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So What is Parental Control Software Good For?
You only need to have a read up on cyber dangers and cyber safety statistics to know there is a real need to oversee our kids online activities. Parental control software for computer and internet use is a must, especially if you cannot always be there looking over their shoulder. The software generally comes in two main types: Parental control software for monitoring and parental control software for filtering. As the strength of the software is totally dependent on your needs, it is important to understand the main features of each type of internet parental control software available.
What is Parental Control Software?
Internet parental control software is software that can be downloaded onto computers in order to control and monitor a users computer and internet activity. Based on the settings you give it, parental control software can monitor, block, set restrictions, and record all or just certain online and computer activity.
Internet Parental Control Software is used:
1. By parents to control and monitor their children's computer and internet use. As parents, it gives you peace of mind, and to children, their freedom to use the internet as a social and learning tool, whilst ensuring they do not endanger themselves or their family.
2. By employers to help assure employees adhere to company guidelines (and aren't abusing or wasting company resources and time)
3. By adults to find out what their spouse or significant other may be up to.
The software comes in two main types: Parental control filtering software and parental control monitoring software
Parental Control Monitoring Software
Monitoring software is generally completely stealth (undetectable) to the user and allows the user to use the computer and internet freely, while allowing the parent/spouse/employer to monitor and record all activity. Parental control monitoring software can record keywords searched, sites visited, emails, instant messages, chat room conversations, even passwords. This information can then be accessed via reports. This software is often also referred to as spy software.
-Screen Shots. Most monitoring software sends reports that are word based with a list of sites visited, keywords searched, emails written etc, while other software sends visual reports via actual screen shots of the sites visited and pages accessed. This gives you a VCR playback type reporting that is easy to understand and go through.
-Reporting. With most parental control monitoring software you are also given choices on how closely they monitor the user. For example, some may simply want a basic email report of what their child/spouse/employee has done online. Others may want to monitor chat and instant message content, obtain passwords or see actual screen shots of what the user has been up to.
-Remote Reporting Access is very important if you are using monitoring software to ensure that you can access the reports remotely without having to be on the computer you are monitoring. This can be done via email, or some software via an online site that is password protected. Not all parental control monitoring software has remote reporting access.
Parental Control Filtering Software
This software works by filtering, restricting or blocking specific internet and computer access to the user. These settings are set by the software (default) or specifically by the installer. Parental control filter software is great for schools, libraries and other public places. It is mostly effective with younger kids as blocking websites often fails to keep teenagers away from inappropriate content as they simply use a friends computer or try to go around the software. Parental control monitoring software is more appropriate for them.
The best parental control filter should provide the following features:
-Content Filtering by specific words or phrases like "nude" or "drugs" can ensure searches made on those words are blocked. You can also set up a filter that blocks access to certain traffic on the Internet, such as email, newsgroups, instant messaging, and P2p (peer to peer) hosting.
-Blocking access to specific types of sites by URL restriction such as porn and gambling websites. When your child tries to go to one of these websites an "HTTP 404 Page Not Found" error will pop up. You can also block certain computer programs like games and file downloading from the internet (music downloading, you tube or pictures).
-Management & Time Usage controls. For example setting time limits that will restrict the computer to certain times of the day or to a certain amount of downloads. When reached the computer will simply shut off. This can also be set for internet and program use. Some parental control filter software will also issue alerts to parents (via email or text) when their child tries to do something they shouldn't like access restricted sites or search restricted keywords.
Internet parental control software when used properly is a great tool to ensure the safety of your child, keep the work place productive or keep an eye on your significant other. Some software programs use solely filtering or monitoring, and some programs use a combination of both. It is best to work out what features you would like in the software first, then look at the different brands on the market, and make sure you find some actual consumer feedback on them too!
Author Resource:-
Lisa Sullivan is a mother of two, an advocate of child internet safety and keen purveyor of Computer Monitoring Software Reports, a site which, amongst other things, compares popular parental control software and explores all prominent internet dangers. Visit her at http://www.MonitorInternetUse.com
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