{"id":485,"date":"2009-04-02T23:06:02","date_gmt":"2009-04-02T23:06:02","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/andyparkes.co.uk\/blog\/index.php\/2009\/04\/02\/consumer-mis-information\/"},"modified":"2009-04-02T23:09:39","modified_gmt":"2009-04-02T23:09:39","slug":"keeping-kids-safe-online","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/andyparkes.co.uk\/blog\/index.php\/2009\/04\/02\/keeping-kids-safe-online\/","title":{"rendered":"Children and Online Safety"},"content":{"rendered":"

There has been an series running on Channel 4 this week on sex education<\/a> with a specific focus on young people and how they gain all the information about \u201cthe birds and the bees\u201d from Internet porn<\/p>\n

They are also started a campaign called \u201cProtect Kids from Porn\u201d<\/a><\/p>\n

I had a whole post drafted out in my head about the features built in Windows Vista and Windows 7 but the excellent Mark Wilson blog got his post online<\/a> before i did \ud83d\ude09<\/p>\n

His also shows how to turn on parental controls in Mac OS X. He didn\u2019t show the windows equivalent as all his machines are domain joined so i thought I’d help out. These screenshots are for Windows Vista but the principles will be same in Windows 7<\/p>\n

Click the Start button and start to type \u201cParental Controls\u201d, click it (or press enter) and then click continue at the UAC prompt<\/p>\n

\"image\"<\/a> <\/p>\n

Click on your child\u2019s user account (or create one first, then click it!)<\/p>\n

The parental controls screen is displayed and the very first option is to turn on the controls. By default activity reporting is turned on too<\/p>\n

\"image\"<\/a> <\/p>\n

If you click OK now that\u2019s actually enough to get you started<\/p>\n

Here is what the settings will be configured for<\/p>\n

Web Filter<\/strong> \u2013 defaults to the medium level <\/p>\n

Time Limits<\/strong> \u2013 none<\/p>\n

Games<\/strong> \u2013 no restrictions<\/p>\n

Programs<\/strong> \u2013 Any<\/p>\n

At this level anything unrated will get blocked as will categories such as pornography, drugs, weapons, etc<\/p>\n

If you wanted to get a bit more specific you can customise the web filter first by click the \u201cWindows Vista Web Filter\u201d link which will display this screen<\/p>\n

\"image\"<\/a> <\/p>\n

I\u2019ve changed the web restrictions to the custom setting so we can see the categories available<\/p>\n

On this screen we can pick one of the predefined categories<\/p>\n

From the Vista help files<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
High<\/strong><\/td>\nChildren’s sites include content that is understandable and usable by children, and that is appropriate for them. The language of a children’s site is typically aimed at 8 to 12 year-olds, and the concepts presented are accessible to younger minds. When you choose this level, you permit your child to see children’s sites, as well as any website that you add to the list of allowed websites.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Medium<\/strong><\/td>\nWith this level, websites are filtered based on web content categories. This lets your child explore the wide range of information on the Internet, but not see content that is inappropriate.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Low<\/strong><\/td>\nNo web content is automatically blocked.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Custom<\/strong><\/td>\nThis level also uses content categories to filter websites, but allows you to filter more content categories.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/p>\n

There is a disclaimer at the top of the help page <\/p>\n

\n

The Parental Controls web filter rates the content of websites, and it can block some websites based on the content categories you decide are objectionable. Turning on the web filter should significantly reduce the number of objectionable websites your children might view, but it does not offer absolute protection. Because objectionable content is subjective, the filters might not block all of the content that you want them to block.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

Which is sort of understandable \u2013 we can\u2019t block spam 100% accurately so don\u2019t expect it with the content filter<\/p>\n

What you can also do is setup blocked and allowed lists by clicking the \u201cEdit the allow and block list\u201d<\/p>\n

\"image\"<\/a> <\/p>\n

From here you can make specific decisions about websites. Let\u2019s say i was worried about my child using Facebook. I could add the domain name in here. There is also a setting here that only allows sites to be viewed if they are on the allowed list. You can also export your lists here so that you can take them to other computers (or for multiple accounts on the same PC)<\/p>\n

The final two options on the parental controls main screen allows you to stop file downloads and also vist a web site that allows you to request a rating for a site<\/p>\n

If someone tries to visit a blocked site they\u2019ll see this<\/p>\n

 \"Blocked1\"<\/a><\/p>\n

If they think the page has been blocked by mistake they can shout \u201cDAAAADDDDD!!!\u201d or \u201cMOOOOMMM! and click on the \u201cAsk an administrator for permission\u201d <\/p>\n

You\u2019ll get a UAC prompt, you enter your password and you can then choose to allow or block the site<\/p>\n

\"blocked2\"<\/a> <\/p>\n

Other parental controls include setting time limits (no computer use after bed time), place restrictions on the games that are played (if a game is Games for Windows<\/a> certified it\u2019ll have an age rating and content categories<\/p>\n

\"image\"<\/a><\/p>\n

 \"image\"<\/a> <\/p>\n

As with the web filter you can block or allow access to specific games and block a game if doesn\u2019t have a rating<\/p>\n

Finally you can block the actual applications that run the PC. If your worried about them using peer to peer applications and being exposed to questionable material you can setup a list of applications they are allowed to use (Microsoft Office for doing their homework for example)<\/p>\n

Once this is all setup you can then view reports that keep a track of the user accounts computer usage<\/p>\n

\"image\"<\/a> <\/p>\n<\/p>\n<\/p>\n<\/p>\n<\/p>\n

It\u2019ll let you know which websites they use the most, which games they are playing, when they are logging on, what changes are being made to the system,etc,etc. You get summary reports as well as full details. You can even get the system to remind you to view the reports by clicking on the family safety options button<\/p>\n

\"image\"<\/a> <\/p>\n

Very powerful stuff considering it\u2019s built into the operating system. You can also take a layered approach to this<\/p>\n

OpenDNS<\/a> allows you allow and block web content based on categories (you could use this in conjunction with the Windows filter)<\/p>\n

Many home routers as allow you to setup restrictions there<\/p>\n

You can also buy third party software (NetNanny for example<\/a>)<\/p>\n

Lots of ISPs have protection systems you can take advantage of<\/p>\n

However the important thing is to take a proactive approach to this<\/p>\n

In the first show the presenter asked the question<\/p>\n

\n

\u201cWhy aren\u2019t these controls turned on by default\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

I think this shows a naive approach to computer safety (as well a misunderstanding of some basic principles) <\/p>\n

When you get in your car does your seat belt plug itself in?<\/p>\n

When you buy a brand new computer the first account that gets created becomes the system administrator (how would you set it up else?)<\/p>\n

This means it doesn\u2019t really matter if the parental controls are on or off. You would have the power to turn them off anyway<\/p>\n

As my children gets older this is something I\u2019ll be giving a lot of thought to. <\/p>\n

The Channel 4 program pointed out that many parents probably don\u2019t know what their kids are doing with their computers<\/p>\n

While there are a lot of systems in place to protect children it\u2019s still ultimately down to the parent to make use of these systems. <\/p>\n

Hopefully the Channel 4 campaign will raise some awareness<\/p>\n

Some links of interest from the Channel 4 campaign site<\/p>\n

\n
ParentsCentre<\/h6>\n

www.parentscentre.gov.uk\/usingcomputersandtheinternet<\/a> This site directs parents to links and articles on a broad range of topics surrounding internet use and the associated dangers that exist.<\/p>\n

Know IT All (KIA)<\/h6>\n

www.childnet-int.org\/kia<\/a> A Government-funded suite of educational resources from Childnet designed to help educate parents, teachers and young people about safe and positive use of the internet.<\/p>\n

Kidsmart<\/h6>\n

www.kidsmart.org.uk<\/a> Aimed primarily at parents and people who work with children, this site includes top tips, resources and some "SMART" rules to help teach children how to stay safe online.<\/p>\n

Family Online Safety Institute (FOSI)<\/h6>\n

www.fosi.org<\/a> FOSI aims to make the online world a safer, better experience for the whole family. The site promotes best practice, tools and methods in the field of online safety.<\/p>\n

Thinkuknow<\/h6>\n

www.thinkuknow.co.uk<\/a> A set of sites, each aimed at a different audience (children aged 5-16, parents and teachers) with age-appropriate safety tips. Includes a place which young people can use to report experiences where they feel uncomfortable or worried about someone they are in contact with online.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

There has been an series running on Channel 4 this week on sex education with a specific focus on young people and how they gain all the information about \u201cthe birds and the bees\u201d from Internet porn They are also started a campaign called \u201cProtect Kids from Porn\u201d I had a whole post drafted out<\/p>\n

<\/span>Read More<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":false,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[80,57],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-485","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-computer-safety","category-windows"],"yoast_head":"\nChildren and Online Safety - 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