System and method for adapting an internet filter

A method of processing an identifier associated with a website/page accessed by a computer having network access to a wide area network (WAN), the access controlled by a filtering system, the method comprising:

• receiving the identifier associated with a website/page accessed by the computer whose network access to the wide area network is controlled by the filtering system;
• determining whether the identifier is categorized at least in part by comparing the identifier to a database;
• if the identifier is not categorized, categorizing the identifier;
• adding information relating to the identifier and to the categorization of the identifier to the database;
• and
• downloading at least a portion of the database to a computer, the downloaded portion comprising information relating to the identifier and to the categorization of the identifier.

A method of categorizing identifiers associated with a website/page at a database factory, the method comprising:

• receiving collection data at the database factory,
• processing the collection data to identify at least one identifier;
• processing the collection data to identify at least one indication of a frequency of access of the website/page associated with the at least one identifier;
• merging and sorting the collection data based on the at least one indication of a frequency of access;
• if the identifier is not categorized, categorizing the identifier based on the merging and sorting;
• and
• updating a database with the categorized identifier.