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Content Filtering

Guard standing in a security box.

Content Filtering is the use of special software to monitor, screen and prevent access by users to web sites or e-mail that fail to meet the security levels set.

Content filtering software works by checking the information, eg: URL, typed in by a user against an exclusion list. This list could also contain words that would be blocked if the user tries to enter them.

One of the main criticisms of content filters is that they may unintentionally filter content that is not undesirable and that by doing so they are censoring what Internet users can see. This is why content filtering software is also known as censorware.

Content filtering software is generally divided into two types:

  • Web site Filtering, eg: Inappropriate sites
  • E-Mail Filtering, eg: Spam and other nuisance e-mails.

Well-known content filtering packages include the following: (Click on a link to view the home page for the relevant product.)

Click on this link to read more about content filtering: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Internet_filter

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