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Content Filter

The content filter is a feature that is intended to protect juveniles against content that may be harmful to them.
You can use the free trial version to test all features extensively. Please note that some demo version restrictions apply.
1. Overview of features
There are laws in Germany as well as in many other countries that restrict making certain Internet content available to minors (as well as adults!). The content filter was designed specifically to address this problem:
1.1 The content filter blocks content that is harmful to young people
The content filter is basically a proxy, which scans web pages based on specific criteria. Forbidden (harmful content) will be blocked automatically.
1.2 The criteria database is updated automatically
The criteria database determines which pages will be admitted and which pages will be forbidden. PROVISIO maintains this data. New entries in the database will be downloaded automatically by the SiteKiosk terminals. Thus, the filter database will always be up-to-date.
Unless specified otherwise under ADVANCED, the criteria database will be updated automatically. However, if you want to be sure that an update has been applied, you can also perform a manual update of the database at any time. During such a manual update, the local entries will be compared to the entries stored on PROVISIO's servers.
If you, for some reason, should be unable to connect to the server, you can also download the latest criteria database manually. Unzip the file https://www.sitekiosk.com/download/tools/coachdata.zip to the installation folder of SiteKiosk: SiteKiosk/SiteCoach/coachdata.bin.
1.3 Users can object
If a user thinks that a web page is blocked for no apparent reason, she has the option of submitting her objection, which will be sent automatically to one of PROVISIO's servers and subsequently reviewed.
During this review the submitted pages will be classified internally. Pages about which there cannot be any doubt that they must be blocked when the content filter is enabled will be classified accordingly and no longer give the user the option of submitting her objection to this classification.
2. Settings
As you will not have to do more than simply turn on this feature, configuring the content filter is a "ONE-CLICK" process in the majority of cases. Additional adjustments will not be necessary in most cases.
2.1 URLs excepted from filtering
The content filter operates with admitted and forbidden domain names which are included on an internal evaluation list and can be enabled/disabled in the advanced settings. There is an option that allows you to exclude certain pages from being filtered out. These pages will then be displayed by SiteKiosk without any further review.
Here are some additional details:
Forbidden domains:
For instance, http://www.playboy.com; this domain is only one of more than 320,000 included domains that will be forbidden. If requested by a user, such a domain will not be displayed if the internal evaluation list has been enabled. There are cases in which harmless pages will be blocked. If you experience that a harmless page is being blocked, please email us the pages you think have been blocked for no reason. We will then adjust our list of blocked pages accordingly if we agree that the pages have been blocked by mistake.
Approved domains:
For instance, http://www.cnn.com; this domain is only one of several thousand included domains that will be allowed. If requested by a user, such a domain will be displayed and no longer be searched based on specific "SEARCH PATTERNS" provided you have enabled the internal evaluation list.
This may also result in the display of websites that provide content of a sexual nature.
Example:
For instance, rtl.de, the website of one of Germany's privately-owned TV stations, is also included on the list of approved websites. RTL's website also includes a section featuring softcore, erotic content, access to which will then, of course, also be allowed. This erotic section does not include any content that would be considered harmful to young adults. Should you, however, wish to block this website explicitly, you can use the URL flag to add "rtl.de" to the list of allowed/forbidden websites.
2.2 Custom
The customized setting options are described on a separate page.
2.3 Advanced
The advanced setting options are described on a separate page.
3. Tips and recommendations

1. The goal and intention behind the content filter is to filter our content that is pornographic, violent and right-wing extremist in nature, forbidden in some other way or considered "inappropriate" by the majority of the population.
2. It goes without saying that a tool like this is not any more powerful than other filtering tools that are available on the market today. However, you will find that our content filter will detect and block content faster and with greater accuracy than most other solutions.
3. Web pages are not being displayed
   The content filter does not support automatic proxy configuration. If you set an automatic proxy configuration, you should ask your administrator for a fix proxy address and enter it. You can alter the proxy settings on the connection page of the SiteKiosk configuration or in Internet Explorer under TOOLS/INTERNET OPTIONS/CONNECTIONS/LAN SETTINGS.. Please note that the IE settings are user-specific settings that need to be configured also for the user under which you want to run SiteKiosk (e.g. the SiteKiosk user).
4. Harmless web pages are being blocked
   Go to Customized and enter pages which you do not want to be blocked in the future. It will also be helpful if you send these URLs to us by email.
5. Firewall
   Since the content filter uses the standard HTTP port 80, it will not be necessary to open any other ports.
6. Pages that should be blocked are not blocked
   If you have loaded pages in the regular IE which you wish to be blocked in SiteKiosk, these pages may not be blocked by the content filter if you did not clear the cache.
7. The content filter can be used in combination with similar applications such as AVM-KEN.

See also

Welcome
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Scope of Supply/Installation
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Demo Version Restrictions
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PROVISIO Contact Information
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Guide for First-Time Users
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