15/05: Protect the innocent, protect the bottom-line
Category: Internet and Technology
Posted by: SaltyAdmin
Have you ever gone web-surfing in your lunch-break, typed in a few innocent keywords into Poodle.com (or whatever your favourite search engine happens to be) and followed a few of the results only to get a message like ...
ACCESS DENIED - THIS SITE HAS BEEN CLASSIFIED AS PORNOGRAPHY
... in bright red letters in 48 point so that everyone in the office can see what a perv you are?
If so your company has a proxy server with an internet filter. Yes Big Brother is watching you - but don't worry, you are unlikely to receive a disciplinary for accidental hits (you meant "chain mail" for your medieval re-enactment society costume, not "chained male" right?)
So you've now left Big Brother plc, and set up on your own, hired a few staff and doing pretty well. But what are your staff doing while you are out of the office?
Whatever side of the the debate you are on regarding porn etc in general, if your staff are accessing it whilst your back is turned they are not helping your bottom-line - in fact, they could be exposing you to a whole heap of legal fees.
But internet filters are expensive/complicated aren't they? I can't afford/don't know how to run a proxy server. Maybe - but for smaller organisations (with less than 10 PCs) there is a simpler solution...
There are many programs out there designed for home use (search for "parental control") to block children's access to porn/illegal download sites etc. These can equally be installed on your office PCs too, offer free trial periods, and often offer discounts on multiple seat purchases!
Some of the better known examples include:
CyberSitter
NetNanny
Cyber Patrol
If your organisation has more than 10 PC's then it may be more more cost effective to run a gateway server with a product such as Cyblock or SurfControl.
ACCESS DENIED - THIS SITE HAS BEEN CLASSIFIED AS PORNOGRAPHY
... in bright red letters in 48 point so that everyone in the office can see what a perv you are?
If so your company has a proxy server with an internet filter. Yes Big Brother is watching you - but don't worry, you are unlikely to receive a disciplinary for accidental hits (you meant "chain mail" for your medieval re-enactment society costume, not "chained male" right?)
So you've now left Big Brother plc, and set up on your own, hired a few staff and doing pretty well. But what are your staff doing while you are out of the office?
Whatever side of the the debate you are on regarding porn etc in general, if your staff are accessing it whilst your back is turned they are not helping your bottom-line - in fact, they could be exposing you to a whole heap of legal fees.
But internet filters are expensive/complicated aren't they? I can't afford/don't know how to run a proxy server. Maybe - but for smaller organisations (with less than 10 PCs) there is a simpler solution...
There are many programs out there designed for home use (search for "parental control") to block children's access to porn/illegal download sites etc. These can equally be installed on your office PCs too, offer free trial periods, and often offer discounts on multiple seat purchases!
Some of the better known examples include:
CyberSitter
NetNanny
Cyber Patrol
If your organisation has more than 10 PC's then it may be more more cost effective to run a gateway server with a product such as Cyblock or SurfControl.
