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Content Screening Methods
To help parents, those seeking to supervise their children's
Internet access, a number of filtering methods are available.
Some of the filtering methods are directly available
on popular Internet browsers like Microsoft's Internet
Explorer and Netscape Navigator. Such filters screen
out objectionable content by using industry-standard
ratings that have been defined independently by the
Platform for Internet Content Selection (PICS) committee.
To make the filtering process more effective, stand-alone
software are also available. These are software that
run together with an Internet access program and blocks
access to whatever type of content the parent believes
inappropriate for their child. In this category we recommend
Pearl
Software's Cyber Snoop®.
A third kind of screening is available in the form
of online
services. On subscribing to such a service, all
Internet browsing is channeled through the screening
service provider's computers. Each page requested by
the browser is checked against a constantly updated
list of blacklisted websites before being passed on
for viewing.
Although there is no 100% guaranteed method, usage of
the browser filters in conjunction with software or
online screening services have proved to limit access
to such inappropriate content. In addition, an increasing
number of child-safe Internet sites offer positive guidance
toward online
resources that are especially useful for children.
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