My son has started to use Google, which is good in a way but terrifying really in another. I don't have any sort of protection in my computer and would like to get a really good one so that my son doesn't come across with anything nasty. He never goes on the Internet unsupervised, but just in case I would like something to protect him.

I think we have a Anti virus (Norton) that a friend of ours installed. Before having that we use to get the nastiest pop-ups but thankfully they are gone. I just worry that he will look for something in google and something else will appear.

Maybe i should get rid of google as my homepage and each time he needs to find something he can go on to his favourites. I am rambling, now... Any ideas ladies?

By Sunny on Monday, January 16, 2006 - 06:20 pm:

You can filter searches with Google. Just click on preferences and set it to "strict filtering". Depending on how old your son is, and as long as you supervise, this might be enough for right now.

By Alberobello on Monday, January 16, 2006 - 06:32 pm:

Thanks Sunny, i did that now, i didn't know about that feature. I'll keep looking for a software programme all the same, thanks anyway.

By Unschoolmom on Monday, January 16, 2006 - 06:48 pm:

You can check on Download.com under Home & Family then Kids and Parenting for kids safe browsers and internet tracking programs to test and use.

By Ginny~moderator on Monday, January 16, 2006 - 07:25 pm:

Norton Internet Security has a feature that lets you set security for kids.

I suggest a couple of things. One, keep the computer where you can look over your son's shoulder at any time.

Second, set up passwords. You and your partner should have your own passwords, and your son a separate password. I don't know about either Google or Norton, but I would hope/think both have a feature where you can keep a high security level for one username/password, and different levels for the adults. Do start checking this out, and I will do some quick research - I think I've bookmarked some stuff on this.

But most off, you have to keep looking over his shoulder. No security program is perfect.

By Alberobello on Monday, January 16, 2006 - 07:41 pm:

He is always supervised when he is on the computer, and we won't allow him for more than half an hour at a time.

I just found a thing that's called "Safe Eyes" and its a programme that blocks the sites that you choose, it has the option of banning categories such as nudity, violence, drugs, etc. I signed up for a trial for 15 days and see how it goes.

But of course, he has to be monitored when he is using it. The Internet is such a powerful information tool but also so dangerous it's scary. Thanks all for your input.

By Kym on Monday, January 16, 2006 - 08:53 pm:

A very big "thing" right now is Myspace.com, keep him away, it's a pretty "trashy" site IMO, one of my daughter (age 12) friends set her up on there, she only viewed it once, but I got notice she was on there and checked it out and it was sad to say the least the quality of people as well as the desperatness in some of them. Thankfully she didnt' see it!
Google filtering has worked great for us!

By Karefl on Monday, January 16, 2006 - 09:07 pm:

I have to agree with Kym on the Myspace thing! We got our kids (13 & 10) a laptop for Christmas. One of the FIRST things that I checked our for them was Myspace. I checked it our b/c our church youth leader told me that a bunch of kids from youth group were set up on it. NO WAY was I going to set either of them up on it after I saw it! UGH! I was very surprised at the content! Definately STAY AWAY!!

By Boxzgrl on Monday, January 16, 2006 - 11:05 pm:

I agree with MySpace as well. I have an account and keep in contact with my high school friends regularly but the things I see on younger kids profiles among other things is unbelieveable! You can also periodically check your history after he uses the computer to see if he needs more or less monitoring than he's getting.