| Some Parental Controls allow parents to | | | | this kind of product tends to take a paranoid |
| designate different levels of access for each | | | | approach that covers areas other than |
| child.To help you better understand how the | | | | browsing the internet. These include:* Email |
| various parental control software tools can | | | | Do you really want to limit email access only |
| be used, here are the three main categories | | | | to known recipients?* Instant Messenger |
| of parental control software tools that can | | | | Again, kids are the biggest users of ICQ and |
| help your kids surf the internet safely.1. | | | | MSN instant messenger. As long as you keep |
| ISP restrictions.Your ISP can filter out what | | | | out the spyware Instant Messenger is not a |
| they consider unsuitable URL's. The problem | | | | threat* Chat rooms A lot of urban mythology |
| here is selectively changing the level of | | | | about paedophiles and chat rooms. Again the |
| restriction depending on who is surfing the | | | | right chat rooms are very well used and |
| internet so it's not easy. AOL have different | | | | useful for kids.Remember that you may change |
| login's to facilitate this and BT Openworld | | | | the categories at any time, so you can adjust |
| have their own gateway they you can | | | | your children's access to best accommodate |
| configure. It does however work well | | | | their maturity level or special needs.3. PC |
| filtering out child pornography sites that | | | | activity monitoring.This category of software |
| nobody should be able to access. The Internet | | | | package is typified by Spector Pro, KidsNet, |
| Watch foundation have come up with an | | | | eBlaster, Enuff and IamBigBrother Typically |
| initiative with BT known as 'cleanfeed' which | | | | monitor everything that goes off on your PC |
| stops ISP access to known child pornography | | | | and flags up anything suspicious. This type |
| sites.2. Parental Control Software by URL | | | | of program can really slow down an older |
| filtering.This generally covers packages such | | | | specification PC because they have to store |
| as Cyber Patrol and Net Nanny. Here you | | | | every keystroke and mouse, movement and |
| install a large lump of usually expensive | | | | browser URL. They often also have the ability |
| parental control software that limits access | | | | to limit access to predetermined time slots. |
| to sites deemed by the package providers as | | | | Another problem with this type of application |
| unsuitable for kids The problem here is | | | | is spyware checker sometimes flag them up as |
| firstly updating the URL list and secondly | | | | potential spyware because they deploy hook |
| you are dependant on the software | | | | technology to intercept keyboard and mouse |
| manufacturer to make the decision. Many free | | | | activity. These kinds of products have their |
| speech groups have found profound flaws with | | | | place if you want to pretend to trust your |
| this technique such as Peacefire (see Where | | | | kids and just confront them with the evidence |
| many political sites, in particular feminist | | | | once the damage has been done. |
| sites, end up being blacklisted. In addition | | | | |