Thanks to all who've filled in the Safe Surfing Survey so far (try saying that after a couple of glasses of Ribena too many ). Thanks too to those who've shared their top tips on how they keep their children safe on the internet. The top tips have tended to be non technical solutions to the problem, and what we're looking for now is the Mumsnetter's guide to the technical solutions that you've tried and tested - ideally with an explanation of how you set them up/install them that those of us who don't frequent the Geeky stuff topic would understand

So is there any one thing/device/bit of software you've discovered that's really helped you/been a lifesaver/ you'd recommend that everyone with a child your age tries?

Obviously as with the tips, different solutions are relevant to different age groups, so if you could add the age you're talking about that would be great as well.

We promise we'll stop starting new threads about safe surfing soon

Thanks in advance for all your help

I need something to protect the Internet from my child <removes raisins from keyboard>

I've never used it, but I believe NetNanny is supposed to be quite good?

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Hi Olivia, there's a specific section for media/non-member enquiries over here

we are trying netnannty. Odd thing is, it blocks mumsnet!

Olivia, talk to me! Last night a DJ saved my life.....

google safe search. btinternet parental controls (tho a bugger to use) and staying in the same room as her (dd 8) and trying to get older 2 dsc to be responsible and worrying a lot. myspace? yikes...the pics she posts.
i had awful shock last year when dd typed in cuddly dog toys (wanted one for her birthday)and got pop up. cry of mummy why is that lady licking that man's willy? gulp....

A policeman friend of ours with experience of this type of thing has said that the best thing you can do to protect your children is to know what they are doing.
Keep any PC with internet access in a "public" part of the home.
Don't let kids have their own webcam.
If your children use chatrooms anywhere on the net, ensure that there is a log function where you can see who they are chatting with.
Remind your children that anyone can claim to be 14 years old on the internet and they won't be able to spot them. Predators go to extraordinary lengths to appear convincing online. They buy all the teen magazines, watch the TV shows and listen to the music to make them seem real and trustworthy.

hey NeedsMoreCoffee - would you honestly let your kids read some of the stuff that goes on here!!?!!

I got teen boys and while looking at playboy is acceptable, stuff they can access is naughty enough to make eyes shrivel up. Computers are all downstairs and they mainly play WoW but i did catch the 14 yo looking up porn
Hence getting netnanny. And then finding it wont let anyone access MN.

even I was shocked on the _Chat - things you wished you'd not been told thread...

We use cyber patrol. Very good indeed. Blocks everything unsuitable. We also have the ability to view anything dd is using on the net. Only ever goes on the msn chatroom with friends from school (mind you, wish we could ban the bloody thing for all the arguments it causes.)

smartiejake, how do you have the ability to view anything she uses on the net? Am interested in such an option for my DS1

MB - new Macs (running Leopard anyway) can set child controls to log everything mintyNet related.. ...Windows Vista has similar controls..

oh and Squid can but you have to be a proper propeller hatted geek to play with Squid... ...and just in case any geeks are running Squid - look for the 'Internet is upside down' hack...

We use the parental controls that come with Macafee. Very clunky and un-user friendly.

Sorry I am not quite sure how it is set up as dh did it. But it's to do with the wireless router.

GB, you're talking Geek again and I have NO idea what you're on about. Can you find a human-speaker nearby to translate for you ? No Macs round here anyhow (we're not in the meeja nor particularly snappy dressers...) except for the Big variety. Leopards?! 'Go Diego Go' has a baby Jaguar? Will that do? And the only Squid I know is Spongebob's long-suffering neighbour...

FWIW Geekboy I like your blog
mines very similar

Geekboy - I'm with Monkeybird - would be really interested in more info on this
MB - new Macs (running Leopard anyway) can set child controls to log everything mintyNet related.. ...Windows Vista has similar controls..

but need some translation

Do you think you could write a line by line description - for someone brought up in the typewriter generation - how you would set child controls on a mac running leopard and on Windows Vista?

That's what we're trying to do at the mo - make all the jargon less threatening to folks (including us!) and have clear instructions on what "simple" steps people can take to protect their families.

You, and quite a few others sound as if you know what you're doing...can you help?

yep can do - drop me a line telling me what you want familyt @ mac dot com

thanks, will do

Where is the final info going to be published Carrie?
This is all so helpful.

It will be published on the site and left there for all to see at any time. I know you're a techy type as well so if you have any suggestions/ ideas as to why some parental control software thingies are better than others/ pros and cons/ what suits what age group etc, we'd love to hear from you

Thanks for encouraging words. We really hope it will be helpful to folks which is why we're trying hard to make it easy to understand, even for those of us who are technically challenged

Me again...

I know I promised to go away soon with this but we are so nearly there...

I'm looking for anyone who has use the following parental control systems

Safe Eyes5.0, CyberPatrol, Net Nanny 5.6 and OS X Leopard

I already have some great feedback from smartiejake on Cyberpatrol, but has anyone else tried it, or any of the others? (or do you know someone who has?)

If so please and double please could you let us know how you/they got on with it - good or bad stuff - was it easy to install and does it work?

We'd be ever so grateful and you would be doing the rest of Mumsnetkind a great service...

Oh and feedback tonight would be great (we don't ask for much do we

I have used OSx leopard

Only feedback would be that my DD (8 yo at the time) hacked the password on Netnanny - although DH does say that he did not set a particularly strong password

Thanks for getting back

How did you get on with OSX leopard peanutbear - was it easy to install and get to grips with and did it work?

Soapbox - apart from the password - did you find net nanny easy to understand (would a technophobe like me get it?) and - hacking apart - did it work?

It is very intuitive I prefer it to Windows vista the safe guards work well and it allows you to limit time spent on the internet to an allocation you have chosen

We have since gone completely onto MAC in our house

I fin the filtering easier as well and you can private browse if there are things you want to look at and dont have time to clear the browser

Hey Carrie I'm just about to email you a shortish, illustrated doc on the mac parental controls. Apologies for lateness but things got a leeeetle bit hectic with website builds at work.. ..you'll have it in the next 30 mins or so..

Thanks all - feel we've certainly got to grips with Leopard now...

Now just need more feedback on Safe Eyes 5.0 and Windows Vista...

Anyone?

F-Secure parental control with anti spam, anti virus software

The above is award winning software.

Have you used this Hopeysgirlwasntbig? did it work for you?

if any of you use firefox then the glubble add-on seems quite good - I have just downloaded - it is free - and limits what sites kids can access and doe snot let them install anything.