In the modern world, we have lots of sources of information which contributes to our work and daily needs. Also, there are risks that people find ways to attack their competitors via the digital world.
And how can we protect ourselves from reading scammed sources of information on the Internet? The answer is Internet censorship! So what is internet censorship? Read this article and find out!
What Is Internet Censorship?
Internet censorship is the restriction towards accessing specific sources of information from governments, authorized organizations, or even an individual. It means internet users are unable to reach websites that have either violent or sensitive content.
A few common types of internet censorship technologies are Internet Protocol (IP) address blocking, Domain Name System (DNS) restricting, and computer network attacks.
- IP (Internet Protocol) address restricting: Prevent access from a specific location
- DNS (Domain Name System) restricting: Preventing accesses to the domain name
- Computer network attacks: By attacking the network system of the computer, the whole computer will be unable to reach and exchange information with other network locations.
Besides the above techniques, to implement Internet censorship, traffic shape is less commonly used to mislead or delay access to some websites. IPSs (Internet Service Providers) are also applied to easier manage Internet users. IPSs are often private companies relating to governments, or in some countries, a government-owned company.
Read more: What is DDNS?
Internet Censorship Pros and Cons
Everything has its pros and cons, so is internet censorship. Internet censorship pros and cons will help Internet users understand further about positives and negatives aspects of a virtual world and know how to protect themselves from online risks.
Internet Censorship Advantages
These results can be made by humans (around 60%), and results made either by bots or other forms of technology. Thus, having control of Internet censorship will let only the top searching results containing keywords and created by humans emerge.
Therefore, their citizens won’t be affected by unsuitable cultural flows. For instance, in Muslim countries, the advertisement of women in bikinis are banned to watch due to their cultures and laws.
See also: How to Encrypt Internet Connection
Internet Censorship Disadvantages
Internet censorship can quickly figure out offensive tweets, posts, and block it. Restricting people’s opinions helps prevent negative thoughts from influencing society.
All these versions will create their platform of information within China. The government and authorities can easily manage the flow of information which are allowed to read and share, which are not on their platform.
How Does Internet Censorship Work?
Though Internet censorship sounds a bit complicated, its working principle is quite simple. The censorship works through a plethora of tools and strategies to block the sources of information to reach users.
It can emerge at any point of the wireless circuit and manages the system as an information filter, a digital wall aiming to either a large area (national zone, city zone) or specific individual websites.
Internet Censorship At Home
Many parents worry as their children can be exposed to inappropriate content online. However, they can’t control their kids all the time.
Therefore, using a web filter or installing a firewall can help parents to solve this concern. If a web filter works with blacklists and keyword restriction, a firewall is like a wall that monitors and controls incoming and outgoing networks.
Thereby, when you install a firewall, it helps to block untrusted networks to invade your children’s computers.
Internet Censorship On The International Level
The restriction of access to online content is different from country to country.
If some countries manage Internet access by law (in America and several European countries), others control it stricter or even not allow any access to the wireless system.
For example, in Cuba, private wi-fi at home and business is legalized; to access the internet, you have to go to some public places.
Internet censorship at the international level can be filtered by four categories: social, political (pages related to political violence), conflict-security (pages relating to war, violence), Internet tools (google search engine in the US, Yandex in Russia, Baidu in China).
See more: Are VPNs Legal or illegal?
The bottom line!
Though having many pros and cons at the same time being implemented, Internet censorship is very essential in our daily life. Through this article, we hope you understand more about “What is Internet censorship?” and how internet censorship works.
You also can try to set up an internet censorship system with your home computer to protect it from the invasion of untrusted networks, spams, scams.