Help with setting up Kids computer for internet

[zippy]

My children are begging me to get on the net. They have their own computer
(geesh, I wasn't even allowed my own TV growing up) that was given to them
by a family friend. It's an older computer running XP Home on a K-6 AMD
with 128 megs of ram. Surprising or not it's not running as slow as I
thought it would, but we really don't have much loaded on to it yet.

I've heard that PAX-TV has a internet service that automatically blocks
access to porn sites and the such. But that's the only one I have heard of
and have never tried it. Does anyone know anything about this or any other
services out there for kids? I'm just worried about what my kids will find
out there on the net. Or would the Parental Controls offered by my provider
(Earthlink) be enough to do what I want? Any advise would be appreciated.

I also do not want them using any Instant Message programs. I will have
them disabled. I also do not want them downloading things from the net
without my permission. Is there a setting to disable downloading on limited
XP accounts but allow on Administrative accounts (so I can update virus
scans and updates and the likes)?

I know that Parental Supervision is the best form of security, but I can't
be everywhere 24/7 and with three kids, I'm always being pulled in different
directions.

 

[XS11E]

I've heard that PAX-TV has a internet service that automatically
blocks access to porn sites and the such. But that's the only one
I have heard of and have never tried it. Does anyone know
anything about this or any other services out there for kids?

http://www.paxway.com/ You can read about it there w/o signing up.

I'm just worried about what my kids will find out there on the net.

How old are your kids? If they're the same age as mine, 42 and 49,
they're probably old enough to not need filters? <G>

 

[zag]

My suggestion is to put them on their "honor" with the
understanding that if they break the rules... then no
computer for a month. If they want the 'porn' they'll
find it at a friends house. It's not pleasant stuff,
but believe me, they ARE going to run across it sooner
or later.
z -----------------------------------------------------

 

[Phil]

Best thing to do is to get a third party program like Net Nanny and set it
up to allow or deny what you want. It will also log their activity so you
can "watch" them 24/7.
Next, install anti-virus and keep it updated.
Next, disable install on demand in IE or use another browser(to help stop
spyware).
Next, do not let them install or use Kazaa, no matter how much they want to.
Also, I'd recommend getting more memory.

 

[XS11E]

http://www.paxway.com/ You can read about it there w/o signing up.


How old are your kids? If they're the same age as mine, 42 and 49,
they're probably old enough to not need filters? <G>

Sorry, I forgot to add:

Or would the Parental Controls offered by my provider (Earthlink) be
enough to do what I want?

I very much doubt that Paxway has access to any filters that Earthlink
doesn't have but I'm not familiar with either. My guess, and it's ONLY
a guess, is that Earthlink would make the filters available and you'd
need to configure them to some extent but Paxway would already have
them configured?

Before changing ISPs, why not take a good long look at what filters
Earthlink offers and then decide.

 

[zippy]

hee, hee I've got a long way to go, they are 12, 11 and 7 (7 year old I
have to be with all the time cause he likes to press the wrong buttons) But
they grow up really quick. Had a 15 year old boy romancing my 12 year old
daughter. Mama put a stop to that quickly..........Time to dust off the
shotgun....(I'm kidding BTW)

 

[zippy]

I know they are going to run into it, but I don't want it under my roof. I
can control what goes on in my house, though I know I can't control what
goes on once they hit the sidewalk....

 

[zippy]

Also, I'd recommend getting more memory.

I wish I could, the max the motherboard can handle is 128, it's an older
computer :-( But for free I can't complain.........

 

[Wislu Plethora]

-----Original Message-----
My children are begging me to get on the net. They have their own computer
(geesh, I wasn't even allowed my own TV growing up) that was given to them
by a family friend. It's an older computer running XP Home on a K-6 AMD
with 128 megs of ram. Surprising or not it's not running as slow as I
thought it would, but we really don't have much loaded on to it yet.

I've heard that PAX-TV has a internet service that automatically blocks
access to porn sites and the such. But that's the only one I have heard of
and have never tried it. Does anyone know anything about this or any other
services out there for kids? I'm just worried about what my kids will find
out there on the net. Or would the Parental Controls offered by my provider
(Earthlink) be enough to do what I want? Any advise would be appreciated.

I also do not want them using any Instant Message programs. I will have
them disabled. I also do not want them downloading things from the net
without my permission. Is there a setting to disable downloading on limited
XP accounts but allow on Administrative accounts (so I can update virus
scans and updates and the likes)?

I know that Parental Supervision is the best form of security, but I can't
be everywhere 24/7 and with three kids, I'm always being pulled in different
directions.


.

No porn, no IM, no downloading...You've just eliminated
the only 3 reasons that kids want internet access in the
first place. Have you considered handcuffs?

 

[zippy]

No porn, no IM, no downloading...You've just eliminated
the only 3 reasons that kids want internet access in the
first place. Have you considered handcuffs?

Duct tape works better, plus they don't have to worry about shaving.......

 

[Al Dykes]

Best thing to do is to get a third party program like Net Nanny and set it
up to allow or deny what you want. It will also log their activity so you
can "watch" them 24/7.
Next, install anti-virus and keep it updated.
Next, disable install on demand in IE or use another browser(to help stop
spyware).
Next, do not let them install or use Kazaa, no matter how much they want to.
Also, I'd recommend getting more memory.

The issue of PC Magazine currently in the magazine shop has several
articles about kids on the internet, and comparissions of freature on
the various flters. They also look an the MSN and AOL services
oriented to kids.

 

[Wislu Plethora]

-----Original Message-----



Duct tape works better, plus they don't have to worry

about shaving.......


See, there's your problem: you remove the tape.

 

[Jim Macklin]

A K-6 should handle at least 256 MB, depends a little on the
exact motherboard. You can download the BelArc Advisor
www.belarc.com and it will tell you the exact make/model of
the motherboard. You can then find the mobo manual and know
for sure.

BTW, take that 15 year old hunting or target/trap shooting
and he'll have better things to do that hit on your 12 year
old daughter. Take her along. too. girls need to know how
to handle firearms.

--
The people think the Constitution protects their rights;
But government sees it as an obstacle to be overcome.


|
| | Also, I'd recommend getting more memory.
|
| I wish I could, the max the motherboard can handle is 128,
it's an older
| computer :-( But for free I can't complain.........
|
| >
| > zippy wrote:
| > > My children are begging me to get on the net. They
have their own
| > > computer (geesh, I wasn't even allowed my own TV
growing up) that was
| > > given to them by a family friend. It's an older
computer running XP
| > > Home on a K-6 AMD with 128 megs of ram. Surprising or
not it's not
| > > running as slow as I thought it would, but we really
don't have much
| > > loaded on to it yet.
| > >
| > > I've heard that PAX-TV has a internet service that
automatically
| > > blocks access to porn sites and the such. But that's
the only one I
| > > have heard of and have never tried it. Does anyone
know anything
| > > about this or any other services out there for kids?
I'm just
| > > worried about what my kids will find out there on the
net. Or would
| > > the Parental Controls offered by my provider
(Earthlink) be enough to
| > > do what I want? Any advise would be appreciated.
| > >
| > > I also do not want them using any Instant Message
programs. I will
| > > have them disabled. I also do not want them
downloading things from
| > > the net without my permission. Is there a setting to
disable
| > > downloading on limited XP accounts but allow on
Administrative
| > > accounts (so I can update virus scans and updates and
the likes)?
| > >
| > > I know that Parental Supervision is the best form of
security, but I
| > > can't be everywhere 24/7 and with three kids, I'm
always being pulled
| > > in different directions.
| >
| >
|
|

 

[Peter Hucker]

You can't keep them wrapped in cotton wool forever. And every kid I know can get round those things.

Hi Zippy
I run a Youth Project where 200 plus young people access the internet.
We use Content Protect it blocks and keeps a track of where the little darlings surf.
See here for reviews on that and Net Nanny etc.
http://www.internetfilterreview.com/index.html.
Good Luck
Regard

Sue

--
FOURTEEN - CHECK OUT THE BABY! parrots and rising http://www.petersparrots.com
93 silly video clips http://www.insanevideoclips.com
1259 digital photos http://www.petersphotos.com
Served from a pentawatercooled dual 2.8GHz silent Athlon with half TB RAID.

Eagles may soar, but weasels aren't sucked into jet engines.

 

[zag]

Reminds me of the time my Dad caught me getting into his
bottle of Southern Comfort. He sat me put down that
evening with the bottle and a tumbler in front of both
of us and said, "Always wanted someone to help me finish
this off". My gawd... did I get sick. But I've never
touched S. C. since. When my kids were small, many years
ago, Playboy was left out as if it were nothing special.
And you know what? It was always just Ho Hum. I would
rather that my kids felt comfortable with the 'facts of
life' under their own roof... and didn't find it necessary
to "hit the sidewalk" in order to find out about them.
They are now happy, well adjusted adults... and raising
my grandchildren the same way.
respectfully - z ----------------------------------------

 

[Guest]

You are absolutely correct, but one has to take the necessary precautions where minors are concerned. And as a Youth Project we must show we are acting in a responsible manner.

Regards

Sue


You can't keep them wrapped in cotton wool forever. And every kid I know can get round those things.

 

[XS11E]

hee, hee I've got a long way to go, they are 12, 11 and 7 (7 year
old I have to be with all the time cause he likes to press the
wrong buttons) But they grow up really quick. Had a 15 year old
boy romancing my 12 year old daughter. Mama put a stop to that
quickly..........Time to dust off the shotgun....(I'm kidding BTW)

Why are you kidding, it sounds like a valid option! ;-)

Interesting, when I was 15, a girl 3 years younger was considered WAY
too young and all my friends would have made fun of me had I romanced
one.... ditto a girl 3 years older.

By the time I was 35, 3 years either way didn't seem like much.

I guess times change and kids grow up much faster if the statistics on
teen pregnancies are to be believed. I'd keep the shotgun clean,
oiled, loaded and ready! ;-)

 

[zippy]

It's "letting go" that's my problem. It seems like every year I've got to
bite the bullet and let go a little. They wanted to take the training
wheels off and I was like no way you'll get hurt. My mother in-law told me
they are going to get their bumps, bruises, and broken bones no matter what.
Just got to let them go. After the first child it gets easier. I cried
when the first one went off to school, the second one was easier, and when
the third one went, hell, I was jumping for joy. I'm probably gonna have a
heart attack when they turn 16 and want to drive. I think I worry too much.
Maybe it might be best to give them the "honor" system. If they do figure
out how to delete the temporary internet files and cookies, I know places to
find them in other spots they aren't smart enough for yet anyways. They've
got pretty good morals and are generally good kids. This is just another
bullet.....If they screw up and do things they aren't supposed to do on the
net, I've got extra parts for my computer........

My first bottle was Bacardi 151. You know you've got a good buzz going when
the walls start breathing.......

 

[Phil]

Why are you kidding, it sounds like a valid option! ;-)

Interesting, when I was 15, a girl 3 years younger was considered WAY
too young and all my friends would have made fun of me had I romanced
one.... ditto a girl 3 years older.

By the time I was 35, 3 years either way didn't seem like much.

I guess times change and kids grow up much faster if the statistics on
teen pregnancies are to be believed. I'd keep the shotgun clean,
oiled, loaded and ready! ;-)

When I was that age that 3-4 year differnce was the norm. While in my teens
I was with two different girls that were 3-4 years younger than me and those
relationships lasted 2-3 years each. You have to remember that 15 year old
boy is about 10 in girl years. ) Right now my girlfriend is 8 years
younger than me.(I'm in early thirties).

 

[zippy]

The age difference won't bother me much when she's older. My hubbies got me
by 21 years. But a fifeteen year old boy, his hormones are going to start
kicking in sooner than my 12 year old. And I do not think she is mature
enough to make an informed decision on her own. But it's time to sit the
both of them down and lay down the ground rules. You can look, but if you
touch be prepared for that shotgun..........But really as far as sex goes,
some will definately disagree with me, they are going to do it anyways no
matter how blue in the face you get. But as long as they use protection,
that's what really matters. I was 18 when I got married and pregnant,
missed out on alot of things in life, like college, and am now paying for it
in the end. I love my children very much, but I wish I waited longer.