Final answer:
The most effective control for restricting access to unauthorized internet sites in an organization is the use of a firewall. Proxies can assist but are not as comprehensive as . Decisions about what to restrict are based on company policies and legal compliance.
Step-by-step explanation:
The most effective control for restricting access to unauthorized internet sites in an organization is typically a firewall. Firewalls can be configured to block access to specific URLs or IP addresses, thereby preventing users from reaching sites that the organization has deemed inappropriate or harmful. A proxy server can also serve a similar function by acting as an intermediary between users and the internet, enforcing access policies and filtering content. While antivirus software is important for detecting and preventing malware, it is not primarily used for website access control. Likewise, encryption secures data transfers but does not govern internet access.
Regarding the broader context of internet usage in the United States, it is true that the internet is used for a variety of activities including researching stocks, crowd-sourcing opinions, and social networking. While organizations have the right to restrict access to certain web content like illegal these decisions often reflect company policies or legal requirements. Ultimately, the need for such restrictions and the decision of what should be restricted is a matter of company policy, industry standards, and legal regulations.