Filter Safety
Filters
What does a filter on your computer do?
There are many different filters. Generally, filters block sites based on categories or specific lists. Most filters have the capability to block the Internet at specific times of the day. Some filters can differentiate between different users, which allows multiple people to share one computer, yet have different Internet filter settings and even regular computer usage.
How do we determine which filter to suggest?
K9
We recommend the K9 filter in cases when it will be used in a home or small office, and where the administrator will have easy access to the computer.
The administrator is able to choose:
– Specific categories to allow or block
– Specific sites to allow or block
– Allow or block complete Internet usage based on the time and day of the week
There is no cost for this filter.
There is no notification that the filter is running, until the user attempts to go to a blocked site or category.
Norton
We recommend Norton’s filter in cases where the administrator will want the ability to make changes from any Internet connection, as well as the ability to set different users to different levels of filtering and computer usage. With Norton Online Family Safety, each user on the computer has their own rules, including filtering, monitoring and basic computer usage (therefore, you can limit how much time a particular child spends on the computer and or Internet).
The administrator is able to choose:
– Specific categories to allow or block, per user
– Specific sites to allow or block, per user
– Allow or block complete Internet usage based on the time and day of the week, per user
There is no cost for the basic version of this filter.
With the paid version, you can get video monitoring, as well as activity reports emailed to whomever you choose.
Every time the computer turns on, the user is notified Norton Online Family is running.
Net Nanny
We recommend Net Nanny for users who want the peace of mind that the computer is protected to the fullest. While Net Nanny does offer the same features of the above companies, Net Nanny differentiates itself in the filtering capabilities because they filter secure connections and proxy servers as well as allowing different family members to share one user account on the computer. We generally only install Net Nanny if there is an issue with the free versions listed above.
The administrator is able to choose:
– Specific categories to allow or block, based on family member login
– Specific sites to allow or block , per user, based on family member login
– Allow or block complete Internet usage based on the time and day of the week, per user, based on family member login
For pricing, please see HERE or email us for a discounted quote.
All users know Net Nanny is on the computer, since at every login and periodically while the user is logged in, the user is asked for his/he password to access the Internet.
Open DNS
We recommend Open DNS for homes which have wireless devices (especially gaming devices) and for businesses which have numerous computers, all requiring the same filtering level.
Open DNS works differently than all the previous listed filters, since it works off of the router, as opposed to a specific computer.
The administrator is able to choose:
– Specific categories to allow or block
– Specific sites to allow or block
There is no cost for the basic version of this filter.
There is no notification that the filter is running, until the user attempts to go to a blocked site or category.
In Conclusion
Above is a sampling of the options and features which you can choose.
Feel free to give us a call, stop by or send us an email to discuss your particular needs.
