This program’s unique “intelligent phrase filtering” screens words in context. For example, “What sex is your cat?” would not be blocked, but a lurid question would be. Thorough and intuitive (800-888-2761).
The original filtering program is still the easiest to install. Parents who find SurfWatch’s blocking protocols a tad too diligent can disable the software during their Web time. A helper application coming next month will add new categories of blocked sites, including violence (800-458-6600).
Net Nanny’s claim to fame is that its “dictionary” of keywords is totally customizable by parents who want to decide for themselves what will be blocked–which can be a blessing or a time-consuming chore. To help, the company offers a starter dictionary, containing about 1,000 entries, free at its Web site (800-340-7177).
This software has many of the same features as the other programs but its keyword blocking isn’t very finely tuned. For example, the program won’t allow any search including the word “sex”–which, for a high-schooler, might include a Web site on, say, the poet Anne Sexton. Parents can customize. On the upside, the program lets parents limit the time kids spend surfing (800-828-2608).
