I'm going to be setting up a high speed home network for a friend who has a young daughter at home. Do you all know of good software to keep out innapropriate content?
I think they will go with multiple logons, so the kid cannot mess up too much of the parent's files. I assume net filters would apply to the current person logged on, in a multi-environment.
Second Question:
In the past I know filtering software could not keep up with any kind of database of porn sites, just way too many. Is there good software wherein only certain sites are allowed (as listed by the parents), as opposed to listing what is forbidden? This seems more logical for a little kid who only needs Disney and to do a book report, let say, through national geographic.
You need a reverse-hosts file. The hosts file reroutes url's to IP's. (You can set it up so when you type www.billgatessucks.com it will instead go to www.microsoft.com) Best bet is the multiple logins, and if you can find a utility that lets you whitelist urls, you'll be happy.
Google has SafeSearch to filter out stuff from your searches, check the Preferences on the home page.
You can also set firefox.exe (Oh, you don't use IE, right?) to only your login, and use NT for 'Run as user' option, so the kids can't get online without you there.
Software which limits access is a complete parental cop-out:
1) They don't work. If kids want to see stuff, they will.
2) Hiding stuff from kids is actually saying, "This is the stuff you need to find."
Honestly, what are these parents thinking? What is the point in trying to limit what they can and can't view when there are countless ways around ANY and EVERY system you'd set in place?
How about, instead of installing all sorts of useless crap, that some actual sex education take place, and a good discussion about what love and sex is, and the fact that porn is NOT what making love is about, and that porn presents a distorted, and in many cases rather sick aspect of human nature.
Sure, we as adults know that porn is silly, and designed as titillation only, but to kids without any parental sex education, and guidance, it's guaranteed the eventual (and unavoidable) exposure to hard core porn will result in some very twisted, confused and un-natural thoughts about love and sex.
Mobius wrote:Software which limits access is a complete parental cop-out:
I think it would be more accurate to say that parents' depending on software _instead of_ educating their children is the cop-out. Using software (along with education) still seems like a good idea to me.
Disclaimer: I've never been married, nor had children of my own.
Testiculese wrote:You need a reverse-hosts file. The hosts file reroutes url's to IP's. (You can set it up so when you type www.billgatessucks.com it will instead go to www.microsoft.com) Best bet is the multiple logins, and if you can find a utility that lets you whitelist urls, you'll be happy.
Google has SafeSearch to filter out stuff from your searches, check the Preferences on the home page.
You can also set firefox.exe (Oh, you don't use IE, right?) to only your login, and use NT for 'Run as user' option, so the kids can't get online without you there.
You could also talk to your ISP and see if they have a proxy setup to filter said content out. Most schools go this route rather than use filtering software, which works rather well.
Mobius: Did it ever occur to you that the child in question may be too young for the birds and bees talk? Please, if you're not going to offer a solution to the discussion at hand, STFU! You were already told once to give the driveby posting a rest.
The best piece of filtering software: your brain. teach your kids about the 'birds and bees'. dollars to doughnuts they've already heard at least a little bit about it from their friends.
Once you know your kid has learned all this 'icky' stuff you won't have to worry wether they'll see it or not.
The parents have every right to make it very restrictive if they want to. I am just trying to keep it safe.
This does NOT need to turn into a sex ed. talk if the parents don't want to yet. If the kid is ONLY allowed to see sponge bob cartoons online, that is the parent's decision, not mine. If it was a sheltered, over-policed kid of seventeen, I'd agree with you all, but we are talking about someone quite younger.
I agree education is the key, and nudity offends very few adults, but I was asking a technical, not moral, question - in order to assist with an installation.
Nortons Internet Security 2005 Suite with parental controls would fit this requirement. Settings are login based you should define password for both firewall and AV to be secure, and then set the childs account to limited.
People around here will take any opportunity to jump on their high horse and start preaching. Stop being so ghey, we all know that education is the way to go but if the kid didnt have to see it in the first place life would be better. So people, answer the question if you can or STFU.
Here at work they use SurfControl. It seems to work well, although I haven't really "tested" it. It does keep me from various beer review websites, which is annoying, but oh well.
Now, Mobi-troll:
Mobius wrote:Honestly, what are these parents thinking?
Well, they probably love their children and are trying to protect them from harm. More kids could benefit from a little parental influence. Maybe your vast expertise in the subject tells you differently?
I was going to write something along the lines of "Mobius, I hope you have kids one day and then you'll understand." However, I wouldn't wish you as a parent upon anyone.
for a friend who has a young daughter at home. Do you all know of good software to keep out innapropriate content? 
