Control your child’s net activities

[Cliveil]

Statistics reveal that 90% of 8-16 year olds access sites with adult content on the internet. I wish to prevent my ten year old son from venturing into these forbidden sites. He has been recently initiated into using the internet and we have listed certain sites which he can visit on our PC at home. But I would just like to take some precaution. Is there any help?

 

[hellokitty[hk]]

90% of 8-16 year olds access sites with adult content

Thats only teenage boys...:haha:.

You can ask your ISP, I believe some internet service providers do allow tracking and blocking of websites, and certain programs too, just look at school computers these days. You can check your child's browsing history, but you can erase that quite easily. I can't help but think i'm missing something here, I might update this when its not 1:00 in the morning. Of course, it might be a good idea to prevent your child from going to adult sites, like not letting them stay up very early in the morning with their computer.

 

[poertner_1274]

I know there is software, but one of the best solutions is to put the PC in the living room where you can see what they are doing at all times. I know this is going to be how I have mine setup when my kids are old enough.

 

[Lanarkshire IT]

hi there

google K9 Web Protection from Blue Coat

Its a FREE (home use), web filtering application and its excellent for blocking sites. You just set an admin password and your up and running in minutes.

regards

 

[Technochicken]

If you have windows vista, it has a built in parental control function, which can be found in the control panel. You can choose to allow only specified websites for the protected account, and windows will send you an activity report for the account also.

 

[Goalie]

Any client based filtering/monitoring solution can be circumvented via proxies or other creative manipulations. Those which do category based filtering often misclassify sites, and new sites which are not classified appear daily.

The only foolproof method is indeed for you to sit with your child any time they are on the computer. You don't have to spy, but be present. And show them what the best course of reason/action is when they encounter questionable materials, and what to consider questionable.

The second best solution I can think of is set up your own DNS server, and blackhole any server that you haven't previously authorized. Then you know they are only visiting websites you approved. Downside if you're working with only one computer is everyone who uses it is limited to that list. If the kid's account isn't locked down (you are using user accounts, RIGHT???) they could of course point to a different name server, circumventing your system. Additional benefit of your own DNS server is you get to log all lookup attempts. The bad news is you'll probably have to create static entries, which creates headaches to update when servers move IP addresses.

After that, there are many filtering options available, as proxy servers or as clients. I don't recommend them under any case. It's better to teach sound judgement.

 

[Brigham]

Re: Control your child’s net activities.

Of course. Have you heard of www.kidsemail.org ? It’s a great site which makes internet experience for kids very safe and interesting. It is very reassuring for parents to know that they will be in complete knowledge of their child’s internet activities. The site allows a child to receive emails from those in their contact list, email a copy of incoming messages to the parent, remove images within emails, remove links within emails, etc. and other such features to safeguard internet access.

 

[acidosmosis]

Filtering software generally isn't worth ten cents of what you pay for it. The software typically blocks more legit sites and is more of an annoyance than it's worth.

I could be wrong and this could have changed in the past 9 years since I graduated from high school, but I would bet my bank account that it hasn't.

To the poster above; telling your kid to use a specific email provider isn't any more productive than telling them not to get a hard on when they see cleavage.

 

[Justin]

Of course. Have you heard of www.kidsemail.org ? It’s a great site which makes internet experience for kids very safe and interesting. It is very reassuring for parents to know that they will be in complete knowledge of their child’s internet activities. The site allows a child to receive emails from those in their contact list, email a copy of incoming messages to the parent, remove images within emails, remove links within emails, etc. and other such features to safeguard internet access.

That software is crap. Terrible product. Worst product ever.

 

[Justin]

But seriously, I have to agree with the consensus that a software solution will not get the job done. Kids are intelligent, and the earlier they are using machines, the sooner they will learn how to bypass any protections you put in place.

The only way to "be sure" is to "be there".

 

[DelJo63]

This is a touchy subject that easily wonders into First Amendment, parental control and education and morality.

There are products that do work -- but only on the system upon which they are installed. How do you control behavior when away from home?

With your ten year old, you can likely take total control and through frank and
open discussion EDUCATE him into your standards and teach WHY porno is harmful
to himself and the women that will be in his life. Then relax the controls as rewards when you see progress in his understanding.

I wish to avoid a flame war on this subject so I'll use the Private Message facility to
continue with you offline.