Review of Best Free Internet Filters Against Adult Content
It succeeds in blocking httpS websites reliably. For example, I have it set to block https://gambling.com and it works every time.
Cons: it is easy to circumvent the filter by using the browser Opera (with a built-in VPS service) or with another VPS service (virtual private server). Windows 7 and after no longer requires a password to install programs for the local user.
Cons: not compatible with some anti-virus programs, but it is compatible with Microsoft Security Essentials (also free).
2. FamilySafety.Microsoft.com Cons: Win 8: It will work on Admin accounts if you first set the parental controls in a child account, and then change the child acct to an Admin account (in the control panel for user accounts). Win 7:It doesn't work on Administrator logins, only "standard" user accounts. In addition, I have seen that sometimes it just stops working for no apparent reason... perhaps Microsoft's servers get overwhelmed? Use this in combination with the other tools listed. (Note: to remove the chat program 'Messenger', just uninstall Windows Essentials, and it will prompt you for which programs specifically desired for removal--so you can leave Family Safety).
3. AdBlock Plus
4. Anti-Porn Content Filter $30 Unlike the competition which checks URLs against a "bad site" blacklist, this checks text and content of the page for keywords that might be porn-related. Therefore, it even blocks sites that get around the blacklists above. How it works: it will block only some wikipedia articles, such as with the word "porn", but not all wikipedia articles. It isn't free, but it IT WORKS DIFFERENTLY THAN OTHERS --thus it blocks others' shortcomings. I consider it 100% essential to really block sites.
Cons: to make a change only one person can be logged in (you have to log out of all other users to update the settings). It also shows the keywords that are offensive when it blocks a page --words I would rather not see, but I think these can be supressed in the "hide" tab or "other settings"?
5. FamilyShield opendns.com/familyshield Pros: It works differently than typical filters by routing requests to bad sites to a "no page found" site -- this prevents the HTTPS problem that gets around some other blacklists (like K-9 sometimes), and it works to block porn for anyone connected to your wireless internet--even if they have no other filter software set up on their computer. Cons: It is harder to set up because you have to configure your wireless router, but they have instructions. To know the URL to access your router, do this: go to the "Network and Sharing Center" or right click on your internet connection and choose "details" or "properties". In Windows 7, for example, I had to click on the "access type connections" link for my internet connection, then clicked "details" in that pop-up, then looked for "default gateway" for the IP number. For example, it might be http://192.168.0.1 to access your router, but there are many examples in their instructions for specific information on how to set it up.
6. Screenshot and Keylogging Monitoring Software (50$ per computer) SoftActivity Keylogger Please also consider the reviews from techsupportalert.com
Worth Considering, more technical:
Untangle Firewall NOT RECOMMENDED: actionalert.com Actionalert was a disappointment. I paid for the 19.95 version and received a refund the next day. It offered a "safe-search" web page that had advertising on it. It had instructions on how to prevent using google for searching in the top-right search field (because that would circumvent the safe searching). To view the "home page" which it set for me --and which I still cannot remove, even though I have updated Firefox and removed addons that look related-- see this URL: Would you want that for a home page with the advertisements? Not Reviewed:internetsafety.com and netnanny.com which cost about 40$ annually Also worth considering: wisechoice.net For Linux: dansguardian.org (free)
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