A deeper blocking tool for a child’s Android phone is also possible using any decent filter (see point 2). It also has a ‘geo-fence’, which tells parents where the phonewielding child is at any given time and sends an alert if a designated perimeter is breached. To get a detailed view into what they are actually doing, the MobileMinder app (€4 per month or €44 per year) gives parents information on who your children are talking to, what they’re saying (via keyword alerts sent back to the parent) and what sites they’re visiting. Policing your child’s Android smartphone use.īecause of their low cost, Android devices are the smartphone of choice for children. Net Nanny costs €23 for PC, €7.50 for Android or €4 for iPhone or iPad. McAfee costs €38 per year, which covers three devices. Both Safe Eyes and Net Nanny log instant-messaging chats (where cyber-bullying often manifests itself ). McAfee Safe Eyes does much of this and also extends to iTunes, blocking explicit content from being downloaded. Parents are also kept informed as to the websites, services and content that kids access. But it also has advanced features (via a separate Net Nanny Social download) to monitor social networking services such as Facebook, which include notifications to parents of new friends or ‘unfriending’activity aimed at your child. Net Nanny filters just about any type of inappropriate content, including violence, adult imagery, bad language and more. Of the hundreds of available services, I’d choose two: Net Nanny and McAfee Safe Eyes. Paid-for filters are easily the most comprehensive way of protecting children online -from pornography, strangers and cyberbullying. Type ‘parental controls’ (Win 7 and Mac) or ‘family safety’ (Win 8).Īdd a new account and choose between the safety features offered. Open your PC, open ‘search’ (from Start menu in Win 7, from Spotlight search on Mac or just start typing on Win 8 or Mac). It’s a basic, ultrarestrictive option but one you can do immediately. These all allow you to create a locked user account for your children with time controls and restrictions for sites they can visit, games they can play or what programs on the PC they can use.įor newer Windows PCs, you can also set it up to deliver reports on what your child has been doing. For Windows 7 or Apple Mac, it’s called Parental Controls. For Windows 8, it’s called Family Safety. Not a lot of people know it, but your PC has some pretty decent, easy-to-use parental controls already built in. Your PC already has controls: here’s where to look. ![]() ![]() It’s a wild world out there: There are countless ways your children can be exposed to online dangers - but also many ways to protect them 1. But how can you make sure your children are safe? Here are 10 practical safety measures any parent can use to protect their child on whatever computer, phone or tablet they use. They’re Facebooking, tweeting and instant messaging. Here’s how to make sure your children are safe when they are surfing the web. ![]() By Adrian Weckler, Irish Times (September 2013)
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