Internet Filter Recommendations

[Brewhaha]

The dear wife has assigned me with the task of finding an internet filter for the home computers. Is she really just worried about my unhealthy Bogley addiction? Perhaps. But I have to do it anyway.

So, I'm coming to the experts of Home Internet Filters. A few small details about our system and what I would like to monitor:

1) We only have one computer that accesses the internet in our bedroom.
2) We have a wireless router.
3) Both of my boys (13 and 10) have PSP's that they use to play games over the internet. They also have downloaded pictures (only Star Wars pictures up to this point - as far as, I, the ignorant parent am aware).

I know that basic online filtering software will work quite well for the computer but what about the wireless PSP's or other wireless laptops if we get one? I don't mind the kids playing games online on their PSP's but I really want to stop their ability to download pictures - is there a way to do this?

So, if you have software recommendations that can fit the above parameters I would really appreciate them. I am currently looking at BSafeOnline as one option.

Thanks.

[RugerShooter]

This is the Web filter that I use, it only does one computer, I don't have a network set up at all on it so I don't know if it would work for that.

K9 Web Protection

Best thing about this one is it is Free.

[DiscGo]

My friend uses one he really likes, I tried to reach him but couldn't get a hold of him yet. While I was searching for his, I stumbled across this page:

http://internet-filter-review.toptenreviews.com/

[Wasatch Rebel]

The best way to avoid having problems like this is to have all computers in a public part of the house---that is, not in the kids' rooms. With your wireless router as part of the equation, you will probably need to install filtering on all three computers as far as I know. You can also get tracking software to monitor all of your kids sites that they go to. Try zdnet.com for freebies and shareware programs.

[Wasatch Rebel]

My friend uses one he really likes, I tried to reach him but couldn't get a hold of him yet. While I was searching for his, I stumbled across this page:

http://internet-filter-review.toptenreviews.com/

Are you sure that's a good link? It takes me to a blank page. When I try to type it in the search box and click "go" it goes nowhere. Maybe my filter's blocking it.

Yep. I just turned off my filter and I can now go to it. Never mind.

[DiscGo]

Yep. I just turned off my filter and I can now go to it. Never mind.

[stefan]

Yep. I just turned off my filter and I can now go to it. Never mind.

you gotta love the irony in a filter that filters out pages which review filters.

was it the word pornography?

can you look up the word pornography in an online dictionary?

[stefan]

The dear wife has assigned me with the task of finding an internet filter for the home computers. Is she really just worried about my unhealthy Bogley addiction? Perhaps. But I have to do it anyway.

So, I'm coming to the experts of Home Internet Filters. A few small details about our system and what I would like to monitor:

1) We only have one computer that accesses the internet in our bedroom.
2) We have a wireless router.
3) Both of my boys (13 and 10) have PSP's that they use to play games over the internet. They also have downloaded pictures (only Star Wars pictures up to this point - as far as, I, the ignorant parent am aware).

I know that basic online filtering software will work quite well for the computer but what about the wireless PSP's or other wireless laptops if we get one? I don't mind the kids playing games online on their PSP's but I really want to stop their ability to download pictures - is there a way to do this?

i must say i have no real interest in obtaining this sort of thing since i don't have kids. but it's certainly interesting to think about nonetheless.


brewhaha, if you feel it's appropriate to discuss on this forum what you are interested in blocking, i'd like to hear it.

i am not interested in getting into a debate over whether it's right or wrong and i don't want this thread to evolve into that.

it's more (a) i am curious what a parent is worried about and (b) how this software allows you to block what you're interested in blocking.




also, i am curious, will these filters block more than they need to, or perhaps less(i am sure some write their site code to trick filters). i am guessing a little of both here and there.

for example, you said you wanted their ability to download images to be blocked. do you also want to block download of movies, music files, applications, application plug-ins, etc?

blocking of access to sites to ... only pornography or much much more? i would think there's a lot of explicit violence and gruesome content that i can imagine parents wanting to block their children from seeing. how can software block this stuff?

[Brewhaha]

Great question, Stefan. Our approach to internet safety is to (1) talk to our kids constantly about the goods and the bads of the internet; (2) monitor them as much as possible (the computer is in my bedroom and we try to pay attention to them when they are online); (3) (and most recently) install a filter on our only computer.

We do (1) because we know that they, ultimately, will be responsible for what they do on the internet and Mom and Dad won't always be there to watch them. We do (2) because we want them to know that we are actively taking part in what they are doing online, that we are paying attention, and that Mom and Dad know what they are up to. We will do (3) because we don't want them to get surprised by questionable popups, or have real easy access to porn, and we want them to know that the internet is not an anonymous playplace and that it is always possible for someone to know what they are doing.

I realize that there are some conflicts between some of the above points but that is okay because no one thing will do it all. Filters might catch some stuff, but will miss other things. Our close monitoring of online time will work some of the time but not others. And trying to teach teenagers to make good choices is a crapshoot.

With a teenage boy our biggest concert is porn. I know this is a sensitive subject for many and I want to be clear that my comments only relate to what I believe my children should have acces to - not anyone else. I think that the easy availability of porn on an unmonitored computer coupled the increasingly graphic/violent/degrading/fetishistic nature of the material presents some very serious problems for pubescent teenagers. The porn on the internet is too easy to get and way too obscene when compared to the good old Playboys of my youth. A filter can do a decent job of catching this stuff but I'm sure there are plenty of loopholes.

Because our kids play alot of video games we also are concerned about the violence and language that show up in the games. Our kids still play some shoot-em-up games but we stay away from anything above Teen rating and anything that is too graphic and violent. A filter can catch websites if they have certain keywords or are categorized in certain ways.

Other concerns include social networking sites (myspace, etc.) and I will probably completely block those (by blocking the http) just because I see zero value in them for a teenager. Instant messaging can also be a problem and that, too, can be completely blocked with some filters. Email needs to be paid attention too which can be done, I think, with some filters. Discussion boards, video sites, etc., etc., etc.

With all I've mentioned one might wonder why I even have the internet at all considering all of the potential dangers. The answer is, that I would rather teach my kids how to handle and avoid all of this crap while they are still living at home because they will have to learn to manage it sometime in their life.

[stefan]

With all I've mentioned one might wonder why I even have the internet at all considering all of the potential dangers. The answer is, that I would rather teach my kids how to handle and avoid all of this crap while they are still living at home because they will have to learn to manage it sometime in their life.

the internet is so useful in the world we live in today, one, i feel, would need very strong reasons to block it entirely. it's important for children and teenagers to learn how to use the internet and become familiar with it, because they will be able to be more efficient and able to do increasingly more with it in the long run.

but your point about teaching your kid how to handle and think about internet content is so incredibly important. it would seem to be one of the most fundamental jobs as a parent. in this way it's just like anything else that confronts the youth. of course the internet seems like a beast parents up until now have never seen the likes of. the amount of content a child's curiosity can stumble upon or seek out is infinitely larger, relatively speaking. and it's not only growing, but search engines are improving to locate it. it would seem that the job you have as a parent, along these lines, is bigger now. (maybe?)

thanks for posting your thoughts about this.

[accadacca]

I need one too. . .for a mac. My 5 year old boy was looking at power ranger videos on YouTube the other day and my wife said she saw some questionable things in the related videos box. My boy also uses google to find power ranger sites and other kids stuff. He actually knows how to type in what he is looking for/spell it out. Who knows what he might pull up one day in an innocent search. Needless to say it has been on my mind lately.

[Brewhaha]

Here's a funny story related to this topic:

I was taking a graduate class with a seminary teacher a couple of summers ago and we were all preparing powerpoint presentations. He takes special pride in his powerpoint presentations and goes to great lengths to make then very nice. He uses lots of images that he gets from Google Images. He needed an image of Krispy Kreme for some reason and grabbed one for his presentation. Later, he gave his presentation to the entire class and the Krispy Kreme slide came up full-size on the projector. There in the corner of the picture in very small print was the phrase "So good you'll suck @#$%." He didn't see it when he put the presentation together and he didn't notice it until after he was completely done giving the presentation. The class didn't bust up during the presentation but when it was done and it was brought to his attention it was pretty wild. Everyone got a good laugh.

Several months later, I saw on the news that some TV news reporter fell into the same trap and used the image on the broadcast.

Internet filters wouldn't help this.

[Deathcricket]

With a 5 yr old doing innocent searches I can see it, but a teenager (with even remote computer knowledge) will be able to bypass the filter in a matter of minutes. Even if he/she isn't able to bypass it, they will just search somewhere else like the library. Here is what I would advise.

1. Keep the talks up, sounds like in that dept you are doing excellent. Just let them know that there will be no privacy on that machine and that you will monitor activity. Just don't be specific on how you will do it.
2. Put a keylogger on the machine, check it every once in awhile and make sure that what they are typing "chatwise" meets your parameters.
3. go into folder options and turn on "view hidden folders". Then go to the "search for files and folders" and type "*.*jpg" this will search the computer for all pictures. It will even search the cache so pretty much anything shown (ever) on the machine will populate. You can vary it for any type of file "*.*tif, bmp, mov, whatever. Just don't be too shocked at what your wife has been surfing, that caught me by surprise...

I guess basically I'm going off my experience as a kid. My parents put the comp in the living room and put a block on it. They thought it was secure with a filter, but really it was not. I think it was called "Netscape Nanny" but it was a joke and almost like a forbidden fruit or maybe just a challenge. I also work at an ISP and people call in nightly having caught/found disgusting stuff on their machine when they assumed it was safe with a filter.

So IMO, if your kids are heading that direction, you're better off finding out about it now and talking with them. Or maybe I'm just the only freak who see's a locked door and wonders what is on the other side? But then again my parents were total prudes and didn't talk to me about anything, so your mileage may vary.

You could even do the same stuff I mentioned above with a filter, up to you bro. My kid is only 19 months, so my opinion might change when he gets older. Like you said, there is some really hardcore stuff out there and best not to take chances. Just be aware whatever you end up using won't be even remotely secure. Best to trust them to make the right choices and then follow up?


Edit: forgot to quote your thought I was agreeing with.

The answer is, that I would rather teach my kids how to handle and avoid all of this crap while they are still living at home because they will have to learn to manage it sometime in their life.

[Deathcricket]

also, i am curious, will these filters block more than they need to, or perhaps less(i am sure some write their site code to trick filters). i am guessing a little of both here and there.

for example, you said you wanted their ability to download images to be blocked. do you also want to block download of movies, music files, applications, application plug-ins, etc?

blocking of access to sites to ... only pornography or much much more? i would think there's a lot of explicit violence and gruesome content that i can imagine parents wanting to block their children from seeing. how can software block this stuff?

To answer your question, it typically has categories. So you can block porn, gambling, drugs, violence, hacking, etc. The place I work at has about 50 categories, we have a large portion of LDS customers, so we can even have categories like "liberal thinking" "catholic doctrine" and "bad taste". I notice older people mostly use these for themselves rather than their kids, lol.

I can even block "cooking" but have no clue why. There is also a function in the better ones to even block google searches. So if I went into a google search engine and typed "boobs" it would even block the search itself. This is crucial since thousands of websites are created every day and not "categorized" yet. Yes, they have people who search websites all day and put "categories" on each one. And yes quite often the filters will be overly aggressive and block normal stuff they arent supposed to. Pretty much half of my night is devoted to processing people's requests to unblock/re-block content.

[Brewhaha]

Good advice on searching the hidden folders.

Also, an update on the Sony PSP, aka the Playstation Pornable (I've seen it referred to as this online.) A parent can go into the settings and completely disable the webbrowser so that the kids can't surf without a password. The good news is that they are still able to play games online.