Parental Control Software - Step too far?
Discussion
Right having fixed the "family" PC I'm now allowing my nine year old son access to the internet. I've set up Norton to restrict the sites he can visit but I'm not totally convinced this is 100% effective.
I'd be interested to hear what other PHers use (recommendations are hard to come by on t'internet) and also how they view the use of this particular type of covert monitoring. I've looked at key loggers as well but I'm not sure if this really is a step too far.
Mods - As this is a general discussion as well as a technical one I'd appreciate it if you kept this subject in the P&P rather than move it to the computer section.
I'd be interested to hear what other PHers use (recommendations are hard to come by on t'internet) and also how they view the use of this particular type of covert monitoring. I've looked at key loggers as well but I'm not sure if this really is a step too far.
Mods - As this is a general discussion as well as a technical one I'd appreciate it if you kept this subject in the P&P rather than move it to the computer section.
http://www.opendns.com/
Free, and no need to install any software. (Which is good, as we have 6 PC's in the house, running "Non-Windows" systems)
Free, and no need to install any software. (Which is good, as we have 6 PC's in the house, running "Non-Windows" systems)
Zen. said:
At nine, he really should be using a PC that is in a room where he's supervised. I'd also be limiting his time on it.
Very effective.
By the time I was 11 I had unrestricted access completely unsupervised with my own PC in my room
And I've turned out okay. Infact the internet has probably made me dummer, so it's ironic that I fit in so well here.
Zen. said:
At nine, he really should be using a PC that is in a room where he's supervised. I'd also be limiting his time on it.
We limit his time on the PC just as we do on the Playstation etc. Unfortunately the PC is in the office upstairs; there really is nowhere else to put it but obviously we pop our heads around the door every now and again. Laptop not an option at the moment (cannot justify the expense).Edited by merc_man on Friday 5th December 10:43
My son who has just turned 9 has K9 web protection installed on his pc after suggestion on here (in the computer section;)
), my real concern was you-tube due to occasional adult content on there
It seems to work well but in addition his pc is next to mine in my office , i dont agree in kid having computers or TV in bedrooms
), my real concern was you-tube due to occasional adult content on there It seems to work well but in addition his pc is next to mine in my office , i dont agree in kid having computers or TV in bedrooms
I've recently installed a piece of parental control software called Brightfilter and it seems to work pretty well. Each user is assigend to a category - 18, 15, 12 etc so pretty much like film classification. This determines the type of sites that can be accessed by each user. Custom profiles can be created and time limits can be created for each user too.
We do have the PC in a family room but obviously can't be there all the time the PC is in use so this gives peace of mind.
We do have the PC in a family room but obviously can't be there all the time the PC is in use so this gives peace of mind.
Edited by GreenDog on Friday 5th December 10:48
My 8 and 10 year olds have PCs in their rooms with K9 protection enabled. I find they limit themselves pretty well, they get bored after about an hour and go off to play with leo, read books etc.
The house rules:
Bedroom doors open at all times when computers are on for random inspection
No chat systems (MSN etc). These are blocked at the router anyway.
No clicking on averts, banners etc without checking with us first (ok this one probably they do sometimes break but K9 catches them)
No installing of downloaded software without checking with us first.
Your PC is subject to inspection for files, links etc at any time
No Computer after 6PM or before School.
This works pretty well, they occasionally accidentally install something by following a link but I clean their PCs out once a month to keep on top of that.
Not yet found anything dodgy on their PCs just the odd game. The rules will soften as they get older but right now they know they are under close scrutiny.
The house rules:
Bedroom doors open at all times when computers are on for random inspection
No chat systems (MSN etc). These are blocked at the router anyway.
No clicking on averts, banners etc without checking with us first (ok this one probably they do sometimes break but K9 catches them)
No installing of downloaded software without checking with us first.
Your PC is subject to inspection for files, links etc at any time
No Computer after 6PM or before School.
This works pretty well, they occasionally accidentally install something by following a link but I clean their PCs out once a month to keep on top of that.
Not yet found anything dodgy on their PCs just the odd game. The rules will soften as they get older but right now they know they are under close scrutiny.
bigdods said:
The house rules:
Bedroom doors open at all times when computers are on for random inspection
No chat systems (MSN etc). These are blocked at the router anyway.
No clicking on averts, banners etc without checking with us first (ok this one probably they do sometimes break but K9 catches them)
No installing of downloaded software without checking with us first.
Your PC is subject to inspection for files, links etc at any time
No Computer after 6PM or before School.
Hot damn, they're 8 and 10 - They're (presumably) not even in high school yet. Are you expecting them to have a stash of lesbian pornography that makes yours pale in comparsion?Bedroom doors open at all times when computers are on for random inspection
No chat systems (MSN etc). These are blocked at the router anyway.
No clicking on averts, banners etc without checking with us first (ok this one probably they do sometimes break but K9 catches them)
No installing of downloaded software without checking with us first.
Your PC is subject to inspection for files, links etc at any time
No Computer after 6PM or before School.
Sound enough rules, but I hope they're not dictated so authoritively to them!
Heskey said:
bigdods said:
The house rules:
Bedroom doors open at all times when computers are on for random inspection
No chat systems (MSN etc). These are blocked at the router anyway.
No clicking on averts, banners etc without checking with us first (ok this one probably they do sometimes break but K9 catches them)
No installing of downloaded software without checking with us first.
Your PC is subject to inspection for files, links etc at any time
No Computer after 6PM or before School.
Hot damn, they're 8 and 10 - They're (presumably) not even in high school yet. Are you expecting them to have a stash of lesbian pornography that makes yours pale in comparsion?Bedroom doors open at all times when computers are on for random inspection
No chat systems (MSN etc). These are blocked at the router anyway.
No clicking on averts, banners etc without checking with us first (ok this one probably they do sometimes break but K9 catches them)
No installing of downloaded software without checking with us first.
Your PC is subject to inspection for files, links etc at any time
No Computer after 6PM or before School.
Sound enough rules, but I hope they're not dictated so authoritively to them!
k me, internet Gustapo ...Eddh said:
Christ you lot really are a bunch or nosey feckers 
I never had monitoring software on my PC. Any kid that is up to scratch with PCs could remove it anyway. We used to run riot on the network in school when I was there.
That completely depends on how the thing is setup to begin with. "thing" being the pc/network/software on it etc. I never had monitoring software on my PC. Any kid that is up to scratch with PCs could remove it anyway. We used to run riot on the network in school when I was there.merc_man said:
Right having fixed the "family" PC I'm now allowing my nine year old son access to the internet. I've set up Norton to restrict the sites he can visit but I'm not totally convinced this is 100% effective.
then you would be right, get rid of norton full stop its pants.use free av software like, avast, avg etc, then k9
have norton running and you may as well just give up any chance of security on your machine.
Crusoe said:
yeah, lock down one local admin account and password and only give other accounts general access with restrictions on registry entry so they can't change any software or install any new stuff.
If they were savvy enough they would just chuck another HDD in whenever they wanted to do any 'titty browsing' and boot off that where they have access as a local admin and can do what the feck they want This is one of the techniques we employed.
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