Most parents do not know how to control their children's internet activities. With the latest software programs available, you can now control the time, content and web sites your children visit while surfing.
Are your children spending to much time on the computer. Is it impossible to get them to stop playing games? Do you have the time to sit there and supervise your children? Would it be nice for your children to just get up and leave the computer after an hour?
You may want to consider using an internet filter software program on your home computers if you answer yes to any of these questions.
The internet is full of enormous resources and not all this information on the web is what you want your children viewing. Your kids may be subject to inappropriate web sites or violent video games. Parental filtering software can help you monitor what is viewed on your computer.
What can parental control filters do?
1. Filter Web Surfing
The majority of the internet filter software programs filter web site usage and block admission to websites that match up to about 50 different specific categories. The filters use a database that is either loaded on the computer or a database that is online to label web sites. Some filters will actually examine the content on each page. You can have the choice of tracking violations warnings that popup on the screen without blocking the website or merely displaying a warning popup window advising not to go further.
It is best to use a software that will allow you to have the decision of overriding the warning notice to allow access to the site the child is attempting to access. Sometimes the software may be a bit too aggressive and block a site that is appropriate. That is fine, go ahead and unblock it.
Along these same lines, remote management can be very useful. Many of the internet filter programs may inform you by phone, e-mail, or text message when these particular events happen and you can make changes from a remote location or just be aware of what is going on when you are not home. Great idea I must add.
2. Time Management
Filtering software will allow you to limit the amount of time your children spend on the computer. You can set the time allowance to be based on weekly or daily usage. You can set the software in half hour blocks of time or even by the minute.
Some filtering programs will allow you to set the time limits based on programs, internet usage or overall computer usage. Make sure the program you are using will not allow the child to change the system clock. The top programs will guard against this type of abuse.
Check for a program that will allow multiple users so you do not have to place similar limits on a preschooler and a teenager.
3. Manage Content Viewed
Logging their surfing habits may make you feel as if you are viewing your childrens diary, but nearly all internet-control programs do it. Most will at least log web sites viewed and any attempts to get to blocked websites. Many of these programs will also record the time that is spent using various programs, even log every keystroke typed, record both sides of e-mail or instant messaging conversations along with which software program the message was used.
And last, make sure the program is password protected and cannot be broken into to make changes on the filter.
Here are 3 of our top Internet Filter Software programs you can pick from.
1. SafeEyes Parental Control
2. NetNanny
3. BsafeOnline
You can go to our site below for full reviews.
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