parental protection software

thetourist

need to find a really good parental protection software package for a client - has anyone any experience of using them. i use norton internet security a lot and tried the parental protection section once and i only tried one site - playboy.com - and it started to load - i was very surprised as i thought it would get that right at least ! i work at a large corporation and it is totally impossible afaik to get to pornography so i know that it IS possible to have a system which works - what are people's experiences etc.
thanks

axer

If it is for a single PC then you could try Net Nanny or Cybersitter (I have tried the latter and it seemed to work well - I guess it depends if it is to stop kids or adults) . If it is a network solution you are after then you could install software on the proxy server like websense.

Orion

bedlam wrote:

Naomi for a free alternative.

Hmm...

Naomi is run by Compassion who are "a Christian child advocacy ministry that releases children from spiritual, economic, social and physical poverty and enables them to become responsible, fulfilled Christian adults". Islamic/Jewish people need not apply

They decide what to block - you have no discretion. They block content based on their own values.

Just like most 'Christian' organisations they equate these two together in the FAQ: "i.e. homosexual erotism, pedophilia" :rolleyes:

I think I'd pass on that one.

matrim

Another free one that is more customisable than naomi is
http://www.snapfiles.com/get/pfilter.html

rogue-entity

If you are looking for a network solution, avoid the commercial crap like Websense and Bess/Smart Filter (formerly N2H2). These systems block by URL only and as a result they are notorious for overblocking and underblocking. For example, www.some-porn-site.tld would be blocked but some-porn-site.tld or 1.2.3.4 would be allowed.

In my experience the best system you could use for Network based filtering (via proxy), would be to use DansGuardian (with Squid) on a spare Linux machine, the system blocks by URL, domain, IP, ICRA ratings, Weighted Phrases and Keywords on the actual page and also by matching regular expressions in the URL to restrict searches (for example, block Google if SafeSearch is off). The system is very efficient and very flexable but is complicated to setup. So what I would recommend is CensorNet which combines DansGuardian (and Squid) with a fantastic web interface. You just download the ISO, burn it to a CD, and install it on a spare PC (it works with just one network interface, but it works better with two so that it can sit between your network and the internet.

Any problems, contact me by PM.

SouperComputer

vote for dansguardian here too.

Grab a copy of clarkconnect and you are flyin'

thetourist

thanks for help people

Just like most 'Christian' organisations they equate these two together in the FAQ: "i.e. homosexual erotism, pedophilia"

what, are you saying parental protection should block child porn but "homosexual erotism" is ok

Orion

thetourist wrote:

what, are you saying parental protection should block child porn but "homosexual erotism" is ok

That's not what I'm saying at all. But it's typical of that type of organisation to lump the two together - "You're gay => you're perverse => you molest children".

Anyway - back on topic - I've heard good things about ClarkConnect too. Does that use DansGuardian?

SouperComputer

yea, even clarconnect home comes with a rake of stuff: proxy, content filter, DNS, SAMBA, WWW, FTP, VPN the whole shebang:

http://www.clarkconnect.com/info/compare.php/

thetourist

Macros42 wrote:

.... it's typical of that type of organisation to lump the two together - "You're gay => you're perverse => you molest children".

people who put gay eroticism and child porn in the same category for the purpouse of parental control do not necessarily mean to imply that gay people molest children; whatever their spiritual disposition - i think you are taking things way too far in your observations. I am a christian and i most certainly dont believe gay people would molest children anymore than i would think that of a straight person - it is a silly idea !!!
furthermore i am involved with several christian organisations and while i cant speak of every christian on the face of the planet, i can tell you truthfully that while i have met many many christians with bizzare and often ungodly ideas - i dont ever remember meeting a christian that i honestly thought had made the particular mistake you are talking about; let alone an organisation, and certainly not in this country anyhow.

just my take on it - maybe you yourself have met some nutter christian who said some rubbish to you but please dont think that we are all like you say

Orion

bedlam wrote:

where you are getting that naomi is run by Compassion?

From the bottom of the bar on the left: "Naomi is free software. If you like this program, please donate to Compassion, an organization devoted to helping children in need in many countries."

[edit]Maybe I misread that alright. I assumed that they were involved in developing it [/edit]

As regards the other argument - this is a Comp/Tech forum. If someone wants to start this argument on the Christianity forum or TCN I'll happily contribute but not here. I know I started this but it was purely to state why I wouldn't use the application - not to start a discussion about my reasons.

art

That's all well and good for protecting the parents, but what about the children? Won't someone please think of the children ... :rolleyes:

thetourist

opinions are like noses - everyone has one and it usually has a couple of holes in it !!!

thanks for your comments everyone - very helpful