Internet Safety and Security

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

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