Not VW - "Net Nanny"/filtering options

To get my child to do homework/sleep I need to block certain websites. Blocking all internet is not an option as it is required for before mentioned homework. My problem is also compounded by ipods connectivity.

My dlink router is supposed to have parental control functions but it just plain old dont work %$#@! The domains that I have barred dotn always barr for some reason. Sometimes it works, other times it just makes access extremely slow. Right now I can access tumblr with no problem at all. 😬 Not to mention blocking face book at router level stops ME from using it too.

Do I have any options? I dont know that I can install anything on the "education revolution" laptop, I know nothing about ipods, if I can install something what would stop the child from uninstalling?

What is out there, what do other mums n dads do in this situation?

I can't offer advice on filters as my eldest is 3 but, I strongly suggest that pc/laptops be only used in lounge rooms or other rooms where you are so that you can see. Or at least your kid knows that they might easily get busted. Pcs behind closed doors are asking for trouble.

PC in loungeroom, or some common room.
You have password to startup only
You have their Facebook password also. However mutual trust in that they know you have their password, but wont read all their stuff. But can.

Alright, this is something that my Mum has actually not even bothered with when it comes to my younger brother and it annoys the crap out of me.
Getting a teenagers password to Facebook won't work. They can change it whenever they want and it isn't that hard at all to bypass whatever protection is put on the router. I should know this. A couple of times I have been known to hack other peoples wireless networks solely so I can get onto Facebook when I actually used it.

My brother stays in his room for hours on end (much like I did when I was thirteen) and it is almost impossible to get him to do homework/sleep. The best thing that Mum did was give a little and take a little. She has the router in her room, and it is set to turn off at 10:30pm. This means that no matter what, the brother (nor me, which sucks greatly but Mum doesn't know I can get Internet from my iPhone, but regardless) cannot get on the Internet.

When it comes to blocking specific websites, you can go the full board. It is possible to only allow specific websites for specific users through a Proxy server. But then comes the need to block websites with a wildcard of *proxy in the URL.

Anyway, it is possible, just a few things need to be done to complete it up to the standards of what you're asking.
Basically, it is what schools do, they make you have to authenticate and then URL's are limited to that user. Then specific websites are blocked to disallow them from bypassing the security features put in place.

Best quick fix you ask?
1. Computer/laptop use only in the loungeroom.
2. All devices taken away when going to bed.
3. Turn off the router when you go to bed yourself.

Life was much simpler when we were a one desktop pc house and internet access was set at the user level by norton. For Emily everything was blocked except abc kids and barbie.com, everyone was happy. Now we are older, have 4 laptops, 2 phones, 1 ipod with a "need" for access to the greater web its not so easy. The laptops mostly sit in the lounge room and I dont really have a problem with facebook when its used in moderation. The kids do use it occasionally for academic discussion (yeah 0.1%) . Its the ipod and tumblr.com that is the big problem. When the music is playing the ipod is not always wanted in my proximity!

If you have teens (especially the female of the species) I would seriously recommend looking at blocking tumblr. Its a blog site with heaps of dark pro self harm shit, pro anorexia shit on there. I think I have actually just figured out what I have been doing wrong. The router does not seem block subdomains. So when I was blocking "www.tumblr.com" the individual member blogs such as this: http://heartofana.tumblr.com/ would still go through, but I now realise I can just add keywords so blocking "tumblr" fixes everything. (you cant save wildcards)

Yeah, Tumblr is very dodgy depending on who you're "following", but I don't like it when my girlfriend is on and if I had my way I'd ban her, I'd probably be dumped but it does scare me what sort of shit people do put up on there. But then again, for us car enthusiasts, there are some great blogs on there!
And yeah, when it comes to the actual settings, it all comes down to what router you have and what settings are available for the firmware version of the router... A lot of different factors.

The Internet isn't a very safe place these days, especially for teenagers and especially for female ones! I am really scared about the days that my little sister starts to go on Facebook instead of the stupid Moshi Monsters she's into. Sure, my job is on the Internet and I'm always on the forum, but I don't use it for bad things and I know that others do. The way that image sharing is so easy, it is terrible!

Take it from a seventeen year old, it is really easy if you know what you're doing to get through blocks. Just make sure that you can monitor what she's doing and how often.

amazeer wrote:To get my child to do homework/sleep I need to block certain websites. Blocking all internet is not an option as it is required for before mentioned homework. My problem is also compounded by ipods connectivity.

My dlink router is supposed to have parental control functions but it just plain old dont work %$#@! The domains that I have barred dotn always barr for some reason. Sometimes it works, other times it just makes access extremely slow. Right now I can access tumblr with no problem at all. 😬 Not to mention blocking face book at router level stops ME from using it too.

Do I have any options? I dont know that I can install anything on the "education revolution" laptop, I know nothing about ipods, if I can install something what would stop the child from uninstalling?

What is out there, what do other mums n dads do in this situation?

I have two grand kids who use My computer , I recently added Parental controls so they can log in themselves with a password and I can look up what they have been looking at..
it also blocks out some programs...

but facebook is a problem...
and can be a BIG problem with kids...

Are kids taught at School the dangers of the internet???
or the dangers of Facebook???

another two grandkids have Ipads and laptops...
they are only Young now...
but problems ahead... I'm sure... lol

Turning the router off at 1030pm seems like a good thing Seb

BUT phones and ipod/ipad type
are going to be the NEXT problem with kids and the internet....

and I don't know much about computers... lol

LEE

Have a read through this list of freeware programs. Free Parental Filters

K9 Web Protection is pretty good, as blocked websites can be unblocked by yourself with a password.

do these software prevent the use of proxy server?