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Dear LM_Netters, Back in November, I posted this query about CyberPatrol. I had just installed it, and was going crazy. After much frustration, I finally removed it from my machine. I know I will have to reinstall it, though, on my travelling computers, as I cannot expect 5-6 grade teachers to have time to monitor it constantly in the classrooms (I am working today, Dec. 31, as the workers are here installing the cable in the ceilings from the library to the classrooms.) There are lots of frustrations, and I can see that it will take me a lot of time to figure out how to do all the things I want it to do (in reality, undo all the things I don't want it to do!). As you will see, after reading my original post and the answers that followed, we are all ambivalent about it: see the need, don't like the frustrations. Someone asked me to post a hit, and here are the original and the replies: ORIGINAL POST: I am about to pull my hair out! I am trying to set up Cyber Patrol, and it's driving me nuts. The directions are ambiguous, confusing, helter-skelter, use contradictory words (for example, in one sentence, it says 'excluded are...' and later says, 'also included are...'). I can't do net searches, or search.com, or any other search engine. Do I have to include all those addresses in the CyberYes list? Do you have it on your server? At this point, my computer tech tells me I have to have it individually on 16 computers! That will take me all day, every day, I'm afraid, to set it up and keep it updated. I remember when I first got Winnebago. I also nearly went insane, calling their 800 number frequently. Now, I love it. I wonder: is this the same? Should I be patient, and hope I eventually figure it all out? Or is this just more trouble than it's going to be worth? I have 5th and 6th graders, and sure enough, no matter that they've been warned, signed an AUP, etc., the other day a girl typed in "sex" and got CyberPatrol!! Are you glad you have it? Were you totally confused like I am at first? Are you still confused? Have you ever used their support phone number? I hesitate to use it, just because it's not an 800 number, and I'm afraid I'd be on there so long, the call would cost thousands! If you don't mind, please send me some of your thoughts, tips, etc. Suby Wallace REPLIES: HI! We put Cyber Patrol on two computers a month ago. We just accepted the downloaded list as is, adding only militia. Now, about once a week, we refresh the list by downloading again. It is important to remember that Cyber Patrol watches every program on the computer. Last week, facing a deadline, I mistyped "publish it" in my Word program. When I corrected it by backing up and adding the last 2 letters of publish, space, and the word it, I got X's across the page. The way around the problem is to type something else, then replace a letter; e.g., "publish in." Show Low High School Library <slhslib@whitemtns.com> Suby, I was interested in your experience with Cyber Patrol. I've got it at home (it came with my new computer) and it works generally ok there. When I called their customer service number, I talked with a helpful rep who outlined the options for using it with our computers at school (which are networked). There is a network version of Cyber Patrol, but like most network licenses it costs much more than the standalone version. Regarding the settings, I feel that I'm going to have to spend some time learning to use the various options that Cyber Patrol has. Have you been able to tailor Cyber Patrol to the desired degree of "filtration"? Although my teenage son & I still get blocked inappropriately, the program did respond properly to my adjustments, allowing my son more freedom but still blocking the stuff that I do not want on my computer. I haven't used other filters. My experience with Cyber Patrol--and the publisher--has been positive overall. Good luck--to all of us! Dave Thomas fox@cybrzn.com Suby, I can only say terrible things about CyberPatrol. We have it school wide and it is on each machine, even though it can be changed and updated through the network by the network administrator. It locks us out of so many useful sites that we have removed it from many of our machines. For example, I couldn't access the World Greatest Pumpkin web site before Halloween. Some search engines have been denied by it. Our tech people have altered it many times, but it is a real problem. Also, it interfered with some programs--especially our School Vista programs. I have nothing good to say about it. I'm curious if anyone does like CyberPatrol. ******************************************************************************* Kriste Rees Librarian/Media Specialist E-mail: krees@jcf.jonesnet.org Phone: 501.750.8877 Parson Hills Elementary School Fax: 501.756.8262 Springdale, AR 72764 I just put Cyber Patrol on my machines in the library. Have fun.. you must have a separate Cyber Patrol for EACH machine and it does take forever. This product does not work on the server. Also... keep straight which machines you register and which registration number goes with which machine. Also, watch your setup time... I came in the library to work a staff meeting and my Cyber Patrol was set for 8:00 a.m. startup. No internet until then. Also, you must register right away (like 6 hours of time on the internet) and then Cyber Patrol locks the internet up until you do. After calling them the second time ( do not,,I repeat NOT, try to remove the files unless you read their directions...It is not done the usual way), I asked if they had an 800 number. Yes, they do but I'm sorry it is at school and I am home. Now that I think about it... I found their 800 number on their web page! Good luck... our investment is made but I don't know if I am sold. I had someone tell me a quick way around the system and got sick. Takes just a couple of minutes. Jeane Campbell FFJHS, Sacramento, CA So, you can see, there is no good answer. So many good sites are blocked. For instance, one of my favorite sites is "The Yuckiest Site on the Internet". http://www.nj.com/yucky/ I had told my 5th grade teachers about it, and they used it when they were studying invertebrates. As they were doing their assignments on that page, I noticed that beside one of the worm diagrams were the words "sex organs." I thought - "Oh no! I'll bet Cyber Patrol blocks that one!" And, sure enough, when I installed it, the first thing I checked was "The Yuckiest.." and it was blocked! It also blocked a Butterball Thanksgiving site. It had a trivia question that asked why Benjamin Franklin wanted the turkey as the national bird, and the answer was that he thought the eagle was worthless and shifty!! I'm very concerned about making my parents feel that we are handling the internet responsibly and carefully. So, I guess I will have to rely on Cyber Patrol until I can come up with a better way. Or until the Internet cleans itself up!?!? Is it snowing in Hawaii yet?? I would love to hear what others say about this issue. I'd like to say that we talk to our kids about responsibility, that we tell them they will lose their accounts, etc., but all it takes is one kid to try it and completely disrupt a classroom, and then we have trouble from everyone else's parents! I feel that, since parents are trusting me to monitor and provide the best for their children, I owe them my comittment to just that. Ah, life....when will you be simple? Suby Wallace Library/Media Center Nettleton Intermediate Center (5-6 grades) 3801 Vera Jonesboro, AR 72401 501-932-5650 swallace@nic.crsc.k12.ar.us or swallace @nettleton.crsc.k12.ar.us