Web filters for a safer online experience

26.08.2010

Web filter software can make the Internet safer for children, young people and yourself. Here is a selection of useful programs.

With a web filter installed on your computer, you can control your children’s Internet use, and prevent them from accessing websites that you wish to shield them from.

Parents are the most important filter
Before you dive head over heels into the world of web filtering, it is important to keep in mind that you must not completely trust web filters and parental control software. There is no such thing as a 100 per cent safe solution. It is the parents themselves who are the most important filter. Therefore, it is important to make clear agreements with your children about Internet use, even though your computer has a filter installed.

Most anti-virus and firewall software providers offer products related to parental control and web filtering. Check with your provider whether they are offering web filters.

The following is a selection of some of the vast number of web filters and parental control software available:

CyberPatrol
This web filtering software enables you to use ‘ready-to-go’ filter settings that will block porn and other unsuitable web sites, content and images. There are filter settings for children, young teens, mature teens and adults.
http://www.cyberpatrol.com/

Kidrocket
Kidrocket is a free web browser for children. It blocks out the entire internet and only lets the browser access limited, top quality, child related web sites. This solution is well suited for the youngest children.
http://kidrocket.org/

Kidz CD
Kidz CD is a web browser that offers a web filtering solution and includes several related programs. There are four different versions available, suitable for the following age groups: 0-6, 7-12, 13+ (no chat) and 13+ (with chat).
http://www.kidzcd.com/

WOT - Web of Trust
Web of Trust (WOT) is a community-based, free surfing tool that helps all web users stay safe as they search, surf and shop online. The WOT add-on tells you which sites you can trust when using Google, Yahoo!, Bing, Wikipedia and other popular sites, by using a traffic-light style rating system.
http://www.mywot.com/

Firewall as web filter
It is possible to adjust your firewall settings in order to block specific programs from communicating over the Internet.

You can learn more about firewalls on Microsoft’s websites:
http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/windows-vista/Understanding-Windows-Firewall-settings