Finding a Safe Search Engine


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Tutorial Home >Internet >Security >Keeping Your Kids Safe Online >Using Safe Search Engines >Finding a Safe Search Engine

  Step 1:  Don't Limit Yourself

This tutorial gives you a few good places to start. We've created a list of the top safe-search engines for kids. Remember that these search engines work by searching the entire web (all 800 million pages!) then filtering out objectionable content. Like standard search engines, sometimes it takes a trip to several search engines to find what you're looking for, so feel free to mix and match safe search engines, as well as explore new search engines.
  Step 2:  AltaVista Family Filter

Found at www.altavista.com, the Family Filter is designed to protect children from seeing objectionable material when searching the entire web. Enable it by selecting "AV Family Filter" from the link below the main Alta Vista search box titled "Specialty Searches."
  Step 3:  Excite's Magellan

Excite's safe search option can be found at http://magellan.excite.com/. On the home page, click the Kid-Safe option (found below the main search box), and your child's search results will yield only Excite's G-rated "Green Light" sites.
  Step 4:  Infoseek's GOguardian

This safe search engine is the brainchild of Infoseek and Disney. Visit www.go.com and enable the Goguardian link below the search box on the home page. This will give you a filtered search. Also, even if you have not enabled the guardian, Go will warn you if search results contain questionable material.
  Step 5:  Searchopolis

From Inktomi, this is a filtered search engine which will give your child's search safe listings catalogued by LookSmart. It is found at www.searchopolis.com
  Step 6:  FAST Search

Check out FAST Search's Ah-ha.com. This safe search engine, found at www.ah-ha.com filters all search results for language and content.
  Step 7:  KidsClick!

Stop off at http://sunsite.berkeley.edu/KidsClick!/ to enjoy a kids search engine created by librarians. This engine does not use a filter, but handpicks safe sites that score high on kid's education.
  Step 8:  Yahooligans!

Last but not least is Yahoo's Yahooligans! This is the oldest kids directory out there and its aim is ages 7 to 12. Yahooligans! Takes care not to display any types of adult-oriented advertising and unlike a standard Yahoo search, searches are never forwarded to their engine partner Inktomi. Yahooligans! can be found at www.yahooligans.com.