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Advice & Info on Internet Filters - Learn the Terms!
 

Before you decide on what filter is best for you, you need to learn a few important terms.

1) Black-list system - This type of filter leaves the internet open and only blocks the bad stuff (generally this is not fully reliable - however, see below for new technology coming out).

2) White-list system - This type of filter only allows you to browse the sites that you ask the company to open for you (assuming they are Kosher). This is much more reliable than black-list.

3) Client-Based filtering - A filtering program is installed on your computer and can not be easily un-installed. The program either does the filtering itself, or it insures that you are connected to a server that provides only filtered internet access (regardless of whether that filtering is done through a whitelist or blacklist system).

4) Server-based filtering - A filtering system that works through your ISP (internet service provider). This ensures that you are always filtered, whether you have a client filtering program installed in your computer or not.

We do not suggest that someone struggling to break free of the addiction should use a standard internet filter that can be opened with a password, such as K9 WebProtection unless the password is held by a sponsor who you can trust not to give you the password even if you ask for it. It is also important that this person have an e-mail address that you can't access (otherwise you can ask K9 to e-mail you the password, and they will). Only when absolutely necessary should your sponsor themselves enter the password, without you seeing, and the sponsor should also remain present in the room for as long as your internet access is not fully filtered.

Another problem with the standard internet filters, is that they mostly work with a black-list system, which means that the internet remains open and only the real bad stuff is blocked. This is not advisable for someone struggling to break free of an addiction, as it is not fully reliable. As an x-addict wrote on the forum: Sometimes the "black-list" method merely provide surfers with a challenge to see whether or not they can find porn. When you have the white-list filter, you always know what you do and do not have access to."

Therefore, much preferable to black-list filters, is a filter that works on a "White-List" system, like bSafe (no.5) or eNativ (no.1). These are programs that can't be uninstalled and they only allow you to browse the sites that you ask the company to open for you (assuming they are Kosher). We highly recommend this type of filtering for someone struggling to break free of a porn-addiction.

(Please note: Internet Rimon in Israel (no.2) does provide a reliable black-list option by using advanced technology and real-time, human filtering. Also Jnet in the U.S (no.1) came out in mid-January 2008 with a cutting edge, AI system to provide reliable black-list options as well).

But a client-based, white-list filtering system alone is still not always enough... If you install Windows again, or use a Windows-on-disk to bypass the Windows installed on the system, you could have open internet again in minutes. Therefore...

The most fool-proof internet filtering combination is a server-based filtering coupled with a client based filtering. The server-based filtering works through your ISP and insures that your entire ADSL connection is filtered. This means that even if you bring a new computer home or format your hard-disk and install Windows, you will be filtered from the first minute you connect. Client based filtering is important as well. It is installed on the user's computer and insures that the user can only connect to the internet through the filtered ISP. This ensures that you won't be able to install a different server to connect without filtering, or connect through a neighbor's server (or a motel's server) through wireless internet. This is especially problematic with lap-tops that have wireless internet and can connect through any wireless server.