Filterware Features |
|||||||
Filterware |
Time Management Features |
Positive Sites |
PICS Compatible |
Customizable List of Blocked Sites |
Keeps Record of Visited Sites |
Block Sending of Personal Info |
Filter for Words |
| Cyber Patrol 3.3 | Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
|
| Cyber Sitter 97 | Yes* |
No |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
| Net Nanny 3.1 | No |
Yes |
No |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
|
| SafeSearch 1.0 | No |
Yes |
Yes |
No |
No |
Yes |
No |
| SurfWatch 3.0 | No |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
|
| Time management features refer tools enable computers to restrict the amount of time spent online (*for Cyber Sitter this takes the form of a separate program called Cyber Timer). The definition of positive sites varies with the filterware company. Some come with lists of child-friendly sites ready for parents to use while others leave it up to the parent to create the list. PICS compatibility refers to the filterware’s ability to read PICS ratings. Customizable lists of blocked sites refers to tools that enable parents to add or delete sites that they want to have blocked. Some filterware keeps a record, or log, of sites that your children have visited. This can be a handy feature for verifying that your children have not wandered astray. Block sending of personal info refers to software that can block your children from sending out personal information such as phone numbers (or your credit card number). Finally, filtering for words refers to software that allows parents to specify words or phrases that they do not want their children to see. Because so many new Web sites are constantly being created, this feature is very important. Filterware companies can take months to add new Web sites to their blocking lists, but filterware that looks for pornographic words will still screen most of them out. |