Parental Controls...

[Caspar]

I've been asked to install some parental controls on a friends PC, for the protection of their kids, 12 and 13 y/o girls.

I installed McAfee Security Centrer 7.0, which I use...but have never used the Privacy Component...until now...

After setting it up a few weeks ago...there's consenus that the privacy component of MacAfee SC 7.0 is pants!

So, what are my options regarding replacing the parental controls...to secure primarily against:

1. Restricting hours to an automatic Internet deactiviation timings, such as weekdays 4pm to 9pm...and then weekends 7am to 10pm.

2. Some restriction on keyword filtering.


Any suggestions?

[MadGamer]

Originally Posted by Caspar

I've been asked to install some parental controls on a friends PC, for the protection of their kids, 12 and 13 y/o girls.

I installed McAfee Security Centrer 7.0, which I use...but have never used the Privacy Component...until now...

After setting it up a few weeks ago...there's consenus that the privacy component of MacAfee SC 7.0 is pants!

So, what are my options regarding replacing the parental controls...to secure primarily against:

1. Restricting hours to an automatic Internet deactiviation timings, such as weekdays 4pm to 9pm...and then weekends 7am to 10pm.

2. Some restriction on keyword filtering.


Any suggestions?

I was going to suggest using AOL, but then i might get slacked off by people on here. What about Net Nanny or NIS?

[Graham M]

Hahaha AOL

*goes back to sleep*

[jrhnewark]

12/13? How about telling them what they probably already know - dirty old men what to purve over them via webcam, and if you know how to find it, you can find tasty pictures?

Not only does filtering not work, it's a dangerous 'cotton wool' restriction.

1. I have some software that can do that, but it basically takes over the OS - not perfect. I'll keep an eye out. Oooh, 9/10pm - they'll love you when they end up with GCSE/A-level coursework that they work up until 1am on, and find they can't do research after 9pm.

2. There's always a way round it, and I'd be happy to show them.

Sorry, I seem obtuse for a festive day. [/rebel][... liberalness]

[Raistlin]

If you install a router (something like the Linksys one in my sig) you can restrict the hours that a PC is allowed to access the internet, you can also block certain sites by entering the URL to be blocked.

Not sure about any actual software though, sorry.

[Caspar]

Thanks peeps

jrhnewark - I'm not that concerned with content filtering...we've already had that convo with them..and they are well aware of the dirty perves that exist

Raistlin - indeed, but I've played with that already...but it's a ball-ache due to it kills the whole PC connected to that router ...so they're mother is restricted too, and she's not literate enough to be able turn the time restriction on and off

The McAfee product, in principle, was good as it assigned users to logins and then you simply disable the 'teenager' login, within McAfee.

The problem..is that it, as you say, took over the O/S and everything went to pot..

Isn't there something that uses the inbuilt Windows Network Users? This must be a niche...

[zoombini]

There is the IE content manager etc.

I keep getting told that the controls built into IE should sufffice.

[Caspar]

I'm more concerned to find a way to turn off ALL internet communication, inc MSN, at a certain time each day...makes sure the kids goto bed!

[zoombini]

AFAIK that can be achieved too.
I think a router can do it, although I don't know which.

Or maybe the scheduler can copy the relvent file somewere at a scheduled time & at another cheduled time delete one?
No idea which files etc though.

EDIT:

this looks like it may do the job?

[Flubflow]

I've used CyberPatrol and found it very good.

You can create a timetable for internet/computer use.
There is keyword filtering which can be applied to any program you add to the filtered programs list. i.e. of you add Internet Explorer and MSN Messenger then any naughty filter words used or displayed in browser text/chat windows will be blanked out.
You can turn on/off web content and newsgroup filtering. You can add URLs to allow or block ones you don't like that are not being blocked by the web filter.
You can deny access to individual programs too and have different filter profiles for different users.

There is/was a promotion from Comet for 1 years free use of Cyberpatrol ("whilst stocks last") then £25 per yaer after that......
http://www.comet.co.uk/comet/html/ca...ber_patrol.htm
but all I get now on clicking the download link is a broken server error page so I don't know whether the offer has really gone or the server is just temporarily broke.