Is a web content WiFi filter for public WiFi points appropriate? Some consumers may feel that the Internet should not be filtered and that public networks should permit any website to be accessed. However, many service providers take a different view and apply a web filtering solution to limit access to certain types of website content.
Consumers against the implementation of a web content WiFi filter for public WiFi points argue that content control goes against personal liberties. However, in the main, the problem is not the blocking of adult or extreme content, but the inadvertent blocking of content that accidentally gets caught by the filter. If incorrectly applied, an Internet filtering solution may miscategorize some websites, thus preventing access to valuable and important website content.
The opposing view is that the application of a web content WiFi filter for public WiFi points is a necessity. By definition, public WiFi is accessed in public. Therefore, the content that can be viewed over the network should be suitable for all members of the public, which includes minors. The blocking of adult content is therefore a measure to ensure that children are not exposed to material that is likely to cause harm.
It is important to strike the right balance between personal freedom and protecting the public from harm, and it is up to the provider of WiFi access points to decide on the extent to which the Internet should be filtered and what content should be permitted over their WiFi networks.
Achieving the Right Balance with a Web Content WiFi Filter for Public WiFi Points
While the vast majority of consumers would not want to access adult content in a public environment, some individuals feel differently. Providers of WiFi hotspots often find their networks are being used by some individuals to view content that would be unsuitable for minors. Unfiltered networks are also used by some individuals to access illegal website content.
The decision not to use a web content WiFi filter for public WiFi points will mean that a service provider relies on individuals to adhere to Internet usage policies if provided, or decide on the content that is and is not appropriate. This means that the following types of content could be accessed in a public space:
- Child pornography
- Acts of extreme violence and death
- Hate speech
- Terrorist material
- Extreme sexual content
The question that should be asked by ISPs and WiFi service providers is therefore not whether a web content WiFi filter for public WiFi points is appropriate, but how it can be applied to ensure that the above content is blocked without access to important website content being accidentally restricted.
It would be advisable to use a web content WiFi filter for public WiFi points to prevent child pornography and images of child abuse from being shared for example, but also important to ensure that sites tackling these issues are not accidentally blocked: help sites and information for victims of abuse for instance.
If the Internet is to be filtered, a web content WiFi filter for public WiFi points must be flexible and have highly granular controls that allow fine control of allowable website content. Administrators of web filtering solutions for WiFi providers must also take care to apply filters appropriately and to respond to requests to lift accidental blocks on legitimate web content.
Why WebTitan is the WiFi Filter of Choice for ISPs and MSPs
We believe that it is important to filter out offensive, illegal, and inappropriate website content to prevent public WiFi access points from being abused. We have developed a flexible solution for MSPs, ISPs, and other providers of public WiFi networks that can be applied to carefully control website content, with the necessary granularity to ensure that valuable website content is not accidentally filtered.
WebTitan Cloud for WiFi allows ISPs and WiFi providers to:
- Filter the Internet across multiple WiFi hotspots
- Create a family-friendly, safe and secure web browsing environment
- Manage access points through a single web-based administration panel
- Delegate management of access points
- Filter by website, website category, keyword term, or keyword score
- Block material contained in the child abuse image content URL list (CAIC List)
- Upload blacklists and create whitelists
- Reduce the risk of phishing and block malware and ransomware downloads
- Inspect encrypted websites with SSL certificates
- Schedule and run reports on demand
- Gain a real-time view of internet activity and bandwidth use
WebTitan Cloud for WiFi requires no software downloads or additional hardware, there are no restrictions on the number of WiFi hotspots that can be included, and Internet speed is unaffected. WebTitan is provided with a suite of APIs that allow the solution to be integrated into back office systems, such as billing, auto provisioning, and monitoring solutions.
WebTitan Cloud can be provided as a white label to MSPs ready to take their own branding, the solution is offered with a choice of hosting options, including hosting within a customers own data center or in a private cloud, and there is a fully transparent pricing policy with the option of monthly billing.
Our scalable public WiFi solution is suitable for large and small WiFi networks, and can be configured to meet the needs of enterprises, ISPs, and MSPs of all sizes. If you are already filtering the Internet and are using an alternative WiFi filtering solution, contact us today to find out more about the potential cost savings from switching to WebTitan. You may be surprised to discover how much money you can save, the headaches you can avoid, and the range of features you get with WebTitan for WiFi.
Further Information on Our Web Content WiFi Filter for Public WiFi Points
Call our sales team today for information on our web content WiFi filter for public WiFi points and details of pricing. Our knowledgeable team are on hand to answer any technical questions about implementing a web filtering solution for public WiFi hotspots and will be happy to assist.
US Sales +1 813 200 9460
UK/EU Sales +44 (0)247 699 3641
IRL +353 91 54 55 00
or email us at info@webtitan.com
