Do you use porn filters?

  • Thread starter Thread starter Cathy2
  • Start date Start date
Status
Not open for further replies.
after some bad experiences a few years ago - we decided to use “wisechoice” ! this filter simply can’t be bypassed or uninstalled !
 
Absolutely! A few years ago, killing a search engine popup enabled a home page hijack on the kid’s computer. This, in turn, allowed a port to be opened that streamed porn pop ups into their computer! I got it cleaned up pretty quickly but my oldest was already captivated and would surf while we were not there to look over his shoulder. I use a very (overly) strict filter on the remaining computer to ensure, it can not happen in our house again.
 
Not anymore. During the process of breaking away from porn, however, I did install site-blocking software and found it a valuable tool to help my self-control.
 
For personally, I do not. Although I struggle with this problem, filters are ineffective for me because I can always find wasy to get around them. I, personally, have to fight the battle at the source.

As for my kids, we monitor all use personally. Then again, my daughters are only 6 and -3 months (still in the womb!) so that’s easy to do. As my daughters get older and use more computers on their own I might very well install such filters for their protection.
 
Not yet. My husband and I don’t have porn issues so a filter won’t be installed until we have kids of computer-use age.
 
newbetx said:
Absolutely! A few years ago, killing a search engine popup enabled a home page hijack on the kid’s computer. This, in turn, allowed a port to be opened that streamed porn pop ups into their computer! I got it cleaned up pretty quickly but my oldest was already captivated and would surf while we were not there to look over his shoulder. I use a very (overly) strict filter on the remaining computer to ensure, it can not happen in our house again.
Click to expand...
well done ! do you tell us more please ? what kind of filter do you use ? can it easily be circumvented ?
 
QuisutDeus said:
Yes, I do in my situation. I live alone and the temptation is always there. My sister, who lives in another state, only knows the password.

It’s true, there is no filter that blocks all inappropriate images and videos. The best backup is to place a statue of the Blessed Virgin Mary next to the monitor. If a temptation ever arises, your Mother is watching. :knight2:
Click to expand...
Good for you! I am so happy to hear when men are willing to do what needs to be done to take care of a problem like this. It is very encouraging. That’s great that there is a password someone else can be the keeper of.

BTW, what filter do you use?

I have been thinking about a filter but one of my issues is I didn’t want someone to be able to “turn it off” since then the filter would be pointless.

Also, for those of you who do use filters, do you find that (besides the lingerie thing that someone mentioned) that the filter will block OTHER images that you do want to see? I think that is a concern of my husband’s and I would like to give him an answer.

A couple more questions: Does it matter which browser you use in terms of the filter’s efficacy? Like, I don’t want someone to just use Internet Explorer instead of Google Chrome because the filter only works on the browser you installed it on or something (I have no idea how it works).

And, (no I’m not trying to win the long post award - lol)… if, say, you get a new computer, is it a huge pain (or impossible?) to put that filter on your new computer? My husband also likes to “wipe” all the stuff off our computer now and then since it gets bogged down, and then reinstall everything. Would a filter be totally doable to reinstall??

BTW, I know someone who got RID of their internet connection altogether and can only surf at work. I suspect it has to do with this issue, and I think it’s AWESOME when men take this seriously enough to “cut off their arm.”
 
No, I do not use any specific filter. I really only have a handful of websites that I go to. And it has never been an issue when I Google.
 
I use “Safe Eyes”. My son is pretty computer savvy and he tried his best to disable it but he can’t and it works! As Ronald Reagan use to say, “Trust but verify”.
 
Cathy2 said:
well done ! do you tell us more please ? what kind of filter do you use ? can it easily be circumvented ?
Click to expand...
I use Sentry from Family Safe, but I’m having some technical issues with it and will be looking for an alternative soon. I can no longer recommend it.
 
TaraJoBean said:
Good for you! I am so happy to hear when men are willing to do what needs to be done to take care of a problem like this. It is very encouraging. That’s great that there is a password someone else can be the keeper of.

BTW, what filter do you use?

I have been thinking about a filter but one of my issues is I didn’t want someone to be able to “turn it off” since then the filter would be pointless.

Also, for those of you who do use filters, do you find that (besides the lingerie thing that someone mentioned) that the filter will block OTHER images that you do want to see? I think that is a concern of my husband’s and I would like to give him an answer.

A couple more questions: Does it matter which browser you use in terms of the filter’s efficacy? Like, I don’t want someone to just use Internet Explorer instead of Google Chrome because the filter only works on the browser you installed it on or something (I have no idea how it works).

And, (no I’m not trying to win the long post award - lol)… if, say, you get a new computer, is it a huge pain (or impossible?) to put that filter on your new computer? My husband also likes to “wipe” all the stuff off our computer now and then since it gets bogged down, and then reinstall everything. Would a filter be totally doable to reinstall??

BTW, I know someone who got RID of their internet connection altogether and can only surf at work. I suspect it has to do with this issue, and I think it’s AWESOME when men take this seriously enough to “cut off their arm.”
Click to expand...
The one I currently use works on the more popular browsers but not all of them. The sales information should tell you, but sometimes they don’t. Like this one use to work on the SBC/Yahoo! browser but then at some point it stopped and our system went unprotected. It was with great joy that they brought that one to an end and I uninstalled it.

This one is “keyword based.” That means that it looks for keywords in the web page and if there are any on the list, it blocks the site. Now the list includes phrases like “get some” and “hook up” so many legitimate sites are blocked as well. And if there is a history page the kids need for school that has the word “rape” in it, it too will be blocked. There is a manual override for all of these and the administrator of the system can do that.

These type of filters can slow the response time of your computer. Depending on how fast they work and how many keywords are in the list. However, it is difficult to override this without the proper tools. I know, now, how I could do that and if my kids had a clue, they could do it too. Some are more cleaver in their disguise but I haven’t dealt with them as yet. If anyone in my house was this savy with the computer, I wouldn’t have to do as much to maintain it as I do. We have to be careful when turning such things over to teens “that know this stuff better than I do.”
 
We having been evaluating different programs to use now as well. I think though for other reasons than what a lot of people on here are responding about. A lot of the arguements against using it seem to rely on either trust in the kids or the computer being out in the open.

I’m not as concerned with my 8 year old looking up porn on purpose as much as I am concerned about her searching for something like hannah montana and then clicking on a link that then takes her to a porn site.

These filters can block that from happening. And if computer is out in the open, and they end up accidentally at one of these sites by the time you react, the damage is done.

She is just starting to expand her internet usage and rather then shut that down, I think its better to install a filter and let her explore a bit more safely.

That being said, I still haven’t been able to figure out which is the best one to use.
 
We use Netnanny (for the MAC) and K-9 for the homeschooling laptop. The Mac is the main family computer, we usually have the filter off unless we have a baby sitter or the kids are going to be unsupervised (theoretically, however they are always supervised). The school laptop filter is on 100% of the time. Our kids are 9 and 11, so the filter is more to prevent/reduce accidental exposure at this point.

One thing to consider for those who don’t want, don’t think they need a filter, or who find them too restrictive (blocking sites that are ok), is that they can be set up to track history without blocking. This tracking remains even if a teenager or somebody else deletes the browser history or otherwise uses the “private browsing” mode. Doing at least that may be enough to stave off a “weak” moment for a teenager or husband who hasn’t had a problem in the past. Just seeing the icon on the task bar has a lot of power.
 
I haven’t found one that does a good job that I’m confident in spending money I don’t have. I’ve chosen the teach them from the cradle method and hope for the best after they grow up. Once, I bought a “christian ISP” but they were filtering out vacation spots we were looking for because women were wearing bathing suits, even though they were tasteful one pieces.
 
Most people with relatively good morals don’t get involved with porn by saying “what the heck I’m going to look at porn”. They fall into it very gradually or get exposed to it while looking for something else, such as marital information or medical issues. After the first exposure, they may go back to that or a similar site, by fooling themselves that it is for some legitimate reason. There are websites designed to pull people in this way. Little by little they fall into the trap. This can and does happen to anyone.

Even St. Paul says that he must be vigilant not to fall into these times of sin, and that was way before the internet. Multiple Saints have thrown themselves into sticker bushes, to subdue temptations.

Using other precautions besides filters is fine, I think it is unwise, however, to assume that certain individuals are not capable of falling into this kind of sin. There is ample evidence to the contrary. Don’t get me wrong, I believe that there are many many people that don’t, just that anybody can, so everyone should be careful and take reasonable precautions.
 
whm said:
Most people with relatively good morals don’t get involved with porn by saying “what the heck I’m going to look at porn”. They fall into it very gradually or get exposed to it while looking for something else, such as marital information or medical issues. After the first exposure, they may go back to that or a similar site, by fooling themselves that it is for some legitimate reason. There are websites designed to pull people in this way. Little by little they fall into the trap. This can and does happen to anyone.

Even St. Paul says that he must be vigilant not to fall into these times of sin, and that was way before the internet. Multiple Saints have thrown themselves into sticker bushes, to subdue temptations.

Using other precautions besides filters is fine, I think it is unwise, however, to assume that certain individuals are not capable of falling into this kind of sin. There is ample evidence to the contrary. Don’t get me wrong, I believe that there are many many people that don’t, just that anybody can, so everyone should be careful and take reasonable precautions.
Click to expand...
👍
 
Yes. We use Safeeyes. It is very good.

For kids - perfect. If they are not attempting to purposefully circumvent the program it will blocked all inadvertant adult content. (This happens parents, wake up! You need to protect your kids - they have curious minds) You can also have it block sites with key words you add, such as “witch” or whatever.

For teens/adults - good but still circumventable depending on their computer savvy. Still worth it as it will be effective for 90% of these folks.

For the other 10% that can circumvent it, you want the perfect blocker. . . it doesn’t exist. For these you must pray, pray, pray. If they are that motivated, the problem is beyond your control.

We have it for me - sadly - and yes, i can circumvent it if i choose but it takes time and effort. This provides the holy spirit some time to work on my heart before i take the plunge! Totally worth it.

Protect your kids from this stuff. Use filters. They have curious minds.
 
I agree with rpp and, by the way, that was an excellent article. However, I must say that if you (wife) get the blocker to try and prohibit your husband’s use of porn…good luck! One thing porn does is makes you angry and resentful. The husband must do this for himself. This is sooo important. It’s like repentance, it must come from within. He must seek the help.

However, protect the children at all costs.

Safeeyes costs about 100.
 
newbetx said:
I use Sentry from Family Safe, but I’m having some technical issues with it and will be looking for an alternative soon. I can no longer recommend it.
Click to expand...
ever thought about wisechoice ? it protects children AND adults !
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top