What are Client-Based and Server-Based filters?
A. A client based filter is generally a software product which runs on the user’s machine at the same time as the browser that is used for internet access. The filter is responsible for rejecting inappropriate materials before they are handed to the browser. A Server based filter provides the filtering component remotely to the user machine, via the internet or a network. In other words, the filtering is done before the data is sent to the client (end user’s) machine. In this way, the filtering component cannot be circumvented, as the actual incoming connection has data that has already been filtered. It is sometimes possible to bypass a client-based filter with advanced network skills. A server based filter is usually more expensive and complicated and often incurs an ongoing cost for use of the remote filtering service, whereas the client based filter is usually a stand-alone product requiring no maintenance fees.
