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Thread: Parental Controls Software - Which One

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    Parental Controls Software - Which One

    I'm after some advice please, not sure which is the best filtering/parental controls software. Need to block dodgy content etc.

    Only one I know of is Net Nanny.

    Please advise which one you use (if any) or any other method.

    I've come across this advice but it only blocks pornographic sites - How To Block Pornographic Websites Without Spending Money on Software ยป Raymond.CC Blog

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    Comfortably Numb directhex's Avatar
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    Re: Parental Controls Software - Which One

    if your child can't be trusted on their own, don't leave them on the interwebs alone

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    Re: Parental Controls Software - Which One

    Net Nanny in combination with OpenDNS | Providing A Safer And Faster Internet should cover most eventualities. If you're children can get around both of these, I'd consider entering them for their IT GCSE early!

    (\___/) (\___/) (\___/) (\___/) (\___/) (\___/) (\___/)
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    (")_(") (")_(") (")_(") (")_(") (")_(") (")_(") (")_(")


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    Re: Parental Controls Software - Which One

    Quote Originally Posted by directhex View Post
    if your child can't be trusted on their own, don't leave them on the interwebs alone
    Good point but not always possible IMO. In this instance I'm after some software for a relative.

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    Seething Cauldron of Hatred TheAnimus's Avatar
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    Re: Parental Controls Software - Which One

    put the pc in the living room/not-in-there-room if you don't trust em.

    also don't buy them a webcam (it was actually at 6th form i remeber been most un-sympathetic too someone who'd left his webcam on, then started the gynocology research.)
    throw new ArgumentException (String, String, Exception)

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    Re: Parental Controls Software - Which One

    Quote Originally Posted by Lucio View Post
    Net Nanny in combination with OpenDNS | Providing A Safer And Faster Internet should cover most eventualities. If you're children can get around both of these, I'd consider entering them for their IT GCSE early!
    Thank you very much. Have setup the combo you recommended.

    Quote Originally Posted by TheAnimus View Post
    put the pc in the living room/not-in-there-room if you don't trust em.

    also don't buy them a webcam (it was actually at 6th form i remeber been most un-sympathetic too someone who'd left his webcam on, then started the gynocology research.)
    Good point about the webcam

    Unfortunately, they can't put the PC in the living room for various reasons. If NN and OpenDNS don't do the job, they'll have to have a rethink about location.

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    Re: Parental Controls Software - Which One

    I don't know what age group this is being aimed at or the circumstances of why it is needed, but you also have to think abut the level of computer literacy of the child and their parents.

    The chances are, the child will be more computer literate than their parents. So you have to assume that they will try and circumvent and limitations put in place. And I would put money on them succeeding too. And one this is done, they will also know how to cover their tracks afterwards. If the kid isn't capable of doing it them self, you can bet there will be a friend at school that can.

    This has definitely been discussed before. Probably on several occasions, and probably at great length

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    Re: Parental Controls Software - Which One

    I am going to agree with the sentiment that trust and agreement about what is and isn't acceptable is very important, and that any software you use won't solve the problem. Computer-literate teenagers will get around anything you put there - after all, these days it's not difficult to use a live-cd linux distribution to access anything they want to access.

    That said, I recommend K9 Web Protection () - it's only a web filter so if you need more than that then it's no good at all. It's been very reliable for me at blocking the categories you choose, and has quite a few advanced options as well. It also has minimal effect on system performance and doesn't seem to have many false alarms - and it's invisible except if it blocks something. Since it's also free, I'd definitely try it before buying something like NetNanny!

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    Re: Parental Controls Software - Which One

    Quote Originally Posted by PinkPig View Post
    snip---- - after all, these days it's not difficult to use a live-cd linux distribution to access anything they want to access.

    ------snip

    It is if you set up the bios to prevent bootiong from a CD - and password protect the BIOS setup facility. (Best put a case lock in place too so they can't reset the CMOS and get access that way) But if they are that determined, they'll just go to a friend's house anyway. You can put measures to protect your computer from your children, but ultimately you can't protect them from themselves.
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    Re: Parental Controls Software - Which One

    I use K9 too, what I like is that you can enter a password to allow a site temporarily. And it seems quite effective.

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    Re: Parental Controls Software - Which One

    Who is their ISP? AOL and BT have a free utility to restrict web access so if they are with them they shoul give it a try.

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    Re: Parental Controls Software - Which One

    Quote Originally Posted by killie99 View Post
    Who is their ISP? AOL and BT have a free utility to restrict web access so if they are with them they shoul give it a try.
    OpenDNS is very similar, the biggest downside is if they figure out what's involved and instead manually set the DNS record to a new setting.

    One thing I forgot to mention, try setting it inside the router configuration and password protect that, plus set it inside windows as a manual DNS entry. That way, they'll try to get around it in Windows, succeed and still be blocked unless they can research the IP address of another DNS server.

    (\___/) (\___/) (\___/) (\___/) (\___/) (\___/) (\___/)
    (='.'=) (='.'=) (='.'=) (='.'=) (='.'=) (='.'=) (='.'=)
    (")_(") (")_(") (")_(") (")_(") (")_(") (")_(") (")_(")


    This is bunny and friends. He is fed up waiting for everyone to help him out, and decided to help himself instead!

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    Re: Parental Controls Software - Which One

    Quote Originally Posted by PinkPig View Post
    I am going to agree with the sentiment that trust and agreement about what is and isn't acceptable is very important, and that any software you use won't solve the problem. Computer-literate teenagers will get around anything you put there - after all, these days it's not difficult to use a live-cd linux distribution to access anything they want to access.

    That said, I recommend K9 Web Protection () - it's only a web filter so if you need more than that then it's no good at all. It's been very reliable for me at blocking the categories you choose, and has quite a few advanced options as well. It also has minimal effect on system performance and doesn't seem to have many false alarms - and it's invisible except if it blocks something. Since it's also free, I'd definitely try it before buying something like NetNanny!
    Will have a look at K9, thanks.

    Quote Originally Posted by killie99 View Post
    Who is their ISP? AOL and BT have a free utility to restrict web access so if they are with them they shoul give it a try.
    Virgin Media is the ISP. Only 2MB so don't get frilly PC Guard software.

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    Re: Parental Controls Software - Which One

    A combination of netnanny and the opendns setup should be plenty. Might also be worth ensuring logging is enabled on the router so the parents can review what has been accessed.

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