parental control software

[zany]

Has anyone used a parental control software or internet monitoring software?
I have teenage girls and I want to make sure I know what going on.
They are good kids, but all kids can be easily influenced by peers.
My parents had no clue what I was doing at that age.

Any recommendations for software that actual work?

[zad0030]

Being a teenager I can tell you that there are numerous ways to get around blockers. Vtunnel.com is popular, but they are plenty more.

I dont know much about monitoring, but assume the same type of sites could get around it as well.

[zany]

Being a teenager I can tell you that there are numerous ways to get around blockers. Vtunnel.com is popular, but they are plenty more.

I dont know much about monitoring, but assume the same type of sites could get around it as well.

I'm looking for some reliable sofware that is not easy to go around, my kids are not the hacking type, or at least not that I'm aware of.

[ragboy]

SafeEyes is pretty good, and works on mac and windows. But its tough, especially in my house, where we have computers and laptops EVERYWHERE, and now 3 iphones etc.

I installed something called safesquid. I have a linux server in the basement, and I have my router block all outgoing traffic etc. The only way is through the safesquid proxy. Its a great solution, because everything in the house is protected, without any install of any software. However, it takes a geek to setup and stuff. But there are others proxy type packages out there, that are easier to setup, just cost $$. SafeSquid is free for home use.

[zany]

SafeEyes is pretty good, and works on mac and windows. But its tough, especially in my house, where we have computers and laptops EVERYWHERE, and now 3 iphones etc.

I installed something called safesquid. I have a linux server in the basement, and I have my router block all outgoing traffic etc. The only way is through the safesquid proxy. Its a great solution, because everything in the house is protected, without any install of any software. However, it takes a geek to setup and stuff. But there are others proxy type packages out there, that are easier to setup, just cost $$. SafeSquid is free for home use.

Thanks for the idea, but I not a geek and am looking for out of the box plug and play.

[ragboy]

Then give safeeyes a try. You install on your computers, and you can log into a webpage to view your kids viewing habits and stuff. And you can even allow and disallow from web admin, so you don't have to go to their computers all the time.

[samw]

Also depending on your router/dsl modem or wireless router they all have internet monitoring that log or you can set up to monitor or block sites. That is a start.
Just go into the modem/routers setup config.

[Guest]

Out of curiosity, I am going to start having kids in a couple of years, are you guys more worried about your kids browsing porn or talking with one of the freak pedophile types that tries to meet up with them? If it is the latter how do you monitor that? Do you actually read their email to check this? I understand this may be too personal of a question and respect if you choose not to answer. I have at least 6 or 7 years before I have to worry about it.

[ragboy]

all of the above. I tell my kids before they get on the computer, anything they view, I have logs of, and same with chat, and email. Being a huge geek and a programmer, I have the advantage. They are good kids, but I want to keep them honest, and there is so much victimization out there, you have to be careful.

[da.bell]

My ISP (aka, cable provider) provided me with a free copy of McAfee Security Suite that has parental controls in them. However, it does take some configuring regarding what age group and what sites that they can visit or even allow in some cases.

I turned that application on at one time but got tired of all the b!tching from the GF and her boys on why they feel like they can visit MySpace as a 13 year old child. She felt (the GF) that it was okay and I didn't so I said "I don't give a rats arse now so if there is a virus on the PC, don't come running to me. You'll need to take it into BestBuy and get it fixed because I don't care." Now again, it took the children 6 months to get access to MySpace and 4 days to get a virus after I allowed them access to any site they wanted. I love BestBuy tech support.

[spharis]

Vista's built in parental controls are really easy to use and monitor everything if you choose to upgrade on you next system. MS basically opened up security controls available previously to sys admins using DCs to home users. You can track everything you want, including time on the web, and disable. I am sure future OSes wil continue to improve and support built in controls.

Safesquid has a name like it was built on squid proxy?

[dogbert]

I reserve the right to examine their computer when they're not home and they know it. One of them got busted for letting their friend browse some porn sites. They lost their computer for several months. I gave it back only after I'd rebuilt the whole thing and locked down their IE. Now they can't change it unless they know my password.

My 15 year old is now so paranoid about spyware and viruses that he shows me every new site he goes to and refuses to install anything without checking with us first.

[spharis]

I reserve the right to examine their computer when they're not home and they know it. One of them got busted for letting their friend browse some porn sites. They lost their computer for several months. I gave it back only after I'd rebuilt the whole thing and locked down their IE. Now they can't change it unless they know my password.

My 15 year old is now so paranoid about spyware and viruses that he shows me every new site he goes to and refuses to install anything without checking with us first.

This doesn't apply to you; just throwing it out for anyone reading. Your password can be removed and/or changed in < 2 minutes, even the local admin one. If anyone is truly worried about what a kid is doing, good parenting is going to win out over control software anyday.

[dogbert]

Couldn't agree more. It's all about trust. It's not about the mistakes that they make. My kids know that if they betray our trust in them, there's big trouble ahead. Both of them have had their rooms cleaned out on more than one occasion. Then they have to earn stuff back through their behavior.

I'm still worried, though

[ragboy]

Vista's built in parental controls are really easy to use and monitor everything if you choose to upgrade on you next system. MS basically opened up security controls available previously to sys admins using DCs to home users. You can track everything you want, including time on the web, and disable. I am sure future OSes wil continue to improve and support built in controls.

Safesquid has a name like it was built on squid proxy?

yes, www.safesquid.com