Child internet restricting software

JHefile

Necrophilia Makes Me [H]ard
Joined
Jun 22, 2003
Messages
1,180
Hi all!

I'm building a pc for my niece and her mother wants software on it to limit the kid from either trying or accidentally discovering something they shouldn't be.

Does anyone have any first hand knowledge with these? I am really hesitant to suggest this type of program because it's of course spyware for the parents. But I worry about loading something that's not just for the mother but for something trying to phone home as spyware does. These must be bloatware too I bet.

Thanks for any suggestions.
 
One of the least intrusive ways without installing software (unless you install an IP updater) is OpenDNS.

Register for a free account at www.opendns.com.

You may have to install the IP updater software since it has to track which IP it's filtering content from.

Under Web Content Filtering, you can block the following: (These are my settings.)

Screenshot-2011-12-13_23.18.42.png


Below that you can block individual domain names.

It's probably the least intrusive way to do it.

With a bit of googling, I found this:
http://www1.k9webprotection.com/

I haven't tried it myself though. On the upside, it's free.

Here's another for $39.99:
http://www.netnanny.com/products/netnanny
 
Last edited:
There is a local app called K9 watchdog internet filter that you can use, its free
 
What the hell is "German youth protection?"

This category helps prevent viewing of youth-endangering content in Germany. Block pages for this category will include German text. You can override individual sites in the category to allow access, but you may then be providing access to content that is illegal pursuant to § 4 Jugendmedienschutz-Staatsvertrag (JMStV).

OpenDNS does not guarantee compliance with German law.
 
I took a look at both OpenDNS and K9. I decided that Open was probably not as user friendly as K9. The parent using this PC will be someone who is not computer savy. So I will choose to do the K9.

My question.. I want to make an account for the parent with admin rights and one for the kid without admin rights. If I install k9 on the kids log in I assume I can do that when prompted for an admin password? And if it's installed on the kids log in will it show up on the parents log in?

I'm pretty good with computers but i lack a little experience with multiple users and networking.

Thanks for the tips as always!
 
My question.. I want to make an account for the parent with admin rights and one for the kid without admin rights. If I install k9 on the kids log in I assume I can do that when prompted for an admin password? And if it's installed on the kids log in will it show up on the parents log in?
Thanks for the tips as always!

Be sure to first set the Administrator account with a password.

If this is a Windows 7/Vista box, if it's not Professional, you'll need to create the user account in the Control Panel, click on "Add or Remove User Accounts"



Then "Create a new user"



Name it and make it a standard user



Install the K9 software while logged on the Administrator account and configure it there. It should install and work for All Users of the machine, but the non administrative users (kids) accounts will not be able to make changes to any system settings or the K9 software without the Administrator password.

If the parents would like to override this setting, you can install and/or make system changes by right clicking ".exe" files and "Run as Administrator" and they will be prompted with the password.
 
Thanks for the help all!

I'll have all the parts this weekend which is nice because it will give me time to get to know the software before i deliver the PC on Christmas.
 
I've been using Windows Live Family Safety for about a year now with my kids' computers (they have limted accounts), and it works pretty well. I have it set up so that any sites they want to visit that isn't on the approved list are blocked. It also does time restrictions. I can make all the changes to their settings from my own computer and any computer they have an account on will see the changes immediately.
 
Back
Top