Use this(Only if don't have the money to buy a filtering software)
Written: Dec 18 '99 (Updated Dec 18 '99)
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Product Rating:
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Pros: Free filtering
Cons: Too much
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| lynden's Full Review: Freensafe |
Wow! "Free Protected Internet Access!" Worry free! Free Internet Access! Free E-Mail! Free technical support! Nationwide! Sure sounds good doesn't it? But please consider the following before installing their software:
* Their proxy only blocks *known* warez, porn, or violence sites(such sites as URLs forwarded from friends, or those not-so-popular violence sites, have an very little chance of blocking)
* Their proxy will block chatting sites, or maybe even discussion sites(nice sites such as epinion.com may also be blocked in the future!!!)
* You cannot control the controlled content AT ALL. They do, however, allow you to consent them about a inappropriate site, and simply blocks the sites for everyone using their proxy. I doubt the process will be quick though
* It will disable your javascript!!!
* Their proxy will slow you down. Why? Your browser will contact your DNS server, then the DNS gives you the IP, then you contact the IP of the proxy server, then the Proxy server contacts another most accessible proxy server available from their network, then that proxy server finally contacts the remote host. Such a pain.
* They disable your Windows editing softwares like regedit.exe(making you unable to edit anything such as RUN, or Userinfo) or TweakUI
* Your browsers(IE & NS) HAVE to use their page as homepage, non changeable.
* This ISP will show advertisements even if you are using another ISP.
* Bonus! Their programmers are not smart enough to program it to know how to check the connection name! The program will close your connection, even if not using theirs, if you close their advertisement.
--But hey, there are always solutions(or most of the time) to problems--
If you hate the fact that it disables your regedit, just go to sites such as download.com and search for the program Resplendent Registrar or any registry editing tool and you're set.
If you need to go to certain sites that are being filtered, you can always install another browser(such as Opera, www.opera.com), the newly installed browser will not be infected. But doing so is definitely too ironic to the point of this software. Nevertheless, that is either another one of their unawareness or is simply stupidity.
--My suggestion--
I suggest this ISP be only installed for those who cannot afford a filtering software. Installing a filtering software will enable you to customize the contents instead of disabling every bit of everything. Their buggy and non-relevant software is just too bad to be true. Not to mention that very few part of their software is patented by themselves, many of the bigger parts are licensed from companies.
But if you really don't want to pay for filtering softwares, or you just want to try another free ISP, you can try because you can uninstall their software by easily calling their LONG DISTANCE number to get a password to uninstall in a snap =)
Sure, they offer nationwide POPs =) Believe me, all the dial-up numbers that this ISP offers, other free ISPs from the "Free ISPs" section offer. Give this ISP up!
* Notes: Proxy -- This ISP uses the software in their computer to filter out the contents instead of you installing them, upside is smaller installation, downside is slower downloads.
Disagreement(s)? Corrections? Typos? E-mail me at lynden@hotbot.com, and I'll do my best to modify the epinion.
Recommended:
No
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Epinions.com ID: lynden
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Location: Bayarea, USA
Reviews written: 4
Trusted by: 6 members
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