g'day goldhilla,

check with your isp they may already have a program there for their users to avail of.

the only one i know of or heard anything about is 'net-nanny' but do a google for free programs they will be there. to remember nothing is perfect once the kids crack the password they can turn it off and you will never know.

the best way as we found with our girls was in their upbringing they realy had no interest outside of music, nust have been from when they where in the womb they got good 'ole r&r to the point one daughter when she was just born would start reacting with exitement when she heard the fave' song in mums womb, and she still likes that song though it was never on the hit chart when she was old enought to follow music like that.

would have been no good us using any net scensorship our girls are spot on in breaking passwords.

len

Thanks Len, I never thought to check the ISP. My kids aren't on the net much but a few times I have had porn, etc come up when I've been looking for other things eg looking for info on trailers (car) and "porn movie trailers" came up. Prefer the kids didn't have the temptation if it happened to them. So far so good but they are getting to the age of checking those sites out.

I spent quite a while yesterday going through the free sites but there was so many I didn't know which to choose.

Know what you mean by the music. We played a lot of country r & r when I was pregnant with one of the kids and after she was born, every time we played the tape she used to stop crying.

Just checked out my ISP and they don't have a free one only recommend a bought one. So back to looking.

is net-nanny free? if not they usually have a trial period try it then just pick the best of the freebies and see what happens you could go to the 'usenet' that is the 'newsgroups' and got to the 'aus.computers' group and ask there are lots of good people there and i'm sure you will get the info' you seek.

len

do you have the computer in a 'public' area of the home?? Ours is where anyone can walk past at any time and look over the shoulder (may put them off being tempted) and also keep a check through the history icon and see what they have been looking at...that way if you see that they have been peeking at inappropriate sites you can front them about it and deal with it straight away. I know you can't protect them from everything and the little beggars are so smart with computers you wouldn't be able to anyway, but at least if they know you are checking on them, it might put them off looking at all....maybe!!? Best of luck, Tina

Other Net issues increase in secondary school. Chat rooms and IMs. My son innocently told someone his name in a chat room; lucky a decent person who smartly told him never to do that. And the big lists of contacts on Messenger; if kids can't resist being signed on when they're doing homework, then perhaps this has to be disallowed. Oh, I'm wise after the event :)

The quick iconise of a message as you walk past... Foul language in messages particularly in Yrs 9 and 10 contacts.
When kids start earning serious money of their own and having mobile phones....SMSs come in at all hours unless the kid has the self discipline(!) to turn the thing off. Not even touching on gossip and parties.

I saw this article in the link this morning. Makes me smile to remember that my mother had concerns that my nose was always in a book, You'll addle your brain, she used to say. Perhaps she was right!!
Cheers
Rose

Here is a link that might be useful: Sydney Morning Herald article

Goldhills,
Zone Alarm has a free download which includes filtering. I have Zone Alarm but haven't actually used the filtering facility myself. It was recommended to me by my brother who works in the 'computer world'
Cheers,
Dee.

Goldhills,
I am sorry, I have to retract the statement about Zone Alarm being free. I thought it was but my husband informed me last night that I was wrong, so obviously I got my wires crossed somewhere. My apologies again for the wrong information.
Cheers,
Dee.

Sorry it's taken so long to get back here. Thanks for your help so far.

Dee I checked out zone alarm and found it wasn't free. My wires are always getting crossed lately, no need to apologise.

Len, netnanny isn't free and I don't like using trials, I've been caught before and had trouble removing the trial when finished.

Tina, the computer is in my office/bedroom (originally a garage changed to rumpus room then to our office/bedroom when last unexpected addition came along!). The office part is right opposite the door so can be seen from kitchen and dining area. My kids aren't on the net much, usually when it concerns homework and I usually hang round supervising. I check history after they have been on and found some suspicious sites after my son had a friend over one day but since a good talking to he has behaved (so far).

I tried downloading one filter but after being asked three times to download more updates before it was even fully operating, I removed it, so still searching. I may have to buy one but it will have to wait until after the bill-paying season.

Rose, good article. I used to always have my head in a book as does my son and one daughter. I would rather they read books than play violent sports (sorry I can't stand football).

It is worth all the reading as my son has just been accepted in next years extension plus class (for high achievers) at high school. They only accept 28 kids a year. It means hard work but he loves school work (different to what I was like) so should be able to handle it.

g'day goldhills,

trials should all come with an uninstall, if not and you are using m$ platforms there is an uninstall there to use as well.

i use the free zone alarm as back door protection anything else they have will be charged for but i reckon zone alarm would have to be pretty good i know net nanny isn't free i just mentioned it as it is one that i know of.

len

Filters are always going to be behind the eight-ball - blocking valid sites and allowing some nasties through. I think the best approach is parental guidance and teaching responsible behaviour.

Hi Goldhills,
I felt guilty about the wrong information I gave you earlier, so I did a bit of Googling and came up with this freeware. I don't know anything about it, so you would have to decide for yourself. Click on the link below. Hope it helps.
Cheers,
Dee.

Here is a link that might be useful: Parental filtering

Thanks Dee, you didn't have to go to the trouble but I do appreciate it. Haven't come across that one yet, had a quick look and doesn't look too bad so will check it out some more.

Joshp, I'm with you on the parental guidance and he is a good kid (except when it comes to annoying his 3 sisters) and can usually be trusted. It's his friends I don't trust as much and we all know what kids can get up to no matter how well they are raised.

Try Naomi: it's free and works with 'all browsers and any internet-enabled application'.

Here is a link that might be useful: Naomi filter

Welcome to GW, Zoe and thanks for the Naomi tip, I actually downloaded it yesterday as Dee pointed it out and it seems to be the best I've seen so far. Don't know if it works yet,I'll have to try it out.

One reason I want it is because the other day I was searching for sites about photo collaging (typed in 'photo collage') and found that most of them were for photos of naked girls, etc at college (spelt 'collage'). When that sort of thing comes up you can't expect kids not to have a look :(

Thanks for everyones help, I'll let you all know how it works.

Thanks Goldhills. Well, most of the time Naomi blocked that kind of photos, but then again no program is perfect :) However it has the advantage that you can e-mail the author if something doesn't work as you wish and he'll make the appropriate changes. Good luck

I tested it yesterday on the photo collage search and it worked :) It works by closing down the whole browser. I haven't told anyone I've put it on so I'm waiting for someone to tell me there is something wrong with the computer and the browser keeps disappearing. I'll know what they have been trying to access. Just being sneaky :)

Haha!! Good one!
Cheers,
Dee.

"I haven't told anyone I've put it on so I'm waiting
for someone to tell me there is something wrong with
the computer and the browser keeps disappearing."

Have you tried the "no tray" plugin? See http://www.radiance.m6.net/faqen.html
It hides the filter's icon :)

Thought about that too but wasn't sure how sneaky I should be :) I have it 'always hidden' on the taskbar so you have to click on the arrow to see it and the kids rarely do that.

I have actually turned it off a couple of times when I was browsing yesterday as I was looking for gift ideas and some sites sold 'adult toys' as well as ordinary gifts and it wouldn't let me see the ordinary stuff either. It's not too much trouble to turn off, I just have to remember to turn it back on when I've finished.