TalkTalk, an Internet Service Provider claims to be the first major ISP to offer its users the centralized blocking at server level, and this will give its costumer the option to filter malicious and even offensive malware within their broadband service. Also it blocks sites that shows or provides adult materials so that it will not be accessed by the children.
The move was developed in order to cater the needs and requirements of the users especially parents and to protect the computer and user data from identity theft.
Despite the positive target of TalkTalk, still questions arise with regards to the system capacity on the issue of filtering and no (–foul word(s) removed–)ography. Thus, the company stressed that the system will stop malicious software through its Smartscan service, then through its ‘no (–foul word(s) removed–)ography’ offering, it will relieve the parents since they can protect their children from being exposed to those adult related things.
Smartscan, as offered by TalkTalk, is an anti-virus system that scans each site that a user visits to check the existence of malicious programs, and if threats are found, it will be put to the “white-list” for the next 24 hours.
According to their spokesman, the system (smartscan) is discriminating enough to block individual advert of web pages that has malware, however, users can still interact with the rest of the page.
However, TalkTalk said that it does not record data that identifies individual costumer, including IP address even if Smartscan will have to check all websites being visited.
Aside from protection from suspicious malware, TalkTalk is an advocate of ‘no (–foul word(s) removed–)ography’. By having this policy of blocking adult related materials, parents will have peace of mind. It has also “timer” that will put time limits to various sites like Facebook and game portals to let the students do their homework since they will not be allowed to access the site if the time set is consumed.
TalkTalk’s spokesman in defense against doubts and criticisms of some said that their filters do not guarantee a “cure-all.” And that it is not a substitute for good parenting.