There are numerous options when considering filters or browsers for your family computer. I have provided a few suggestions when choosing a safety devise as well as a comprehensive listing of filters and browsers. As I am sure there are many others, please feel free to send me an email with information of those I may have missed so they may be added to the listing. I also welcome your feedback on any of the following you have tried, used, liked or disliked and why. I will be happy to post your comments to aid other parents in their choices.

What to Look For in a Filter or Browser

• Blocking A blocking option restricts personal information from being transmitted. You decide what is restricted and when that information is entered, it will be transmitted in a password format (****).

• Restricted Access This is an option that you should investigate prior to making a decision for your family. Some restrictions are geared toward individual usage, whether it means restriction from certain sites or domains. Some filters restrict time spent on the computer or the times the computer may be used. This option is especially valuable to working parents with children who may spend time home alone in the afternoons or evenings.

• Updates If the filter you choose restricts access to known unsafe sites, then you will want to investigate the frequency of updates and the cost to you. The Internet is growing at a phenomenal rate and with it sites that are not child appropriate. You will want a service that not only offers frequent updates, but one that will be cost effective to your family. If you have to pay for each update, this may not be the filter for you. Investigate programs that offer free or minimal cost updates.

• Overriding Some filters allow you to input sites that you find inappropriate for your children. This is an option you will want to make your filter more modeled to your family.

• "Tracking" This option allows you to "track" which sites your child has visited, time spent at each site, downloads and even applications run offline. This is usually done by giving you a "picture replay" and print out of activity.

  No matter what filter or browser you choose, make sure that you choose one that meets the most needs for your family. Making a list of options in order of priority can be helpful when making this important decision.

Filter Software, Services and Browsers

• Bess, the Internet Retriever-Bess is not software, it is an Internet service that provides blocking of certain domains that contain explicit material as well as individual webpage blocking. They also provide inappropriate language blocks. It provides a clickable environment designed to make surfing easy as well as safe for children.

• ChiBrow, The Children's Browser-"ChiBrow is a Web Browser designed for Children. It enables children to Safely explore the World Wide Web. It does this by giving Parents the ability to define where the Child can venture."

• CyberPatrol-"Cyber Patrol is used to manage Internet access, limit the total time spent online and restrict access to Internet sites that you deem inappropriate."

• Cyber Sentinel-"Provides analyzing, monitoring, filtering and blocking undesirable, predatory and sexually explicit computer traffic."

• CYBERsitter-"CYBERsitter 97 gives the parent or other concerned individual the ability to limit their children's access to objectionable material on the Internet. Parents can choose to block, block and alert, or simply alert them when access is attempted to these areas."

• Cyber Snoop-Software offered by Pearl Software which monitors and controls Internet access, email, ftp, news and chat.

• FamilyCAM-Offers families a way to monitor computer usage without blocking. Monitors computer usage by taking random "screen shots" of all computer usage, not just Internet usage, and stores it to be viewed later by parents.

• GuardiaNet-"The service that offers automatic, hassle-free Internet protection. Using patented security technology, GuardiaNet provides a unique way for parents to define their children's Internet access based on their family's value system.

• Gulliver's Guardian-Comprehensive software with multiple capabilities designed for families, includes 8 rating filters.

• The Internet Filter-"A software solution to wide spread concerns regarding the effect of undesireable Internet material on the young people of our communities. The Internet Filter is a program that monitors, filters, analyzes, and logs access."

• Microsoft Plus! for Kids-"Microsoft Plus! for Kids provides parents with a central location of controlling desktop and Internet security. Parents can let kids use the PC with less help, and kids get the self-esteem and sense of control from operating the PC on their own."

• Net Nanny-"A software program that allows YOU to monitor, screen and block access to anything residing on, or running in, out or through your PC, online or off. Net Nanny allows you to deal with: WWW URLs, News Groups, IRC Channels, FTPs, E-mail, Non-Internet BBS's, Words, Phrases, Personal Information (address, credit card no. etc.)"

• Net Shepard-"Parents download the software, create personal profiles for each family member, and set access levels according to six ratings categories: General, Child, Pre-Teen, Teen, Adult, and Objectionable. Parents can add sites to the restricted list, to create a personalized database of permissible sites."

• PlanetView Parental Control-Register members of your household and using profiles, this "filter" will allow certain sites to be inaccessible.

• SmartAlex ICU-Screen snapshot software lets parents "see images of conversations, e-mail, word processing documents and more - virtually anything that's displayed on the computer's screen, ON or OFF the internet."

• SurfWatch-"Developed to protect your home, school, or organization from the risk of exposure to objectionable or inappropriate material on the Internet. SurfWatch's powerful, customizable filtering technology blocks access to more than 100,000 explicit sex, violence, drug, and gambling sites."

• Times Up!-"The parental control software developed by The Fresh Software Company, enables parents to establish time and access limits for their children's use of games, online services, and other programs in Windows."

• Triple Exposure-"Your computer keeps track of where its users have been on the Internet. It saves pictures, text, and even addresses."

• WebChaperone-"Software that pre-scans every page before your child sees it and rejects pages with inappropriate content."

• WinGuardian-"WinGuardian runs completely hidden and monitors most everything a user does on your computer. It can keep track of what programs they use, it can log all text that they type into any program, and it can log all websites that they visit."

• WinWhatWhere-Offers products to track where children/family members have visited on the Internet as well as applications that have been run.

• WizGuard-"Blocks access to sexually explicit or pornographic material on Web. WizGuard blocks pornographic Web sites automatically as soon as they are put on Web."

• X-STOP-Internet filtering server, module and software, uses a systematic approach in blocking sites.

• Family-Friendly Sites-"The purpose of this site is simply to offer a clear indication via FFS emblems of places on the Internet that voluntarily abide by guidelines of conduct", as outlined on their home page.

• RSACi-Recreational Software Advisory Counsel on the Internet-"An independent, non-profit organization that empowers the public , especially parents to make informed decisions about electronic media by means of an open, objective advisory system."

• SafeSurf-"An organization dedicated to making the Internet safe for your children without censorship, using an Internet Rating System."

These filters, services and safe site ranking systems have been provided as a means to further educate our visitors and we make no endorsement or recommendation of one service or product over another. Although we have reviewed these sites and feel they offer information regarding the safe guarding of your family, we have not reviewed all of the software or services that are offered on these links. Please use your your own judgement with regards to the information or the download of software from these sites.