Does anyone have any recommendations for protection software for kids?

[Debra]

I'm interested in purchasing some type of NetNanny software. Any recommendations??

[mowse]

I'm interested in purchasing some type of NetNanny software. Any recommendations??
We have B-secure and like it.

[candeo]

I'm interested in purchasing some type of NetNanny software. Any recommendations??

It seemed to gum things up on our computer.

We may try Net Nanny here soon, as we're definitely in need of something. T has a friend who came to visit once and typed in boobs dot com when I was upstairs putting Z down for a nap. :eek: Never would have occurred to me that that might happen with a 7-year-old.

I want the blocking capability because I want our kids to be able to freely explore the Internet, without me over their shoulder, and at the same time to stay safe and ignorant.

We tried using the content blocker stuff on Explorer, but that was a complete failure.

[Storymama]

I think it sort of depends upon your aim with that sort of thing. If you have a younger child who might accidentally stumble on something objectionable and be freaked out by it, the NetNanny-esque stuff is the way to go. (Although I doubt it's an issue among YAAPS families, I have had computer clients that had zero intention of providing ANY supervision to young children on line before a frank talk . . . but obviously none of this is a substitute for that.)

If you have a slightly older child who is doing Curious Surfing type stuff, and knows they ought not to be, following clear boundary setting from the parents on the issue (...or is even just online when s/he ought not to be, and there needs to be more of a record) then you are probably wanting something more like Spector Pro (http://www.spectorsoft.com/products/SpectorPro_Windows/#top), a program that records everything that is happening for your later review. Although I (sadly) know of families who install it as a sort of "gotcha!" trap for their kids (it's marketed for catching employees using computers inappropriately/stealing corporate intellectual property) . . . I think it actually works best in the home when the kids understand that it has been installed, and have seen a short demo of what the parents can call up. (It displays an almost VCR-like recording of what's been viewed and typed over a span of time, and it's timestamped.) Knowing that their parents will be later reviewing exactly what was happening on the computer, is usually all otherwise-compliant kids need to stay on track. They will (usually . . . ) compute as though you are standing right there . . . even when you can't be.

The program is completely hidden - it does not appear on the Start | Programs list, nor leave shortcuts to itself anywhere. It does not appear on the Add/Remove menu, and it installs to an obscure subdirectory of Windows (or someplace else, at your direction) rather than to the Program Files subdirectory. It is called up to be viewed with an unusual set of keystrokes (which you can also reconfigure, if you choose.) Finally, it asks for a password before anything can be viewed.

This is what we've done with our own kids' computers over the past several years, although we are outgrowing the stage now where I feel they need those rules.

[Debra]

I'll look into your recommendations.

Mandi, I think you nailed what I'm looking for. I'm not looking to spy, simply to protect a curious 12 yr old who is getting a little...searchy. LOL Still very innocent, and unaware of what some searches may pull up, and I'm trying to keep it that way. ;) He knows exactly what we are doing and why because we feel much better being upfront about the whole thing. It's not about punishing him, it's just about protecting him.

[Storymama]

Good thinking :thumbsup:. LOL @ "searchy" - egggggsactly. When A was 12 she had to do a report on a country, using the alphabet as a guide. She had Columbia, and picked "D is for Drugs!" because of the huge coca problem there. Her cutout picture illustrating this included a banner ad for ways to beat drug tests, and you could see the site's pro-drug URL . . . yeah, that was a phone call I didn't feel like fielding from the school, so we did a little more judicious snipping around the pictures, and I realized that Google Image Search needed a leeeeetle more oversight around our house.

[Debra]

Good thinking :thumbsup:. LOL @ "searchy" - egggggsactly. When A was 12 she had to do a report on a country, using the alphabet as a guide. She had Columbia, and picked "D is for Drugs!" because of the huge coca problem there. Her cutout picture illustrating this included a banner ad for ways to beat drug tests, and you could see the site's pro-drug URL . . . yeah, that was a phone call I didn't feel like fielding from the school, so we did a little more judicious snipping around the pictures, and I realized that Google Image Search needed a leeeeetle more oversight around our house.

In our case it is a sudden...awareness...of japanese anime of gaming characters with...ummm.....larger breasts. :p It's perfectly in line with DH's and my own exploration at that age (actually more tame than mine as at 12 years old I had discovered my older brother's secret stash of "Oui" and "Hustler" magazines :eek:).

It's all good, just keeping a close watch on his "searchiness". ;)