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Content Filters |
| Please note: I no longer have a need for a content filter in my present environment, so haven't updated this page for some time. While much of the information on this page may still be useful, it should be regarded as "legacy" information. |
- Background
While proxy servers temporarily cache your internet content for faster network access, content filters can assess web traffic entering your network, and block access to web sites according to pre-determined rules.
Content filters are often installed in conjunction with a proxy server - in small networks they are often running on the same hardware.
Which content filter?
- The biggest decision to make when planning an internet content filtering system for your network is whether you want to DIY, or pay for a commercial product, or find a solution somewhere in between.
There are many commercial providers of both filtering software, and dedicated filtering appliances. Some of these are listed below.
The first choice for DIY is Dandguardian. A number of commercial software filtering solutions are also built around the Dansguardian software.
Details of some of the options are listed below:
(I wrote many of the "how-to" notes below quite a while ago while experimenting with options for my own use. That need has now faded and some of the suggested software may have been updated since then, but the notes should still be generally applicable.)
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- DansGuardian - Home Page
- If you would
like to setup a local content filter at a school, or you have a broadband connection
at home and are interested in setting up a content filter to
keep the kids out of trouble, this is the product. Free for non-commercial use.
For Red Hat Linux
- Red
Hat DansGuardian Installer
- go to Downloads > stable > Red Hat for the RPM
DansGuardian
WebMin module
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Use WebMin web interface to administer DansGuardian.
For Mac
OS X
- If you like to tinker with these things, you can combine Squid and DG, using a WebMin interface....
Software
SquidMan
- a
neat OS X Squid installer with a GUI.
DansGuardian
WebMin module
- Enables Webmin to config DG.
Troubleshooting
- Dansguardian Unsupported
Some info about configuring Dansguardian so that it can be managed by WebMin.
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- CensorNet (Linux)
- Content
filter & firewall - an open-source project built on the
Dansguardian filter.
ClarkConnect (Linux)
- Includes firewall and security tools, file, print, web, e-mail, proxy, antivirus, antispam, content filtering, VPN servers (Free version for Home use).
getbusi
- Aussie web management software. (Commercial)
LightSpeed
- Popular commercial Internet security software for K-12 schools.
iSherrif
- Commercial filtering tool, suitable for small and large organisations.
SafeSquid (Linux)
- Internet
Proxy, content filtering web-gateway, Internet Access Manager,
Internet Bandwidth use optimiser. Free edition available.
SquidGuard (Linux)
- An ultrafast
filter, redirector and access controller for Squid. Filters
by URL, not the content of pages (unlike DansGuardian). Free,
but Unix tech experience essential.
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