I love computers. They are wonderful, powerful, useful tools. But they are also horrible temptations, especially for children.
If your computer is connected to the Internet, it’s connected to some of the greatest theological works in history — and enough pornograph to destroy a society. Therefore, I think it’s important that any children accessible to a child have software that blocks dangerous websites: pornography, gambling, all sorts of things that children shouldn’t be exposed to.
Two of the best programs are now available for free or nominal cost, according to PC Magazine —
Net Nanny is one of the more comprehensive parental control tools available. It offers all of the expected parental control features as well as some useful and unusual ones. And during the month of June you can get a full-year Net Nanny subscription for free. All you have to do is visit the Net Nanny Facebook page and click “Like.”
If you’re interested, don’t waste any time. The giveaway nominally runs through the last minute of June 30, 2011, but Net Nanny is giving away a maximum of 2,000 copies. …
AVG is also running a promotion in June. While it isn’t a giveaway like Net Nanny’s offer, you can get AVG Family Safety for a 99-cent donation to Red Cross family aid efforts in Joplin. Whichever offer you choose, June is a great month to get free or low-cost access to advanced parental control software.
AVG Family Safety just won the PC Magazine Editor’s Choice designation as best in class, but Net Nanny has been an Editors Choice many times in the past. Both are excellent programs.
Norton has a free "Family Safety" program which we are using effectively with the 8 and 11 yo sons to place sensible limits on content and time spent. https://onlinefamily.norton.com/
Here is some advice from a recovering porn addict and security analyst… K9 Bluecoat.; It is 100% free, several out of the box options, log sent to accountability partner, and website specific allow/deny customizable. I am also a user! A preacher buddy gets my log and my wife has the password to the config file.
http://www1.k9webprotection.com/
Charis,Thanks for the recommendation. I checked a couple of reviews and they are generally very favorable with one caveat. This is from PC Magazine: “It can't filter secure HTTPS traffic, though, so if a clever teen gains access to a secure anonymizing proxy website all bets are off.”All four of my sons could have cracked the program while teens with that hole in it — and at least one would have done so just to prove that he can.So it won’t work for computer-savvy kids. But for many kids, it looks to be a great option.
<a href="http://parental-control.findthebest.com/http://parental-control.findthebest.com/<br />This link will take you to a site that allows a very comprehensive comparison of parental control software programs, prices, and expert reviews from PC Magazine and CNET. Select the programs you want to compare and then click the big Compare button.Very helpful.
HG,Thanks for your post. All,For those struggling in this area, there’s nothing like a program that allows your viewing to be checking by an accountability partner.
Is there a free and easy way to block Youtube on my laptop?
RJ,
Check out Netnanny. Other reviews.
http://www.consumersearch.com/parental-control-software
http://parental-software-review.toptenreviews.com/
http://www.techradar.com/us/news/software/applications/best-free-parental-control-software-9-programs-to-keep-your-kids-safe-1140315
I know of some preachers who use software to block particular sites on their computers and set up the software so that a friend gets an email telling him of any violations – as a means of keeping themselves accountable.
Maybe some other readers can recommend particular programs.