ALTHOUGH the web can open up new worlds there are still some problems and pitfalls of going online.

One of the greatest threats posed by the internet is how easy it is for younger people to access websites with sexual, violent or illegal content.

Many parents will look at the much-heralded internet guardian software that claims to stop youngsters getting into the web's darker recesses. However, following research by the Consumers Association (www.which.net) it emerged that much of this software simply did not work.

The report suggested that even protected computers were able to easily access sites with sexual, violent or illegal content.

What is more, the software unnecessarily blocked access to harmless sites because they took innocent words out of context.

The solution to all this is simple though time-consuming: don't rely on mere software to look after your children's interests.

Programs like these are never going to be foolproof, and if they serve any purpose at all it is to underline the need for proper parental supervision where the internet is concerned.

Another equally annoying feature of the internet is the garbage you receive via your e-mail, known as spam.

Right now I bet there is a message in your inbox that promises vast quantities of money for minimum effort . . . or the chance to lose a few extra pounds in weight, for the minimum of effort. They all sound very familiar don't they?

Avoiding them is well nigh impossible because every time you type your email address on to a web page it goes into someone's database, and many firms sell their collections for e-marketing purposes.

However, you can take a couple of precautions by using your email program to filter out messages you don't want or simply right-click an offending message and choose to add the sender to your list of junk mailers.

Although the internet is potentially the most exciting medium ever, it's vital that it is the right sort of entertainment that is entering your home.