Internet Filters:

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Internet Filters

• Getting the Best
• Without the Rest!

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Filtering the Internet does it work?

• Web filters can provide a false sense of
  security.
• Web filters are not fail-safe.
• P2P does not rely on web filters, which are
  problematic at best, but rather on a combination
  of direct instruction and supervision.
• P2P focus is on directed learning.
• No student access to unsupervised computers.

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Internet Filteringhttp//www.websense.com/?idKNC
-2J1N73892488

• BVSD Internet Filtering Technology
  http//www.bvsd.k12.co.us/technology/webfiltering.
  asp
• WEBSENSE
• Category filter
• Reviews approximately 50,000 sites per day.
• CIPA Childrens Internet Protection Act
• Federal mandate
• State Federal funding

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Two studies commissioned by Congress

• Youth, Pornography, and the Internet, a report
  published in May 2002 by the National Research
  Council
• Final Report of the Child Online Protection
  Copmmission (COPA), presented to Congress,
  October 20, 2000
• FINDINGS most effective / least intrusive way to
  protect children from objectionable material on
  the Internet is through online information
  resources and family education programs.

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Filtering Methods

• Blacklists / blocklists / host site blocking /
  category blocking
• Image Recognition Software
• Keywords / metatags
• Keywords in Context
• Protocol Blocking

• Rating Systems
• Time Blocking
• Web Rating Systems (PICS, or Platforms for
  Internet Content Selection)
• Whitelists
• User Blocking

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Filtering Problems

• Internet size and scope
• Leaks
• Legal Issues
• Overblocking
• Practical Issues

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2004 Internet Filter Report from Internet Filter
Reviews

• http//internet-filter-review.toptenreviews.com/?O
  VRAWinternet20filtersOVKEYinternet20filterOV
  MTCstandard

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WEBSENSE Filtering

• Category list filtering mechanism.
• 31 main categories
• Many subcategories Adult Content, Sex, Nudity
  for example.
• All Internet traffic is monitored by BVSD.
• Statistics kept by BVSD on the number of hits on
  filtered sites.

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Safe learning environment without limiting access
to relevant information

• Internet Access Policy (IAP).
• DIRECT INSTRUCTION AND SUPERVISION!!
• Websense Internet filter
• Websense allows BVSD to monitor, report and
  manage Internet usage.

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Filtering Without Compromising Research
Capabilities usually.

• The Websense Master Database
• Enables filtering out of most inappropriate
  content
• Allows most relevant information to reach
  students.
• EXAMPLE Student search for "breast cancer," will
  not be blocked from viewing legitimate medical
  sites because of the word "breast," which can
  also signal sexually explicit Web content.

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Flexible filtering

• BVSD chooses what categories students are able to
  view.
• Categories such as "Sex Education" and
  "Prescribed Medications" enable students to
  conduct research on school related topics, while
  allowing blocking of pornography and illegal drug
  use sites.

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CIPA The Childrens Internet Protection Act

• Laws like the Childrens Internet Protection Act
  (CIPA) can penalize schools that dont use
  Internet filtering software by withholding
  federal Internet and computer funding. Websense
  meets CIPA criteria helping to ensure compliance
  with federal law.

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Blocked words

• Games
• Chat
• Online chat
• Instant messaging
• Personals
• Singles
• Dating
• Adult Content, Sex, Nudity
• And much, much more!

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BVSD/P2P Technology Use Agreement

• Appropriate use of BVSD/P2P Technology Resources
• http//www.bvsd.k12.co.us/downPdf/acceptableUseStu
  dent.pdf

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P2P Online Tools

• LMC Website http//users.totalspeed.net/pforce/
• Pre-selected Student Links
• Paid Online Database services
• Research Help
• Teacher / Class Links
• Other Libraries

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For more information

• Pam Force, Librarian 303-453-4578
  pam.force_at_bvsd.org
• Mark Finstrom BVSD tech specialist
  mark.finstrom_at_bvsd.org
• Ben Werth, P2P IT support ben.werth_at_bvsd.org