04/08/96 A BETTER TRAFFIC COP FOR CYBERSMUT

A BETTER TRAFFIC COP FOR CYBERSMUT

WITH THE CLICK OF A MOUSE, YOU CAN GET ALMOST anywhere on the Information Superhighway. Trouble is, some places may not be appropriate for everyone. On Apr. 2, Livingston Enterprises Inc. in Pleasanton, Calif., a manufacturer of networking equipment, will unveil a new technology called ChoiceNet that gives Internet service providers a way to filter out naughty pictures and other unwanted sites. Up to now, individual personal-computer owners have had to install software such as a $49.95 program from SurfWatch Software Inc. and pay $5.95 a month for updates while the Net booms. ChoiceNet is instead installed on the server, not on PCs.
That offers several advantages: The filtering is less expensive, and it can be customized instantly. Filters can be set up to allow access only to specific sites--not simply to block access to known ones. Livingston will include ChoiceNet free with its networking gear, in hopes of selling more hardware. But the edge may be short-lived: SurfWatch plans a free upgrade that allows some customization and a server-based filter.
EDITED BY IRA SAGER By Robert D. Hof