Safe Internet Use

I am astounded at the lack of information some parents have on the Internet. I have helped a few people with computer problems and getting their broadband connected recently. I have been shocked that some older, less tech savy parents have allowed their teens and even children as young as 10 have unfiltered Internet access in their bedrooms.

It's not meant as a solution, but something to make people aware of the potentials dangers of not parenting our children online. Feel free to use this for whatever you need. It's also heavily plagurised from various websites, so don't publish it anywhere.

K9K9

I had been recommending some commercial Internet Filtering software until I found K9's free Internet Filter. This is a great product. Basically Blue Coat make enterprise level Internet Filtering software. Their products helps enterprises and service providers protect their users and networks from Internet threats and abuse, including spyware, phishing attacks, P2P traffic, IM and streaming traffic, adult content, and many others. The hardware they supply to large organisations and companies is too expensive for the average home user ,but here's the good part.

Blue Coat have released a software client that will use their same database of categorised sites that their enterprise hardware boxes use. K9 Web Protection is Web filtering software is free for home users. When you have it turned on, it prevents the computer user from viewing Web sites that contain unwanted content. It can block more than 55 different categories of content, including pornography, hate speech and sites that promote violence or permit gambling. The software is fully configurable to block or allow specific categories.

http://www.GetK9.com/

Free Registration Required

OpenDNSOpen DNS

What if the kids know more than you do about computers and figure out how to remove the software? A recent report found that 12% of teens were able to get around the Internet filters installed by their parents.

What do you do if there are non computer device connected to the Internet, like smartphones and tablet devices? If you can change the settings of the main point of entry in your home, the router or modem, you may be able to use this other free service from OpenDNS which replaces your ISP's address list and will only display safe sites. The added advantage is that it will also block a lot of malicious websites too.

http://www.opendns.com/familyshield