Keeping kids safe online

[Alex Franke]

A friend sent me this article after we had a talk about how best to keep our kids safe online -- so I thought I'd share it. Some good pointers in this article:

http://www.91courtstreet.net/wordpre...h-open-source/

Please chime in if you have other tips!

Windows Vista, by the way, has parental controls built in -- haven't used them yet because it's not on the computer that the kids use... Anyone tried these features?

[crokett]

Nice idea, but do is there a squid for Windows? I know cron is the *nix scheduler. Sounds like he has a *nix server somewhere on his home network.

There is also really no better, more effective way than simply being a responsible parent and teaching your kids. Don't expect the technology to do it alone. I mean, the easiest way around the restrictions at home is go to a friends house.

[Alex Franke]

Yeah, there's a Windows port of squid.

There is also really no better, more effective way than simply being a responsible parent and teaching your kids. Don't expect the technology to do it alone.

Agreed. But even a well taught, well intentioned kid can make simple mistakes that take them places I'd rather them not go. E.g. I ended up at a porn site during a meeting at work because I accidentally dragged/dropped a piece of selected text in FF. The browser kindly tired to find a matching site and that otherwise nonsensical part of a word happened to redirect to something rather shocking -- certainly nsfw. (I never knew I could close windows that fast!)

Then there's the time I accidentally used the wrong TLD for popular department in the US government [edited]. Oh, and the time I fat-fingered a single letter in my then-favorite search engine. [edited] Yeah, that was pretty bad too... I wouldn't recommend trying either of these by the way.

Anyway I like the idea of whitelist browsing for the kids -- or even a *nix LiveCD just for them. My kids are the same ages as yours, so hopefully we have a few years before they start getting really sneaky!

[ironhat]

Just a friendly reminder that we shouldn't reveal paths to undesireable sites. I have helped with counseling at our church and sexual addiction is no laughing matter even though TV thinks it is. Addictive types have triggers and although most of this stuff is easily accessable and it's not anyone's intent to see someone 'fall from grace', as it were, the strangest things can re-start the undesireable behavior. No flame intended at all. I've just seen some real pain and homes nearly destroyed in this way. Thanks for listening.

[Alex Franke]

Just stumbled across this little freebie: http://kidrocket.org/

No installer, pre-defined whitelist, art, math, time-lock, desktop lockdown. Even email... Might have to give this one a try... my 3 yr old *loves* the Disney site.

[Richard in Smithville]

I have a very low tech solution to a high tech issue. The only computer in my house that is conected to the net is in the dining room. It's in view of the couch and on the way to the bathroom and the kitchen.

[ironhat]

I have a very low tech solution to a high tech issue. The only computer in my house that is conected to the net is in the dining room. It's in view of the couch and on the way to the bathroom and the kitchen.

Yep, ours has always been in the family room within a few feet of the next available adult. Now that the kids are gone we are the epitomy of laziness with our laptops on a lapboard as we watch TV and shoot each other cute e-mails. The kids just shake their heads at us. Life is good!

[Alex Franke]

I have a very low tech solution to a high tech issue. The only computer in my house that is conected to the net is in the dining room. It's in view of the couch and on the way to the bathroom and the kitchen.

Yeah, that's a great one -- should be at the top of the list actually. We can't disconnect the office computer (I wouldn't be able to work from home!), but we do have accounts set up on all the computers in the house. The only one with a kids account and no password is actually right in the kitchen.

[Ed62]

This is a topic that few too few parents ever talk about. We've had a couple of 'net related incidents happen locally. It really can be a dangerous situation for kids. It's easy to think it won't happen to you, but it can.

Ed

[LinuxRandal]

I have a very low tech solution to a high tech issue. The only computer in my house that is conected to the net is in the dining room. It's in view of the couch and on the way to the bathroom and the kitchen.

While Nix's, have better handling of multiple users and passwords and such, I believe (no experience), Window's may have improved. However, it doesn't mean you can't change your HARDWARE nat box's (aka most peoples home firewall) password, and shut off internet access when your not home. It won't stop them from using friends, or free wifi (weather at home or elsewhere), especially not with some of today's portables, that you can surf with (play station portables, and other devices kids get). Kid's look at schools "restrictions" as a challenge (most are Window's and easily defeated). You should have some backups to your normal techniques (besides the firewall and proxy, consider using the Hosts file).

And remember, most kids are more computer literate, then a lot of parents are!

[dkerfoot]

I am a big believer in accountability versus filtering - so much so that it is how I earn my living. Not allowing computers outside of family areas is a great (and necessary) step.

I recommend parents tell their kids they can and do check on how the computer has been used from time to time (but not necessarily HOW they check).

All of us probably wish that we always acted as though we were being watched. (a good definition of integrity) As a parent, I try to give my kids practice in doing just that, in the hope that when they get older, these choices will be an integral part of their character.

[ironhat]

Atta boy, Doug! Keystroke logging is a great accountability tool. I'll pass yours along to others.

[sparkeyjames]

An ex girlfriend had the solution for this problem. Computer is located in a publicly accessible area of the house. In other words NO computers in bedrooms etc. Keeps em honest when anyone can see what they are doing. It also helped that she had a BF (me) who is a computer builder and repair expert. She had good kids they never broke the rules and I never found anything on the computers that should not have been there (except for a couple of hundred virus's or so).