Making Internet browsing a little safer

[Phil413]

One of the things that really annoys me about trying to use the Internet for innocent purposes is the fact that even legitimate websites seem to feel the need to titillate their readers. For example, if you want to read the news, good luck finding a news source that doesn't include racy thumbnails in the sidebar or in the banner ads. And why is it that about a third of the "news" links have something to do with sex? Since when is sex news? Humans have been doing it for quite some time now.

Anyway, it turns out that Apple's Safari web browser (available for Windows and Mac) has a feature that makes it a little easier to read the news (or anything else) in safety.

It's called "Reader," and here's how it works. Whenever you click on a link to an article you want to read, and the page loads, you'll see a little gray button in the right-hand corner of the address window. The button says "Reader." If you click it, it will redisplay the page, showing only the text of the article. No ads, no sidebar, no nothing. It also increases the font size, which makes it more readable, but that's just a nice extra.

I've been using this feature for a few days now, and I really like it. Now I don't have to worry about what I might see in the sidebar as I scroll down to finish reading an article.

Phil

[maggie]

Thanks Phil for the Safari info...

It's ironic that the media has created this... avoidance / approach dilemna where we have to screen or delete what is thrown at us in every direction!

We seek out the news or check our email and instantly the screen is dotted with advertisements of dancing ladies selling discount mortgages or pics of the latest starlets in Hollywood!

Just the news please....we all know how to access provocative photos!

The deceptive sales tactic of ' grab their attention with s*x ' make this a constant battle.

[Phil413]

We seek out the news or check our email and instantly the screen is dotted with advertisements of dancing ladies selling discount mortgages or pics of the latest starlets in Hollywood!

Just the news please....we all know how to access provocative photos!

Exactly. I read the news because I want to know what's going on the world, not because I want to read about so-and-so's hot new such-and-such.

Phil

[stillandagain]

Hoping that PA's will be willing to talk here about filtering the internet on work computers.

[Phil413]

Hoping that PA's will be willing to talk here about filtering the internet on work computers.

Some of us unfortunately can't do it because we don't have administrative rights to our computers.

Phil

[stillandagain]

so, how DO you? anything beyond personal monitoring?

[Phil413]

so, how DO you? anything beyond personal monitoring?

I know that the IT department where I work monitors our Internet activity, so I know I'd stand a pretty good chance of losing my job if I used my work computer to access porn. That knowledge is a very powerful deterrent.

Of course, both of my personal computers have filters installed. Even the wireless router is filtered, so wireless devices like the iPod Touch and the Wii and the PS3 can't be used for nefarious purposes.

Phil

[maggie]

Stillandagain,

I'm not sure, but I think you are asking about the same problems I am having.

My H's phone and laptop are company owned and controlled.

I begged him to put K9 on his laptop when he travels, he finally tried it, but he had to remove it because it caused the company security to block him from entering the network. Firewall ??

Also, he claims he can't put filters on his company phone.

Before all this PA stuff happened, I would never ask him to do anything that might jeopardize his job and I trusted him 100%.

This is all so upsetting and confusing. He gets angry when I ask to check out his work computer or phone, and of course if he was doing anything, he certainly knows how to erase it. And... the laptop & phone have company security settings, so I am not suppose to be touching them anyway.

I don't think he is skating or doing anything wrong, but it would assuring to be able to check now and then.

[stillandagain]

yes, Maggie, I do believe it is a ditto for me!

My newest twist to all this at-work stuff is his claim that, before this final discovery, while he didn't use the work computer for P that would get him fired, he did use the work computer for "soft P". "Any Pix (or anything else for that matter) used AS P IS P to the PA" is my newly learned mantra. So, its rationalization of "job-ending" vs. "won't get me fired" P.

I want to trust. I am working very hard at this. He says he is willing to not delete history there, and willing for me to check once a week, or whevener. He no longer has an internet phone. On the home laptop, I own the password.

Sounds like "policing," but we are negotiating this together. For example, 2 weeks ago he asked me to take the home laptop with me. (filters are so easy to get around). I want to hear that as "I don't want to be tempted," rather than "I am having a really rough time." Probably both, either way, he is asking for help, and I feel like that is a really good thing.

[JenMac]

Hi!
My H installed K9 on both of his work computers. He works from home. K9 did not cause any difficulties for the year it was on as it seemed compatible with systems that he uses.
When K9 had difficulties a few weeks ago we took the opportunity to switch to Covenant Eyes and are currently just using the monitoring software there. It seems to be working fine. Perhaps that is an option for you guys, in that it doesn't block anything but reports what is being viewed and searched out.
We are still considering putting the filtering software on as well as we like that it blocks all of that soft stuff that we are trying to avoid.
Hope this helps!
I know that it is a worrisome problem but one that you can learn to work on together! SA, I don't consider it 'policing' but as you say, working together to solve a problem and put your relationship back together!!
Jenn