Advanced Internet Filtering: Keeping Your Computer Safe
With so much information stored in one place, the internet is where millions of people come to do business, research, or just communicate to each other. This metropolis if information has also become the home of many inappropriate and offensive things. This unwanted content has made itself very diverse calling for the creation of more advanced techniques with which to block it out of your computer.
What is an Internet Filter?
An internet filter is simply a software program that prevents certain internet users from viewing objectionable material online. Most of this type of software blocks out content by using one or two methods: filtering based on a predefined list of keywords considered inappropriate or offensive, and filtering based on URLs or websites that contain inappropriate content.
These are the more common techniques but are not the only ones that are used to keep your family safe from what is hiding inside the web. Take the time to read this article so that you can be learn of the new capabilities and features that are now invovled in internet filters.
Dynamic Categorization
Dynamic categorization picks up where a keyword filter fails. Algorithms are used to determine the appropriateness of material presented on web sites. It is better than a keyword filter because it not only blocks more, but it also allows access into more sites that are harmless which are normally blocked because they possess questionable words.
Image Recognition
A filter equipped with image recognition offers the ability to block inappropriate graphical images, such as photos containing pornography. Because this feature is more complex and takes a considerable amount of time to properly configure, it is not implemented into most of today?s internet filters.
Newsgroup Filtering
Just because newsgroups are as old as the internet does not mean they are harmless. Many are unmoderated and so they contain a lot of unacceptable content. There are conversational groups that include sexually explicit language, visual groups that frequently post sexually related images, and extremist groups that are known for promoting racism and hatred.
If restrictions are not in place children could happen upon them and view these messages and r-rated pictures or even download them. A lot of the better filters will allow you to restrict access to all or specific newsgroups.
Program blocking
Another advanced feature of internet filtering software is the ability to specify what programs can and cannot gain access to the internet. This feature is very similar to the basic functionality of a two-wall firewall. For instance, you can configure the program to prevent a peer-to-peer application such as Kazaa or LimeWire from accessing the internet, but allow access to your mail client.
Such a filter also makes it possible to limit certain users to a select few programs that require access to the internet.
Advanced Features for Enhanced Protection
The internet's helpful information has given new windows for which potential dangers can sneek through. Because of the awareness of this threat, many companies have been created to offer protection to many situations by designing special internet filters. Thankfully we can and need to possess such programs that allow us to monitor and keep porn off of our families computers.
With so much information stored in one place, the internet is where millions of people come to do business, research, or just communicate to each other. This metropolis if information has also become the home of many inappropriate and offensive things. This unwanted content has made itself very diverse calling for the creation of more advanced techniques with which to block it out of your computer.
What is an Internet Filter?
An internet filter is simply a software program that prevents certain internet users from viewing objectionable material online. Most of this type of software blocks out content by using one or two methods: filtering based on a predefined list of keywords considered inappropriate or offensive, and filtering based on URLs or websites that contain inappropriate content.
These are the more common techniques but are not the only ones that are used to keep your family safe from what is hiding inside the web. Take the time to read this article so that you can be learn of the new capabilities and features that are now invovled in internet filters.
Dynamic Categorization
Dynamic categorization picks up where a keyword filter fails. Algorithms are used to determine the appropriateness of material presented on web sites. It is better than a keyword filter because it not only blocks more, but it also allows access into more sites that are harmless which are normally blocked because they possess questionable words.
Image Recognition
A filter equipped with image recognition offers the ability to block inappropriate graphical images, such as photos containing pornography. Because this feature is more complex and takes a considerable amount of time to properly configure, it is not implemented into most of today?s internet filters.
Newsgroup Filtering
Just because newsgroups are as old as the internet does not mean they are harmless. Many are unmoderated and so they contain a lot of unacceptable content. There are conversational groups that include sexually explicit language, visual groups that frequently post sexually related images, and extremist groups that are known for promoting racism and hatred.
If restrictions are not in place children could happen upon them and view these messages and r-rated pictures or even download them. A lot of the better filters will allow you to restrict access to all or specific newsgroups.
Program blocking
Another advanced feature of internet filtering software is the ability to specify what programs can and cannot gain access to the internet. This feature is very similar to the basic functionality of a two-wall firewall. For instance, you can configure the program to prevent a peer-to-peer application such as Kazaa or LimeWire from accessing the internet, but allow access to your mail client.
Such a filter also makes it possible to limit certain users to a select few programs that require access to the internet.
Advanced Features for Enhanced Protection
The internet's helpful information has given new windows for which potential dangers can sneek through. Because of the awareness of this threat, many companies have been created to offer protection to many situations by designing special internet filters. Thankfully we can and need to possess such programs that allow us to monitor and keep porn off of our families computers.
About the Author:
Sam Garnebo has been providing parents with tools and knowledge to protect their children for over a decade. Check out his blog on Internet Filters for tools and techniques.
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