Filtering software over time is going to become more important to people because of that. Add your comments to the bottom of this page. NetNanny's sales have grown fourfold in the past year as more parents have tried to shelter their children from material they deem inappropriate. Calif.-based SurfWatch Software are preparing for a busy day Friday, when they'll comb through the report, comparing its content with the company's blocking criteria. In any case, Sears said SurfWatch users should be able to download a new filter that blocks any Starr-related sites the company deems inappropriate within 24 hours of the report's posting.
Parents have options When the report hits the Web, parents have many options.
They can, of course, ignore it. That's the option favored by opponents of blocking software, who fear such technology stifles free speech. But they also have the option to block all or parts of it. Filtering software such as Net Nanny, Cyber Patrol and Cybersitter can be customized to block specific URLs, such as the Congressional site where the report is expected to appear. Parents can even allow their children to see a doctored version of the document, thanks to some of the software.