The Truth About Filtering Software

For concerned parents the only real solution is to install some kind of filtering program on your computer. Most of them work in the same way, by blocking access to sites that contain banned words. The majority also refer to a central list of questionable sites located on the software developer's website. With a highly customizable interface, you can choose to block sites that contain sexual content, hate sites and those advocating illegal activities.

Strangely, you can also block sites about sports and leisure. If the default pages aren't enough there's a custom section that enables you to ban pages of your choosing.

There are distinct problems with filtering programs though, especially with the way that objectionable content is defined. You could find yourself the unwitting recipient of suspect morals. The thought of your kids encountering adult or indecent material is not pleasant. If they are left on their own on your computer, chances are good that they will encounter sex related material. Over the last couple of years filtering software has been proliferating, claiming to provide a safe surfing atmosphere.

These software filters load on to your computer at startup and work silently in the background. Only the password holder can alter the program settings or switch it off. The filters work by denying access to objectionable sites, either by blocking sites named on a blacklist or by refusing to download any sites with bad language or sexual content.