Responsible parents are interested in protecting their children when they go online.

How can you enable them to use the Internet and explore subjects that interest them, without exposing them to danger; whether individuals who would do them harm, or information that is inappropriate for children?

Well, there are things that you can do, but you must consider these issues:

  • How technically capable are your children?
  • Are they likely to try to find ways around any “protection” you’ve put in place?
  • How much effort are you prepared to invest to make sure they’re safe?

For instance, there are Firefox add-ons (more here) that give you control over the websites that your children can visit.

However, Firefox is only one of many Web browsers available, most of which you won’t have even heard of.

If you configure Firefox, but no other browsers, and if there are no restrictions over who can install programs on your computer, then a child with just a little initiative will use Internet Explorer (IE), or find and download a different Web browser.  Then whatever protection you’ve put in place on Firefox will have no effect.

So, what can you do?

  • The very best thing is to spend time with your children, sit with them when they use the Internet and teach them how to recognize, and avoid, ‘dodgy’ sites.
  • Put your computer in a room where everyone can see the screen.

But what about technical options, what can be done with the computer?

As with most things you have choices:

  1. Learn about how to protect your children yourself
  2. Pay for “Parental Control” software
  3. Pay someone to configure your computer

Obviously there cannot be any guarantees, but the best way is to put the effort in to find out how to configure the computer yourself, and remain vigilant.  Technical ‘solutions’ aren’t a panacea.  It’s not a ‘set and forget’ situation.

The added incentive of protecting your children (rather than yourself, or your own information) may be what you need to put the effort in to understand more about your computer.  The added benefit is that you will probably prevent other computer problems like viruses.

More information, and links to resources I’ve researched will be in my next post on this subject.