One of the most frequently asked questions about the Internet is "How do I keep my kids from seeing what I don't want them to see?" 

The first protection for children is to instruct them not to divulge their complete identities or wherabouts to others on the Net.  You just can't tell who's posing as what.  The Internet is like life, in New York City or Los Angeles.  There are nice neigborhoods and not so nice.  We teach kids not to talk to strangers in life.  On the Net, they'll talk, but they ought not disclose identities. 

But back to the question, a number of filtering techniques are available.  This link is a terrific resource for information. 

YOUR OWN PRIVACY 

Your best guarantee of privacy on the Internet is the fact that so many people are connected, exchanging mail, and sending and receiving unfathomable quantities of information.  It's very unlikely that any one individual will attract snoopers, vandals, or hackers.  Even so, there are things you should be aware of. 

What You Transmit  

When you cruise the Web over a modem connection, any Web site you visit can learn what ISP you're coming from, what browser you're using, and what page you linked from, along with the date and time.  Unless you supply additional information, or have additional information about yourself stored in "cookies" (see below), a Web site can not learn more about your identity. 

Secure Transactions  

Any information you fill send out on the Internet, a request for a web page, the contents of a form you fill in, or e-mail, is subject to "sniffing" by hackers.  You'll need to be concerned about this only when submitting sensitive information like a credit card number.  Most sites allowing you to make credit card purchases are secure.  Your transmission (and thiers back to you) is encrypted.  Even if someone is eavesdropping, they will not be able to decode the transmission.  Your browser alerts you when you begin and end a secure transaction.  Secure transactions over the Web are probably safer than conducting them in person. 

Viruses 

Every Internet user eventually receives a scary virus alert by e-mail and becomes so concerned that he or she sends it to all friends and business acquaintances.  Hundreds of these have been passed around for years.  They're very likely hoaxes.  Do not pass them on without somehow validating them; they merely stir up unnecessary panic. 

You can get a virus from the Internet in only by downloading executable software or by detaching and saving attachments of executable software from your e-mail.  (I've done a lot of this for years but have never gotten a virus.  Even so, having a virus scanner installed on your computer is an excellent idea if you plan to download software.)  The same is true for Excel spreadsheets and Word documents containing macros; macros can carry viruses. 

Otherwise, E-mail and Web pages you merely read or respond to cannot transmit viruses to you. 

Cookies 

Cookies are little bits of information deposited on your computer by some Web pages, usually as a result of your filling out and submitting some kind of form.  Generally, cookies are good for you.  They enable a web site to keep track of how you like things and to recognize you when you return. 

Sometimes, however, cookies are created to save information you don't necessarily want others to have -- your e-mail address (if you've filled it in on a form) is an example.  Divulging your e-mail address can glean you junk mail you don't necessarily want.  In newer browsers, only a Web page that deposits a cookie can retrieve it again.  In a few older browsers, any web page could retrieve a cookie set by any other. 

Because of information leaks in older versions, your browser lets you determine whether or not to accept cookies.  

In Netscape 3, choose the Options menu, then Network Preferences, then Protocol tab.  Here you can select whether or not you want a warning when a cookie is deposited. 

In Netscape Communicator, choose the Edit menu, then Preferences..., then Advanced.  Here you can select how you want to handle cookies. 

In Internet Explorer, choose the View menu, then Options..., then the Avanced tab.  This screen lets you select how you want to handle cookies.