Protecting Children On Line

[Sumdumgi]

My kids are getting old enough now that I need a free program to limit what they see and hear. I have MS Win XP content advisor set but not many sites subscribe to that yet.

Can anyone suggest something here?

Thanks

[TheJackal]

I dont know any free ones, But have you checked out Net Nanny? Or even Norton Internet Security which has built in parental controls?

[Sumdumgi]

I didnt know about Norton, I have an old vs of it, i think 2002, maybe I will try it. Thanks Jack!

[not important]

Go to Google and type in "Partental Control for Internet"

[yellohut]

I have heard really good things about bsafe online (http://www.bsafehome.com/) although I don't have any experience with it myself.

[Miz]

Check out Tools For Families. Links to numerous programs for monitoring and filtering internet usage.

[Mac Medic]

Lock down the computer and only let them use it with your supervision, it's free and effective.

[compusport]

you can also check with your ISP...Alot of them have some kind of filtering that's included with your subscription

[QuickSilver]

Try downloading this: http://www.spamblocked.com/proxomitron/
It's free. It is not a monitor and does not keep them from entering web sites, but it does stop virtualy all add banners, popup windows, and other things that most often contain offensive content. I use it on my own computer and it works extremely well. There are some download sites around that have a lot of cool stuff, but they are supported by porn. If you ever go into one of these you will get a landslide of literally 15-20 popup windows displaying all kinds of crap. Using this program, I went to the same site where this had happend to me before, and not a single popup came up, zip, nothing. No nasty pics. NOTHING.

[GreenBMP]

Make sure you get one that blocks only sites that ARE offensive not some that have words which might seem like etc. Since if someone is looking for something they can always find it w/ internet connection. They don't have to go through www.

[imbest123]

Why do you want to punish your kids? My parents never did that to me. If they look an innapropriate thigns they are either curious or its the stage of lfe they are going through. Im sorry of saying this and I know that I might get warned for it but I think that it sucks for the kids. Also for those of you that dont know im 17 years old so that might be one reason that im defending this, im just trying to state my opinion and be honest aboot it.

[QuickSilver]

Well, at leat you are being honest, but your post shows a lack of maturity. My parents did not do that with me either. Looking back, I wish they had. They will find out about these things later in life when they are better equiped to deal with them. Exposing them to garbage for no good reason at a young and vulnerable age will do them no good.

[Sumdumgi]

Originally posted by imbest123 Why do you want to punish your kids? My parents never did that to me. If they look an innapropriate thigns they are either curious or its the stage of lfe they are going through. Im sorry of saying this and I know that I might get warned for it but I think that it sucks for the kids. Also for those of you that dont know im 17 years old so that might be one reason that im defending this, im just trying to state my opinion and be honest aboot it.

Its okay for you to state your opinion when an opinion has been asked. I dont believe I asked for it and this forum is not to be used for this. If you want to start a flame war then go somewhere else to do it. This is how the flame wars get started.

PC Mechanic in the past has been a help site not to be used to further ones agenda or give unwanted opinions. Do you really think I would have never thought of your opinion on my own? Your opinion offers me nothing for help or learning value. All it did was get one more post added to your name and potentially start a flame war. A really big contribution to the forums. (1756 posts since July, I hope they had some value to them)

I am not punishing my kids. I am loving them. When I punish them thats because they have done something to hurt themselves, in this case they havent done anything and I want to keep it that way. My kids are good CHRISTIAN Kids. I am sure you never got spanked but my kids do. Life is tough enough to get thru as we grow older without being addicted to gambling, pornography or other harmful things not to mention being contacted by child molesters thru chat groups which has possibly already happened to my 11 yr old daughter.

When you watch a Natl TV, family prime time event and see an old entertainer like Ms Jackson flop a boob out when you least expect it then you know that your kids are going to be inundated with this stuff on the Internet. I want only the best for my kids and they know it. Someday after you have raised some kids and have some responsibility maybe you will have a different opinion. I hope so for you and your kids sake.

I remember this age your at. When I was 17, I would have thought it sucked to. But I didnt know much about life or parenting then either...Enjoy your care free life son, its about to get a whole lot more serious over the next 10 years.

[GreenBMP]

Well the best thing might be not to let the kids, if they are pretty young not use the computer without supervision. I'm guessing things can get through most filters.


arjoiwejwiofjwiofmaybechristianityistheproblemfjlasjflsjflksjfklsajfksa

[mystvearn]

Place pc in family room , that way they need to do everything there. So you can watch them.

[QuickSilver]

Well said Samdumji. I also agree that having the computer in a family area is not at all a bad idea.

[Mac Medic]

Originally posted by Sumdumgi Someday after you have raised some kids and have some responsibility maybe you will have a different opinion

You hit the nail on the head right there, It is your responsibility to protect your kids from the internet and any other things in life. No filters in the world are going to compare to your supervision and no matter how trustworthy children are they will be exposed to things you don't want them exposed to.

[reboot]

The best "free program" to monitor/filter internet content, is a parent's supervision.
If you think you can rely on someone else's idea of "protection", then you are possibly as misguided as the money grubbers that write "net nanny" types of software.
They know it doesn't work, yet they keep marketing it to those who will spend money on it, laughing all the way to the bank.

[Sumdumgi]

This whole question has gone in the dumper...Hello? the question is asking for help, not your opinions for how to raise a kid or comments suggesting one whom employs technology (Parental Control Software) is misguided. Give me a break!? Dumb bombs are misguided...Not Smart Bombs, although they do miss by a few feet now and then, thats no reason to say dont use them.

I agree that adult supervision is best but as anyone with kids can attest, we are not always around to see everything they do. Most people with Kids are smart enough to know that all the human prevention methods we use to protect our children are not enough by themselves.Thats why people who write software, Net Nanny etc... are getting rich, and thank God for them and others. They have that right to get rich for providing a service that helps others. Microsoft and the Federal Govt's best minds cant stop hackers but you believe that the people at Net Nanny and those who use the software are misguided? Anyone running a firewall or spy software please turn it off as we are misguided...? Where is the logic in that? How about if you dont employ technology that is there to help, then you are misguided...

[reboot]

OK, I apologise for not making myself clearer.
1.) The best is parental supervision.
2.) The next best is some sort of software.
If you think that the software is infallable, or impenetrable, see #1.

[doctorgonzo]

Using software like Net Nanny isn't necessarily misguided, it is just not enough. It won't block some sites that should be blocked and it will block other sites that shouldn't be blocked. Like a firewall or an anti-virus program, it is only a tool. If the tool isn't used correctly, it doesn't do any good. And relying on only one tool is like locking your door but leaving all the windows open.

Any software option is going to increase your hassle: you are going to have to install it, configure it, download updates to blocking lists, and monitor usage logs if it is to do any good. Whether this hassle is acceptable compared to other methods of cutting down on harmful Internet use is up to you.

[Mac Medic]

First off I would say if you don't want opinions, don't ask questions. Secondly I think we have been fairly clear, there is no substitute for parental supervision, this is both my opinion and suggestion. Lock down the computer, use a bios password and user account passwords, place the computer in the family room, and set firm guidelines that cannot be broken or the computer will be removed permanently. Only allow the children to use the internet while an adult is there, thats is the ONLY way you can be sure of the content that your kids are exposed to. You said yourself that the government can't prevent things that happen, so why trust parental control software to prevent things happeneing to your children. If you want to use it, go ahead, that seems to be what you want to hear, but is far from being my helpful advice.

Now, I apologize if this offends you or isn't the help you were looking for, but these are basic facts. No software will protect your children regardless of how it is marketed and how well it professes to work.

[Sumdumgi]

Its OK to give an opinion that is helpful, not one that is insulting. I am aware of all that you say as you can read from my posts. I just wanted an additional layer of protection thru software.
Thank you all who helped.

[GreenBMP]

I'm guessing just use any well-known software, and set up your computer so they can't DL software and install it on computer w/out permission. To prevent getting a virus or inappropriate material to be download through sites which would normally not be blocked. I'm pretty sure there is some "christian" search engines, i think i've seen a few before. Make that homepage and lock it. And you can remove the adress bar. You can put these settings have the software run on a diff. windows user made especially for your kids and it wont bother you.

http://www.neosoft.com/parental-control/ntable.html

This one is free, atleast it says so

http://www.we-blocker.com/

[Sumdumgi]

Thanks GreenBMP, I will try that.

I thought I had Norton Internet Security bundled in my Norton Utilities software but I was wrong.

[Miz]

Nothing of any use on the Tools For Families? I've never tried any of it because I don't have kids.

I often recommend that page but if nothing there is of any use, do let me know so I can stop recommending it. Thanks!

[Sumdumgi]

Sorry Miz. I didnt see where you had mentioned this before. Looks like a great one stop shop site for comparing all products. I have bookmarked so I can recommend to others as well.

[Shiva]

There are default filters that come w/internet explorer.
If you open your IE, it has 'tools' up at the top.
tools>internet options>content>enable>you should be able to take it from there.
In case you don't want to go through downloading a bunch of software and stuff.

By the way, as a 14-year-old girl, I totally understand how imbest123 feels. I think if my mother would have sheltered me to such a degree as other people's parents have, I would not have turned out as the person I am today. Still, I guess I see why kid's parents are concerned...the internet is a strange place. With all of those kids getting murdered by people they met online.