Parental control software
Discussion
Can anyone recommend some software, preferably shareware, to filter out the worst of the internet please? My 7 year old daughter can get surfing on her own and gets onto Google and Ebay with no probs at all.
I've tried the software on Internet Explorer and it's rubbish- most sites aren't rated so get blocked, including stuff like ballet shoes (and Pistonheads) FFS.
Would appreciate an alternative to manually enabling every site we visit.
TIA
Kevin
I've tried the software on Internet Explorer and it's rubbish- most sites aren't rated so get blocked, including stuff like ballet shoes (and Pistonheads) FFS.
Would appreciate an alternative to manually enabling every site we visit.
TIA
Kevin
Kevin
I've just set up CyberPatrol on my sons PC, I don't know if its the best but BT were doing a special offer.
It seems to just check the web address for key words but is better than nothing.
I noticed in last months Personal Computer World they reviewed about 10 different products. I don't have a copy but it may be on their web site.
Rob
I've just set up CyberPatrol on my sons PC, I don't know if its the best but BT were doing a special offer.
It seems to just check the web address for key words but is better than nothing.
I noticed in last months Personal Computer World they reviewed about 10 different products. I don't have a copy but it may be on their web site.
Rob
I suspect its better to install something rather than nothing. However, it is notoriously difficult to filter pictorial content. Filters work on words and the porn merchants know every trick in the book to get around these. I dont care what they say - no software or ISP with family filters (AOL etc) can possibly block every dodgy picture, site, email and chatroom.
The best advice I can give to any parent:
DO NOT LET YOUR CHILD HAVE A WEB ENABLED PC IN THEIR BEDROOM.
Put it in a communal area of the house so you can see whats going on. Password protect it so you can control when they use it (help prevent your child joining the growing number of obese children - get em out in the fresh air!). Also make sure you instill in them how important it is NEVER to give out their contact details/address etc.
As a related thing, try and discuss with them the sensible use of mobile if they have one - e.g. tell em not to text people they have met online and tell them to let you know if anyone is sending bullying texts.
>> Edited by jam1et on Monday 12th January 16:00
The best advice I can give to any parent:
DO NOT LET YOUR CHILD HAVE A WEB ENABLED PC IN THEIR BEDROOM. Put it in a communal area of the house so you can see whats going on. Password protect it so you can control when they use it (help prevent your child joining the growing number of obese children - get em out in the fresh air!). Also make sure you instill in them how important it is NEVER to give out their contact details/address etc.
As a related thing, try and discuss with them the sensible use of mobile if they have one - e.g. tell em not to text people they have met online and tell them to let you know if anyone is sending bullying texts.
>> Edited by jam1et on Monday 12th January 16:00
If you haven't got a firewall already, you could do worse than considering the version of ZoneAlarm that includes web filtering.
www.zonelabs.com/
I've not used it for filtering, but it's firewalling is pretty well respected (as far as personal software firewalls can be).
www.zonelabs.com/
I've not used it for filtering, but it's firewalling is pretty well respected (as far as personal software firewalls can be).
Roadrage said:
wast of time kids will find out how to sort it faster than you install it.
just teach em to be carefull in chat
and except they going to look for porn
its only natral they will look.
>> Edited by Roadrage on Wednesday 14th January 19:38
For teenages I agree, but this question was posted regarding a 7 yr old. At this age its more about protecting them from other people than from themselves.
>> Edited by jam1et on Thursday 15th January 14:15
there are some good sites with info for parents about letting kids using the net - have a look on
www.pin.org.uk/safety/familyCode.htm to educate your daughter then:
www.pin.org.uk/filtering/index.htm
for the software.
theres loads of links for protecting kids on www.becta.co.uk which gives government advice for kids
+ this one too:
www.parentsonline.gov.uk/2003/parents/safety/index.html
>> Edited by billb on Thursday 15th January 14:48
www.pin.org.uk/safety/familyCode.htm to educate your daughter then:
www.pin.org.uk/filtering/index.htm
for the software.
theres loads of links for protecting kids on www.becta.co.uk which gives government advice for kids
+ this one too:
www.parentsonline.gov.uk/2003/parents/safety/index.html
>> Edited by billb on Thursday 15th January 14:48
As said above and reiterated in the links above - it boils down to trust and communication with your children you have to trust them, and then need to be able to ask you ANYTHING, including "what are they doing daddy?" when kids come across the nastier side of the net.
Dont censor your children as RR says they will get round it anyway, ans stuff will still slip through the net.
Talk to them, establish rules, and dont try and control them too much let them make their own mistakes.
My 9 year old has her own PC oin her bedroom - hooked to net via my office Broadband - no filters but with firewall and anti-virus etc. She spends a fair amount of time on the net, surfing, chatting to friends etc, and we trust her totally with it, i DO NOT check logs etc of her usage and she does come to us if something happens and she cant sort it out (the usual one is 50 or so popup windows that she cant close down full of porn) but we are open with her, she knows what it is and thats that, she has even stopped giggling at it now, which is a good sign.
Dont censor your children as RR says they will get round it anyway, ans stuff will still slip through the net.
Talk to them, establish rules, and dont try and control them too much let them make their own mistakes.
My 9 year old has her own PC oin her bedroom - hooked to net via my office Broadband - no filters but with firewall and anti-virus etc. She spends a fair amount of time on the net, surfing, chatting to friends etc, and we trust her totally with it, i DO NOT check logs etc of her usage and she does come to us if something happens and she cant sort it out (the usual one is 50 or so popup windows that she cant close down full of porn) but we are open with her, she knows what it is and thats that, she has even stopped giggling at it now, which is a good sign.
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