CyberPatrol takes a multi-part approach to protecting kids online. It also allows you to create age-appropriate profiles for each family member. You decide what level of filtering to apply to each individual, and whether or not to record some or all web-based activity by that individual.

The Web Filtering feature offers a number of options. You can block all access to specific sites, allow or block sites that contain specific words, or allow access only to the sites you add to a Web Yes List. You can also adjust the use of CyberPatrol's CyberLIST, a frequently updated list of carefully screened web sites. You can allow particular sites that CyberPatrol normally blocks, or adjust the filter strength of a category on the CyberLIST. You can also adjust the built-in filter strengths as appropriate for each family member.

The ChatGard feature allows you to block, allow, restrict, or monitor access to chat and instant messaging programs. You can also log chats and instant messaging conversations.

The Newsgroup feature allows you to allow or block access to newsgroups, or filter newsgroups based on a keyword list. You can also set up a Yes List, so that access is limited to newsgroups that you approve.

The Time Limit feature lets you set limits for each profile by specific days and times, such as every weekday afternoon from two to four p.m., or by number of hours, such as three hours per day or ten hours per week.

New features include Instant Override, which lets you override the filtering of a web page for a short period of time; a User Profile Creation Wizard, which makes it easier to set up individual profiles for family members; Filtering Level Presets, which are geared toward specific age groups; and Adjustable Filter Strengths, which let you customize the filters to be stronger for one part of filtering, such as chat, than others.

Last but not least, you can set CyberPatrol to be visible or to run in stealth mode.

A 14-day trial version of CyberPatrol is available for downloading from the developer's web site.

$39.95 for 12 months; $59.95 for 24 months

Pros: Easy to set up. Highly customizable. Allows you to create individual profiles for each family member.
Cons: Requires an annual subscription if you want to keep the list of filtered web sites up to date.


Specifications:
Available for: IBM PCs and compatibles.

Minimum requirements (PC): Windows XP Professional, Windows XP Home Edition, Windows 2000 Professional, Windows Millennium Edition, Windows NT 4 Workstation, Windows 98 and Windows 98 Second Edition, Pentium II or higher, 64MB RAM, 30MB available hard drive space, Microsoft Internet Explorer 4.0 SP2 and above, Netscape 6.0 and above or AOL 8.0 and above, also Mozilla Firefox 1.0, valid Internet connection