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Tools for Internet Safety
Parents Want What's Best for Their Kids
You want your children to be safe, whether they're playing in the yard or on the Internet. Kids love the Internet; it's fun and it's educational. It also has some sites you probably don't want your children to visit. There is no perfect way to protect children online-or anywhere else, but there are tools and tips available to help you guide your kids to a good experience surfing the web.
It's up to you to guide your child's use of the Internet according to your family's values and circumstances. We recommend talking with your children about where to surf and where not to, considering writing a family contract for Internet use, or perhaps installing filtering or monitoring mechanisms on your home computer to control what your children access.
Librarians Want What's Best for Kids Too
Librarians want your children to have a positive online experience. The Montana State Library, to inform you of your options so you can make the right decision for your family, compiled the information in this brochure.
Finding the Great Sites
The more you explore the Internet with your children, the more you can guide them to great web sites. Some search engines are set up to steer kids into safe territory. Yahoo!Kids 
and Ask Jeeves for Kids are two kid-friendly search programs. The American Library Association points to 700+ Great (librarian selected) Sites for Kids. Several of the major search engines have an optional filter to screen results. Altavista has a "Family Filter" option.
and Lycos offers Parental Controls.
These tools help prevent your child from stumbling into undesirable territory accidentally. They do not prevent someone from
actively following links into sites you may find objectionable.
The Hazards Online
The Internet is a tremendous source of information for research or personal enrichment, but there are dangers on the web. Children sometimes give out personal information that could put themselves or their families in danger. They can also view material that you, as a parent, object to, because of its sexual or violent nature, or because of the points of view being expressed. As a parent, you set the rules about where your child goes, who with and for how long. These are good rules online or off. On your home computer, you might want to consider a filtering or monitoring mechanism to help you set these limits.
How Filters Work
Internet filtering mechanisms are used to reduce the amount of objectionable content you encounter when searching the Internet. Some programs monitor sites visited so you can track where your children have been.
Some filters are "server-side," such as filters provided by Internet service providers (ISPs) that screen for objectionable material. With server-side filters, one computer filters access for many others.
A client-side filter is a program you purchase to install on your home computer. Many companies make these products, and the features vary.
Most filters work in one of three ways to reduce objectionable search results:
- Access can be limited to a list of safe sites.
- Access can be denied to a list of restricted sites.
- Sites can be blocked by the presence of certain words.
Filters are not a substitute for Internet-use ground rules, or for parents talking with their children about safety on the Internet. Filters can have "leakage," and allow objectionable material to slip through unblocked. Additionally, filters can deny access to sites you'd like your kids to use.
You may also look for other features. Some programs block the input of personal information. For instance, if your child types in your home address, the program would block that string of characters and not put that information out on the web. Others record all sites visited so you know when your children have been testing the limits you set.
Where Do I Start?
Start by asking questions about your own needs and the ability of filtering programs to meet those needs.
Product reviews and side-by-side comparisons of filtering programs are available both online and in consumer magazine articles. A list of Web site resources is included in this brochure.
As you make your decision, your checklist might include the following:
- Does this program allow me to set different security levels for different-age children?
- Is it password-protected?
- How easy is it to install and use?
- Does it block my child from giving out personal information?
- Does it block the types of sites I find objectionable?
- Does it allow my child enough freedom to explore legitimate sites?
- Can I see where my child has gone on the Internet?
- Can I override the filter if necessary?
- Does the filter provider explain how sites are blocked, or which sites are blocked?
- How is the list of blocked sites updated?
- Does the list of blocked sites correspond with my values?
- Do I need software to protect my family's privacy online
Where Can I Learn More?
- American Library Association
Has useful links to filtering information. - Family Guide Book
Has hundreds of links to help families learn how to use the Web safely, including advice on how to choose a filtering product and how to conduct child-friendly searches. - GetNetWise
Offers an online safety guide, comparisons of filtering software, tips on how and when to contact law enforcement and links to great sites for kids. - SafeKids
Focuses on keeping teens safe on the information highway. They include a useful "Family Contract for Online Safety" and make selected information available as audio clips, as well as in print. - Net-Mom
Has hundreds of family-friendly links and sign up for a free e-mail newsletter.
