UK IWF & StreamShield Team Up
Posted: 02nd Feb, 2005 By: MarkJ
The UK Internet Watch Foundation (IWF) has teamed up with StreamShield Networks to offer a better solution for ISP's wishing to block sites containing child abuse content. StreamShield will also become a funding member of the IWF:
ISPs can now simply and cost-effectively prevent their subscribers from accessing illegal child abuse websites over their network, thus helping to prevent access to abusive images of children that contravene the Protection of Children Act 1978.
As a member and through an agreement with the IWF, StreamShields Content Security Gateway (CSG), a carrier-class product designed for deployment within the ISPs network, now incorporates the IWFs Child Abuse URL List a constantly updated database of websites around the world which have been assessed and confirmed as containing potentially illegal abusive images of children which would be an offence to view in the UK.
The StreamShield CSG incorporates unique ultra high-speed scanning technology that is designed to monitor up to 250,000 web page requests every second, check target site against the IWF list, and decide whether to allow or block access depending on the result. As a result, ISPs now have a single product solution for preventing access to unacceptable websites without having to make significant and costly changes to their network infrastructure.
Peter Robbins, CEO of the Internet Watch Foundation, comments: Security measures installed to check all web traffic before it reaches the end user certainly contributes to a reduction in inadvertent exposure to potentially illegal content. By filtering, blocking & managing content, it allows the individual or organization to be in control of their own online environment. By becoming a member of the IWF, StreamShield Networks has acknowledged the importance of the work we do and how working in partnership will be complementary to the security services it provides to its clients.
Andrew Radley, Director of Product Management at StreamShield Networks adds; Our aim is to make the Internet safer without forcing consumers and businesses to purchase and deploy significant amounts of software and equipment within their own networks. By deploying our product solution within their own networks, ISPs can make a major contribution to stopping child abuse on the Internet.
To date only one UK provider has utilised the IWF's filtered site list, it's hoped that many more will now be able to follow by using this technology.
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