Watch out for hidden Internet pornography

By Jenni Glenn

Weekend, Etc. editor

Finding pornography on the Internet isn't exactly like looking for a needle in a haystack. The tougher task is dodging adult sites because they appear at even the most mundane URLs.

Here's a guide to some of the topics to steer clear of if you want to avoid inadvertently stumbling on to the hardcore stuff in your navigations through the Internet.

Politics: We all realize it's a dirty business, especially in the era of the stained blue dress. Unfortunately, the cyber political arena is no place to escape the mudslinging. So don't plan on locating a link to the Head of the Union's email address at www.whitehouse.com, although you'll be able to see plenty of the site's interns.

Fruits: Maybe you're just trying to find a recipe, but these sites are cooking up something else all together. If your mind is in the kitchen, steer clear of bedroom sites such as www.cherry-pie.com, www.melons.nu and www.tinypeaches.com.

College life: The Internet contains sites to share complaints about cafeteria food and other horrors of college life with fellow students, but be careful when making a selection. Sites such as www.dorm.com and iTeens.com present an entirely different view of the best four years of your life.

The real world: Unless you're a professional student, at some point you will have to leave college and venture out into the job market. If you turn to the Internet for help, however, don't try www.JobSearch.net. The raunchy content might permanently turn you off to the career search.

Movies: Brat Pack fans beware, PrettyinPink.com doesn't pay homage to Molly Ringwald's 1986 teeny bopper flick. Most of the kids attending the prom aren't old enough to take a peek at its teen models.

And if you're looking for that comprehensive movie site www.imdb.com, the Internet Movie Database, don't get it confused with www.iafd.com. The Internet Adult Film Database only allows web surfers to search for films that belong in the back room at the video store.

Money: No doubt about it, $200,000 is a lot of cash. Just don't count on getting a cut of the profits at www.200k.com or fellow adult site www.privategold.com.

Occult: Mixed in with the wiccan presence online, web surfers may discover a different type of magic at www.pagangoddess.com. Aside from the site's signature pentagram, the site focuses on more down to earth subjects.

Animals: Even without considering the possibility of running across bestiality sites, heading to URLs with animal names is treading in dangerous territory. If those urban myths about watching pornography are true, the claws at www.persiankitty.com could definitely damage your eyesight.

Music: Alas, pornography sites may also be hiding behind URLs containing the titles of classic tunes. The Beatles don't appear anywhere on www.pennyslane.com, and the vibrations at www.goodvibes.com have nothing to do with the Beach Boys or former underwear model Mark Wahlberg and his funky bunch, although there certainly are lots of funky things happening on these sites.

So keep an eye out, pornography could be lurking behind even the most innocent URL. And remind your roommate, too. Chances are the hardcore downloads that mysteriously appeared on your hard drive weren't an accident.

Photo illustration by DANNY MOLOSHOK/Daily