internet filter = web filter = content filter = porn filter = porn blocker = content control software = URL filter = censorware
More information is here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/
An overview/review: www.filterreview.com
Here are some webfilters or accountability programs:
K9 Web Protection
- Webfilter, not accountability program.
- Website: www.k9webprotection.com
- It's free.
- It provides good filtration, is very hard to circumvent and keeps a record of all sites visited. It works with Windows, and they are working on a Mac version.
- A review: www.familywebwatch.com/blog/
review-k9-web-protection/ - Their website provides a "check site rating" service so you can see what a questionable site is without going to it yourself.
x3watch
- Accountability, not webfilter.
- Website: www.x3watch.com
- Free
- Created by a group called xxxChurch, "The #1 Christian Porn Site." Though a weird name, but it's a good & valid organization.
- Will send a report of all of the questionable sites a person views every two weeks to two accountability partners. Helpful, may be inaccurate in its assessments (it lists espn.com as questionable). It is available for both Windows and Mac.
Accountable2You
- Accountability, not webfilter.
- Website: www.accountable2you.com
- Free
CovenantEyes
- Accountability
- Website: www.covenanteyes.com
- Gives a full report of all websites visited
Safe Eyes
- Accountability & webfiltering
- Website: www.internetsafety.com/safe-eyes-parental-control-software.php
- Not a filter, just accountability.
- For those using Linux, and especially any form of Ubuntu. It will send daily reports of all internet activity to any number of selected recipients.
DansGuardian. For Linux. Easiest steup is using the Ubuntu Christian Edition (see below). Otherwise, it can require some tech work to install. Provides filtering, but can be setup to provide accountability as well. Does content filtering, and can do URL filtering with the addition of something like Shalla's blacklist. Normally used a proxy server for a network, but can be used just on an individual computer:
Ubuntu Christian Edition
- Not a Has become available again. Includes pre-configured webfiltering using DansGuardian.
- http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=1240859
- http://ubuntuce.com/
SquidGuard. For Linux. Only does URL filtering, and requires a blacklist like Shalla's.
OpenDNS
- Website: www.opendns.com
- Free
- Webfilter, not accountability
- It takes a bit of techy work to set it up.
- More info:
- -- You don't have to install any software. It works behind the scenes.
- -- You can use it at the same time that you use any of the above 3 options.
- -- In addition to porn filtering, it protects you from malicious websites
- -- Info about it's porn filter: www.opendns.com/start/
features/adult/ - -- Creating a free account: www.opendns.com/account/
create/ - -- How to set it up: www.opendns.com/start/
- -- Using it at home will usually mean you'll have to go through these additional steps: http://www.opendns.com/
account/dynamic_dns.php
Statistics:
"70 percent of all 15-17 year-olds who have ever gone online have accidentally stumbled across pornography online"
"One in five children ages 10-17 have received a sexual solicitation over the Internet"
"42% of Internet users aged 10 to 17 surveyed said they had seen online pornography in a recent 12-month span"
"child pornography is a 2-3 billion dollar a year industry."
This info is from these three sites:
http://www.k9webprotection.
http://www.cbsnews.com/
http://www.crime-research.org/
Another issue is that some computer action games that are made now contain inappropriate images.
Other
www.accountabilitypal.org -- Out of development
Angel Accountability (formerly on Sourceforge, out of development)