SurfSafely.com - Naturally, we're recommending our companion Family Friendly portal as a good place to start browsing and searching the Web. If you can't find what you're looking for in here, alternative Family Friendly search engines are just one click away to try your searches elsewhere too.

Google - As a SurfSafely.net subscriber, if you have filtering enabled in any form, we can also recommend Google without fear of your family being subjected to sites you have prohibited. If the directories and search engines above turn up no results, Google is hands down the best alternative. If you can't find it on Google, chances are good it doesn't exist online.

The Internet Content Rating Association - Based in the UK and the USA, this PICS labeling system is today the most widely accepted label throughout the world. This is one of only two labels recognized by SurfSafely.com.

SafeSurf - Based in the US, SafeSurf was the first PICS labeling standard deployed conforming to the W3C PICS labeling specification and has enjoyed wide acceptance in the US. It too is recognized by SurfSafely.com.

Safe for kids - Highly generic PICS labeling system with only three classifications. For too subjective to be viable. It has enjoyed some acceptance among web developers for it's simplicity but, for the same reason, is not recognized by SurfSafely.com.

Vancouver Webpages Rating Service - A little known attempt by a Canadian portal to deploy a regionalized PICS labeling system. We applaud their efforts but why reinvent the wheel? The Internet is no place for regionalization. Attempts to use PICS labeling to divide and regulate only fuels arguments against labeling. For this reason, it too is not recognized by SurfSafely.com.

i-Watchdog -

Trust-e

Microsoft Internet Explorer - FREE. Now the king of browsers by virtue of might alone. Many nice features and safe as long as you stay current with security patches and updates. Otherwise, you leave your computer exposed to hackers and viruses.

Netscape Navigator - FREE. Once the king of browsers. Still very much a contender, especially in light of the way email virus authors seem to target Microsoft products specifically.

Mail Washer - An amazing FREE email utility that fights SPAM, helps you steer clear of email viruses and can help you to manage multiple email accounts with ease. We can't imagine anyone being without this software.

Qualcomm Eudora - Hands down, our favorite email software. Ad supported free versions still available as well as paid versions that eliminate the ads.

Tiny Personal Firewall v2 - FREE firewall. Less frills than Zone Alarm but easily as effective. Other versions are available but version 2 remains free for home use.

Zone Alarm - Free and paid versions. They push real hard to try and convince you that you "need" the pro version. Don't you believe it! All of the advanced features of Pro are simply their take on antivirus software. Leave the viruses to the experts below.

McAfee - We've been using McAfee products since long before the Internet took hold. Way back in the days when BBSs were all the rage. Gopher, Archie and Veronica were the names of some popular file utilities. Finding files for download often took days and 1200 baud modems were the cat's meow in high tech hardware. McAfee never let us down then, and they have never let us down yet. We trust our computers to their antivirus software implicitly.

Symantec - Norton Antivirus. Another fine consumer grade antivirus program. For the latest Norton AntiVirus 2002 definition files, Click Here.

Cnet - Otherwise known as Download.com, Shareware.com and a host of others.

ZDnet - Another favorite software archive.


WebAttack - I find a lot of hard to find utilities at this site. They're moving up fast on my list of favorite download sites.

Iambigbrother - Formerly ChatNanny. Compiles transcripts of everything sent from and received to your computer. Very, VERY powerful. Can also be used in conjunction with other filters and online services. At $29.99 for a downloaded copy, this is very reasonably priced software. The boxed version with CD and written manual is only $8.00 more!

Chatminder - Also compiles transcripts of everything sent from and received to your computer. Also quite powerful. They abandoned their efforts to support this product because they had difficulty turning a profit with it. We're talking with them now about possibly offering it as freeware, available for download at this site only.

Spector 2.1 - Monitoring program that invisibly takes full screen snapshots of all activity on your computer for later playback. Highly rated by ZDnet, CNet and others. Not cheap. $69 for a single home version license, $99/license for their Pro version.

Secure Access Timer - from Buffalo Software Inc. Timer software to restrict access to certain programs, and/or set time limits for their use. For more info, visit the link above or write satimer@buffalosoftware.net.

We-Blocker - FREE. Fine product that easily rivals NetNanny.

ICRA Filter - Also free. ICRA does it again. Based primarily on PICS labeling and user generated good/bad lists. Excellent companion for the SurfSafely.com web directory.

CyberPatrol - Hands down, our favorite for overall control of online activity.
Well be adding more here shortly.

Software4Parents - As the name implies, they're something of a one stop shop for many of the filtering and monitoring products mentioned above. Worth looking into if you're in the market.

Safety-Surf - The Internet's oldest and leading source of software for parents.

WorldVillage - "The #1 site for families. Features include online games, downloads, parental control software, contests, newsletters, family sites, directory, online coupons, shopping [and more.]"

Getnetwize - Parental resources and collection of child safety tools.
McGruff the Crime Dog - Child identification, fingerprinting, internet safety, senior safety
Cyber Tipline - to report incidences involving child sexual exploitation online.
Internet Watch Foundation - London based group for reporting child pornography and other online crimes.
Report-It - Annonymous reporting for incidents of weapons, drugs and violence in schools.
Ribbon of Promise - The National Campaign to End School Violence.
Childrens Parthership
Childnet International - Based in London, Childnet works around the world to promote children's interest in international communications.
Chat Danger - Explores the dangers of anonymous chat. Sponsored by Childnet.
Net Parents
Safe Kids - Superb site by Lawrence Magid.
Safe Teens - Also by Lawrence Magid, for older online warriors.
Cyber-Stand for Children
NetParenting.com - Safety, Education and Entertainment Ideas for Children on the Internet.
Family Research Council
Main Street Mom - "The magazine for Modern Mothers with Traditional Values."
Kids Like Ours
Proactive Parenting
ParentsPlace.com - A full range of parenting and child rearing tips and resources.
PositiveParenting.com - "Resources and information to make parenting rewarding, effective and fun!"
PC Parents - National educational outreach program aimed at helping parents to better understand computing and the Internet. Sponsored by Intel.
Familycorner.com magazine - In this free webzine you will find an abundance of family time activities, crafts and recipes for kids, educational and parenting articles, ideas for your kitchen & home and much more.