The world wide webcan be a wonderful source of information and education. Yet, it can also prove to be a dangerous place for your young one. From websites full of graphic and violent content to predators that use the web to prey on innocents. How do you ensure the online safety of your kids? Cutting off their access is definitely not an option. The internet is too valuable a tool for that. The solution lies in installing a few safeguards. 

Create password for your PC

It is recommended that you have a password for your computer. If your children are too young, don’t disclose the password to them. Instead, log on to the system yourself every time they need to use it.

If they are teenagers, create a separate account without administrative privileges and give them the password for that. Also, configure the new account to use ‘parental controls’. This way, You can control whether your children can install a program or not and what programs or files they can access. The new account can be created by going into control panel and then accounts in windows.
For information on parental controls,
Visit www.windows.microsoft.com/
En-us/windows7/set-up-parental-
Controls

 

Cut off access to adult websites

Once your kids get to the web, they are at risk of accessing adult content. The easiest way to deal with this problem is to use openDNS- an online tool that is pre-configured to block adult content on your internet connection.

To use the service, you will have to create an account with openDNS. After that you can use its ‘free’ family shield, which ensures that your kids are not granted access to inappropriate websites. The filter is always up-to-ate, adding new sites 24/7. the only problem with openDNS is that it is not entirely kid-proof. Older children might actually figure out ways to circumvent this tool.
To configure openDNS, go to
www.opendns.com/home-
solutions/parental-controls

 

Install k9

For kids who can bypass openDNS, you need a program like k9 web protection. Unlike openDNS, which is a web based service, the ‘free’ k9 has to be installed on your PC. Once installed, it can be used to control internet access. It blocks harmful websites and ads as well as keeps a log of which URLs were accessed, what sorts of keywords were used to search and what content was blocked.
www1.k9webprotection.com

 

Get a children’s browser

If your children are under 10 years of age, it is good idea to install the kidzui browser   for them. The software allows access to only the websites and links that are vetted by the kidzui team. This means the content is absolutely safe.

Get it from www.kidzui.com
Alternatively, you can also try out the ‘free’ pikluk from
www.pikluk.com