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There are many types of filtering, monitoring & blocking software products available to parents. On this page you will find a partial list of these software products. You will also find links to other general computer security products.
No parental control software is completely infallible. As the parent, you will need to monitor your child's Internet activities, establish and explain rules for your child's Internet use, and most importantly, enforce those rules. Further, the Suffolk County District Attorney's Office does not endorse, warranty for use, guarantee, or have an interest in any of the software products linked to this site. We provide you with a list of software resources so you can research these products that may or may not work for you. You must decide what works best for your situation and make purchases accordingly. If you need more information on computer security, content filtering, or Internet monitoring software, 'SC Magazine' recently published its 2006 security software award winners. Click here to learn more.
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Types of Parental Controls:
- MONITORING SOFTWARE allows parents to track computer use by creating a record of all Internet sites the computer user viewed and a log of all email and chat correspondence. This software does not restrict access, however some software will provide a warning message if the user accesses an inappropriate Internet site.
- TIME LIMITING SOFTWARE limits the amount of time a child may spend on the computer and/or Internet.
- BLOCKING & FILTERING SOFTWARE restricts access to Web sites that include sexually explicit and other inappropriate materials. There are also tools available to block certain information from being sent from your computer. They can be used to prevent a child from disclosing personal information online, such as names, addresses, and phone numbers. The technology used to restrict access typically restricts access by:
- Keyword hit - where the software searches the text of the site and restricts access
to sites that contain inappropriate material. Some of these applications are capable of analyzing the context of the text to allow
access to educational, health and science-related Internet sites.
- Web addresses - that are compiled by software companies. Some programs allow for customization so that Web addresses can be added and removed to accommodate an individual
family's needs.
- PICS (Platform for Internet Content Selection) - use of a voluntary rating system done through SafeSurf & ICRA (Internet Content Rating Association).
Parents, please be aware that blocking and filtering software is
not without limitations and holes. Some software may be too inclusive while some may be too exclusive. More importantly, software will not work
without proper operation, maintenance, and monitoring. You need to remember that software can help you solve a problem, but over-reliance on it will
not be a solution.
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