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View Full Version : ISO: Internet Filtering Software


srahndennis
08-31-2009, 10:35 AM
Any comments/recommendations on internet filtering software? Our tween is using the computer more and it's time...

DH looked at this one on Amazon

http://www.amazon.com/CyberPatrol-CPC-1-12-N-SBXRT-Parental-Controls-7-7/dp/B001KF284U/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&s=software&qid=1251736467&sr=8-3

What do you like/dislike about yours?
bobmark226
08-31-2009, 10:57 AM
Do you have an anti-virus program installed? (I hope so!) There should be a good parental control section there for starters.

Bob
leightx
08-31-2009, 11:40 AM
I've been using K-9 (http://www1.k9webprotection.com/) on the kids' laptop, and really like it so far. I have it on lockdown after I caught them Googling for Miley Cyrus photos and finding plenty of questionable links and photos :eek:. I also have YouTube blocked, although I share stuff with them all the time, as long as I'm right there watching. It records every time they type a blocked URL, so I can monitor where they're trying to go as well.

I'm not sure if it's good enough to foil web-savvy teenagers, but it's worked great for my 9 and 10 year olds.
srahndennis
09-01-2009, 09:34 AM
Thanks for the responses! We do have anti-virus software ;) so we'll see what ours has to offer. Thanks for the K9 recommendation as well. Leigh, my sister has YouTube on lock down, too. My 9-year-old nephew and his friend were nailed searching for "girly videos". :D I don't *think* that DS has but I think we need to make sure!
Gumbeaux
09-01-2009, 10:03 AM
Leigh, my sister has YouTube on lock down, too.


It would probably be wise to have all videos on lock down. Most of the real "bad" stuff is not on YouTube anyway.
leightx
09-01-2009, 10:22 AM
Good point Gumbeaux. I do actually have videos on lockdown - it's just that the kids have asked me specifically about allowing YouTube. K9 has an awesome "adult content" filter (yep - I tried it out!).

Also, if you're running Vista, there are really good parental controls right in the Control Panel. The kids laptop has XP, so I needed something extra.
Gumbeaux
09-01-2009, 10:32 AM
I'm about to turn the grand kids loose on the laptop and the only way I can see to do it safely is to have a whitelist that I set up so that they can only go to sites that I allow such as Webkinz (http://www.webkinz.com/us_en/) and other similar sites.

There are too many "bad" sites that filters don't block and kids let other kids know where to go to find them.