Can anyone here recommend a good parental control (m)

[preschoolmom]

software for the internet?

Title says it all.

Thank you!

 

[FireDancer]

If you use either Vista or Windows 7 there are some very good built in child controls. It is important that you password protect the account the adults can use and create separate user names for your children with the account limited.

I recommend using the OpenDNS parental controls. If you filter at the DNS level, and make sure you don't allow the kids to have access to change the DNS settings, you have a really good solution.

Winsupersite.com is a good resource for the parental controls in Windows 7 (and Vista) and this Google search will get you a results page with a lot of info.

Keep in mind that no matter what you do to the computer, if the user account for your kids has access to change them they can just undo them or work around them. This means that they should also not have the password to access the router. No matter what DNS setting you apply they could log in and change them, and then they can access anything they want.

 

[preschoolmom]

Thank you! This is a lot of very good information.

 

[Polli]

I think the good program to control your children is Actymac DutyWatch.Try!

 

[Magpie]

Filtering software is great, but it's not the only thing you need. Some kids consider filtering software a challenge to be defeated. And as they get older it can make certain kinds of research a real hassle - such as looking up information on breast cancer.

The most effective thing we ever did was place the computer right in the middle of the house, where everyone spends all their time. That way, even if we're watching TV while one of the kids is on the computer, we can see exactly what they're up to. And they're not likely to want to do anything embarrassing with us looking over their shoulder.

We have access to their email, and they know it.

We also taught our children from a very young age to close the browser immediately if they accidentally stumble onto a porn site. My son must have been six the first time that happened to him, and he did exactly what he was supposed to do - closed the browser and came and told me.

"Don't worry, son. Those were just some bouncing ****ies. You're not going to go blind."