• PC Games Blocking - Restrict games based on ESRB rating.
• IM Alert and Analysis - Monitor chat for cyber bullying, predators, etc.
• Social Network Monitoring - Monitor your child’s Facebook profile.
• Secure Website Filtering - NetNanny can now filter https sites.

NetNanny 6.0 Press Release

As previously speculated, the government is asking for ISP’s to participate in two different levels of filtering: one that blocks only ACMA blacklist sites, and one that extends the filtering to cover unwanted Internet content.

The government has indicated that limited funding will be available to help defray the cost associated with the pilot program, however, they don’t detail the specific amount available, which likely means it will be negotiated with each ISP.

Another interesting element is the fact that ISP’s will be able to charge customers during the pilot period for any filtering provided that goes beyond simply blocking the ACMA blacklist or illegal content.

Other Notable PC Magazine Reviews of Parental Controls:
Safe Eyes 5.0 4/5 Editor’s Choice
NetNanny 5.6 4/5 Editor’s Choice
Webroot Parental Controls 3.5/5

This article comes just days after Senator Conroy was questioned on the $44.2 million Internet filtering plan by the Senate Estimates committee, and in particular Senator Ludlam of the Greens.  Transcripts of the conversation are available online at: http://scott-ludlam.greensmps.org.au/content/transcript/cybersafety-net-filtering.

The most interesting element for me was Senator Conroy’s confirmation of early reports that the system will likely be two tiers: one that filters content a family would want to block and one that filters illegal content.  ISP users will be able to opt-out of the family level filter, but the illegal content filter would be mandatory.  Here are Senator Conroy’s exact words:

No. As I said, we are in the early stages. But we are looking at two tiers-mandatory of illegal material and an option for families to get a clean feed service if they wish.

You could make the argument that filtering the illegal content is just enforcement of laws that are already on the books.  I think that argument has some flaws though.  Take the same concept and extend it to driving.  Roads have speed limits and drivers often speed.  Should the government invest in a GPS system that is programmed to know the speed limit and link it into your car’s onboard computer to limit your speed so you can’t speed?  No, we instead setup speed traps to watch for people violating the speed limit, and then deal with the offender.  This is the typical law enforcement model.

Even if this system is established in Australia to limit access to illegal content (ACMA Blacklist) it won’t stem the flow of illeagle content in or out of Australia.  The people trafficking this content will simply adapt and find a way around the filters, it will only take them a matter of hours.  But I don’t think the goverment is really studying the ease of circumvention because they believe that ISP-level filters can’t be circumvented.

The SECURESPOT services include:

• Firewall
• Internet Filtering
• Internet Usage Reporting
• Anti-Virus/Anti-Spyware
• Popup Blocker and Spam Blocker

In addition to the DSD -150 the services will now be available on:

• DIR-655 Xtreme N(TM) Gigabit
• DIR-625 RangeBooster N(R)
• DIR-628 RangeBooster N Dual Band Routers

The SECURESPOT services are available in two packages.

• Family Protection - Parental Control Features for unlimited devices for $30 a year.
• Total Protection - Which includes virus and spyware features, 3 computers for $60 a year.

It appears as though if you already have one of these routers you can upgrade your firmware to get access to the SECURESPOT service.  More information can be found on the D-Link SECURESPOT router page.

IMSafer monitors Instant Messaging for inappropriate content and reports on information posted on Social Networking profiles.

The plus version includes instant alerts of suspicious IM conversations, a “Reputation Network” to flag dangerous web users, and a deeper level of social network monitoring than the free version of IMSafer.

Wired GeekDad Review of Safe Eyes

Mark Newton, a network engineer for an ISP in Australia called Internode, says:

Users can opt-out of the ‘additional material’ blacklist (referred to in a department press release, which is a list of things unsuitable for children, but there is no opt-out for ‘illegal content

Newton said he got this information from advisers to Communication Minister Stephen Conroy.

A few blogs are reporting that this has been confirmed by a spokespersion for Minister Stephen Conroy.  However, no names have been mentioned and I can’t find any official comment on this.  We will have to wait official word from the Department for Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy.

Additional Information:
http://www.thestandard.com/news/2008/10/13/no-opt-out-filtered-internet
http://revolutionradio.org/2008/10/17/net-filters-required-for-all-australians-no-opt-out/

I’m excited to be able to announce an enhancement to our Safe Eyes parental control software which provides clip-by-clip filtering on YouTube.

Traditionally most Internet filters have either blocked or allowed YouTube as a whole.  Most often it was blocked.  The new filtering capability in Safe Eyes represents the first time an Internet filter has been able to allow or block individual YouTube clips based on their content no matter where they appear online.

YouTube is the third most heavily trafficked website in the world and the fourth in the U.S., after Google, Yahoo and MySpace. Blocking the whole site is unnecessary for families because it means blocking good content along with bad, including perfectly innocent videos making the rounds among friends.  Safe Eyes’ new ability to filter out only the offensive clips solves the problem.
- Forrest Collier, CEO of InternetSafety.com

The new YouTube filtering is included in the latest version of Safe Eyes and available now at www.safeeyes.com.  Thanks to the entire Safe Eyes team for turning this “lunch table idea” into a reality.

Press Release: Keep YouTube ‘Clean’ for Your Kids with Safe Eyes

American Airlines was originally saying that they were going to rely on the good judgment of their customers not to look an inappropriate content.  However, American’s flight attendants began to put pressure on the company to filter out pornography.  American most recently said it is examining its options.

Meanwhile Delta announced on Friday that they will block pornographic websites on its in-flight Internet access.  Kent Landers, a Delta spokesman, said it like this:

Blocking will be limited in scope and will be for sites that few, if any, would question are inappropriate to be viewed on an aircraft, our focus is to achieve a balanced approach.

The in-flight Internet access will be provided by AirCell, there is no indication yet of how the filtering will be accomplished.