[Closed] Any internet stuff to stop the naughtier sides of the internet from being access

Try OpenDNS, requires a small amount of knowledge to get around.... http://www.wired.com/threatlevel/2007/06/opendns_launche/

do you need "different access" ? 😳

If not, openDNS would do you all - just reset yr router

I think you can prob set just her laptop to use opendns as a proxy but I don't know how

OpenDNS - easy peasy although it will stop you going to the M&S online lingerie as well of course

If you use OpenDNS you can set their DNS servers on just her laptop and not the router so you're free to browse M+S Lingerie and 'related' sites. If she's using another computer that's gettings its internet settings from the router (as all devices do by default) it won't have the same protection.

Alternatively set the router up to dish out OpenDNS's DNS servers but hard code your own laptop / ipad to use something else such as your ISPs or 4.2.2.1 / 8.8.8.8.

See http://www.opendns.com/home-solutions/parental-controls

[I am not a parent so maybe my opinion doesn't count as much as others.]

Much as there are some reasonably good pieces of net-nanny systems out there, they are all far from 'perfect'. No matter what you think you have set up; it would be perfectly possible to bypass it - so why bother with that approach?

In the same circumstance, I would:

1. Explain to your daughter that the Internet is just the same as everywhere else - some people are really nice and some are not. She shouldn't talk to stranger etc;
2. Keep the computer in the living room to begin with and be around when she is using it;
3. As she demonstrates to you maturity with it, allow her more freedom;
4. Make sure she understands that if she did come across a situation whilst using the Internet, under ANY circumstances she can tell you what happened and you wouldn't be angry and so on.

Sorry - you probably already know all this - it's just that I come across so many people that seem to think a bit of software can do all this stuff for them - it can't.

as an aside - these net-nanny tools can be a right pain too - they tend to block sites that, strangely, you might actually want your children to be able to access - things like LGBT info that maybe they don't yet think they can talk to you about. I know from personal experience that not being able to get hold of info like that and being able to understand things better was a real pain. (okay, in my case it was because the WWW didn't actually exist!)

Rachel

Brill Open DNS sounds fine, especially as I'll be able to still browse the M&S online lingerie website from my computer 😀

allthegear - you are correct in that it's easy to bypass but for an 8 year old the trick is to prevent them accidentally coming across something they aren't quite ready for. The stuff about computer in the living room is spot on but now it seems that ipods, phones etc. come with their own browsers so it is getting tougher 🙁

OpenDNS is nice because generally it seems to get it right in terms of what they can get to and you can just block the extreme stuff rather than everything. You don't want them to have a reason for trying to get by the block

Above all, as allthegear says, keep the computer in a public place in your house. We have found this the most effective reducer of troublesome content. (It won't stop it, but at least you'll know when she's stumbled over something murky and you can talk about it.) Bear in mind that many of her friends will have PCs in their rooms - so don't kid yourself that you can prevent access.

There will be wailing:
"you're the *only* parents who do this", "I hate you", "you're ruining my life".
All signs that you're being her parent, not her friend. Good luck with it!

I have installed this on my daughters PC:

[url= http://www1.k9webprotection.com/ ]K) Web Protection[/url]

I have it an all the highest security settings and i've set the option to shut down the internet at 8pm. Once it shuts down internet access, she knows its bedtime 🙂

Above all, as allthegear says, keep the computer in a public place in your house.

It's getting harder and harder to do this though: smartphones, mp3 players, handheld consoles, games consoles, tablet pcs, ebook readers, smart TVs, her friend's laptops etc etc could all go online, via your wifi (or even built-in 3G). 😯

OpenDNS is a good solution, because it prevents access at your router to ALL devices using it. But it is far from bulletproof. It might protect an 8 year old girl, but nothing gets between a teenage boy and pictures of boobies.

Rachel has it right, public place for the computer. When they become teenagers it's like whack-a-mole, you stop it in one place and they find something else. Also like on here they have a hive mind approach to PC problem solving. I eventually gave up when they were 15 as the router was running out of rules!!

+1 for k9 web protection.

+1 for the public place for pc, and having the talk!

I reckon once they're able to hack their way round open dns or similar obstacles, they're OK to start on the snuffpron

I eventually gave up when they were 15 as the router was running out of rules!!

I'm guessing that the age is now down to 12 unless you also block access to all other DNA servers so they can only use the opendns one. The force is strong....

I wanted to set up open DNS or K9 on my nephews laptop but I have not been able to get up there to set it all up and test it so just got hold of a hosts file to block a long list of sites and also added Facebook to the list as it was causing 'problems'.