This is my review of the software that filters harmful web content, Trojans, spyware, keystroke loggers, pornography, and all the rest. These are the first steps:
Filtering web content keeps kids safer and despite what some folks will tell you it is not censorship it is protection. Number 1: You can be held responsible for the content coming through your network. 2. If you know that a child is being exposed to inappropriate material you can be charged with failure to protect. 3. It costs a lot of money to remove spyware, trojans and viruses that are transmitted through unscrupulous web sites (you don’t even have to download anything). Filtering web content is just practical ethically and financially.Web Filters comes in three flavors System Settings, Accountability Software, Content Filtering Software. Here are my choices.
1. System Settings
Use “Scrub It” first, it is not software, it changes a network setting to redirect your internet traffic. There is a simple utility to download that makes the change for you, that’s all you need to make it work. If you click on a link that is to a site on the unsafe list it will block your access before it comes to your computer. Scrub it works regardless of Internet Service or type of computer. Windows, Mac, or Linux. You can change the DNS settings on your computer or change them on your router to filter the whole network.
OpenDNS works in the same way ScrubIT works. They have a great website that explains a lot. Again you can add this to each machine or on your router. And, I like the logo colors!!
2. Accountability Software
X3Watch is accountability software, this means it doesn’t block anything but it does keep a list of every page visited and sends a report of those with questionable content. You pick at least one friend that commits to monitor your internet activity and it will send a report that shows any suspect websites that have been visited. If also shows when it was turned off. From personal experience I was never able to gain any freedom over porn until I told someone else and they helped me.
3. Content Filtering Software
K9 Web Protection is the best of all worlds for Windows based PCs. It blocks content based on category, at installation you can decide which content and what level of access you wish to live with. When inappropriate material is sensed by the software it throws up a page that alerts the user to what category the page is and why it was blocked. If the administrator deems the site appropriate the password can be given for 15 minutes of access or total access to that site. Men, I use this and let my wife set the password. Then If I need in somewhere for a time she can unlock the site for me. It may sound extreme but, you do what you can to protect yourself and you show her that she means more to you than the porn.
On my Mac I use Scrub It and X3Watch. On my PCs I use Scrub It, X3Watch, and K9. K9 is working on a Mac version. Please write them and request it so they will know how great the need is.
These are all free (K9 is free for home use only) I will update this list as I find others. If you know of or use other software feel free to comment below or email me and I’ll include it here.