What we mean by Security.
Many kids are much more computer literate than their parents. We recognize this, and the program is designed with this in mind. SafeToSurf has  the most advanced anti-tampering functions available. Password protected, the settings you choose cannot be modified by even the most determined users. Advanced security features are available within the program to make it even more difficult to attempt to defeat or override the intentions of the parent or supervisor. SafeToSurf runs secretly in the background, always analyzing Internet activity, and can be configured to be completely invisible to the user and still accessible by the parent or supervisor.
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What is Internet filtering?
Internet filtering is a process that blocks access to certain material on the Internet. It can be implemented as exclusion  filtering, which prevents access to selected material, or by inclusion filtering, which allows access only to selected material.
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Which type of filtering do we offer?
Our Internet services are of the exclusion type; it prevents access to sites deemed inappropriate for the services intended audience. Or, if the parent desires, they can create a personalized inclusion, list , which allows surfing only to their approved sites.
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Why do we offer "filtered" access?
We believe there is a large segment of the public that has avoided the Internet entirely, and many more that are  rightly concerned about using the Internet, because of the ease with which objectionable content is encountered by them, their family members, or employees. SafeToSurf provides a safe and dependable connection to finding  and enjoying the positive resources on the Internet.
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How big of a problem are these inappropriate sites?
A recent Wall Street Journal article stated that pornography is one of the biggest industries on the Internet. It is difficult to estimate how many sites are pornographic in nature, but to date, we have cataloged hundreds of thousands of Internet pages containing pornographic content.
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What is the likelihood  a child, or other user, will accidentally encounter something they should not have?
Without filtering, it is extremely easy for a child to access inappropriate material, unintentionally, or purposefully. In the first scenario, a child submits an innocuous word to a popular search engine, and the results provide links to pornography sites on the first page. Though inadvertent, the child is now within one click of pornographic material. In the second scenario, a child searches using profane or vulgar language and is seconds away from the enormous resources of inappropriate material.
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What happens if a User attempts to access a Blocked Site?
The User is presented with a notice informing them that their request has been blocked
 (see sample)
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Isn't filtering a kind of censorship?
Filtering is considered censorship by some, and freedom to choose by others. When a newspaper editor decides to omit a story, it has been censored. When a magazine devoted to cosmetics excludes automobiles, it has been censored or the topic has been selectively omitted. Censorship is making choices about what we see, or allow our  families to see. By selecting SafeToSurf, users are choosing not to view pornography and other inappropriate content.
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What does a user have to do to use SafeToSurf filtering?
Not a thing! All filtering is controlled through our facilities, managed through your  browser communications software, and updated daily. There is no software to buy or configure and nothing to manage. Once you are setup with SafeToSurf, you are on your way to worry-free Internet access.
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Does SafeToSurf provide a bypass to the filter for users who want it?
Only through access by the system administrator (eg parent who can define user profiles).
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Who decides which sites to block?
SafeToSurf relies on a team of dedicated professionals that reviews each site in the company's database; although SafeToSurf does use keywords to determine which sites to block, it does so with human oversight, as keyword searches lead to what many deem over blocking.
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Can children or other users disable or circumvent the filtering service?
No! SafeToSurf is server-based, operating through its dedicated browser.  It cannot be disabled. There is no client software to reconfigure or trick, and the communications network is configured so that the user cannot reroute Internet access around our servers.
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Newest Threats
Even when trying to avoid it, children will encounter significant amounts of pornography while only looking for music. Some of it is maliciously disguised as popular music videos.

What parents don't know is that most peer-to-peer pornography is delivered from other home computers, somewhere down the street, across town, or halfway around the world. If you or your child have installed one of these file swapping programs (they are free and can be downloaded in less than five minutes) it is quite possible that other children are getting pornography directly from your computer without your knowledge. Even if you and your children are careful to avoid pornography when downloading music, programs like BearShare and LimeWire are using your computer is actively help others distribute illegal or pornographic content.

According to a recent congressional report, web filtering software won't block peer-to-peer pornography. Stories appearing in the Washington Post, on ABC News, and in the Guardian confirm this. A simple search for songs by Mariah Carey produces a list of dozens of pornographic videos. On the web, the most sensational pornography often requires a credit card and distributors can be traced. Peer-to-peer material, however, is virtually untraceable, is completely free, and can be obtained anonymously by children.

So serious is this problem that we have developed new technology to monitor the Gnutella network and other peer-to-peer networks. We include this new technology along with sophisticated web filtering methods in SafeToSurf Browser.
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