What are content filters and how do they work?
A content filter is a piece of hardware or software that acts a shield between the Internet and a user’s computer, blocking access from potentially objectionable or offensive material. Most content filter manufacturers compile a list of sites they deem objectionable and classify them under different profiles, which often pertain to the end user’s age. For instance, a content filter’s most aggressive blocking profile might be designed for children under 10 and would therefore restrict all access to a large range of materials, such as pornography; pages about illegal drugs; sites that deal with sex education; and sometimes even social-networking sites such as MySpace. On the other hand, profiles for adult users might allow most types of content forbidden to younger users yet still block the majority of sites that are known to install malware. If one of the filter’s built-in profiles is too restrictive or lax for your audience’s needs, you will often be able to create a custom profile or
