Internet Content Filtering Techniques

Internet filter is a software that blocks unwanted content such as pornography and group sites.

Filters use a list of keywords and well-known URLs to restrict access.More advanced filters can also block or filter chat rooms,

instant messages, file downloads, and forums.

Key Features of Internet Filters : 

User profiles: Allow you to create a profile for each member of your family.

Reporting: Provides detailed information on what your children have been doing and saying online, including sites visited

Time Limits: You can set limits on when and how long a user may be online

Regular updates:  download regular updates to keyword and URL lists.

Compatibility: with browser as well as your operating system used.

Pros and Cons of Internet Filters :

Pros : Prevents children from deliberately or inadvertently accessing pornography.Prevent predators from talking to your children online.Allows kids to surf online without constant parental presence

Cons : Can sometimes filter out “safe” sites, words, and people.May create a false sense of security for parents.Tech-savvy kids may find a way around filters, or may access inappropriate content elsewhere.

Internet Content Filtering Tools

iProtectYou :Block e-mails, chat sessions, instant messages, and P2P connections if they contain inappropriate words. Prevent your private information (credit card number for example) from being sent to the Internet.Set a schedule to specify days and times when on-line activity is allowed. Limit Internet Traffic to a specified amount of data that can be sent or received per user/per day. Control the list of programs that can have access to the Internet.Get notification e-mails with full description of blocked operations and an attached screen-shot of your kids' computer to control them remotely

Block Porn : is an Internet filtering software that can block access to pornographic material and adult web sites as well as any other web site as

needed.The program offers two modes: One that allows access to all web sites, except pornography. Restricted mode that blocks all web browsing, except for the sites that you specifically allow.It include the options such as blocking access to selected folders, restricting program access, locking the IE home page, custom warning messages,network synch, and more.

FilterGate : offers four main Internet filters : PopupFilter,AdFilter,PrivacyFilter,AdultFilter.

Adblock : content filtering plug-in for the Mozilla and Firebird browsers.It allows the user to specify filters, which remove unwanted content based on

the source-address.Adblock supports two types of filters: Simple Filter and Regular Expression.Adblock has no built-in concept of what an ad is.  It doesn’t look for blinky gifs or anything like that.  Rather, it has a big list of known bad servers.  For example, if you’re on the website www.whatever.com and there is an image that comes from "http://www.doubleclick.com/advertisementImages/blinkyAd.gif", Adblock will decide that this is an advertisement and not render that image.  It works equally well on images you can’t see, since it makes it decision of whether to show the graphic before Firefox even downloads it.This is why keeping Adblock’s list of known advertising URLs up-to-date is important to its usefulness.  If there’s a particular website you visit very often or a particular ad that drives you crazy, it can definitely be worth your while to play with Adblock’s list of blocked URLs and filter rules.

AdSubtract : program that blocks every type of conceivable web advertisements.Pop-Ups and Pop-Unders are blocked.A pop-up window is a new browser window created (launched or opened), either by the user clicking a button/link, or automatically: when a webpage is first viewed (loaded) or is linked away from (unloaded).As pop-up ads became widespread, many users learned to immediately close the popup ads that appeared over a site without looking at them.Pop-under ads do not immediately impede a user's ability to view the site content, and thus usually remain unnoticed until the main browser window is closed, leaving the user's attention free for the advertisement.A pop-under is first opened, then moved behind the content window. The new window is then only visible if the user systematically closes content windows before quitting/closing their browser, or if the content windows do not fill the screen.

Stops multimedia ads.Stops windows messenger pop-up spam[Windows Messenger service listens for connections on port 1026 as well as the more widely-known port 135.Windows Messenger has been a target for spammers  because it allows anonymous pop-up messages to be displayed on any Windows system running the messenger service].Distracting animations can be frozen; Web sounds can be silenced.

GalaxySpy : GalaxySpy is a program that lets you retake control of your Internet experience.It allows you selectively block ads, adult-content sites, market research, profiling, and tracking.It detects and blocks adware, cookies, hackers, scripts, spyware,viruses, and worms.This program features an optional password for parental control.The Professional Edition lets you log Web sites visited, cookie contents and requested URLS

AdsGone : Blocks unwanted popup ads. Prevents messenger service and web page dialog ads. Blocks banner ads.Kills spyware and adware programs.Blocks ads and Pop-Ups when using Kazaa,Morpheus, Gator, or Chat programs like ICQ, MSN,AIM or Trillian.Blocks Macromedia "Flash" ads

Anti-PopUp for IE is a small program that automatically stops a sponsor's pop-ups.also has an Internet Eraser capabilities

Pop Up Police is a popup blocker that will keep your Internet surfing experience entertaining

Super Ad Blocker blocks all forms of advertising including Flash, Rich Media,fly-in, slide-in, pop-ups, pop-unders, spyware ads, and messenger ads.

Anti-AD Guard : program that filters and blocks commercial banners from being loaded by browsers.

Net Nanny : controls access to websites and other online content such as Internet-based games, blocks file sharing of music, images and videos, and monitors a user's Internet activity.

CyberSieve is a Internet filtering and parental control software program

BSafe Internet Filter : allows you to monitor your child’s use of Internet.

Stop-the-Pop-Up Lite : kills all pop ups from file sharing programs and the spyware/adware that are bundled with these peer-to-peer programs.It supports Kazaa, Kazaa Lite, Morpheus, Grokster, iMesh, Xolox, and Direct Connect.It kills the new breed of pop-ups called 'Messenger Service spam'.

WebCleaner : program that prevents annoying sponsors PopUp's when you visit some web sites.

AdCleaner : program that blocks floating ads and new form popups.

Adult Photo Blanker : blanks objectionable adult images and movies.It intercepts attempts to open files and checks them for objectionable content.

LiveMark Family enables you to block access to web sites that are inappropriate for children.You can choose from two filtering levels (under 12 or over 12 years old) and also select the topics that should be filtered (pornography, violence etc.).It also includes an option to limit Internet access to certain times of the day.

KDT Site Blocker is an easy to use tool to block access to certain websites.It automatically displays a generic ‘blocked’ page

whenever a blocked site is accessed.