Need parental control program for my son's computer. Recommendations?

[szh]

Hi, all.

I want my 9 year-old son's web surfing experiences to be managed till he comes of age. I am not worried about "hours and time" of use, but I do want to be sure that he does not get into XXX pictures or Adult sites, etc., till he is a lot more grown up.

The OS on his computer is Microsoft Vista Business edition. I know that Vista Ultimate has a "Parental Control" option, but what I have read about it, seems to imply that it does time management, but not sure if it does image blocking or site blocking. Does it? And is it as good as other commercial programs that are designed and sold solely for this purpose?

And the upgrade price of $130 (Vista Business to Vista Ultimate) makes me think that spending the money on programs like Cyberwatch or Net Nanny (or something else?) may be cheaper and better. But, I am not sure which ones work for Vista and how good they are, or which is the best!

So ... does anybody have any recommendations?

Z

[Kalok]

Hi, all.

I want my 9 year-old son's web surfing experiences to be managed till he comes of age. I am not worried about "hours and time" of use, but I do want to be sure that he does not get into XXX pictures or Adult sites, etc., till he is a lot more grown up.

The OS on his computer is Microsoft Vista Business edition. I know that Vista Ultimate has a "Parental Control" option, but what I have read about it, seems to imply that it does time management, but not sure if it does image blocking or site blocking. Does it? And is it as good as other commercial programs that are designed and sold solely for this purpose?

And the upgrade price of $130 (Vista Business to Vista Ultimate) makes me think that spending the money on programs like Cyberwatch or Net Nanny (or something else?) may be cheaper and better. But, I am not sure which ones work for Vista and how good they are, or which is the best!

So ... does anybody have any recommendations?

Z

I use a firewall that I built myself that runs on Linux. It uses a combination of Squid (web proxy) and DansGuardian (content filter) to block web pages.

The problem with running content management on the machine that will be used as the workstation itself, is that it is too easy to circumvent, not even intentionally. Processes crash. People accidentally, or on purpose, kill processes.

With this being said, managing a true firewall can sometimes be a bit difficult for most non-techies. In cases like this, pretty much any of the commercial offerings will do well for what you'd like to do.

However, if you would also like to log all IM conversations, as far as I know there is no Windows based offering for this. The logs that the IM clients themselves generate are trivial to circumvent.

If you'd like more info on building your own firewall, let me know and I will send you the white paper I wrote on building them.

[krazydriver]

kalok,

if you wouldn't mind sharing i'm interested in the proxy/firewall setup as well.My email is in profile.

Many thanks

[szh]

With this being said, managing a true firewall can sometimes be a bit difficult for most non-techies. In cases like this, pretty much any of the commercial offerings will do well for what you'd like to do.

I am a geek and can learn this stuff pretty easily, although I have not actually done anything beyond installing a NAT'ed SDSL router/firewall at home for incoming attempts on my SDSL line, and installing/configuring (some years back) a Cisco PIX at work for Internet access.

I.e., I know the basics, but not the specifics.

If you'd like more info on building your own firewall, let me know and I will send you the white paper I wrote on building them.

Yes, please - please send to "Syed dot Hosain at gmail dot com" ... this address is also in my profile.

I have a spare PC at home, that I can easily load Linux onto, and also build processes on that to do the monitoring and appropriate site/image blocking. Pretty much what you wrote about in the Gen Chat thread.

As I mentioned above, I am using a NAT'ed router for my SDSL access, and can easily insert this PC in series with it to monitor/block sites and traffic. I just need to know what to do to set the PC up for this purpose.

Thanks,

Z

[audtatious]

Here is a list. There is also besafe.com

http://familyinternet.about.co...t.htm

[szh]

Here is a list. There is also besafe.com

http://familyinternet.about.co...t.htm

Thanks!

Z

[GEO]

If you have a linksys router.. You can set the router to filter "words" in the URL for his IP.

[szh]

If you have a linksys router.. You can set the router to filter "words" in the URL for his IP.

Hmmm ... my router is an Efficient Networks SDSL router. I don't know if it is capable of such word level filtering. Time to drag out the manual and check.

Thanks,

Z

[szh]

Hmmm ... my router is an Efficient Networks SDSL router. I don't know if it is capable of such word level filtering. Time to drag out the manual and check.

Okay, my router does not have any firewall software ... only NAT-based. So, that is not workable.

At one time, firewall software was available for sale for it, but this is now old enough (the company was bought by Siemens and the products have been discontinued) that there is no support/software any more.

Z

[Uberck]

hey szhosain if you have a decent router just limit his connection by allowing his ip access to the internet only at the times you set it. then use keyword blocking to block words as sex, p0rn, you get it

[Uberck]

Hey szhosain one quick question. Do you guys both use the same computer? If not I would recommend grabbing a copy of TightVNC and setting up the server on your son's machine. Then set up the client on your machine. This way, at any time, you can remotely log on to his machine from your's and watch hat he's doing and he won't even notice (unless he knows how to check task manager and find the process lol).

Remote Desktop does the same thing and is built right into XP. The only thing is it isn't as subtle as VNC.

With VNC you literally take control of the keyboard and mouse while the user is still logged on. If you don't move the mouse or type anything he'd never know. With RDP (Remote Desktop) once you log onto a machine it logs the computer off for you to use, so there can't be two people logged on at the same time.

Man I can't believe how many people I've surprised w/ rdp. I was at school sitting in class, we just finished a test. I brought one of my buddies to one of the computers and I said 'check this out'. Then i logged right into my home machine and began downloading the daily show. He was like jesus wtf bbq? damn sorry bout the side tracking

[szh]

Although we do use different computers, monitoring is not a clean option. I am at work and not necessarily using my computer here when he comes home in the afternoon from school.

It would be easier to have some programs disable things appropriately!

Plus, my DSL router is not decent enough, I guess, since it is only a NAT firewall router ... no way to use keyword blocking! Is there a decent firewall that I can get and insert between my DSL router and the rest of the network? What would you all recommend?

Z

[Uberck]

dude easy. if he uses firefox to surf the web use adblockplus http://adblockplus.org/en/to filter keywords, if he uses ie then use the file 'hosts' located at \WINDOWS\system32\drivers\etc\here is what it looks like

---- Start hosts ----

# Copyright (c) 1993-1999 Microsoft Corp.## This is a sample HOSTS file used by Microsoft TCP/IP for Windows.## This file contains the mappings of IP addresses to host names. Each# entry should be kept on an individual line. The IP address should# be placed in the first column followed by the corresponding host name.# The IP address and the host name should be separated by at least one# space.## Additionally, comments (such as these) may be inserted on individual# lines or following the machine name denoted by a '#' symbol.## For example:## 102.54.94.97 rhino.acme.com # source server# 38.25.63.10 x.acme.com # x client host

127.0.0.1 localhost

---- End hosts ----

Say you wanted to block all files coming from nicoclub.com, you would add this line

127.0.0.1 nicoclub.com

i recommend that you install firefox on his rig since adblock features keyword filtering, unless you want to manually filter all the bad websites you come across. if though you plan on going the ie route here is a site that will get you going right away http://www.mvps.org/winhelp2002/hosts.htm
Modified by Uberck at 9:47 PM 8/8/2007

[szh]

Interesting! I had not thought about the modified hosts file solution (my son uses IE, not Firefox) you mention. I will look into it further ...

Thanks,

Z

[GEO]

Actually, just let the kid be... His friends at school are going to tell him about it.. Hes going to try and find out he can't. So, he will just go to his friends hosue where he can access it.

Just tell him if he asks you any questions that it is in your likeyness that you frown apun him going to such sites.

[Eikon]

Geez.. that's a great idea GEO.. Wait, better yet Z.. Why don't you just show him the p0rn yourself and get it over with..



in case it doesn't come across loud and clear.. I'm patronizing Geo for being retarded.

[Uberck]

<sarcasm>hey i agree w/ GEO. might as well give him a lap dance and feed him a six pack while your at it</sarcasm>

how is that hosts configuration coming?

[szh]

Actually, just let the kid be... His friends at school are going to tell him about it.. Hes going to try and find out he can't. So, he will just go to his friends hosue where he can access it.

Nine-year old? No, I don't think so!

Just tell him if he asks you any questions that it is in your likeyness that you frown apun him going to such sites.

Ri-i-i-ght!

Z

[szh]

how is that hosts configuration coming?

Got it working on my system ... next step is to implement on his.

Z

[Uberck]

sweet, i use router filtering to shield all the crap on the web from my bro's 10 y/o eyes so i know where you are comin from

[otterman]

Use a belt and the Catholic religion

[audtatious]

Use a belt and the Catholic religion

Didn't work with you...

[otterman]

Didn't work with you...

My parents didn't need parental controls to keep me off those sites when I was a kid. They monitored my time and actions online by walking in and checking on me, leaving the door open, having certain times that I could be on the computer. Those programs are lame for little kids like that. When they get into their teens and stuff I can see them being used but not that young.

[audtatious]

The problem with kids surfing the net is not that the kids are necessarily looking for p0rn, it's the amount of inappropriate content that comes up via totally innocent searches that have to be contended with.

From a "checking up" perspective, looking at histories will usually tell you what you want to know. Most young kids will have no idea about it or that they can edit and clear their tracks.

[szh]

The problem with kids surfing the net is not that the kids are necessarily looking for p0rn, it's the amount of inappropriate content that comes up via totally innocent searches that have to be contended with.

Exactly! That is my concern. Some months back, my son was a bit freaked out! He clicked on a link of a small Google image once, that was all innocent, but brought up the infamous goatse image. Those of you who have seen this happen, know what I am talking about and why I became concerned.

I do trust my son - he and us parents have a good working relationship. But I also want to protect him from things that are not his fault.

Till he gets of age.

Z

[szh]

My parents didn't need parental controls to keep me off those sites when I was a kid. They monitored my time and actions online by walking in and checking on me, leaving the door open, having certain times that I could be on the computer. Those programs are lame for little kids like that. When they get into their teens and stuff I can see them being used but not that young.

Hmmm ... I am not concerned about time of use. My son's computer is in our family room and we do monitor how often he is on, etc. We do not continuously look over his shoulder as to what he is actually doing. Usually, it is normal 9 year old activity (some simple video game sites, e-mail to his Grandmother, images of things he is interested in, etc.).

But, accidents happen (see my previous post) and I want to protect him from crazy stuff till he gets of age. That was the reason for my original post here.

Z