SafeGuard

[#1]

Hello,

I have just starting using Plusnet and tried to set up SafeGuard to block certain sites. However, it does not work. It says that it is turned on but nothing is blocked. I have raised a ticket and done what the advisers have asked, e.g. checked the DNS, reset the router, waited the correct amount of time after making changes etc, but to no avail. I am using the Plusnet router supplied so don't see why I should have problems. I never had this problem with my previous BT broadband. Any help gratefully received.

[#2]

Hi there,

I am sorry to hear your Safeguard isn't working.

I'm asking a couple of people who know more about this to look into the problem, and I'll get back to you within 24 hours. In the meantime, I assume you've tried rebooting your router since turning it on?

Also, are you using mobile devices, or laptops/PCs?

Thanks,

Anoush

-Edit-

@lenanes One of my colleagues has advised me there's a known problem surrounding this, it seems that this may be related to the problem we currently have ongoing where your Safeguard profile isn't reflecting in our suppliers systems.

I'm unable to give you a timeframe as to when it should be resolved I'm afraid, but it's something we are aware of and investigating.

[#3]

Hello Gandalf. It now works up to a point in that it won't let me access dodgy websites. However, sexually explicit images can still be seen in search engines result pages, which makes it pretty useless.

[#4]

Thanks for getting back to me

Unfortunately that Safeguard won't always block content on search engine pages.

It's due to the engine caching the content to speed up the retrieval of search results, which results in the information being classified as the search engine's (for example, Google) rather than the original website's.

Blocking a search engine would, inevitably, block the search engine in its entirety.

You may need to find an alternative parental controls system I'm afraid.

[#5]

It is also not just a matter of where the material is served from but also what (if any) content rating has been defined for the material.

No software can protect children from what might be considered unsuitable material. Safeguarding tools rely on knowing that certain sources are known to contain unsuitable material and then block access to that content. Honest providers also apply age / content rating to content, thereby enabling some further filtering.

If the source is not black listed and the content is not rated, it is not going to be blocked. The only assured way of protecting your child from unsuitable material is by you being responsible for supervising their viewing the internet.

[#6]

Isn't that what I'm trying to do? Perhaps you think that I should stand behind my son for 2 hours every night whilst he does his homework in case he clicks on something inappropriate?

[#7]

Have you considered using Google Safe Search?

[#8]

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@lenanes wrote:

Isn't that what I'm trying to do? Perhaps you think that I should stand behind my son for 2 hours every night whilst he does his homework in case he clicks on something inappropriate?

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Frankly if you want 100% protection, then yes that's what I am telling you.  It is your responsibility not someone else's.

These "protection" products do not "look" at pictures and decide if they are "unsuitable" or not and then inhibit their display.  They simply block access to IP addresses KNOWN to serve questionable content or to content which has been 'rated' by the content owner.  Consequently content served from unknown sources could still get through, be it via a proxy as suggested here or just an unprofiled source.

One does wonder what search term produced the search results you observed?

[#9]

It's because it's my responsibility that I'm trying to get this sorted out. If you type  'Naked Women' in to google images(as any 14 year boy worth his salt is going to be tempted to do at some time or other) then you don't just get pictures of women with no clothes on, you get hardcore porn. Try it for yourself. As for me standing over my son's shoulder the whole time he is online, well, get real please. I don't expect 100% protection either, but it seems pointless Plusnet saying that it offers any at all if it can't back up what it advertises.

[#10]

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@maranello wrote:

Have you considered using Google Safe Search?

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This only works if you use that as your search engine and even then I assume it would rely on the content being categorised appropriately in order for it to be filtered correctly.

[#11]

Thanks for the suggestion. Yes, I have, and that does work. However, other search engines, such as Yahoo do not have adequate password protected safe searches so the problem still remains.