internet filter

[jbolton]

One of my kids just started high school. He is in a space and engineering program that requires all of his assignments for the physics class to be completed using a computer. We bought him a laptop but I don't want him getting side tracked searching porn sites. Can anyone recomend a good filter or program to block him from accessing sites he shouldn't be visiting?

[Ricky-Ray]

I've never tried it but I've heard lot's of good things about Net Nanny.

[hermosabeach]

Microsoft has a program a friend uses for the 10 year old

In order to go to a site not in a list he set up, the computer prompts "ask an adult". Dad gets a pop up at work and can grant approval or mom can type a code

It also lists every google search/ web search.

Be gets a weekly report

For high school I think the weekly report would be a starting point and then restrict based upon behavior

All kids will see stuff that you might not feel they are ready for but that is true of almost everything as a parent.

I guess determining how much porn or video content is OK and how much time/ how many searches is OK?

[Gunhead]

If he's a smart kid, he'll find a way around whatever you put on there. I know I did.

[Ninety]

router settings?

[TML]

Go for router settings, find a "kid friendly DNS server" and use that on your kids computer, will keep them from hitting the tubes.

[Peter.Steele]

Try actual parental supervision. That works better than some software filter.



ETA: For once, I wasn't trying to be a jerk. That just came out the wrong way, I think.

[the86d]

What my son does on his phone in the bathroom, on his time is his own business...
The computer that I have to re-setup, on my time, is mine.

My chiropractor was using a really good one that I couldn't even find much about until I dug deep. I cannot recall what it was.

I have never used one myself, as I don't want to unblock all the time, but google "christian anti-porn site block" no quotes might help you. Try a few, and you should have good results.

I know on my router I can set a computer/ip to not get any pages that have specific words and it give them a page that just say that the "Admin has blocked the content of this page" i.e. sex, gay, vagina, anal, blow*, fellatio, etc, but the list kept getting added to...

Since he was on his notebook, at like 4 in the morning chatting verbally, but quietly w/ his girlfriend, and I thought I was hearing voices (yeah that bad, as he was so sneeky and sly that by the time I got out of bed and opened his door, he appeared to be sleeping, and I thought I was really hearing voices in my head [before I was a firearm owner, go figure] for multiple mornings until I realized that the laptop plug was in the wall and put 2&2 together)... he is not allowed a computer in his room anymore.

The kids' main computer is in the kids play room, and we can see the screen from the main walkway to the door, stairs, kitchen, living room. (Put that in your pipe and smoke it, son...)

Of course, if he gets a USB stick with Linux on it, or a Live CD/DVD distro and boots to that, the only way you could block that is at the router, I assume. However if your neighbor WiFi is only using WEP encryption (cracked in minutes with Linux), and your kids is using Linux, that might be an alternate Internet pipe he could use...

Games might be a bigger issue of a time-suck/distraction for someone in HS than pr0n...

[jbolton]

Thanks for all your suggestions. I check out my router setting, and I don't really see any options to filter a computer that is connected to the network. I have an older Belkin. I will look at some new routers. There seems to be a lot of methods for kids to bypass installed filters so I am thinking a new router is the way to go.


"Peter.Steele

Try actual parental supervision. That works better than some software filter.

ETA: For once, I wasn't trying to be a jerk. That just came out the wrong way, I think.''



We do currently monitor all his internet activity as he has shown us he can't handle the power of the net. That's why we are seeking option since he now has his is own laptop for school which when used at home will be in front of us.




"
the86d

What my son does on his phone in the bathroom, on his time is his own business...
The computer that I have to re-setup, on my time, is mine.

My chiropractor was using a really good one that I couldn't even find much about until I dug deep. I cannot recall what it was.

I have never used one myself, as I don't want to unblock all the time, but google "christian anti-porn site block" no quotes might help you. Try a few, and you should have good results.

I know on my router I can set a computer/ip to not get any pages that have specific words and it give them a page that just say that the "Admin has blocked the content of this page" i.e. sex, gay, vagina, anal, blow*, fellatio, etc, but the list kept getting added to...

Since he was on his notebook, at like 4 in the morning chatting verbally, but quietly w/ his girlfriend, and I thought I was hearing voices (yeah that bad, as he was so sneeky and sly that by the time I got out of bed and opened his door, he appeared to be sleeping, and I thought I was really hearing voices in my head [before I was a firearm owner, go figure] for multiple mornings until I realized that the laptop plug was in the wall and put 2&2 together)... he is not allowed a computer in his room anymore.

The kids' main computer is in the kids play room, and we can see the screen from the main walkway to the door, stairs, kitchen, living room. (Put that in your pipe and smoke it, son...)

Of course, if he gets a USB stick with Linux on it, or a Live CD/DVD distro and boots to that, the only way you could block that is at the router, I assume. However if your neighbor WiFi is only using WEP encryption (cracked in minutes with Linux), and your kids is using Linux, that might be an alternate Internet pipe he could use...

Games might be a bigger issue of a time-suck/distraction for someone in HS than pr0n''





The tube has already been a problem for him. He lost his ps3 a year ago. I had all the filters set up on it, so he created a new account he used to switch over to and surf porn tubes. He does have a smart phone that his mother bought him but I have the wifi feature turned off, and a pretty good password to the wifi. I haven't had any surges in the toilet paper so I think I am ok there.

[jbolton]

Any wireless router suggestions?

[pc_load_letter]

Setup your router to use OpenDNS. It's free and offers great service for simply signing up.

You can filter just about all the bad stuff you can think of as well as get great usage reports.

Alternately, you can get the Astaro firewall\webfilter forfree from Sophos. (They purchased Astaro)

http://www.sophos.com/en-us/products/free-tools/sophos-utm-home-edition.aspx

[the86d]

The first few Actiontec routers I was supplied by Verizon were ok, but I would assume that their retail routers (that people buy on purpose) would be better than the last few with VZ firmware on them, but still they work very well and are stable, but old features like sort by mac and little things are not as good on the newer VZ firmware'd ones.

A quick google search seems to imply that most routers have blocking features... look at the box if you are buying retail, or research ahead of time on these 'nets.

All Actiontecs that I have had my hand in setting up for friends, parents, and my family have lasted at least 3-5 years. Others last longer.

[jbolton]

I was thinking about this one

http://www.amazon.com/Netgear-Wireless-Dual-Gigabit-Router/dp/B008HO9DK4/ref=amtcd_B006V72AHC_B008HO9DK4

[LiferLance]

Maybe I'm a few degrees off on this one, but unless you ban access unless your watching, a kid is going to find porn if they want to. If you google search images you'll find hits, you can route through alternate DNS servers or even just get a USB stick from a friend with porn on it.

[jbolton]

Maybe I'm a few degrees off on this one, but unless you ban access unless your watching, a kid is going to find porn if they want to. If you google search images you'll find hits, you can route through alternate DNS servers or even just get a USB stick from a friend with porn on it.

Very true. But I have an obligation as a parent to try, and leave the rest to god.