Does anyone know of any good freeware Internet parental control software?
I recently got myself a ADSL line at home and want to monitor & control where my kid is browsing around. I know I can go and buy something like WebWatcher or something like that
but the cash flow does not allow it for now. So for the next month or 3 I need to make a plan.
Well I found some free ones but to be honest I couldn't tell you the good/bad or the ugly on them. One free one I have heard tosses around is ICU
Here is another link I'll toss out - it rates different monitoring software (I got the link from Center for Missing and Exploited Children): TOP 10 Monitoring Software Review Granted none of those are free HOWEVER I believe some have trial offers (like 30 days) so it maybe worth looking into. Worse case you try them all out (let us know if you do). As for their list I have/own Spector Pro and I really like it but it wasn't cheap. I got mine at frys.com and I think I paid $69.99 for mine.
Ok so I checked frys and mine is now 99.99 BUT they have one there now that is FREE after rebate - :yay:
KASPERSKY INTERNET SECURITY 2009 - 3 USER
$60.00 Rebate
KASPERSKY:
For Windows
FRYS.com#:5699731
The new standard in Internet Security. Complete Internet security protection with anti-virus, anti-spyware, anti-phishing, anti-spam and anti-hacker technologies. Plus parental controls and virtual keyboard perfect for home or small office.
Price: | $ | 60.00 |
After Rebate: | $ | 0.00 |
Limit 1 per Household.
(when purchased between 05/01/2009 and 05/07/2009)
Gurrr some how my link is messed up so go HERE to get it
Hi SM
Sadly that rebate offer only works if you are in the US.
However since my posting I have stumbled accross Parental Control.
http://parentaltools.net/index.html
I have not installed it yet. ( has not been home long enough) but from what I read looks good
well sorry about that but let us know how the one is.
Hey PowerLord I ran into this article on PCmag and thought of you. Not that all of us parents out there cant pick up a thing or two. Anyways here ya go:
The Internet is an integral part of life for modern kids. They use it for schoolwork, communication, watching videos, playing games—everything! And they're probably more adept at navigating its sea of content than their parents are. Yet parents feel the need to keep an eye on their children's online life to ensure that the children don't make bad decisions. Parental-control software helps parents stay in the loop, and several of the best programs cover a lot of the same ground. Here are the top features that you'll want to consider before purchasing your software.
They go on to explain the different softwares out there and the cost but - BONUS one of them is FREE.
OnlineFamily.Norton
Free
This free Web-based product has everything you'd expect in a parental-control system, and more. It blocks bad sites, controls time on the computer, supervises chat, and even watches social-network use on all your PCs and Macs. Settings are stored in the cloud, making remote configuration and reporting simple.
Hi SM
I had a look at it and it it looks good with one drawback for me. It is a online system and it does not sit on a local (South african) IP address. At home I often run on a "local only" ISP account that does not give access to any international site. The bandwith cost on that account is about 10% of the international bandwitdh so I use that account when downloading stuff from the USENET news groups. Also I have a feeling that even when I am on the "normal" account the CAP usage will be to much to my liking.
I appreaciate your attempt to help and I will keep on searching for something that will work for me. However saying that. In the month that I have a connection at home my son has never attempted to go somewhere he should hot have. (The browser history has not been cleaned since day one) So maybe he is a "good boy" and at the end of June I will have funds to buy something.
Pretoria - South Africa
Married
Forgot to mention it has to work in IE & Firefox