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Definitions

Contracts with Kids discuss and set up rules for computer use.

Time Limiting limits time online.

Filtering & Blocking limits access to some sites, words, and/or images.

Block Outgoing Content prevents kids from revealing personal information online.

Browsers for Kids do not display inappropriate words or images.

Kid-Oriented Search Engines perform limited searches or screen search results.

Monitoring Tools alert adults to online activity without blocking access.

There are both pros and cons to keep in mind when using these types of tools.

Please Note: GetNetWise staff gathered this information from the companies that make these tools. We cannot guarantee the effectiveness of these products, nor do we endorse any products.

Other Information

How ISPs are Helping -- Many Internet and online service providers also offer safety solutions by selling or including these tools with their services and adopting "Acceptable Use Policies", or "Terms of Service Agreements".

Web Ratings Systems -- Many companies that produce Web sites voluntarily rate and label their sites, using a system knows as "PICS" (Platform for Internet Content Selection).

Internet Issues in the Community -- When children use the Internet in school or in a library, their experiences will be different than when they are at home. Libraries and schools may have different rules for Internet use than your family, because they must serve the needs of diverse children and families.
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Tools for Families


Your search for information about tools for families produced the results at the bottom of this page. If you are going to print out the information, wait for the page to finish loading on the screen before you start.


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1 - 10 of 48
 
Bess/Sentian
Net Nanny
Garfield Island
FilterGate
SurfSafely.net
ContentProtect
Mailbox Guard
Silent Watch
Desktop Surveillance
SafeBrowse

The information below tells you more about the tool features, including whether or not they can be set up differently for different family members and what information is available to help you decide whether or not a tool reflects your family values. If you decide that one of these tools may be what you want, click on the underlined name (at the top of the description) to reach the tool's web site.

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Limits Time
Monitors
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Note: GetNetWise staff gathered this information from the companies that make these tools. We cannot guarantee the effectiveness of these products, nor do we endorse any products.

 

Bess/Sentian

By N2H2

Available since 1995

The makers of Bess/Sentian, N2H2, described their product as: N2H2 is a global Internet content filtering company whose software helps customers control, manage and understand their Internet use by filtering content, monitoring access and delivering concise user activity reports. These safeguards enable organizations of any size to limit potential legal liability, increase user productivity and optimize network bandwidth.

Bess is designed for use in schools.
Sentian is designed for use in businesses.

Bess/Sentian is a product that:

  • Limits the total number of hours or the time of day that your children may be online.
  • Prevents the display of most sexually explicit material.
  • Prevents the display of most graphically violent material.
  • Prevents the display of most material advocating hate groups and their messages.
  • Prevents the display of most material advocating illegal activity, such as drug use, bomb making, or underage drinking and gambling.
  • Prevents the display of other categories of material.
  • Monitors the use of your computer or the access your children have to the Internet.

Bess/Sentian is available for these platforms:

  • Windows 2000
  • Linux

Bess/Sentian requires special hardware and software: it requires a "partner product" such as Cisco Pix, Cisco Router, Check Point Firewall, or Novel Border Manager

Bess/Sentian can be password protected and does support multiple users.

For more information about this tool, including how to purchase or use it, visit its web site: http://www.n2h2.com/

Time Limiting

When Bess/Sentian is installed on your computer to limit the time spent on the computer or on the Internet,

  • A warning will flash on the screen when the user's time is almost up.
  • The program will not limit the total amount of time spent online.
  • You can set the program to only allow Internet access during certain periods of time.

Bess/Sentian limits Internet use of all kinds.

Filtering

There are many different types of filtering products. To begin with, some products are installed on your own computer at home (client-side), while others are installed on the larger computers at your Internet service provider (server-side). Bess/Sentian is server-based. It is not available for home use.

Bess/Sentian can control access to web pages, access to chat rooms, the movement of files in and out of your computer (FTP).

Different filtering tools set up their standards of what material should or should not be filtered in different ways. With Bess/Sentian,

  • You will be able to choose from pre-set categories what material you want to be filtered.
  • You will be able to permanently edit the company's list of material to be filtered.
  • You will be able to completely override the company's list of material to be filtered.
  • You will not be able to develop your own list of material to be filtered, using the company's list as a starter.
  • You will be able to develop your own list of material to be filtered, starting from scratch.

You may also want to review the lists of keywords or web pages, or the criteria that the tool company uses to arrive at those lists. With Bess/Sentian, you can review the company's criteria for filtering a web page.

There are several technologies for determining which sites should be blocked and which should be permitted. Each of them has important strengths, but none of them is perfect. Bess/Sentian uses the following:

  • the web page address (URL)
  • Human review of web sites

Some filtering tools allow you to control access in a number of different categories. Bess/Sentian offers these categories: adults only, alcohol, auction, chat, drugs, electronic commerce, employment search, free mail, gambling, games, hate/discrimination, illegal, jokes, lingerie, loopholes, message/bulletin boards, murder.suicide, news, nudity, personal information, personals, pornography, profanity, recreation/entertainment, school cheating information, search engines, search terms, sex, sports, stocks, swimsuits, tasteless/gross, tobacco, violence, weapons, web page hosting/free pages.

Monitoring

Bess/Sentian is designed to help you keep an eye on what your computer is being used for, even when you can't be there in person. With it installed on your system, you can review the web sites your children have visited.

The program will not operate without the child's knowledge.

The program can be used alongside a filtering or blocking tool.

The program can not be set up to warn children when they attempt to access inappropriate material.

April 7, 2003

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Net Nanny

Version 5

By BioNet Systems, LLC

Available since October 2002

The makers of Net Nanny, BioNet Systems, LLC, described their product as: Net Nanny, the world's leading parental control software, provides the broadest set of Internet safety tools available. Parents can filter Web sites, control online chat, limit time spent onling, protect their privacy and much more.

Net Nanny is a product that:

  • Limits the total number of hours or the time of day that your children may be online.
  • Prevents the display of most sexually explicit material.
  • Prevents the display of most graphically violent material.
  • Prevents the display of most material advocating hate groups and their messages.
  • Prevents the display of most material advocating illegal activity, such as drug use, bomb making, or underage drinking and gambling.
  • Prevents the display of other categories of material.
  • Prevents selected personal information from being transmitted from your computer.
  • Monitors the use of your computer or the access your children have to the Internet.

Net Nanny is available for these platforms:

  • Windows 95 (Net Nanny 4.2), Windows 98, Windows ME
  • Windows NT, Windows 2000
  • Windows XP

Net Nanny can be password protected and does support multiple users.

For more information about this tool, including how to purchase or use it, visit its web site: http://www.netnanny.com

Time Limiting

When Net Nanny is installed on your computer to limit the time spent on the computer or on the Internet,

  • A warning will flash on the screen when the user's time is almost up.
  • The program will limit the total amount of time spent online.
  • You can set the program to only allow Internet access during certain periods of time.

Net Nanny limits Internet use of all kinds.

Filtering

There are many different types of filtering products. To begin with, some products are installed on your own computer at home (client-side), while others are installed on the larger computers at your Internet service provider (server-side). Net Nanny is client-based.

Net Nanny can control access to web pages, the use of email, access to chat rooms, the movement of files in and out of your computer (FTP), access to newsgroups (Usenet), access to instant messaging, and access to Peer to Peer networks

Different filtering tools set up their standards of what material should or should not be filtered in different ways. With Net Nanny,

  • You will be able to choose from pre-set categories what material you want to be filtered.
  • You will be able to permanently edit the company's list of material to be filtered.
  • You will be able to completely override the company's list of material to be filtered.
  • You will be able to develop your own list of material to be filtered, using the company's list as a starter.
  • You will be able to develop your own list of material to be filtered, starting from scratch.

You may also want to review the lists of keywords or web pages, or the criteria that the tool company uses to arrive at those lists. With Net Nanny, you can review the list of keywords, the list of filtered URL's (web page addresses), and the company's criteria for filtering a web page.

There are several technologies for determining which sites should be blocked and which should be permitted. Each of them has important strengths, but none of them is perfect. Net Nanny uses the following:

  • PICS ratings (an independent rating system)
  • the web page address (URL)
  • Human review of web sites
  • A list of keywords
  • A list of keywords combined with an analysis of the context in which they appear

Some filtering tools allow you to control access in a number of different categories. Net Nanny offers these categories: sexually explicit, hate, graphic violence, criminal activity, etc.

Blocking Outgoing Information

When Net Nanny is running on your system,

  • You can prevent your children from using chat rooms online.
  • You can prevent your children from using ICQ or other forms of instant messaging.
  • You can edit out the transmission of specific kinds of information, like your address, telephone number, or credit card number.
  • You can not prevent your children from using email.
  • You can not permit your children to send email only to a pre-approved list of recipients.

Monitoring

Net Nanny is designed to help you keep an eye on what your computer is being used for, even when you can't be there in person. With it installed on your system, you can review your children's email, your children's online chat, the web sites your children have visited, and your children's instant messaging sessions.

The program will not operate without the child's knowledge.

The program can be used alongside a filtering or blocking tool.

The program can be set up to warn children when they attempt to access inappropriate material.

April 11, 2003

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Garfield Island

Version 4.0

By Moms and Dads

Available since February 2003

The makers of Garfield Island, Moms and Dads, described their product as: software that empowers parents to keep their children safe on the Internet. Features include 1) Internet lockdown--restricts access to only pre-approved Web sites using any program; 2) Safe email; 3) Closed, filtered chat rooms and 4) Aggregated and custom content.

Garfield Island is a product that:

  • Prevents the display of most sexually explicit material.
  • Prevents the display of most graphically violent material.
  • Prevents the display of most material advocating hate groups and their messages.
  • Prevents the display of most material advocating illegal activity, such as drug use, bomb making, or underage drinking and gambling.
  • Prevents the display of other categories of material.
  • Is an Internet browser specially designed for younger users.
  • Is a search engine containing only age-appropriate content.
  • Prevents selected personal information from being transmitted from your computer.
  • Is a Pre-selected Content Service.
  • Is a safe email/chat service.

Garfield Island is available for these platforms:

  • Windows 98, Windows ME
  • Windows 2000
  • Windows XP

Garfield Island can be password protected and does support multiple users.

For more information about this tool, including how to purchase or use it, visit its web site: http://www.garfieldisland.com

Filtering

There are many different types of filtering products. To begin with, some products are installed on your own computer at home (client-side), while others are installed on the larger computers at your Internet service provider (server-side). Garfield Island is both client-based and server-based. It is available for home use.

Garfield Island can control access to web pages, the use of email, and access to chat rooms.

Different filtering tools set up their standards of what material should or should not be filtered in different ways. With Garfield Island,

  • You will be able to develop your own list of material to be filtered, using the company's list as a starter.
  • You will not be able to choose from pre-set categories what material you want to be filtered.
  • You will not be able to permanently edit the company's list of material to be filtered.
  • You will not be able to completely override the company's list of material to be filtered.
  • You will not be able to develop your own list of material to be filtered, starting from scratch.

You may also want to review the lists of keywords or web pages, or the criteria that the tool company uses to arrive at those lists. With Garfield Island, you can review the company's criteria for filtering a web page.

There are several technologies for determining which sites should be blocked and which should be permitted. Each of them has important strengths, but none of them is perfect. Garfield Island uses the following:

  • the web page address (URL)

Blocking Outgoing Information

When Garfield Island is running on your system,

  • You can not prevent your children from using email.
  • You can permit your children to send email only to a pre-approved list of recipients.
  • You can not prevent your children from using chat rooms online.
  • You can not prevent your children from using ICQ or other forms of instant messaging.
  • You can edit out the transmission of specific kinds of information, like your address, telephone number, or credit card number.

Browsers for Kids

Garfield Island is a kids' browser designed for ages 4 to 12. By definition, kids' browsers make determinations of what content is appropriate for kids.

You may wish to review the ways in which it makes those decisions. With Garfield Island,

  • You can review the company's criteria for blocking a web page.
  • You can not review the list of keywords.
  • You can not review the list of blocked URL's (web page addresses).

There are several technologies for determining which sites should be blocked and which should be permitted. Each of them has important strengths, but none of them are perfect. Garfield Island uses the following:

  • the web page address (URL)
  • Human review of web sites

Kids' Search Engines

Garfield Island is a kids' search engine designed for ages 4 to 12. It limits search results to sites deemed appropriate for kids. you may wish to review the ways in which such decisions are made. With Garfield Island,

  • You can review the company's criteria for blocking a web page.
  • You can not review the list of keywords.
  • You can not review the list of blocked URL's (web page addresses).

There are several technologies for determining which sites should be blocked and which should be permitted. Each of them has important strengths, but none of them are perfect. Garfield Island uses the following:

  • the web page address (URL)
  • Human review of web sites
  • A list of keywords.

Pre-Selected Content Service

Garfield Island makes only pre-approved content available. The content is selected by:

  • Tool provider personnel,
  • Proprietary content developed by tool provider,
  • Through public suggestions/discussion,
  • Specifically chosen by the end user

    • It is not technically possible to leave the service's approved content area.

    Content is made available to families via use of a proxy server or the user's installation of client-side software.

    Users may control the pre-selected content provided by Moms and Dads by

    • adding their own URLs to pre-selected content
    • removing URLs from pre-selected content

    Garfield Island does not rely on other commerically available products.

    April 14, 2003

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    FilterGate

    Version 5.15

    By FilterGate Pty Ltd.

    Available since 1997

    The makers of FilterGate, FilterGate Pty Ltd., described their product as: FilterGate prevents the viewing of adult content via its password protected Adult-Filter. You can add your own shareable personalized site and keyword lists to be blocked or accessed. FilterGate also blocks other intrusive Internet clutter including popups, banners and spyware. Online weekly filter updates and software upgrades are always free.

    FilterGate is a product that:

    • Prevents the display of most sexually explicit material.
    • Prevents the display of most graphically violent material.
    • Prevents the display of other categories of material.

    FilterGate is available for these platforms:

    • Windows 95, Windows 98, Windows ME
    • Windows NT, Windows 2000
    • Windows XP

    FilterGate can be password protected. It does support multiple users.

    For more information about this tool, including how to purchase or use it, visit its web site: http://filtergate.com/

    Filtering

    There are many different types of filtering products. To begin with, some products are installed on your own computer at home (client-side), while others are installed on the larger computers at your Internet service provider (server-side). FilterGate is client-based.

    FilterGate can control access to web pages.

    Different filtering tools set up their standards of what material should or should not be filtered in different ways. With FilterGate,

    • You will be able to choose from pre-set categories what material you want to be filtered.
    • You will not be able to permanently edit the company's list of material to be filtered.
    • You will be able to completely override the company's list of material to be filtered.
    • You will be able to develop your own list of material to be filtered, using the company's list as a starter.
    • You will be able to develop your own list of material to be filtered, starting from scratch.

    You may also want to review the lists of keywords or web pages, or the criteria that the tool company uses to arrive at those lists. With FilterGate, you cannot review the list of keywords, the list of filtered URL's (web page addresses), nor the company's criteria for filtering a web page.

    There are several technologies for determining which sites should be blocked and which should be permitted. Each of them has important strengths, but none of them is perfect. FilterGate uses the following:

    • PICS ratings (an independent rating system)
    • the web page address (URL)
    • Human review of web sites
    • A list of keywords
    • A list of keywords combined with an analysis of the context in which they appear
    • Some other technology--pages containing direct links to adult content

    Some filtering tools allow you to control access in a number of different categories. FilterGate offers these categories: pornography including sexually explicit material, violence and coarse language.

    July 23, 2003

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    SurfSafely.net--Prefiltered Internet Service

    By SurfSafely.com

    Available since April 2002

    The makers of SurfSafely.net--Prefiltered Internet Service, SurfSafely.com, described their product as: a nationwide dial-up Internet service, prefiltered or unfiltered, with up to 35 filtering categories, up to 10 email accounts, 10 MB of Web space, unlimited access, and server-side anti-virus.

    SurfSafely.net--Prefiltered Internet Service is a product that:

    • Is a Filtered Internet Serivce Provider.

    SurfSafely.net--Prefiltered Internet Service is available for these platforms:

    • Macintosh OS 9, Macintosh OS X
    • Windows 95, Windows 98, Windows ME
    • Windows NT, Windows 2000
    • Windows XP

    SurfSafely.net--Prefiltered Internet Service requires special software: Internet connection toolbar (if desired)

    SurfSafely.net--Prefiltered Internet Service can be password protected and does support multiple users.

    For more information about this tool, including how to purchase or use it, visit its web site: http://www.surfsafely.net

    Filtered Internet/Online Service Provider

    To gain the benefits of SurfSafely.net--Prefiltered Internet Service, you will need to change the company you use to connect your computer to the Internet. SurfSafely.net--Prefiltered Internet Service is available in the following states: Nationwide

    Make sure that a local telephone number is available for where you live. Neither GetNetWise.org nor SurfSafely.com can be responsible for long distance charges that result from calling long distance.

    SurfSafely.net--Prefiltered Internet Service supports these connection types: 56K (regular modem).

    SurfSafely.net--Prefiltered Internet Service limits which web sites and what types of content you can view. You may wish to review the ways in which such decisions are made. With SurfSafely.net--Prefiltered Internet Service,

    • You can review the company's criteria for blocking a web page.
    • You can not review the list of keywords.
    • You can not review the list of blocked URL's (web page addresses).

    SurfSafely.net--Prefiltered Internet Service restricts access to these categories of online material: Adults only, alcohol, auction, chat, drugs, electronic commerce, employment search, free mail, free pages, gambling, games, hate/discrimination, illegal, jokes, lingerie, message/bulletin boards, murder/suicide, news, nudity, personal information, personals, pornography, profanity, recreation/entertainment, school cheating information, search engines, search terms, sex, sports, stocks, swimsuits, tasteless/gross, tobacco, violence, weapons.

    April 16, 2003

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    ContentProtect

    By ContentWatch Inc.

    Available since 2005

    The makers of ContentProtect, ContentWatch Inc., described their product as: ContentProtect is an Internet filter that is easy to use. It uses dynamic contextual analysis to analyze Web content in real time which ensures a safer Internet experience. Powerful time management, reporting, Instant Messaging monitoring and remote management tools make ContentProtect the best choice for homes.

    ContentProtect is a product that:

    • Limits the total number of hours or the time of day that your children may be online.
    • Prevents the display of most sexually explicit material.
    • Prevents the display of most graphically violent material.
    • Prevents the display of most material advocating hate groups and their messages.
    • Prevents the display of most material advocating illegal activity, such as drug use, bomb making, or underage drinking and gambling.
    • Prevents the display of other categories of material.
    • Monitors the use of your computer or the access your children have to the Internet.

    ContentProtect is available for these platforms:

    • Windows 2000
    • Windows XP

    ContentProtect does not require special hardware to be installed.

    ContentProtect does not require special software.

    ContentProtect can be password protected. It does support multiple users.

    For more information about this tool, including how to purchase or use it, visit its web site: www.ContentWatch.com

    Time Limiting

    When ContentProtect is installed on your computer to limit the time spent on the computer or on the Internet,

    • A warning will flash on the screen when the user's time is almost up.
    • The program will limit the total amount of time spent online.
    • You can set the program to only allow Internet access during certain periods of time.

    ContentProtect limits access to certain software products (e.g. Web browsers, email programs). limits Internet use of all kinds, limits all computer use limits access to IM and computer games.

    Filtering

    There are many different types of filtering products. To begin with, some products are installed on your own computer at home (client-side), while others are installed on the larger computers at your Internet service provider (server-side). ContentProtect is client-based.

    ContentProtect can control access to web pages, the use of email, access to chat rooms, access to newsgroups (Usenet), access to instant messaging, access to Peer to Peer networks.

    Different filtering tools set up their standards of what material should or should not be filtered in different ways. With ContentProtect,

    • You will be able to choose from pre-set categories what material you want to be filtered.
    • You will be able to permanently edit the company's list of material to be filtered.
    • You will be able to completely override the company's list of material to be filtered.
    • You will be able to develop your own list of material to be filtered, using the company's list as a starter.
    • You will be able to develop your own list of material to be filtered, starting from scratch.

    You may also want to review the lists of keywords or web pages, or the criteria that the tool company uses to arrive at those lists. With ContentProtect, you can review the list of filtered URL's (web page addresses), the company's criteria for filtering a web page.

    There are several technologies for determining which sites should be blocked and which should be permitted. Each of them has important strengths, but none of them is perfect. ContentProtect uses the following:

    • PICS ratings (an independent rating system)
    • the web page address (URL)
    • Human review of web sites
    • A list of keywords
    • A list of keywords combined with an analysis of the context in which they appear

    Some filtering tools allow you to control access in a number of different categories. ContentProtect offers these categories: pronography, gambling, intimate apparel, family resources, personals, health/medicine, music/entertainment, schools/colleges, sports, employment/career, adult/mature, drugs/alcohol, chat site, financial/ stocks, e-mail, instructional, news, search engines/portals, travel, hate/violence, illegal activities, ads, games, government, kids, religious, shopping, and work related.

    Blocking Outgoing Information

    When ContentProtect is running on your system,

    • You can prevent your children from using email.
    • You CANNOT permit your children to send email only to a pre-approved list of recipients.
    • You can prevent your children from using chat rooms online.
    • You can prevent your children from using ICQ or other forms of instant messaging.
    • You CANNOT edit out the transmission of specific kinds of information, like your address, telephone number, or credit card number.

    Monitoring

    ContentProtect is designed to help you keep an eye on what your computer is being used for, even when you can't be there in person. With it installed on your system, you can review your children's online chat, the web sites your children have visited, your children's instant messaging sessions.

    The program will operate without the child's knowledge.

    The program can be used alongside a filtering or blocking tool.

    The program can be set up to warn children when they attempt to access inappropriate material.

    June 2006

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    Mailbox Guard

    By Pow Research

    Available since December 2002

    The makers of Mailbox Guard, Pow Research, described their product as: ultimate email manager which lets you kill cyber scams arriving in emails--before they get into your inbox. It is effective against spam, viruses, spyware, obscenity, and foul language.

    Mailbox Guard is a product that:

    • Prevents the display of most sexually explicit material.
    • Prevents the display of most material advocating hate groups and their messages.
    • Prevents the display of most material advocating illegal activity, such as drug use, bomb making, or underage drinking and gambling.
    • Prevents the display of other categories of material.
    • Is a filtered email service,

    Mailbox Guard is available for these platforms:

    • Windows 95, Windows 98, Windows ME
    • Windows NT, Windows 2000
    • Windows XP

    Mailbox Guard can not be password protected and does support multiple users.

    For more information about this tool, including how to purchase or use it, visit its web site: http://www.mboxguard.com/

    Filtering

    There are many different types of filtering products. To begin with, some products are installed on your own computer at home (client-side), while others are installed on the larger computers at your Internet service provider (server-side). Mailbox Guard is client-based.

    Mailbox Guard can control the use of email.

    Different filtering tools set up their standards of what material should or should not be filtered in different ways. With Mailbox Guard,

    • You will be able to choose from pre-set categories what material you want to be filtered.
    • You will be able to permanently edit the company's list of material to be filtered.
    • You will not be able to completely override the company's list of material to be filtered.
    • You will not be able to develop your own list of material to be filtered, using the company's list as a starter.
    • You will not be able to develop your own list of material to be filtered, starting from scratch.

    You may also want to review the lists of keywords or web pages, or the criteria that the tool company uses to arrive at those lists. With Mailbox Guard, you can review the list of keywords.

    There are several technologies for determining which sites should be blocked and which should be permitted. Each of them has important strengths, but none of them is perfect. Mailbox Guard uses the following:

    • A list of keywords
    • A list of keywords combined with an analysis of the context in which they appear
    • Smart parsing engine

    Some filtering tools allow you to control access in a number of different categories. Mailbox Guard offers these categories: any kind--based on textual contents plus binaries for viruses, trojans, worms, spyware, etc.

    Monitoring

    Mailbox Guard is designed to help you keep an eye on what your computer is being used for, even when you can't be there in person. With it installed on your system, you can review your children's email.

    The program will not operate without the child's knowledge.

    The program can be used alongside a filtering or blocking tool.

    The program can not be set up to warn children when they attempt to access inappropriate material.

    April 16, 2003

    Back to top 

    Silent Watch

    Version 2.0

    By Adavi, Inc.

    Available since January 2002

    The makers of Silent Watch, Adavi, Inc., described their product as: Designed for businesses, institutions, and educational systems ADAVI Silent Watch tracks computer idle time, records key strokes, URL logs, monitors incoming and outgoing e-mails, monitors an unlimited number of networked computers, prints time/dated reports, prints remote screen shots and provides real time viewing of remote computers.

    Silent Watch is a product that:

    • Monitors the use of your computer or the access your children have to the Internet.
    • Prevents selected personal information from being transmitted from your computer.
    • Prevents the display of other categories of material.

    Silent Watch is available for these platforms:

    • Windows 95, Windows 98, Windows ME
    • Windows NT, Windows 2000
    • Windows XP

    Silent Watch can yes be password protected. It does yes support multiple users.

    For more information about this tool, including how to purchase or use it, visit its web site: http://www.adavi.com

    Monitoring

    Silent Watch is designed to help you keep an eye on what your computer is being used for, even when you can't be there in person. With it installed on your system, you can review the web sites your children have visited, your children's instant messaging sessions, and your children's offline computer use.

    The program will operate without the child's knowledge.

    The program can be used alongside a filtering or blocking tool.

    The program can be set up to warn children when they attempt to access inappropriate material.

    Filtering

    There are many different types of filtering products. To begin with, some products are installed on your own computer at home (client-side), while others are installed on the larger computers at your Internet service provider (server-side). Silent Watch is client-based.

    Silent Watch can control access to web pages, the use of email, access to chat rooms, the movement of files in and out of your computer (FTP), access to newsgroups (Usenet), access to instant messaging, access to Peer to Peer networks.

    Different filtering tools set up their standards of what material should or should not be filtered in different ways. With Silent Watch,

    • You will be able to choose from pre-set categories what material you want to be filtered.
    • You will not be able to permanently edit the company's list of material to be filtered.
    • You will not be able to completely override the company's list of material to be filtered.
    • You will not be able to develop your own list of material to be filtered, using the company's list as a starter.
    • You will not be able to develop your own list of material to be filtered, starting from scratch.

    You may also want to review the lists of keywords or web pages, or the criteria that the tool company uses to arrive at those lists. With Silent Watch, you can review the list of keywords and the list of filtered URL's (web page addresses).

    There are several technologies for determining which sites should be blocked and which should be permitted. Each of them has important strengths, but none of them is perfect. Silent Watch uses the following:

    • the web page address (URL)
    • Human review of web sites
    • A list of keywords

    Blocking Outgoing Information

    When Silent Watch is running on your system,

    • You can prevent your children from using email.
    • You can permit your children to send email only to a pre-approved list of recipients.
    • You can prevent your children from using chat rooms online.
    • You can prevent your children from using ICQ or other forms of instant messaging.
    • You can edit out the transmission of specific kinds of information, like your address, telephone number, or credit card number.

    June 13, 2003

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    Desktop SurveillanceTM Personal Edition

    By Tech Assist, Inc.

    Available since 1998

    The makers of Desktop Surveillance Personal Edition, Tech Assist, Inc., described their product as: Complete desktop management, security, and access control. Monitors and records both sides of chat content in visual format or keystroke log. Keyword Access Control without costly subscriptions. Can be run hidden from the user or with the user's knowledge. Networkable and features roaming user profiles for multiple users on one machine.

    Desktop Surveillance Personal Edition is a product that:

    • Prevents the display of most sexually explicit material.
    • Prevents the display of most graphically violent material.
    • Prevents the display of most material advocating hate groups and their messages.
    • Prevents the display of most material advocating illegal activity, such as drug use, bomb making, or underage drinking and gambling.
    • Prevents the display of other categories of material.
    • Is an Internet browser specially designed for younger users.
    • Monitors the use of your computer or the access your children have to the Internet.

    Desktop Surveillance Personal Edition is available for these platforms:

    • Windows 95, Windows 98, Windows ME
    • Windows NT, Windows 2000
    • Windows XP

    Desktop Surveillance Personal Edition can be password protected. It does support multiple users.

    For more information about this tool, including how to purchase or use it, visit its web site: http://www.toolsthatwork.com

    Filtering

    There are many different types of filtering products. To begin with, some products are installed on your own computer at home (client-side), while others are installed on the larger computers at your Internet service provider (server-side). Desktop Surveillance Personal Edition is client-based and server-based. The server-based product is not available for home use.

    Desktop Surveillance Personal Edition can control access to web pages, the use of email, access to chat rooms, the movement of files in and out of your computer (FTP), access to newsgroups (Usenet), access to instant messaging, access to Peer to Peer networks, and access to other Internet capabilities.

    Different filtering tools set up their standards of what material should or should not be filtered in different ways. With Desktop Surveillance Personal Edition,

    • You will be able to choose from pre-set categories what material you want to be filtered.
    • You will not be able to permanently edit the company's list of material to be filtered.
    • You will be able to completely override the company's list of material to be filtered.
    • You will not be able to develop your own list of material to be filtered, using the company's list as a starter.
    • You will be able to develop your own list of material to be filtered, starting from scratch.

    You may also want to review the lists of keywords or web pages, or the criteria that the tool company uses to arrive at those lists. With Desktop Surveillance Personal Edition, you can review the list of keywords, the list of filtered URL's (web page addresses), and the company's criteria for filtering a web page.

    There are several technologies for determining which sites should be blocked and which should be permitted. Each of them has important strengths, but none of them is perfect. Desktop Surveillance Personal Edition uses the following:

    • the web page address (URL)
    • Human review of web sites
    • A list of keywords
    • A list of keywords combined with an analysis of the context in which they appear

    Some filtering tools allow you to control access in a number of different categories. Desktop Surveillance Personal Edition offers these categories: all keywords

    Browsers for Kids

    Desktop Surveillance Personal Edition is a kids' browser designed for ages 3 and older. By definition, kids' browsers make determinations of what content is appropriate for kids.

    You may wish to review the ways in which it makes those decisions. With Desktop Surveillance Personal Edition,

    • You can review the list of keywords.
    • You can review the list of blocked URL's (web page addresses).
    • You can review the company's criteria for blocking a web page.

    There are several technologies for determining which sites should be blocked and which should be permitted. Each of them has important strengths, but none of them are perfect. Desktop Surveillance Personal Edition uses the following:

    • A list of keywords.
    • A list of keywords combined with an analysis of the context in which they appear.

    Monitoring

    Desktop Surveillance Personal Edition is designed to help you keep an eye on what your computer is being used for, even when you can't be there in person. With it installed on your system, you can review your children's email, your children's online chat, the web sites your children have visited, your children's instant messaging sessions, and your children's offline computer use.

    The program will operate without the child's knowledge.

    The program can be used alongside a filtering or blocking tool.

    The program can be set up to warn children when they attempt to access inappropriate material.

    May 23, 2003

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