy to bypass, hack, or simply uninstall. This is largely due to the way these parental controls work. Many of these filters are software programs that operate solely on keywords. When someone tries to access a website that contains the keywords, the parental controls deny access.

However, there are ways to mask keywords, and sometimes, you even have to choose these keywords and keyword phrases yourself, further limiting which web pages are blocked. Illicit websites are getting smarter, and are finding new ways of getting around the conventional keyword blocks, which is why you need a filter that utilizes multiple methods of searching and categorizing web content. Honestly, most search engines will do a better job of filtering unwanted content than these programs simply because they crawl the web in different ways, and don’t rely solely on keywords anymore.

Even the parental blocks that are better at recognizing objectionable content tend to use a password system that will allow you access to blocked content, and anyone with web design knowledge will tell you that password protection for these kinds of programs is negligent. Passwords are easily guessed or changed, and many programs have ways to get around passwords built right into their software. And most of these programs don’t even require a password to be uninstalled.

In addition, kids are getting more tech-savvy as well. Many teenagers will enter keywords in foreign languages to access the content that traditional parental controls block, or will simply enter the URL into the address bar – a move that many internet filters will allow, and that will bypass the screening system. A fairly recently developed trick that many kids now use to get around parental controls is rerouting the web browser through a free proxy server. Because the internet filtering software is installed on the main computer server, accessing the internet through the proxy server completely bypasses the filter.

Now that you know all this, you may be wondering if there is an internet filter available that will reliably block objectionable and inappropriate content, and can’t be uninstalled or bypassed easily. Well, fortunately, there is – Clean Internet.

Clean Internet works differently from most other internet filters. For starters, it cannot be uninstalled by the end user, you have to call tech support. Plus, it utilizes a variety of filtering methods, including URL and foreign language filtering. In addition, although their filtering program is installed on your computer like other programs, you don’t have to worry about proxy server bypassing because Clean Internet is your proxy server.

Clearly, Clean Internet is a solid choice for internet filtering. And if you still aren’t sure that you need this kind of parental control, consider this – the internet is getting more dangerous and trickier to navigate safely every day, and if your kids can bypass internet filters, what are the people on the other end of the screen capable of?

Technorati Tags: Internet Filters, objectionable content, parental controls, tech savvy

Internet Filter Internet Filters, objectionable content, parental controls, tech savvy

When you think of protecting your children online, most likely you automatically think of sexual predators, and you are completely justified in doing so. However, protecting your children online and being a conscious internet parent is about more than simply teaching them not to give out personal information, or setting an easily removed parental block. There is whole wide world of cyberspace out there, and the consequences of what we say and do online are beginning to spill over into what we call ‘real’ life.

Take, for instance, the highly publicized MySpace hoax that ended in a 13-year-old girl committing suicide. This may be a rather extreme example, but what about the girl who posts a modest, appropriate school photo on her Facebook page, receives endless comments from people who have never even met her about how fat she looks, and then starts binging and purging – eventually developing full-blown bulimia?

These are only two examples of the very real, and very serious, kinds of situations in which children and teens have found themselves because of what they were doing online. Armed with this knowledge, we have to ask ourselves what we, as parents, are doing to educate our children about these dangers. What are we doing to monitor their online activities, or to make the internet a safer place for them? Are we being internet parents, or allowing our children access to a virtual world entirely without parental authority?

The first, and most important, thing you can do to protect your children is to talk to them about what they do online. Represent to them the real world consequences of their cyberspace actions, and help them to understand the dangers of internet use. Additionally, find out what kind of sites they are visiting, who they’re talking to, and how they feel about these interactions. Try to help your kids focus on making more real world connections with people, and fewer internet friends.

Set some rules about when and where they are allowed to use the internet, and what sites they are allowed to visit. You might want to specify this information in a verbal or written agreement with your kids.

Unfortunately, though, our kids aren’t always truthful with us. They may also be more tech-savvy than we are, and many parental blocks are easy to uninstall, or get around. The fact of the matter is that many of the sites that children and teens are visiting seem really benign to them, and thus, they figure it isn’t a big deal – a sort of ‘what the parents don’t know won’t hurt them’ mentality – and use the sites anyway.

The only way to prevent this is to invest in a really good internet filter, which is a little different from the more familiar parental block. There are tons of parental blocking programs available, similar to the blocks you can put on your TV, but most of these programs are ineffective and unreliable. Plus, they are very easy to uninstall, and most only require a simple password to gain access to the blocked material.

The best way to monitor what your kids are doing online, and protect them while they are online, is to use a true internet filter, like Clean Internet. This kind of system really works because your internet connection is literally being filtered through a clean server, instead of connecting directly to the site servers. You won’t have to worry about what sites your kids are visiting, because they won’t be able to access anything harmful.

And as parents, we’ve got enough to worry about just making sure our kids grow up happy and healthy, so it’s a huge relief to know that with good communication and a great internet filter, we can be a real world parent and internet parent at the same time, and protect our children online.

Technorati Tags: dangers of internet, internet friends, internet parent, protecting your children, safer place, sexual predators

Internet Filter dangers of internet, internet friends, internet parent, protecting your children, safer place, sexual predators

Choosing the best internet parental controls for your family can be a somewhat daunting task, especially if you are not completely sure what kind or level of internet filtering you need. However, by asking yourself a few very simple questions about your family’s internet habits, you’ll be better equipped to compare filtering or blocking programs, and choose the one that is right for you.

1. What do you use the internet for – work, school, or entertainment?
Be aware that if your family primarily uses the internet for entertainment, you are more likely to be exposed to sexual content and content promoting violence, gambling, or illegal activities. Thus, a higher level of filtering is probably needed.

2. Who is using the computer?
Do you need a program that will allow you to set different levels of filtering for different users, or would you prefer internet parental controls that block the same inappropriate content for all users?
If you are not an experienced computer user, the latter may be the right option because most programs that allow varying levels of protection according to user can be more easily bypassed.

3. What kinds of content do you want to filter or block?
Many parental controls merely block certain keywords, and pages that mask keywords can still be accessed – a trick that many illicit websites now utilize. An internet filter, on the other hand, uses different methods to screen content, and is much more effective at consistently blocking undesired web pages.

It is important to note that there are two primary types of internet parental controls – blocks and filters. For the highest level of protection, a good internet filter, such as Clean Internet, is the best option. Blocks usually are not as consistent or effective at screening objectionable content as filters, and are a lot easier to disable, bypass, or uninstall completely.

If you choose to use a filter (recommended), there are a few things to look for. First, ensure that the filter won’t slow down your connection and that it is compatible with your operating system. Also, make sure that it cannot be uninstalled too easily, but is easy to use and will give you easily understood reports about what pages were blocked.

Additionally, be sure to choose a filter that will block all kinds of internet protocol, including file sharing networks, instant messengers, and pop ups. Many websites are finding ways to get around basic internet blocks, but a good filter will recognize these attempts and disable such content.

Keep in mind that different programs will give you varying levels of protection, and all of them have different features that you may or may not need. Choose the program that has the features and protection you need, and don’t be swayed by a lot of flashy extras that you’ll never use, and that actually may contribute to the overall inefficiency of the program.

A solid choice for internet parental controls is Clean Internet. Their service includes all of the important features for any internet filter, is very reasonably priced, and they also offer foreign language filtering. In addition, because your connection is routed through their filtering servers, Clean Internet is very reliable. In short, they will do just what they promise to – allow the good and block the bad.

Technorati Tags: inappropriate content, Internet Filter, objectionable content, parental controls

Internet Filter inappropriate content, Internet Filter, objectionable content, parental controls

When you are trying to keep your family and children safe on the internet, one of the best resources you can have is a good internet filter. Now, you may have an internet blocker already installed on your computer, but how truly effective is your internet blocking software? Honestly, what is the point of having the software if there are loopholes in internet blockers?

 There are a couple of key differences in internet filters and internet blockers, and one of these differences is the mere fact that loopholes and bypasses exist in most internet blocking programs. Internet blocking programs generally tend to focus on keywords and vague guidelines, like site content ratings that are similar to television and film ratings.

 However, many websites and end users have found ways to slip through the structure set up by internet blockers. For example, sites can now mask their keywords, and the majority of websites – particularly those that contain sexual or violent content – simply are not rated. In addition, many computer-savvy web surfers are now using what is called a “proxy,” which is basically a website that acts as a server for blocked sites, to bypass internet blockers. Because the internet blocker reads the proxy as a reliable and safe page, it doesn’t realize that illicit content is being accessed through that portal.

Other loopholes in internet blockers can be found in the software itself. Unfortunately, many of these programs can be uninstalled very easily, and many of them use passwords to manage the account. Most web development professionals will tell you that passwords are an increasingly unreliable means of security – they are easily guessed, can be changed by someone who only has minimal personal knowledge of you, and oftentimes can be bypassed altogether. Additionally, most internet blockers that use passwords do so because they allow the administrator to set various levels of access for different users. There is a huge loophole inherent in this system – blocked users simply log off of the blocked account, and log on as a different user.

Internet filters work in slightly different ways. While these kind of programs also scan pages for keywords and content ratings, they use many different filtering techniques, and their guidelines are often more strict about what is acceptable. The major problem with this is not that users can access content that is blocked, but that many users have trouble accessing good content.

 However, there are internet filters available that will offer you all of the benefits of complete protection without the pitfalls. Clean Internet is a solid choice for internet filters. Clean Internet is unique, in that they are acting as a proxy server, only in reverse. You’re getting all of the good content and none of the bad.

 In addition, they offer foreign language and URL filtering, and their sophisticated filtering algorithyms ensure the safety of your family and children online. There are no bypasses – the software cannot be uninstalled without a call to tech support – and everyone receives the same level of protection. With Clean Internet you won’t have to worry about the loopholes in internet blockers, because they simply do not exist.

Technorati Tags: content ratings, internet blockers, internet blocking software, Internet Filter, Internet Filters, loophole, proxy, savvy web surfers

Internet Filter content ratings, internet blockers, internet blocking software, Internet Filter, Internet Filters, loophole, proxy, savvy web surfers

In today’s tech savvy world there are an increasing number of households obtaining Internet access and more than fifty percent of the households have more than one computer with Internet access.

With that said, implementing an Internet flitering tool in your PC has become a necessity in the home environment for child protection.

If you are a parent, you know that inappropriate material and potentially dangerous websites run rampant on the Internet. Just as you would protect your child from dangers on the street, the same rings true for the Internet, so an Internet filter is a must have for protection against offense and inappropriate content.

Let’s take a look at some of the benefits of Internet filtering and the types of websites that can be blocked by the use of an Internet filter.

• Pornographic Material: A good Internet filter will block websites that promote pornographic material which will prevent you from worrying about your child accessing objectional subject matter.
• Violence and Hate Crimes: Internet filtering will block any inapproriate material promotes violence or hate crimes.
• Instant Messaging: Instant Messaging is a primary tool that online predators use to masquerade as someone else. An Internet filter will block all Instant Messaging chat programs and allows you to select the chat programs when you want to use them.
• Web-Based Email Sites: A Web-based email site is a site that offers a free email account. Some of these sites include Yahoo, Gmail (Google), and Hotmail and most of these sites have an Instant Messaging tool as well. These sites are frequently used by spammers and online predators. An Internet filtering tool is effective for protection against predators and prevention from being exposed to onjectionable material that often is communicated through spam.
• Websites That Promote Drug Use: There is a host of sites on the Internet that will explain how to obtain drugs as well as how to use them once they are in your hands. An Internet filter is a useful tool for blocking these types of sites.
• Websites That Promote Terrorism: There are websites that provide step-by-step instructions on how to make a bomb or perform a cyber-terrorist threat. An Internet filtering tool is beneficial in blocking these objectionable sites.
• Objectionable Game Websites: Many of the online games that are avilable contain objectionable and violent content and are offered for free. In addition, many of these websites have an online chat feature where predators can hang out and mask themselves as a child. Internet filtering is capable of filtering out these sites.
• Social Networking Websites: Social networking sites such as MySpace and Facebook are infested with online predators as world news has so clearly pointed out to us. It is possible to block these sites throught the use of an Internet filter.
• Piece Of Mind: This is the final and most important benefit of using an Internet filter and knowing that everyone in the household is protected from offensive and inappropriate content.

The Internet can be an exciting and useful tool for communications and research, however, there is that one side that forces us all to protect ourselves. There are a host of different types of Internet filtering products on the market you should look for one that has filtering and monitoring built in together like Clean Internet.

Technorati Tags: Children, computer, danger, Filtering, filtering tool, instant, Internet, Internet Filter, myspace, network, news, Online, predators, prevention, protection, web, Websites

Internet Filter Children, computer, danger, Filtering, filtering tool, instant, Internet, Internet Filter, myspace, network, news, Online, predators, prevention, protection, web, Websites

Children, whether at school or home, will try to bypass web filters that are placed between them and the internet. Not all, but most have either a rebellious streak (remember yours) or a curiosity that will kill the cat.

Internet filtering has become big business for some companies, providing parents with peace of mind. But, is that peace justified?  Are there ways for children to bypass internet filters without their parents knowing?

Ask a teen. They will tell you that there is more than one way to bypass most filters. Maybe they catch you typing in the password for them, maybe they use a web proxy to bypass the school filter, whatever way, some ingenious little bugger at school will figure it out and tell all his friends.

In particular web based proxies have been a problem for most internet filters.  There are new ones created on a regular basis. Some free speech and children’s rights advocates believe they are doing children a favor by allowing them to bypass the protection a loving parent has provided for his or her child. It is much like purposely leaving the back door wide open while the parent deadbolts the front door and thinks all is well.

That is why you need an Internet filtering service and not just free software. First of all, the free internet filters can’t keep up with the ever changing internet. They have little or no budget for continued research and monitoring of new sites. You need a team of professionals, whose job it is to monitor what’s going on and daily make the changes needed to protect your children online.

An internet filtering service that combines filtering, monitoring, reporting and continued research and development is the only thing that is going to help. Clean Internet is one such company. In business for over 10 years, Clean Internet is company that knows where the internet has been and where it is going. Protect your kids today with a reliable filter that doesn’t have password that can be compromised and won’t let web proxies bypass the internet filter.

Clean Internet, click here to find out more.

Technorati Tags: Bypass, Children, Filtering, help, Internet, Internet Filter, Online, parents, protection, report, service, web, web filter

Internet Filter Bypass, Children, Filtering, help, Internet, Internet Filter, Online, parents, protection, report, service, web, web filter