Filters

Internet Filtering Options (updated 5/8/16)

Internet filtering options are a very effective and useful tool to guard against the evils of pornography. However, it’s important to understand that internet blocks will not FIX a pornography problem or save anyone who is addicted or desires to lust after pornographic images. Internet filtering options are used in providing the following:

1.     Protection against individuals (children and adults) accidentally stumbling across pornography.

2.     Increased distance from accessibility to pornography for someone who struggles with compulsively viewing it (an addiction). When internet filters are in place, the struggling individual will have to work harder (and probably more deceptively) to view pornography.

3.     For individuals who desire their home to be safe and protected from pornography, an increase in peace of mind knowing that they have safeguards in place.

Below are some high-level outlines of internet filtering options:

1.  Wireless Router System Options – Having an internet filter router seems to be the most effective method these days. Installed software on devices works well, but there are a lot of additional hassles involved that are alleviated with the wireless router method. Typically, the user will have to buy the router (~$150) and then pay a monthly subscription for the service (~$5 to $25).

Benefits of the Wireless Router filtering systems:

1.     Filtering software is always up-to-date where device-specific software often must be updated by the user and will be out of date if the computer/device is off for a while.

2.     It can filter information for any device that connects to the wireless router and the filtering is automatic, no software needs to be installed on any device that connects.

3.     The administrator can personalize the settings for each device: content, website, time restrictions, etc. There is a lot of flexibility.

4.     The router stores information for everything that goes through it, so the administrator can be aware of all the content that goes through it. “Incognito” web browsing often can’t get past the router.

5.     The router can lock in ‘safe search’ mode for search engines.

Drawbacks of the Router filtering systems:

1.     Administrator can’t assign different user settings for a single computer or device; the settings must be for the entire device.

2.     The router systems don’t do a good job with streaming media (Netflix, Hulu, ext.). That technology is still being developed.

3.     The router can only filter and track devices connected to it. Switching cell phones off of Wi-Fi to carrier coverage will bypass the router. The industry is working on providing a solution to this problem and a few companies claim they are close, but I’m not aware of any products out there that actually have the solution available.

4.     A user can bypass the router and plug their network cable directly into the modem. The router companies will often sell a lock box that locks both the modem and wireless router in a box so people can’t bypass the router. There are also notifications that will go out to the administrator when a connection to the router is disrupted.

Wireless Router filtering products:

1.     Clean Router – https://cleanrouter.com/

2.     Router Limits – https://routerlimits.com/

3.     Family Guard – https://www.familyguardfilter.com

4.     Circle – https://meetcircle.com

5.     Barracuda (for businesses) - https://www.barracuda.com/products/websecuritygateway - costly and more applicable for a business environmental. Need to be more tech savvy to use it, but feedback is that it works really well.

2.  Parental Controls and limits on devices – cell phone carriers and other mobile devices have parental controls that can do a lot of good. Generally, using settings on devices are not as thorough as installed software, but it’s still a good idea for people to get familiar with and implement them (for kids and adults). Mobile devices can also be set up to limit apps and programs. Below are a few examples (go to your wireless carrier’s website for more information):

Example - Verizon Wireless Controls Information

1.     Content Filters (Free) – Set boundaries to help ensure the user can view only age appropriate content from their wireless device. Settings are 7+, 13+, 17+, and no filter.

2.     Service Blocks (Free) – Control which apps and services your family members can use on their devices. If they want to download it, they'll need the admin permission.

Example - iPhone Parental Controls Information and Phone

Apple's built-in parental controls features to set other boundaries for your child's device use. 
The user can do any of the following on the iPod Touch, iPhone, or iPad: 

1. Disable Safari as the browser (because Safari does not filter web content).
2. Disable YouTube -- to prevent unrestricted access to videos, including those that are inappropriate.
3. Disable iTunes -- to keep costs down or to reduce access to apps and media (music, podcasts, TV shows, movies, etc.)
4. Disable "In-App Purchases" to ensure a child's use of a gaming app doesn't hit your credit card for unwanted charges.
5. Disable the installation of new apps, which allows you to screen the types of apps used--your child would have to get your permission to unlock that restriction (assuming you use a password).  To see how to set a passcode, keep reading.
6. Configure age-appropriate settings for Music & Podcasts, Movies, TV Shows, and Apps for your child. (see below)

To access these features, do the following:

1. From your device, go to Settings > General > Restrictions
2. Press [Enable Restrictions] and enter a 4-digit password. A password is needed to change or remove restrictions later. Don't use a passcode your child knows.  
3. Under the [Allow:] section, tap Safari to OFF.  This disables Safari as the browser.  Safari does not filter Internet content. Disable YouTube or iTunes here. You can disable the installation of new apps, which would allow a parent to screen the types of apps to be used because a child has to get permission from a parent to remove that restriction.  You could also tap off "In-App Purchases" to ensure a malicious app or gaming app doesn't hit your credit card for charges you don't want. 

 To prevent your child from deleting apps, go to Settings > General > Restrictions > tap OFF for Deleting Apps

Finally, under the [Allowed Content:] section, you can set age-level appropriate settings for Music & Podcasts, Movies, TV Shows, and Apps.  For example, for "Apps," you should consider setting it at "12+" or less.

3. Installed Software Options – As mentioned earlier, installing software tends to not be as effective or convenient as the wireless router option. However, using installed filtering software on the computer is used by a lot of people and works well. Right now, installed software options are the only option for any device that is mobile if you want to have permanent coverage (many people will use a combination of a router, parental controls, and installed software to ensure full-coverage protection on their device). Pricing for installed software varies anywhere from free to $200/year. Some products charge annually and some charge monthly. Maintaining the software on the device can be a hassle, especially if the admin isn’t very tech savvy. Companies try hard to make their products as user-friendly as possible; generally, free programs are more difficult to use. Below is a list of some of the benefits (not all of them) that are available with installed software:

1.     Blocks pornography before it's viewed on websites (Special note: for browser filtering options on the iPhone, the admin must remove Safari and install a different web browsing app that filters. This is a little inconvenient, but a small price to pay for safe browsing).

2.     Enforces Google ‘SafeSearch’ and other search engines with a safe search mode.

3.     Allows you to set time controls to limit web browsing to specific days and times.

4.     Monitor social media for potentially dangerous encounters and cyberbullying and alert you to possible dangerous chats or instant messages.

5.     Allows you to set individual user profiles for each member of the household.

6.     View and manage each users internet activities

7.     Log the history of all calls, SMS/MMS messages, web site visits and applications.

Installed software products:

1.     Covenant Eyes – http://www.covenanteyes.com/family/ - Internet Accountability and Filtering software for MAC, Windows, Android, and IOS. An Accountability-only app is available for Android phones and tablets, including Kindle Fire.

2.     Funamo – https://www.funamo.com – works on Windows and Android devices. Doesn’t work on Apple devices.

3.     Qustodio – https://www.qustodio.com/en/?x - works on Windows, Mac OS X, Android, iOS, Kindle and Nook.

4.     Christian Internet Filter – http://www.cleaninter.net – works on Windows, MAC, and Android. Doesn’t work on IOS (company says IOS option is coming soon).

5.     Safe Eyes - http://www.internetsafety.com/index.php - works on Windows and MAC. Not available for mobile devices.

6.     K9 – http://www1.k9webprotection.com – free service for MAC, PC, Android, and IOS.

7.     Net Nanny – https://www.netnanny.com – works on MAC, PC, Android, and IOS. Multiple individuals left feedback that Net Nanny ‘messed up’ their computers and that the software slows down their computer.

4. Media Filtering Options – There are challenges with filtering media, especially streaming media. However, here are two options that work well.

1.     Clear Play Blu-Ray Player – provides a lot of options for filtering movies and it downloads filters for recent video releases automatically. The drawback is that the user needs to have the disk containing the inappropriate content in their home. Someone struggling with pornography can easily just put the disk in a regular Blu-Ray player.

2.     VidAngel – App for SmartTVs and Media player (like Roku). This option is becoming increasing popular. VidAngel streams movies and TV shows and provides very detailed options for filtering. We watch almost all our movies on this App, including PG-13 and PG movies just to make sure that all unwanted content is filtered out.

5. Search Engine Help – Search engines are one of pornographers’ best tools to get people viewing pornography. Pornographers spend countless hours coming up with clever ways to sneak pornography into an innocent search. Here are some suggestions for helping to avoid pornography when using a search engine:

1.     Use a kid’s search engine – these search engines are specially designed to protect children. Kids should definitely use these search engines, but it’s also not a bad idea for adults to use them as well.

1.     http://www.kiddle.co/

2.     http://www.safesearchkids.com/

2.     Set search engines to ‘Safe Mode’ – many internet filtering products will lock settings so users can only search in ‘Safe Mode’.

3.     Be very specific when entering searches – the vaguer a search, the more likely there will be pornographic content in the results.

4.     Limit usage of ‘image’ and ‘video’ searches – pornographers will try and insert pornographic images into almost any type of image or video search. Only use image and video searches when necessary. Only perform image and video searches when you are around other people.