Topic Wiki

Cool thing they also have there is an extensive list of filtering options:
https://filters.pluckeye.net/

Filters for PC:
Call TAG 718-225-5824 (718-Call-TAG)
www.usanativ.com           8-12/mo 95-140/yr per 2 devices     
www.techloq.com (Windows)            9.49/mo 99.49/yr per device
www.NetFree.link (Windows)            free
www.netsafepro.com           10-12/mo per device 9-10/mo additional
www.netsparkmobile.com/ (Android and Windows)            9.50/mo 89/yr per device
www.covenanteyes.com/services/internet-filtering / http://webchaver.org/filtering.php           15.99/mo unlimited devices scree captures
www.netnanny.com (Android, iOS, PC, Mac)           40/yr 55/yr per device
https://truple.io (Android, Windows, Mac, Linux, Chromebook [iOS coming soon]) - randomly captures and shares screenshots with accountability partner.                                    5-16/mo 50-160/yr (ranging from 1-unlimited devices)

http://www.livigent.com
==built on Livigent==
www.meshimer.com                      8-15/mo per device
www.geder.org
www.gentechsolution.com                   39/qtr per device

More info see https://venishmartem.com/

Israel
https://www.tagisrael.org/
http://www.etrog.net.il/
http://www.enativ.com/
http://netfree.link/
http://www.rimon.net.il/
http://shomer.shoresh.org.il/

For Windows Phone
www.safekiddo.com/en_us/

For Android
https://truple.io/androidfilter.html (Free android filter)

For iPhone/iPad/iOs
Check out their quite easy and powerful content restrictions.
Suggestion: Have someone else have the password (or half and half with a spouse) and do the following:
Lock installing apps + remove browser + add apps you need (possible rules: no games, no sports, no entertainment, etc.).
[Occasionally an app will have a built in browser/or need to access a certain website - just go back in to settings (with password) and add that website].
There is time restrictions and more features too.
(May not be enough for teenagers - consult your own advisers - this solution sure beats doing nothing and there is no excuse)

DNS
https://www.opendns.com/ (can be used in routers or directly in PC) - Free
https://cleanbrowsing.org

Pricing info may not be accurate and is only on full filters (not email only), feel free to correct, and does not include installation costs. I am working on a comprehensive comparison list
here it is
« Last edited by jose34 on March 17, 2024, 12:08:52 AM »

Author Topic: Internet Filters  (Read 631451 times)

Offline HSS

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Internet Filters
« on: November 10, 2010, 11:22:18 PM »
Internet Filters

I am surprised that there isn't already a topic on this forum about this, but it my opinion there shouldnt be a home in this country Jewish or otherwise that should have unfiltered internet in their house.  The accessibility of pornography and all other forms of trash that represent the lowest forms of human society is only a mouse click away and nobody should have to face such a test.

Below I will include list of the internet filters that I am familiar with: (if possible I can try to keep this list up-to-date if others add comments for ones that I missed)

1.  K9WebProtection - www.k9webprotection.com - Best FREE internet filter that I know of which is very customizable and easy to install, and pretty hard to bypass.

2.  OpenDNS - www.opendns.com - Another FREE filter that works based on DNS filtering, however this filter is extremely easy to bypass, it is basically just doing the reverse of the installation.  In my opinion it is great as a second layer of protection but should not be relied upon as a first line of defense.

3.  Covenant Eyes - www.covenanteyes.com - A very popular internet monitoring tool which can either include just accountability reports which basically send a summary of all questionable websites visited to a third party but doesnt actually block anything, or also can provide actual website filtering as well.  There is a charge for this service however it varies because many places have "group" discounts with Covenant Eyes and therefor you can get a better annual rate.  (As a side note I had Covenant Eyes on my computer and it wreaked havoc, because it is often incompatible with many other programs.  It is possible that they have gotten better since I last tried it, but the program is designed to act like any other form of malware which embeds itself in the system to make sure it is difficult to bypass, but that could cause other unwanted issues.)

4.  Netnanny - www.netnanny.com -My personal favorite internet filter which provides a ton of customizable features, my favorite of which being that you can have different account logins within the same computer so that each one can have its own customized internet filtering settings.  Also Netnanny allows remote access so that if you install it on your computer and a friend has the password, and a site that is OK gets blocked for some reason, you can send a request to them to unblock it and they can do that remotely.  Netnanny also gives the ability to send emails whenever an attempt to go to a blocked site is made, to prevent someone from constantly "trying to test the limits" to find something that is not blocked.  Netnanny does charge a $39.99 per year for one computer license or $59.98 for 3 computers, which in my opinion is a VERY reasonable price to pay to protect yourself and your family from the dangers of the internet (This is the filter that I personally use on my computer)

I am sure that there are many other very good filters out there, but these are the ones that I have firsthand knowledge of, please feel free to post comments below and I can try to update this list.


Feel free to post your thoughts!
« Last Edit: November 11, 2010, 12:44:47 AM by HSS »

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Re: Internet Filters
« Reply #1 on: November 10, 2010, 11:34:45 PM »
Sorry, I just noticed that there is an old thread about this here: http://www.dansdeals.com/forums/index.php?topic=281.0

It happens to be a very old thread and possibly it is worthwhile to start a new one.  If moderators feel like they would rather consolidate the 2 then I guess I can't argue.

Offline Chaikel

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Re: Internet Filters
« Reply #2 on: November 11, 2010, 02:10:03 AM »
I prefer DNS filtering as opposed to client side. I have my router set to openDNS, and the setting set accordingly
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Offline SuperFlyer

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Re: Internet Filters
« Reply #3 on: November 11, 2010, 04:48:58 AM »
The problems with those tools, is that when they are famous you just type on google: how do I remove k9, and you get a whole list of instructions...

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Re: Internet Filters
« Reply #4 on: November 11, 2010, 04:51:28 AM »
For people living in israel, get rimon internet.

Stuff is filtered by them, and even google just omits the the results that aren't appropriate.

Also they will restructure a webpage to look normal, if they have to remove part of it.

It works for all languages, unlike k9 which is only for english.

Offline Eli

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Re: Internet Filters
« Reply #5 on: November 11, 2010, 01:50:13 PM »
Someone once told me that K9 is virtually impossible to bypass. I looked online and found that all the solutions no longer worked on the new version, or you needed to fake uninstall it etc.

So I sat down for about an hour and created a program which breaks K9 and all you need to do is reboot after you run it.

No little kids, I will not post the program here for you to get out of your Yeshiva/Parents internet block.

I personally have a combination of K9 and OpenDNS. I find that sometimes OpenDNS doesn't always work properly, and if you need to get to a legitimate site it's a big pain. Versus K9 where you type in the password and can unblock that site for a few minutes. Then again, some people may not trust themselves with the password.

Bottom line is that nothing is perfect. Even the web chaver has issues and I know they are trying to fix/change them but still.

There is a Rosh Yeshiva in Israel who is working on a new type of internet filter that supposedly combines a lot of the old technology into a system that everyone (or almost everyone) will be happy with.
-Eli

Offline Chaikel

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Re: Internet Filters
« Reply #6 on: November 11, 2010, 02:05:18 PM »
There is a Rosh Yeshiva in Israel who is working on a new type of internet filter that supposedly combines a lot of the old technology into a system that everyone (or almost everyone) will be happy with.
Have you discussed anything with him? I was thinking of mentioning OpenDNS to him. BTW, DynDNS is supposedly much better, plus compatibility with almost every router.
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Offline elikay

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Re: Internet Filters
« Reply #7 on: November 11, 2010, 04:55:06 PM »
K9 is great. plus it keeps track of every site visited.

Offline ceejay

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Re: Internet Filters
« Reply #8 on: November 11, 2010, 10:32:11 PM »
Have you discussed anything with him? I was thinking of mentioning OpenDNS to him. BTW, DynDNS is supposedly much better, plus compatibility with almost every router.

I dont see why OpenDNS wouldn't be compatible with every router. The problem is with DNS filtering is that you can easily change DNS settings on individual computer.

The problem with DynDNS is that you can not use the free version on a route whereas with OpenDNS you can.
« Last Edit: November 11, 2010, 10:42:35 PM by ceejay »

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Re: Internet Filters
« Reply #9 on: November 12, 2010, 01:08:51 AM »
I dont see why OpenDNS wouldn't be compatible with every router.
You're right. What I should have said was that most routers are compatible with the Dynamic IP update for DynDNS, where OpenDNS usually requires DDWRT, or an app installed on a system, which can sort of make the whole reason of using DNS filtering pointless.
The problem is with DNS filtering is that you can easily change DNS settings on individual computer.
Unless the IP structure has changed recently, when I tested it, the router's DNS overrode the system DNS
The problem with DynDNS is that you can not use the free version on a route whereas with OpenDNS you can.
a route?
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Re: Internet Filters
« Reply #10 on: November 12, 2010, 01:46:05 PM »
Sorry router. OpenDNS should work with inadyn script built into most routers.

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Re: Internet Filters
« Reply #11 on: November 13, 2010, 09:42:12 PM »
Chaikel, lol...you don't need to "mention" openDNS to him. He has professionals who have been working on this for quite a while now. They are working on a system much more secure and complex (from what I understand) than opendns which is basic basic basic.
-Eli

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Re: Internet Filters
« Reply #12 on: November 14, 2010, 01:38:13 AM »
Chaikel, lol...you don't need to "mention" openDNS to him. He has professionals who have been working on this for quite a while now. They are working on a system much more secure and complex (from what I understand) than opendns which is basic basic basic.
I didn't mean OpenDNS per say, from what I hear his thing is client side, which only solves half a problem when netbooks can be had for not much more than $100. Not to mention reformatting.
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Re: Internet Filters
« Reply #13 on: November 14, 2010, 03:16:56 AM »
There is a Rosh Yeshiva in Israel who is working on a new type of internet filter that supposedly combines a lot of the old technology into a system that everyone (or almost everyone) will be happy with.

Who is this Rosh Yeshiva that you are speaking of? If you dont want to post it on the forum, can you send me a pm, I'd be very interested to find out who it was and possibly discuss some of my opinions on the matter, I have done a considerable amount of testing and research on the subject.

HSS

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Re: Internet Filters
« Reply #14 on: November 14, 2010, 10:35:53 AM »
I didn't mean OpenDNS per say, from what I hear his thing is client side, which only solves half a problem when netbooks can be had for not much more than $100. Not to mention reformatting.

Well then youll always have an issue because someone can purchase a Mifi and have their own unfiltered internet connection. The best solution IMO is client side software like Covenant Eyes. Very hard to remove. If removed and/or reinstalled theres an alert. And if theres no activity (i.e. some one reformatted computer, purchased a new one) then you will know theres a problem.
« Last Edit: November 14, 2010, 10:39:40 AM by ceejay »

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Internet filters
« Reply #15 on: December 12, 2011, 05:24:52 AM »
(note: there is a really old thread on this topic with little info - starting a new one in the hopes of creating a useful resource)

I would like to open a thread on suggestions for best practices for two issues:

1) PC - Internet Filters  (PC-IF)

2) Smart phone - Internet Filters (SP-IF)
« Last Edit: December 12, 2011, 05:36:31 AM by doublejay »

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Re: Internet filters
« Reply #16 on: December 12, 2011, 05:36:12 AM »
I'll go first.

My experiences:

PC-IF:
*K9 - Fast and pretty strong - problem is that without a reporting feature I don't think it has full effect. There is a real need for having a sense of "Ayin Roeh" - not just for the really bad stuff but also for just keeping you from spending 15 hours a week on youtube.

*SafeEyes -  Really robust, many choices including categories, time restrictions (both amount of hours and times of the day), report to a friend, add sites, remove sites, etc.

The problems:
1) Seems to slow down browsing (dealable IMO - an extra second per page load is a level of mesiras nefesh I can handle)
2) Bug 1 - getting online - I have had times when logging in in Libraries/Internet cafes caused me issues - they have a feature to deal with it but IME it doesn't work well
3) Bug 2 - adding sites doesn't work well - adding a site to the list of acceptable sites (ie. overriding a category (example adding macys.com b/c it got banned for lingerie/swimsuits)) doesn't always work - not sure issue (may have to do with multiple domain names (like www2.macys.com) but I don't think so)

... bottom line - it has pretty much everything it needs except it doesn't work as advertised. They may have fixed some of the issues and I imagine many people consider it good but I travel a lot and use the internet heavily. I need a flawless filter.

Therefore I am looking for a new filter. If someone could recommend one I would appreciate it.

Offline Chaikel

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Re: Internet filters
« Reply #17 on: December 12, 2011, 06:00:02 AM »
I use openDNS's filter. No lag (faster according to many). If set up at the router level (what I have) applies to all devices connected to the router.
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Offline doublejay

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Re: Internet filters
« Reply #18 on: December 12, 2011, 06:01:50 AM »
I use openDNS's filter. No lag (faster according to many). If set up at the router level (what I have) applies to all devices connected to the router.

How tech savvy must one be to install such a filter?

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Re: Internet filters
« Reply #19 on: December 12, 2011, 06:02:19 AM »
How tech savvy must one be to install such a filter?
Moderate to very
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