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TalkTalks UK ISP HomeSafe Internet Filter Broken by Crafty Porn Peddlers

Posted: 06th Dec, 2011 By: MarkJ
talktalk uk internet censorshiptalktalk uk internet isp privacy concernBroadband ISP TalkTalk UK has been criticised today after a parent found that its much vaunted internet security service, HomeSafe, failed to block access to "one" of the world's largest hardcore pornography (Pornhub) sites.

Ordinarily we wouldn't even consider the Daily Telegraph's article to be news but it's getting a lot of attention so perhaps a dose of reality will help.

Cherith Hately, IT Expert and Mother of Three, said:

"The ‘you have been blocked’ page has been diverted to an advertising slot within the Pornhub homepage thus opening access to it. The HomeSafe barrier has been knocked down, technically and literally. TalkTalk should inform all their HomeSafe customers that their children are still able to see pornography so that parents can supervise more."

The fact that an internet censorship system was unable to block one of its target sites is to be expected. No system is perfect, filters will always miss some sites and block others that they shouldn't. It's not an exact science, just like junk email (spam) filters.

On top of that there's a variety of simple ways to completely circumvent such systems, which in effect means that they don't technically block anything. Indeed TalkTalk, much like other ISPs that operate similar systems, has always said that filters like this are no substitute for good parenting.

A TalkTalk Spokesperson said:

"While no technical solution alone is able to solve the issue of child internet safety or be a substitute for parental supervision, we firmly believe that HomeSafe is a step in the right direction."

TalkTalk has never pledged that its service will block 100% of adult content, although it must surely share some of the blame for marketting material that suggested parents could "now relax and let your children surf the internet". Fat chance.

The ISP is currently working on a way to fix the problem but in the meantime the only completely effective solution is not to use the internet :cheese: .
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