INTERNET FILTER SOFTWARE BLOCKS PRO-GUN SITES

NRA-ILA Grassroots Alerts ^ | 9/27/2003 | BattleFlag

[BattleFlag]

INTERNET FILTER SOFTWARE BLOCKS PRO-GUN SITES

The Internet is a great asset that provides us with once unimaginable amounts of information. But, of course, not all information is deemed appropriate, and many parents depend on Internet filter software to block sites they feel are inappropriate for their children. One such software program is Internet Security from Symantec Corp.

NRA members have discovered that after installing this software on their computers they can no longer visit NRA sites such as www.NRAILA.org.

A Symantec corporate official contacted by ILA staff explained that if certain broad categories are selected to filter, it will block sites such as ours. He said that end users can change the default settings so that specific desired sites are not blocked. Interestingly, however, gun prohibitionist sites such as those for the Brady Center are not blocked in the default setting. Information on anti-gun sites is left virtually unfiltered.

Symantec provides no explanation for this disparity, and, intentionally or not, the company is taking an anti-gun position in the debate over firearm ownership. Gun owners should be aware of how this software works and may wish to avoid using programs such as Internet Security that treat pro-Second Amendment sites the same as pornographic sites.

[BattleFlag]

If this situation remains as it it with Symantec leaving the default setting for their internet filter software to block pro gun sites and allow anti gun sites I will not renew my virus software subscription with them when it expires (which is soon).

I know there is other virus protection out there which is just as effective if not better.

And of course I will let Symantec know why I am not renewing.

[cyborg]

I use AVG... it's free
grisoft.com

[Ingtar]

Websense, used where I work, blocks Rush's site, Republican sites, but not the liberal ones.

[Chad Fairbanks]

AVG Bump... Screw Symantec. Their stuff is over-priced crap anyway...

[wardaddy]

me too....great minds and all...lol

[BattleFlag]

Yeah, I oughtta give em the air just for having the nerve in the first place but I have had good service from their virus ware so I haven't really been out to make a change but this is the type thing that will have me looking elsewhere when the time comes.

[BattleFlag]

Oh, and I almost forgot the jaw dropper from this alert and I still find it hard to believe its true....

"On September 25, Senate Minority Leader Tom Daschle (D-S.D.) joined 54 of his colleagues as a co-sponsor of S. 659, the "Protection of Lawful Commerce in Arms Act."

Could it really be?

[bicycle thug]

Symantec islocated in the hyper liberal Eugene, Springfield, Oregon Metro area. This is no surprisem at all. Guns are very unpopular with the subsets of people Symantec employees are drawn from.

[jokar]

My subscription comes due in Oct. I will be e-mailing them tomorrow. Just STFup and sing.

[cmotormac44]

avg bump----can't be beat----free and updated regularly

[PurVirgo]

Double AVG Bump - Free always gets my vote, especially with updates!!

[supercat]

"Protection of Lawful Commerce in Arms Act."

Serves IIRC to add more people to the government's disarmament list. BTW, the AWB is called something like the "Personal and Sporting Firearms Use Protection Act", so you need to recognize that liberals lie when they name bills.

[jammer]

You and me both. I'm only responsible for the purchase of about 200 Symantec licenses per year, but if enough people do this, they'll change. Sort of like those morons at Intuit over the activation. Thanks for the information.

[Bacon Man]

Ping because this just sucks!

Time to switch to McAfee.

[Travis McGee]

Gotta link to AVG? My Norton AV (symantec) runs out in 2 weeks anyway.

[BattleFlag]

AVG Anti-Virus Free Version

[wardaddy]

Here's a few, they all mirror grisoft corp's site I think:



http://www.softnews.ro/public/cat/1/1-13.shtml

http://www.smartdownloads.net/Detailed/341.html

http://www.freedownloadscenter.com/Utilities/Anti-Virus_Utilities/AVG_Free_Edition.html

I also run Zone Alarm, Spybot (a must), Spyware Blaster, and Spyguard. All can be googled easily and can be fine tuned. And all free. You will have to tune down ZoneAlarm to download music or videos at times or maybe click ok everytime to access your e-mail...a little box pops up.

Panicware's Pop Up Stopper is also an easy one and nice to have.

AVG blocks 24/7 and runs a check every day at whatever time you set. You run spybot when you wish. The only thing yet to get thru has been a Kleg worm but AVG nailed it on a reboot.

All that Gator crap will come on the second I disable ZoneAlarm....I'm on Comcast and the little bugs swarm it. My DSL line at work never ever takes a hard bug hit.

Sir Gawain is the authority around here on this stuff and I learned most of what I know from him.

[wardaddy]

I forgot ...some of those products will not work with Win 95 and prefer even Win 2000.

If you are a Mac-Daddy (I know you were once) then I'm not sure how that works.

[BattleFlag]

You're right on about Spybot (a must).

I thought I was pretty clean and I ran Spybot and got 45 hits. This counts registry hits and links but still...dang.

[wardaddy]

Who's yer Mac Daddy?