child protection on a P.C.

paul2468

We decided to get our 10 year old son a laptop to help with his homework about 4 weeks ago....i clicked on history and found out he had been searching in google for... naked ladies...i know maybe thats what young lads will do put is there something i can put in place to restrict what he can look at.

bod1467

K9 Web Protection

sillygoose

Hi, well its inevitable of course!!!. My 10 year old did the same

People will be able to recommend various packages but in the first instance I strongly recommend you install a program called Safesearch on his laptop. Access to the program by you is controlled with a simple password you set.

Its only £2 and you can buy it simply online and pay with paypal, its unobtrusive and works very well. Google Search has a built in filter to stop it showing the more unsavoury results but unfortunately its far too easy fool.

This little app monitors and constantly ensures Google is locked into Safe Search mode. Tell him its antivirus protection, he won't even notice it in operation, he just won't get any too interesting results.

Not just Google either, it covers nearly all the other main search engines websites too.

Of course I also make sure that my kids know I will review their activities on the laptops at times and via the router can log who has been where on the web. A child soon takes the hint.


http://www.safesearchlock.com/

tyllwyd

Have you looked at Microsoft Family Safety?

bod1467

@sillygoose - K9 does the same thing, but it's free. (Or was last time I needed to use it anyway). You can't get any more MSE than Free.

sillygoose

bod1467 wrote: »

@sillygoose - K9 does the same thing, but it's free. (Or was last time I needed to use it anyway). You can't get any more MSE than Free.

True, but it depends on how 'hard' the parent wants to be in limiting this or other activity.. A K9 install is going to be more obvious. Smartsearch is very low key if that is all you need. Anyway fair point.

paul2468

sillygoose wrote: »

Hi, well its inevitable of course!!!. My 10 year old did the same

People will be able to recommend various packages but in the first instance I strongly recommend you install a program called Safesearch on his laptop. Access to the program by you is controlled with a simple password you set.

Its only £2 and you can buy it simply online and pay with paypal, its unobtrusive and works very well. Google Search has a built in filter to stop it showing the more unsavoury results but unfortunately its far too easy fool.

This little app monitors and constantly ensures Google is locked into Safe Search mode. Tell him its antivirus protection, he won't even notice it in operation, he just won't get any too interesting results.

Not just Google either, it covers nearly all the other main search engines websites too.

Of course I also make sure that my kids know I will review their activities on the laptops at times and via the router can log who has been where on the web. A child soon takes the hint.


http://www.safesearchlock.com/

Been trying safesearch on the free 20 min trail...i dont think it works with chrome...when i set up the trial then typed something into google it never blocked it...strange

bod1467

If you tried with Internet Exploder does it block it?

earthstorm

sillygoose wrote: »

True, but it depends on how 'hard' the parent wants to be in limiting this or other activity.. A K9 install is going to be more obvious. Smartsearch is very low key if that is all you need. Anyway fair point.

But using a locked K9 may be obvious, but that is then telling the child you are being watched what you are doing online, but when its hidden the child has no idea he is being watched, which when he finds out and most kids will as they are more savvy than adults these days they will hit the roof with anger and you deceiving and not trusting them.

googler

earthstorm wrote: »

....when he finds out and most kids will as they are more savvy than adults these days they will hit the roof with anger and you deceiving and not trusting them.

Who's running the household here? Who paid for the laptop?

What's the worst that can happen if a 10-year old child 'hits the roof with anger'?

Sharon87

If the child hits the roof with anger then the parent can take the laptop away or restrict it for say an hour a day for homework and not to be used in their bedroom! That's what I'd do if I was a parent!