Internet Explorer options for protecting kids online.

bob_a_builder

I've just started using Open DNS and it's based around your IP address. As many ISPs allocate dynamic IP addresses i.e. they keep changing, there is a small utility that you can download that runs when you start up your PC that updates Open DNS with your current IP address. If you don't do this you will lose your settings, perhaps this is what's happening?

Yes I'm on NTL/Virgin which is dynamic - but in practice seems to be pretty static.
Its only the blocking setting which are changing, other setting like blocking exculsions for specifc URL are not changing

But I should probably have the tool you suggest installed anyway, I did have it installled prior to a recent re-build.

This is all on XP btw

Does OpenDNS only allow one user per registered network to log in ?

kwikbreaks

As there are only two suggestions I'll add a third - Windows Live Family Safety.

http://download.live.com/familysafety

This has the advantage that you can manage it remotely (without having to use VNC and the like) - the child can ask you to permit a blocked site using email. You don't need it installed on your own PC.

Knub

demondoctor wrote: »

The thing is with a lot of security measures is that kids aren't as stupid as you think and can quite often get around them. A quick search on google woould probably give them step by step instructions, and more tech savvy children may be able to just figure it out on their own.

When I was a teenager, my father used to always try and prevent my doing things that I'm not going to go into now but knowing more about computers than anyone in my family it didn't take me long to get around it.
Although I must admit the new parental controls on Vista are pretty good, I put them on my laptop to stop guest users like my mates accessing certain stuff and they never got around them.

Yep, as I stated twice in my post! Always a way around, pretty much anything. Also like I said, Vista is pretty good at handling user accounts now and security is improved. Still never bullet proof though.

Having said that at the age of 13 if I had a child he would have all the restrictions I have mentioned plus anything that is available in the way off future But also, quite simply, as previously stated again, a bit of common sense approach with IT solutions cannot be beaten. I.E - Check what you're kids are upto and don't leave them for long periods of time unsupervised incase they are trying to implement some hacks around the measures you have put in place

My kids will never be more IT savvy than me. I have used computers since I was 5 and will probably do so all my life as it's what I do for a living too

gaming_guy

bob_a_builder wrote: »

You'd think so wouldn't you, but my 13year old gets round it (K9) regularly
when I check his system from time to time all the blocks have been removed

Same with OpenDNS, keep finding the blocking level has been dropped

Remember how it was only them who could operate the video recorders !

sounds like a possible keylogger to me if they can bypass both easily

albert123

Today Internet has lots of information that is being put there, whether it is valuable, informative, malicious, or even violent. Internet safety for kids is a must. Now parents can install software, brief their children about accessing the Internet and its dangers and how to deal with people they meet there.

Jaffa.

bob_a_builder wrote: »

You'd think so wouldn't you, but my 13year old gets round it (K9) regularly
when I check his system from time to time all the blocks have been removed

Same with OpenDNS, keep finding the blocking level has been dropped

Remember how it was only them who could operate the video recorders !

Try setting up K9 properly and using a password on both K9 and OpenDNS that you're child does not know. (don't save the passwords either)

OpenDNS is great and K9 - even better but you want to keep that parental control off the kids computer because they will only un-install it.

scoobysi

bob_a_builder wrote: »

Yes I'm on NTL/Virgin which is dynamic - but in practice seems to be pretty static.
Its only the blocking setting which are changing, other setting like blocking exculsions for specifc URL are not changing

But I should probably have the tool you suggest installed anyway, I did have it installled prior to a recent re-build.

This is all on XP btw

Does OpenDNS only allow one user per registered network to log in ?

I'm on XP too, just make sure that the utility starts up in the systray, if it doesn't there's a patch you need to apply.

You set up an account with OpenDNS, so only those with user/password should be able to log in and change settings.

scoobysi

moneymouth77 wrote: »

I reckon it's more valuable to be honest with kids. Tell them it's OK to be curious but you should be a certain age to go on the site, and keep it out in the open. I've done that with my kids, and they don't go on these site because they don't want to. When it reaches a point where they have laptops, again it's their decision, but we started that thought when they were very young (there are some things out there that there are taboos about, be aware of them).

I agree about honesty etc. but I use parental controls more to stop my (young) kids stumbling accidentally onto inappropriate content. Once they're old enough to override the security they're probably at that age where they'll need to make their own decisions about what they want to view.

Marty_J

My daughter uses Firefox with WOT.

She knows to only go to sites with the green circle beside them. That way she actually learns what's appropriate to click on and what's not.

Strider590

joe_pesci wrote: »

Jesus, get a grip Strider. You liberal sorts get on my tits.:rolleyes:

Games aint a danger to kids, i been playing them when i was under 18, done me no harm. People like you that get games like Manhunt banned.

Why is it ok for Kids to watch 18+ movies but games is a big no?:rolleyes:

Perverts & 18+ Gaming do not belong in same post, simple fact is, if a kid wants to walk in a school and shoot it up, he will. You don't suddenly start getting those thoughts because you played a computer game.:rolleyes:

Why not ban music,tv, internet,,games & all sit round a camp fire singing to trees.:rolleyes:

You have misinterpreted my post somewhat, I play (a little now) and have played PC games for over 10 years, I even played one particular popular FPS game in a top league team/clan and for the England team in the world championships back in 2000/1..... Those were the days, I tell ya!! only the hardcore and genuine gamers had broadband back then. There were no kids screaming down the microphone for hours on end or shooting/blocking team mates, it was truly an awesome era.
Sorry, off on a tangent....

But! I have also witnessed first hand, young children mimicking these violent games, ive been shot in the chest by a 6 year old with a BB gun who was shouting out explicit phrases from "Carl" in GTA SanAndreas (a game I also own). I also seem my ex's son asking me how to make a Molotov cocktail!
They shouldn't be playing these games, they're too easily influenced at that age.

The incidents you mention, of school shootings.... They have sweet fa to do with games, anyone who plays games will tell you that! it's simply easier to blame something you don't understand, than it is to admitt that the school or parents neglected that child/teenager's mental well being.
Bullying is one frequent theme in most of those cases.