Social Networking Sites
One of the most popular types of internet sites that have exploded over the internet over the past several years is social networking sites. These sites were first introduced in the mid-1990s and expanded with the introduction of Friendster in 2002 and then within the next few years when MySpace was introduced in 2005. In 2006, FaceBook was introduced as a competitor to MySpace and today it is one of the top ranked social networking companies on the internet today.
As membership in social networking sites and internet messaging has grown, more and more companies have installed internet filtering software as a means of controlling web surfing activities and protecting valuable computer networking equipment and work stations.
Filtering Software
As the internet has grown, more and more companies, schools and public computer network administrators have installed filtering software on these computer work stations. The reasons for concerns about the use of internet connected work stations are valid and important to understand.
One of the primary concerns about web surfing is that it can leave work stations and computer networks vulnerable to malware, spyware and computer viruses. These malicious software infections can not only affect the work station that unknowingly downloaded the infection, but the entire computer network. As a result, important and valuable files can be destroyed or corrupted. Efforts to clean the entire system do not only involve cleaning the work station where the infection originally occurred, but also the network server and every work station to which the infection spread.
The other concern that both schools and workplace administrators have is the amount of time wasted by accessing websites that are not related to classroom assignments or work. A recent study found that individuals can waste hours at a time without even realizing it as they surf from website to website following items of interest to them. And social networking sites like FaceBook, MySpace and Twitter fall within the category of time wasting activities for concerned workplace and school administrators, who have a vested interest in keeping computer uses focused on the work at hand.
FaceBook Unblocking
While users of social networking sites may find themselves frustrated at looking at a “blocked website” message on their computer screen, there are ways to bypass filtering software. Proxy services are the way to work around filtering software. Proxy services work by allowing members to sign up for a membership that provides access to a proxy server. The proxy server site is not recognized as a dangerous or malicious website and is not blocked. Once logged on, members can anonymously go to their desired website without being tracked. And good proxy services prevent hacking by encrypting both incoming and outgoing activities as long as the user is signed on to the proxy server.
from www.ArticleCity.com