The "hyperlinks" listed below connect you with software programs designed to "filter" or screen out offensive materials which are readily available on the Internet; thus, allowing parents to supervise and control their children's ability to access unwanted data and images.Some filter programs charge for periodic updates while others are free; some monitor computer usage or restrict access (e.g., to family finances, online services, etc.). Others work in the background logging activity and are invisible to the user(s). There's always the question, as well, of who actually does the evaluation: graduate students, professional teachers, or laypersons? In addition, one must be concerned as to how effectively screening software can detect offensive material. Does the program just look at the title (innocuous names can be given to some rather strong material) or does it plow through every word and image in a document? Will the program err on the side of caution and thus rule out perfectly legitimate sites; does it distinguish between levels of a document -- rejecting only those parts that are truly objectionable? A few offer additional features such as spell checking for e-mail or virus screening. In addition, a few include extensive "hyperlinks" connecting to valuable family resources and quality WWW educational references. Prices vary accordingly. Be sure to "click" on the "Safe Surf" icon below to see the comparison chart listing details about each of the filtering programs. There are also an alternative comparisons of some major filtering programs available below
Catholic Online is the first full-service Catholic access provider working in conjunction with Netcom. In addition, a new filtering program called "ChoiceNet" offered as part of the Catholic Online connection package promises to offer stronger protection against bypass strategies or attempts to disable the filtering program by unauthorized users. For more information, check out the web "link" listed below where you can download the Catholic Online/Netcruiser customized software or please contact;
Catholic Online P.O. Box 40188 Bakersfield, CA. 93384 (805)-833-9061
Users control four categories: violence, nudity, sex and language. They select settings on a scale of 0 to 4 -- 0 for the mildest content, 4 for the most extreme.
Once the settings are determined and locked in with a password, the Web browser will filter out unacceptable sites automatically.
When a user tries to enter a prohibited site, a message appears: "Sorry! Content Advisor will not allow you to see this site. ... If you want to see this site anyway, you must get somebody to type in the supervisor password."
The ratings system was developed by the Recreational Advisory Council of Lexington, Mass., a non-profit industry group formed to rate computer games and the Web. More than 4,000 Web sites already have registered, and 100 a day are joining, said Stephen Balkam, the council's executive director.
Netscape plans to incorporate the rating system in the next version of its browser, a spokeswoman said. America Online and CompuServe users will be able to use the rating system within the year.
[taken from San Francisco (AP) report in The Columbus Dispatch Friday (8/30/96) p. 2F]
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