Internet Filtering (NOT a moral debate)

[dalinux_n00bie]

I'm in an English class, and I'm writing a paper for a fake company about internet filters. I'm trying to get a feel for what people use at home or what their company uses at work for internet filtering. I'm mainly focusing on IP-packet filtering, DNS filtering, and URL filtering VIA desktop application or browser add-on.

So what programs/setup do you use for internet filtering?

Thanks!

[jayd512]

The only thing I use on my personal computer is AdBlock Plus with Element Hiding Helper. and No-Script.

Other than that, no filtering at all.

[sgosnell]

Same here. The only filter I use is my judgement, but I hate annoying popups and ads, so I use Adblock Plus to deal with them. I also have Ghostery installed in Iceweasel to kill trackers, but I'm not sure that's part of what you're asking.

[rcgreen]

Malware Prevention through black-hole DNS

[Bemk]

I basically just use my own judgement for filtering, nothing more, nothing less.

[ox45tallboy]

I went the cheesy way out and used an edited hosts file on my main disc image for the XP workstations. Basically it just keeps people off of Facebook, MySpace, and Twitter. I'll modify a user's hosts file after they go home if I see them looking at something too much instead of working.

I'm of the opinion that people work better if they can check their personal e-mail and browse a little here and there. But, we're a small company (30 employees, most of whom work on commission) so it becomes apparent who is and who isn't cut out for the job pretty quickly.

[Lazydog]

IP-packet filtering

Normally done with a firewall.

DNS filtering

Firewall will normally catch this too.

URL filtering

Normally done with a proxy server.

VIA desktop application or browser add-on

When a proxy is in place all traffic must pas through the proxy or it doesn't get out and should be blocked by the firewall.