Netscape NetWatch
NetWatch is Netscape Navigator's built-in ratings protection feature. It lets you control what kind of web pages can be viewed on your computer.
PICS Ratings Standard
NetWatch uses an Internet rating standard known as PICS - the Platform for Internet Content Selection. PICS is designed to help parents, teachers, and employers screen out material they feel is inappropriate for children or employees. PICS gives web publishers a standard way to describe the content of web pages; it gives browsers like Navigator a standard way to read the description.
NetWatch recognizes two independent PICS-compliant ratings systems, RSACi and SafeSurf. Each system employs a different method to describe in as much detail as possible the levels of potentially offensive content on web pages.
Web site publishers voluntarily rate their pages using one of these systems. You can choose one or both of the rating systems and decide what levels are acceptable to you in the NetWatch setup process.
How NetWatch Works
Once you turn NetWatch protection on, when anyone uses your Netscape Navigator to access a web page, NetWatch compares the page's rating with the levels you have determined to be acceptable. If a page contains higher levels than the ones you have set, NetWatch prevents the page from being displayed. You can also set NetWatch to block pages that have not been rated.Your NetWatch settings are protected by a password. No one can change the settings or bypass NetWatch protection unless you enter your NetWatch password. If you decide to view a page that NetWatch has blocked, you can temporarily disable NetWatch protection by entering your password.
Your NetWatch settings always remain private. Neither Netscape nor any of the web sites that you vist can read or keep track of your settings.