Chapter 6: Implementing Parental Controls

Overview

There's no denying that the Internet has revolutionized the way in which we obtain information. Once upon a time, learning about the finer points of perennial gardening or the architecture of ancient Greece almost certainly meant taking a trip to the local library and digging through card catalogues in a quest to find books on the subject. Today, you can simply fire up your web browser, perform a keyword search, and gain access to thousands of pages of information on just about any subject imaginable. If information is power, then the Internet certainly flexes more than its fair share of muscle.

As great a resource as it may be, the Internet also has a large and dangerous dark side. There are literally millions of web pages devoted to pornography. Tens of thousands of computers are connected for the purpose of swapping pirated software, music, and videos. Scores of web sites are dedicated to spreading messages of hate and intolerance, and even promoting violence. It's literally the best and worst of society mixed together in a never-ending maze of information, delivered directly to your desktop. That's the same desktop that your children may be using to chat with a friend, or to research a subject to complete their homework.

You would be hard-pressed to find a teenager who hasn't used the Internet, and many kids are now hopping online at ages as young as four. It sounds scary, but the vast majority of children are accessing the Internet without direct supervision, and with no real restrictions or controls in place. That not only leaves them exposed to a wide variety of sensitive information, but also makes it easily accessible. Where the top shelf of the magazine rack at your local variety store may be just out of reach, gaining access to even more explicit content on the Internet is never more than a click away.

Unfortunately, the dangers of the Internet don't begin and end with shady content. There are some very questionable people online as well, with hundreds of reported cases of adults hanging out in Internet chat rooms attempting to befriend young users. These adults typically pose as minors themselves, attempting to engage children in explicit conversations or arrange real-life meetings. Ultimately, the Internet has the ability to put children in harm's way on a number of fronts.

Thankfully, all is not lost. The Internet can be a safe and secure resource with the right approach. Technology can provide part of the solution, but it does not offer a complete answer-ensuring that they use the Internet safely also means educating your children about potential dangers, and giving thought to how you monitor their online activities. In this chapter you'll learn about some of the key dangers that children face online, and methods that you can use to help mitigate these risks. This includes some practical tips for parents of children venturing online, an explanation of how content filtering software can help keep your Windows Vista system clean, and a look at why restricting access to the Internet isn't a solution just for kids anymore.