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Date:      Mon, 28 Dec 1998 17:33:01 -0600
From:      Scott Lambert <lambert@techbsd.csw.net>
To:        freebsd-isp@FreeBSD.ORG
Subject:   Re: BESS internet filtering
Message-ID:  <19981228173301.A9432@techbsd.csw.net>
In-Reply-To: <Pine.BSF.4.05.9812261315240.4620-100000@gamefish.pcola.gulf.net>; from Phillip Salzman on Sat, Dec 26, 1998 at 01:21:22PM -0600
References:  <Pine.BSF.4.05.9812261315240.4620-100000@gamefish.pcola.gulf.net>

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On Sat, Dec 26, 1998 at 01:21:22PM -0600, Phillip Salzman wrote:
> 
> This may be a little bit off topic, but does anyone 
> know much about the BESS filtering system?  It is a program
> that filters "unwanted" content from ISPs dialup users.

The service comes as a black box which they configure and then ship to you.
I'm not sure what platform it uses for the OS but they are responsible for the
maintainance of the system for the term of your monthly contract.

All hardware and software are n2n2's problem.  You just supply an IP for the
box and add any allow or deny lists you want to override n2h2's lists via a
web based administration form.

They have about 40-50 people going through the new web sites which are added 
to yahoo and altavista's search engines each day through some deal they've
made.

We are looking at using it to provide filtered content that the kiddies can't 
get around for those customers who want it.

The main problem I can see with the system from the ISP's point of view is
getting people to configure their web browser's properly to use the system.
With the Radius setup they allegedly can't see anything without having the 
proxies set correctly.  That makes things more secure than NetNanny type 
programs but it may be more hassle for my Tech Support department.  Of course,
my Support department can deal with the hassle for the value added pricing to 
the customer. 
 
> I was wondering if any of you have had legal problems with
> something like this, or technical.  Someone I know told
> me it either runs FreeBSD or Linux, but he wasn't sure.  With
> a hacked-up squid, or started with squid.

I can't think of any legal problems, but I'm not a lawyer.  Your customer 
is specifically asking for their content to be filtered.  The "un-desirable" 
sites on the net are already filtered by client based filtering software 
as it is, so this is nothing new to them.

-- 
Scott Lambert
lambert@techbsd.csw.net

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