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Tools for Families
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CyberPatrol
Version 7.6
By Surf Control
Available since 1995
The makers of CyberPatrol, Surf Control, described their product as: A powerful PC client application that focuses on managing the most critical components of children's Internet activities: time spent online, personal information divulged and content viewed. CyberPatrol strikes the perfect balance between allowing children the "freedom to surf" and providing parents flexible options to set and manage common sense boundaries necessary to keep kids safe online.
CyberPatrol 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.
CyberPatrol is available for these platforms:
- Windows 98, Windows ME
- Windows NT, Windows 2000
- Windows XP, Windows Vista
CyberPatrol 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.cyberpatrol.com
Time Limiting
When CyberPatrol 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.
CyberPatrol limits access to certain software products (e.g. Web browsers, email programs), limits Internet use of all kinds, and limits all computer use.
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). CyberPatrol is client-based.
CyberPatrol can control access to web pages, access to chat rooms, and access to newsgroups (Usenet).
Different filtering tools set up their standards of what material should or should not be filtered in different ways. With CyberPatrol,
- 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 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 CyberPatrol, 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. CyberPatrol uses the following:
- the web page address (URL)
- Human review of web sites
- A list of keywords combined with an analysis of the context in which they appear
- Web page analysis
Some filtering tools allow you to control access in a number of different categories. CyberPatrol offers these categories: adult/sexually explicit, criminal skills, drugs, alcohol and tobacco, gambling, hacking, hate speech, violence, weapons, chat, glamour/intimate apparel, remote proxies, multiple category servers and sex education.
Blocking Outgoing Information
When CyberPatrol is running on your system,
- You can prevent your children from using email.
- You can not 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.
September 2007
Back to topBack to top
SurfOnTheSafeside.com
By CIC Ltd.
Available since 1999
The makers of SurfOnTheSafeside.com, CIC Ltd., described their product as: SurfOntheSafeside.com gives protections from over 15 million Internet sites promoting pornography, racism, suicide and violence. One million new sites are checked every month. Members can use the Internet Service Provider of their choice, relaxed in the knowledge that their children are getting the best protection in the world.
SurfOnTheSafeside.com 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.
- Is a Filtered Internet Serivce Provider.
SurfOnTheSafeside.com is available for these platforms:
- Macintosh OS 9, Macintosh OS X
- Windows 3.1
- Windows 95, Windows 98, Windows ME
- Windows NT, Windows 2000
- Windows XP
- Linux
- OS-independent
SurfOnTheSafeside.com requires special software: Internet Access Control
SurfOnTheSafeside.com 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.surfonthesafeside.com
Filtered Internet/Online Service Provider
To gain the benefits of SurfOnTheSafeside.com, you will need to change the company you use to connect your computer to the Internet. SurfOnTheSafeside.com is available in the following states: Nationwide
Make sure that a local telephone number is available for where you live. Neither GetNetWise.org nor CIC Ltd. can be responsible for long distance charges that result from calling long distance.
SurfOnTheSafeside.com supports these connection types: 56K (regular modem), ISDN, DSL, Cable, and Other.
SurfOnTheSafeside.com 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 SurfOnTheSafeside.com,
- 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).
SurfOnTheSafeside.com filters access to web pages, access to chat rooms, access to instant messaging, and access to Peer to Peer networks.
Browsers for Kids
SurfOnTheSafeside.com is a kids' browser designed for ages: elementary and high school students. 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 SurfOnTheSafeside.com,
- 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. SurfOnTheSafeside.com uses the following:
- the web page address (URL)
- Human review of web sites
Kids' Search Engines
SurfOnTheSafeside.com is a kids' search engine designed for all ages. It limits search results to sites deemed appropriate for kids. you may wish to review the ways in which such decisions are made. With SurfOnTheSafeside.com,
- 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. SurfOnTheSafeside.com uses the following:
- the web page address (URL)
- Human review of web sites
May 21, 2003
Back to topClever Island
By Alfy, Inc.
Available since 2000
Clever Island is a product that:
- Is a Pre-selected Content Service.
The makers of Clever Island, Alfy, Inc., described their product as: a leading subscription-based service dedicated to educating children ages 3 to 8. Clever Island offers a unique learning system and educational content designed to be responsive to a child's educational needs. Develops skills such as reading, arithmetic, geography, social studies, science, art, music and creativity
.
Clever Island is available for these platforms:
- Macintosh OS 9, Macintosh OS X
- Windows 3.1
- Windows 95, Windows 98, Windows ME
- Windows NT, Windows 2000,
- Windows XP
Clever 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.cleverisland.com
Pre-Selected Content Service
Clever Island makes only pre-approved content available. The content is selected by: Proprietary content developed by tool provider.
It is not technically possible to leave the service's approved content area.
Content is made available to families via normal access over the web.
Users do not have any control over the pre-selected content provided by Alfy, Inc..
Clever Island does not rely on other commerically available products.
April 1, 2003
Back to topWebBlock
Version 1.0
By AB Software
Available since February 2003
The makers of WebBlock, AB Software, described their product as: a service that applies a rating to Web sites. It allows users to select rated sites to view or reject.
WebBlock 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.
- Monitors the use of your computer or the access your children have to the Internet.
WebBlock is available for these platforms:
- Windows 95, Windows 98, Windows ME
- Windows NT, Windows 2000
- Windows XP
WebBlock 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.webblock.net
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). WebBlock is both client-based and server-based. It is available for home use.
WebBlock can control access to web pages, access to chat rooms, and access to newsgroups (Usenet).
Different filtering tools set up their standards of what material should or should not be filtered in different ways. With WebBlock,
- 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 WebBlock, you can review 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. WebBlock uses the following:
- the web page address (URL)
- Human review of web sites
- WebBlock classified ratings
Some filtering tools allow you to control access in a number of different categories. WebBlock offers these categories: auction sites, chat rooms, dating sites, employment sites, gambling sites, hate sites, illegal sites, kids, news group, age 17 and older, search engines, and xrated sites.
Monitoring
WebBlock 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 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 14, 2003
Back to topModemLockDown
Version 4.10
By TechcoNZ Ltd
Available since March 25, 2004
ModemLockDown is available for these platforms:
- Windows XP
- Windows Vista
The makers of ModemLockDown TechcoNZ Ltd., described their product as: ModemLockDown automatically disables Internet use until a supervisor or parent is present to grant access. You can pre-allocate automatic one-hour access blocks for individual users or permit access with limited or unrestricted time. Dialup modems are locked to halt malicious dialling. This can occur automatically when you disconnect your session.
ModemLockDown is a product that:
- Limits the total number of hours or the time of day that your children may be online.
- Prevents selected personal information from being transmitted from your computer.
For more information about this tool, including how to purchase or use it, visit its web site: http://www.modemlockdown.com
Time Limiting
ModemLockDown allows the administrator to control:
- Times during the day which access is permitted
ModemLockDown will restrict the time a user can access:
- Internet access of all kinds
A warning will flash on the screen when the user's time is almost up.
Automatic locks overridable with password by supervisor or parent. Access sessions can also be time limited.
Blocking Outgoing Information
When ModemLockDown is running on your system,
- You can prevent your children from using email.
- You can NOT 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 instant messaging.
- You can NOT edit out the transmission of specific kinds of information, like your address, telephone number, or credit card number.
General Tool Information
Updates
ModemLockDown does have regular updates to the product.
These updates do NOT carry an additional cost.
Customization
ModemLockDown can be password protected.
ModemLockDown supports multiple users.
Tech Support
ModemLockDown tech support is available via:
- Phone
October 2007
Back to topComputerTime
Version 2.0
By SoftwareTime
Available since November 2004
The makers of ComputerTime, SoftwareTime, described their product as: ComputerTime allows parents to set time limits to ensure the computer is used in moderation and to ensure that kids are online when parents are around. It features easy to use and flexible limit settings. Time Tokens can be created for rewarding kids with extra time.
ComputerTime is a product that:
- Limits the total number of hours or the time of day that your children may be online.
- Enforces healthy limits on computer use.
ComputerTime is available for these platforms:
- Windows ME
- Windows 2000
- Windows XP
- Windows Vista
ComputerTime 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.SoftwareTime.com
Time Limiting
ComputerTime will restrict the time a user can access: Internet access of all kinds
ComputerTime allows the administrator to control:
- Total # of hours spent online per day
- Times during the day which access is permitted
- Can also limit by week, month, as well as "session limits" with breaks. There is also a Time Token mechanism that allows time to be given as a reward.
General Tool Information
Updates
ComputerTime does have regular updates to the product.
These updates do NOT carry an additional cost.
Customization
ComputerTime can be password protected.
ComputerTime does support multiple users.
Tech Support
ComputerTime tech support is available via:
- Phone
- Online Knowledge Base
