- They block what you don't want blocked and they don't block what you want blocked
- They vary on the amount of tracking and control available
- You have to install them on each PC.
- Most solutions support Windows but not Mac OS X or LINUX.
- You have to pay a subscription fee to get the better quality filtering systems.
Recently, I started using a new service called OpenDNS. OpenDNS is primarily a Domain Naming System service. (DNS is how your computer knows how to find something like www.yahoo.com.) On top of this service, they provide Internet filtering that you can configure from their web site. The service is free and is supported by adds that appear when you use their search engine or a website is blocked.
Some of their main features are as follows:
Content Filtering
Adult Site Blocking
Domain Blocking
Domain Whitelist
Phishing Protection
Statistics
OpenDNS Guide
Customization
Large Cache
Ultra-Reliable Network
Shortcuts
I've been using it for about 1 month and like the service so far. It covers my entire home network just by configuring my DHCP router to use the OpenDNS servers instead of my ISP's. I encourage you to check it out. If you have questions or want assistance setting it up, please feel free to contact me at jeff.copeland@helpmyoffice.net.
Jeff Copeland