Virus and Content Filtering

As the size of global computer networks expands and the use of the Internet skyrockets, security issues manifest themselves not only in the security of computer networks but also in individual user security on individual devices connected to the Internet either via an organization’s gatewayGateways or an Internet Service Provider (ISP). The security of every user, therefore, is paramount whether the user is a member of an organization network or a user of a connected device. In either case, the effort is focused on protecting not only the data but also the user. The most effective way to protect such a user and the data is through content filteringFilteringcontent. Content filteringFilteringcontent is a process of removing unwanted, objectionable, and harmful content before it enters the user network or the user device. The filtering process can be located in several locations, including on a user’s device, on a server within an organization, as a service provided by an ISP, or by means of a third-party site that provides the basis of a closed community. This chapter discusses these issues.