Symantec Blocks Pro-gun Sites

ma-firearms ^ | 11/3/03

[pabianice]

Date: Sun, 2 Nov 2003 14:59:30 -0500 (EST)

From: [ ]

To: ma-firearms@world.std.com

Subject: Symantec Says No To Pro-Gun Sites

You might want to reconsider buying Symantec products:

http://yro.slashdot.org/article.pl?sid=03/11/02/1729239&mode=thread&tid=103&tid=153&tid=99

"A recent American Rifleman contained small column that said that Symantec's new Internet Security 2004 would block pro gun rights sites (i.e. NRA sites), while not blocking similar anti-gun rights web sites. Being the eternal skeptic, this claim was tested by downloading the trial version and running some tests against it. To my surprise I found the every NRA site was blocked and was in the category 'weapons.' This even included the NRA's Institute for Legislative Action. Some sites that were not blocked where such notable anti-gun rights site such as The Brady Campaign, and Good Bye Guns. The only anti-gun rights site that was blocked that I could find was Hand Gun Control's web site."

"My rather informal test still raises the spectre that a large corporate entity may be clandestinely trying to sway you or your child's political views by censoring content from one side of a political debate. This is indeed chilling, especially considering that such software is required to be used in libraries to protect children. Is this political slant common in censorware? Have slashdotters found similar glitches in other 'parental control' software?""

[BenLurkin]

This is the same kind of nonsense that blocks curch web-sites under a "religion" filter.

I'll defer to the author or more knowledgable FReepers, but I think you can set the filters you want and not use the ones you don't want. (Custom settings as opposed to a broad "protection level" setting)

[armyboy]

Then I guess I will no longer be using Symantec software.

[Travis McGee]

Can somebody post links to free anti-virus software, so we can dump Norton and it's liberal PC anti-RKBA stance?

[VU4G10]

http://www.trendmicro.com/en/products/desktop/pc-cillin/evaluate/overview.htm

 

[Sledge]

http://www.grisoft.com/

AVG Anti virus is free. I've never had a virus problem since I installed AVG. Did I mention that it is free?

[jgrubbs]

AVG is the only antivirus software I have used. It's great!!

AVG Anti virus BUMP!!

[AnnaZ]

Thank you for serving! God bless you and protect you.

[zip]

ping

[azsportsterman]

I used AVG Anti virus for nearly a year. The software is much less invasive than Norton and McAffee; also easier to use. I did have a problem with it though. About two weeks ago, AVG identified a Trojan that had invaded my system, but could not remove or quarantine the affected files (in the hidden Restore directory). I had to reload and run Norton to clean my system; Norton also found and cleaned another virus that AVG missed.

I emailed Grisoft about the issue, have not received a response yet.

[GladesGuru]

AVG Ver 6 is free. According to Paul Langs's LangaList web site, AVG is an excellent program, both the free and the more complete for-pay version.

PS Langa is a heavy hitter in the computer field, and doesn't get a cut for any of his carefully considered opinions.

PPS Try subscribing to LangaList - you will like it.

[ApesForEvolution]

Adios Symantec. Does anyone have a comprehensive list of what companies we *should* be patronizing?

[Lazamataz]

NORTON is anti-deuce???

Oh sheesh. That's my AV software.

THANKS for the headsup.

[sigSEGV]

In all fairness, they are only categorizing the sites. It it up to the administrator or end user to set up what is allowed or not allowed.

[Puppage]

In all fairness, they are only categorizing the sites. It it up to the administrator or end user to set up what is allowed or not allowed.

What's "fair" about the factory defaults blocking pro gun sites, yet allowing anti gun sites? Regardless if you can change the settings or not?

[sigSEGV]

Nothing fair about it. Probably decided by their lawyers.

[RippleFire]

bump

[Squantos]

http://www.grisoft.com/


Get the Free AVG (anti virus group)....check at the bottom of my e-mails to you for a always there link.

Free updates and download for personal use. That and ad-aware 6.0 and the google "tool bar" version of pop up killer is FREE FREE FREE and works well together...... Albeit I run Norton Corporate AntiVirus also and haven't had any problems with blocking pro gun sites with either ???

Stay Safe !

[8mmMauser]

I use it all the time. Has saved my skin plenty.

Cheers for Grisoft AVG

[LouD]

Filter software blocks lots of sites, and I'm guessing the decision to filter a specific site might just come from a webcrawler that finds objectionable words, but lacks the intelligence to determine the context.

Before dismissing Symantec, I would suggest sending them an e-mail to ask about it. It is entirely possible that this kind of decision was made without any human involvement at all.