A useful way to illustrate the value of filtering the Internet is to compare content available on television with that on the Internet. The Internet, compared to television, is undoubtedly much less controlled. Here are some of the main differences:

Television	Internet
All content is strongly vetted before being broadcasted	Content is not always vetted before being posted; anyone can post their own content
There is a watershed for material not suitable for youngsters (i.e. violence and sexual material)	There is no watershed; material not suitable for youngsters can be viewed at any time of the day
Highly unsuitable content will not normally be broadcast at all	Any material can be posted by anyone; only some highly unsuitable content will be removed (including illegal material)

All television content is scrutinised by broadcasters and checked for suitability; if it’s unsuitable for youngsters it will only be shown after the watershed (and if it is highly unsuitable it normally won’t be shown at all). The Internet is a different story; anything can be posted by anyone and viewed at any time. This makes it something that schools are advised by Becta and the Department of Children Schools and Families (DCSF) to regulate.

Our view is in support of Becta and DCSF; the innovative nature of the Internet should be embraced strongly, but some content is much less suitable for youngsters.

In short, it helps to school to meet their duty of care and keeps the students safe and less likely to be distracted by unsuitable off-task content.

To summarise – what can you do to reduce the risks posed by the Internet?

• Enjoy it – but understand what the risks are and how they vary for different web sites;

• Educate users on these risks using some of the great education materials available;

• Set the tone of what is acceptable by creating or reviewing your Acceptable Use Policy, with input and buy-in from your community - parents, staffs and students;

• Make sure you have supporting technology in place to help you when you’re not there to check. Filtering software can help you prevent students accessing inappropriate material or taking unnecessary risks.

For over 10 years we have been helping schools to manage web content. Our web filtering services are designed to manage the content risks highlighted by Becta and also the ones highlighted most by schools over the last decade.

We’ve drafted a short summary of how SWGfL Filtering works to give you an insight into our many techniques.

SWGfL Filtering combines multiple ‘layers’ when filtering the web. These layers utilise techniques ranging from data mining to algorithmic calculations and dynamic scanning (plus many more). This allows us to tackle content risks from a number of angles, significantly increasing the overall effectiveness.

The filtering layers work with one another, and with personalised rules set by an establishment, to detect unsuitable content. This constantly adapts in line with the changing nature of the web.

Here is a quick overview of the different layers and what they provide:

Layer 1: Application of the Internet Watch Foundation Child Abuse Images database
This layer protects users against inadvertently accessing sites classed as illegal by UK law and risking subsequent investigation (just clicking on one of these sites can result in a criminal investigation!).

Layer 2: Proxy Bypass Identification
This layer combines ‘URL within URL filtering’ with advanced pattern-recognition technology to detect Proxy Bypass sites (Proxy Bypass sites are used by some to get around filters, so we work to ensure that these can’t be accessed).

Layer 3: Expert URL Database
Industry blacklists, dedicated filtering experts, web analysis, and – importantly – input from education establishments, are used to build a huge and unique URL database for education. All web requests are checked against this database (and you can amend this locally so that this meets your needs).

Layer 4: Search Term Filtering
This layer allows you to clock a subset of highly-unsuitable search terms. It allows some searches to be wholly blocked, clearly highlighting their unsuitability and breach of acceptable use policy.

Layer 5: File Extension Filtering
Particular file extensions can waste bandwidth and time. This layer allows you to block .mp3 or .exe file extensions to protect both bandwidth and time.

Layer 6: Dynamic Adaptive Content Filter
The pièce de résistance… Our Active-Adapt content filter instantly and intelligently scans the content of every page, employs risk calculations, and identifies the context of a page, to detect unsuitable content. This active feature adapts immediately to changes in web content for ultimate protection. If something is unsuitable only for one day it will be blocked for that one day and then automatically re-allowed when the unsuitable content is removed (this feature can be turned on or off, whichever you prefer).

Layers 2, 3, 4 and 5 can all be customised by your establishment so that you can ensure that the filtering works with you to meet your needs.

The end result is high-quality, customisable filtering with education in mind every step of the way.

We’re adding even more features to this service…here’s what we have just finished and what we’re working on at the moment.

Just finished and now live ...

We have released three new filter lists: 

• Social Networking;
• Non-educational games;
• Proxy bypass sites.

These are all available to turn on or off via an easy to use admin interface! This allows you to filter these categories at just the click of a button to help you keep students safe and on-task.

The lists have been created for schools, rather than UK industry in general, to ensure that content useful for lessons remains available. For example, the non-educational games list is developed to ensure that access to educational games are not blocked (other filtering services that are developed for a number of markets, and not just education, may not differentiate between educational and non-educational games).

Take a look at the SWGfL Filtering Policy for more information on the content included in these lists.

What we’re working on at the moment…

We’re also working on:

• An updated user interface (still web-based but more attractive and even easier to use);

• Time-based filtering (for example, to allow to you permit games etc after school and during lunch time if you choose);

• A whole host of exciting future features which we’ll announce at a later date. Watch this space!

We pro-actively conduct thorough searches in an effort to block user access to any inappropriate material. However, it is important to understand that no provider can offer a 100 per cent guarantee in providing an environment that is perceived to be safe by everyone. One reason for this is the constantly changing nature and content of the World Wide Web.

SWGfL blocks user-access to a large number of unsuitable sites. We do this by the exclusive method, which means that when an inappropriate site is found, SWGfL prevents user access to it. This is in contrast to the inclusive method, which restricts access to all sites, except those identified as appropriate.

Although it is impossible to identify all unsuitable sites, we still believe that the exclusive method is the most suitable Internet filtering policy. Essentially, feedback tells us that the majority of users would find the inclusive method too restrictive, as the scope of acceptable sites would be too limiting.

It is important to understand that filtering is one element in a larger strategy for e-safety and acceptable use.

Becta highlight this point stating that "no technological solution can be 100 per cent effective in guaranteeing safety when using the Internet and related technologies". Becta advise that that "technology can help to minimise the risks to pupils, particularly when supported by a clear acceptable-use policy and appropriate e-safety education." This coordinated approach recommended by Becta includes:

• Infrastructure and technology;
• Education and training;
• Policies and practice.

In line with Becta's advice, SWGfL recommends that the following measures are adopted and used in conjunction with filtering:

• E-safety educational resources and programmes delivered across the whole school community (pupils, staff and parents);

• Appropriate supervision and e-safety education;

• Creation and whole-school agreement of clearly defined, agreed and respected e safety and acceptable usage policy.

The combination of these measures provides more complete protection. For further information, see the Staying Safe section of the SWGfL web site.

As the Internet is firmly established as a global medium for business, education and entertainment medium, its value is likely to increase perpetually over the years. We suspect the issue of filtering will be with society in general for the foreseeable future, and so we all need to develop our strategies and ideas together.

As this is such a difficult area we depend very heavily on user feedback to choose the right course of action and welcome comments on this policy at any time via our email address: filtering@swgfl.org.uk.

If you find a site that you feel should be filtered or unfiltered please email filtering@swgfl.org.uk with the URL. We will review your requests against our filtering policy and notify you on the decision to permit or deny that site. Please note that we maintain the right to ultimately determine what is and is not filtered based on the filtering policy and the safety and best interest of the SWGfL user base.

Please also remember that you can unblock any URL or domain for your establishment, by creating a new ‘PERMIT’ filtering rule using the SWGfL Filtering Administration tool. Local changes made through your secure filtering administration site are effective within 90 seconds.

Yes. We, along with a number of other UK Internet Service Providers, will always block illegal child abuse image content available online that the Internet Watch Foundation (IWF) report to us. IWF reports such sites which breach UK law; to view them would be illegal. All other sites can be overridden, but please be careful when making changes.

We currently operate the following filter lists, all of which are enabled by default, but can optionally be disabled in line with your establishment’s Acceptable Use Policy (AUP):

• Pornography and illegal or age-restricted activity;
• Drugs and substance abuse;
• Violence;
• Intolerance;
• Web-based chat;
• Web-based Social Networking;
• Proxy Bypass;
• Web-based mail services;
• Mobile Phones/SMS/Ring Tones;
• .MP3 and .exe files;
• Non-educational games.

Please note that if an education establishment with SWGfL Filtering or RM SafetyNet Universal cannot see these filter lists or the administration interface this is likely to be because the filter lists for that establishment are managed centrally by your Local Authority. If this is the case, please contact your Local Authority for further information.

A description of the type of content covered by each of the filtering categories is included in the SWGfL Filtering Policy and in the SWGfL Safety and Security booklet.

1. Browse to http://admin.filtering.swgfl.org.uk;

2. Enter your Administrator username;

3. Enter your password;

4. Click the ‘Login’ button.

The administration of the filtering lists is a secure process; therefore the only way of resetting your password is to contact the SWGfL Helpdesk team on 0845 307 7870.

All changes made to your establishment’s filtering policy are recorded. You can view a log of all changes made, when and by whom as follows:

1. Log into the SWGfL Filtering Administration Web site at http://admin.filtering.swgfl.org.uk;

2. Choose ‘Logs’.

In 2006 we introduced the Staff Proxy to allow key members of school staff to have open Internet access. This system protects staff from unregulated browsing and fits in with the SWGfL Acceptable Usage Policy, as we block all access to illegal websites on the Internet Watch Foundation's list. You need to be given an account to use this by your local filtering administrator.

Until November 2008 a completely unfiltered proxy was available. The use of this exposed you and your senior management team to some risks in that usage cannot be traced back to an individual. When we launched the new proxy server in 2006, we said we'd remove unfiltered access in the future.

If you try to access the unfiltered proxy now, you will be redirected to the staff proxy.

Proxy bypass sites are websites on the Internet that enable users to get around filtering systems by simply visiting their website and typing in any URL (such as www.myspace.com). This will cause all connections and traffic to and from the URL to be redirected via the proxy bypass site. This tricks the SWGfL web proxies into believing that the web requests are coming from the proxy itself, thus circumventing SWGfL Filtering. So, by using a bypass proxy, users can access any website that would normally be filtered.

These websites were initially mostly used to bypass the censorship that exists for the Internet within China but are now also used widely by those wanting to bypass Internet filtering throughout the world.

The potential dangers associated with pupils circumventing SWGfL Filtering and accessing the sites such as those above are very significant. Becta identifies the following risks:

• Exposure to inappropriate materials;
• Inappropriate or illegal behaviour;
• Cyber bullying, physical danger and sexual abuse.

SWGfL employs a number of methods to detect, adapt to, and block proxy bypass sites. Advanced data mining, pattern recognition and decoding plus other detection techniques all contribute to our effective methodology. We keep our methodologies under cover a bit so that the proxy bypass developers are less likely to understand and adapt to the ways that we find them!

We constantly review these proxy bypass sites and their evolution and consider new ways to block these so that we can keep up with the proxy bypass developers and their changing techniques.

A new filter list has been created to categorise these proxy bypass sites. This will be visible on your administration site. We advise that this list is always enabled.

If you find a proxy bypass site that is not filtered, add it to your schools filtering list and in addition please submit it to filtering@swgfl.org.uk for addition to the central filter list to help other schools.

Secondly, make sure that all your users are aware of the school and SWGfL AUP. The purpose of the SWGfL AUP is to ensure that users understand the way in which the Internet is to be used. The policy aims to ensure that the Internet is used effectively for its intended purpose, without creating unnecessary risk.

Thirdly, encourage good Internet use, by making all users aware of the risk of using such sites.

Finally, use the SWGfL Monitoring site to review the information for your school. This offers you a wide range of information, about the use of your schools connection. Using the top 100 most requested web sites, you will be able to review if there is a significant problem with users making use of proxy bypass web sites.

Yes. One of the five outcomes of the Every Child Matters agenda is Staying Safe. This provides a mechanism for members of the Senior Management Teams to check filtering settings and ensure they are safe and appropriate.

You can create a read only user by following these steps:

1. Log into SWGfL Filtering at http://admin.filtering.swgfl.org.uk;

2. Choose Settings > User Management from the menu > Select Add;

3. Complete the form with the detail of the user;

4. Next to Permissions tick the box marked View Filtering Rules > Click OK;

A user will now be created with the username in the format of username.establishmentID.

A read only user may log into filtering in the usual way, and they will be able to view the filtering configuration and logs, but not make any changes.