PC "Cyber Nanny" type software recommendation

rumarudrathas

rumarudrathas

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Before I post my question, I'm not really sure how constructive it is to post a question about cyber-nannying on a gaming forum, but I'm groggy from medication and I can't think straight, so why the hell not?

Okay guys, short and simple, give me a recommendation for a free software that will allow me to restrict a 12 year olds laptop from accessing the internet past... say, 11:30pm at night.

NOTE: Yeah, I'm well aware I could do permission sets from inside my home router, but because I signed up with a particular internet company that physically combined the cable modem with a highly restrictive and lack-luster wireless router that I cannot access, I'm looking at strictly software solutions (the price I paid for having the "fastest" cable connection in the Tampa Bay area). I tried using my own wireless router, but that didn't play nice with the equipment.

PS: While I'm at it, can someone tell me how to interpret the Parental Controls on the PS3? What the hell is a "Level 4", and how is it different from a "Level 5" restriction?
 
[quote name='Jodou']Goodparenting.exe[/QUOTE]

Not a parent, but more of a legal guardian. And the last time I tried to pull that program on him, things ended pretty badly. I would like to go on a more passive-aggressive approach, and him having a laptop that he can wheel into his room and locking the door behind him, well....

But thanks for the input.
 
Put a desk in your living room and say that the laptop doesn't leave that area. Take it into your room when you go to sleep.

Or just surrender to the fact he's going to look at porn and whack off.
 
[quote name='Sporadic']Put a desk in your living room and say that the laptop doesn't leave that area. Take it into your room when you go to sleep.

Or just surrender to the fact he's going to look at porn and whack off.[/QUOTE]

^Agreed.

No matter what software you find...free or retail...there are sites that post up workarounds.

So if the kid is knowledgeable and knows how to 'Google'...

My kids don't go online unless I can physically see where they are going and they tell me before hand which sites they plan to head to.

Vigilance and diligence are the only way. When they are older they can start moving into private browsing but I would still install a log tracker to scan through to spot any 'hot' sites.
 
[quote name='Megazell']^Agreed.

No matter what software you find...free or retail...there are sites that post up workarounds.

So if the kid is knowledgeable and knows how to 'Google'...

My kids don't go online unless I can physically see where they are going and they tell me before hand which sites they plan to head to.

Vigilance and diligence are the only way. When they are older they can start moving into private browsing but I would still install a log tracker to scan through to spot any 'hot' sites.[/QUOTE]

I feel the same way about kids and internet in my house, and plan on implimenting the same restrictions. No internet in their rooms and since we don't get cable TV in our home, good luck on them finding the naughty cable channels in our house. (I know, I'm such a total killjoy).

I plan on being brutally honest with my children. The day a teenager in my home asks for unmonitored internet access (especially in the privacy of their own bedroom), is the day I tell them that if they need to move out and get their own place if they want to whack it to internet porn.
 
I guess I should post an update.

My fiance and I agreed that for one, we should respect the child's privacy to begin with (I'm going to spare the details here, but there is a good reason why he's living with us that has something to do with a perfect family life). I did install a TightVNC server on the laptop which I use to run updates and troubleshoot his laptop from anywhere (he's not the most computer-literate kid I know), and I have used it to check up on his browsing history (clean so far).

Since my girl is better at this whole 'parenting' bit than I am, she had a nice long chat with the child about having a laptop curfew, and going to bed before midnight (which is the reason why I posted to begin with: he's staying up too late on school nights), and so far, he's been following Jenn's request.

Ugh, I'm too young to look after a kid half my age. I remember how happy I was when I was allowed to move my computer to my own bedroom (sophomore year of high school, also known as the year where I discovered internet porn). At least I'm more than relieve to know that he's more into Japanese anime than downloading porn, or talking to pedo's online.
 
I don't know why people 'fear' porn or assume that every kid will seek it. There are much better things to waste time doing. Or maybe my parents were just lucky that I didn't care about that crap, then or now. I had a personal PC a long time ago.
 
[quote name='rumarudrathas']At least I'm more than relieve to know that he's more into Japanese anime than downloading porn[/QUOTE]

Um... you do know of a little thing called hentai, don't you? Just saying.
 
windows7 has some parental control features... assuming it's running win7. If it's not...Maybe it would be a good idea to upgrade if you want to make use of the features, however I don't know how effective/bypassable they are personally.

http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows7/What-can-I-control-with-Parental-Controls

Although I'd be more worried about him stumbling on malicious sites and getting the computer riddled with malware/syware/viruses than looking at any non-child friendly sites.
You shouldn't have to worry about those until he's around 15 anyways :p
 
[quote name='Chuplayer']Um... you do know of a little thing called hentai, don't you? Just saying.[/QUOTE]

lalalalalalala, I can't hear you!!!! lalalalalala

[quote name='kube00']So he's 12, I'm assuming you're in your mid 20s, how old is your fiance?[/QUOTE]

About a year younger than me, but trust me this gal knows how to handle children. The kid has (significantly) younger brothers, and I lost track of how many times I was brought to the verge of a meltdown when the mom would be "out for a bit". She'd be the only one that can keep a level head in a middle of a diaper change, a boy who I'm betting might turn out to be a mal-adjusted sociopath in the near future, an angsty pre-teen, and a child with anger and hitting problems.

[quote name='Bawb3']windows7 has some parental control features... assuming it's running win7. If it's not...Maybe it would be a good idea to upgrade if you want to make use of the features, however I don't know how effective/bypassable they are personally.

http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows7/What-can-I-control-with-Parental-Controls

Although I'd be more worried about him stumbling on malicious sites and getting the computer riddled with malware/syware/viruses than looking at any non-child friendly sites.
You shouldn't have to worry about those until he's around 15 anyways :p[/QUOTE]

He actually downloaded one of those fake-anti virus program, the ones that installs more malicious code, does a scan, detects them, and asks for a substantial sum (in euros) so the program can be "unlocked" and remove the viruses. Took me a while to get it off the laptop.

The laptop is a hand-me-down (from my fiance, actually), so sadly it runs XP right now, which does the job and works just dandy. Wait, doesn't XP have built in parental controls also? I have to check sometime when the kid is at school tomorrow.
 
Yeah I've seen those so many times. To prevent stuff like that, just some good anti-virus, and anti malware software on there.

I use Avast! antivirus, AVG is also a good free option
Spybot: Search and destroy - has always served me well for getting rid pf spyware/malware like you mentioned above.
C-cleaner is always usefull to keep unwanted junk/clutter files cleaned off.
Zone Alarm is a free firewall software

best of all, they're all freeware with minimal to no annoying advertisments.

XP does offer some controls, but nowhere near the capabilities of win7's. As far as I know, it can just restrict some content on internet explorer.
Here's an article:
http://www.windows-help-central.com/parental-controls-in-windows-xp.html
 
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