The internet is an amazing resource for kids, but there are also many dangers, and keeping your kids safe from the web's darker corners can take a little work.
Your ISP is often a good place to start, as many companies give away parental controls for free.
In the UK, for instance, providers such as BT, Sky, Talk Talk and Virgin Media can all offer help, and the Safer Internet site can tell you more.
There are some excellent web-based tools, too. If you're concerned about exactly what your kids are doing on social networking sites, for instance, Avira Social Network Protection and Web Services can tell you more and alert you to any problems.
And if you'd prefer to install software locally, then there are plenty of options available. Some are powerful and wide-ranging, others can protect you with a single click, but they're all entirely free. Read on to find out more.
1. Norton Family
Norton Family is a powerful parental control system with plenty of very useful features. You can set the times when your kids are allowed to use the computer, and block access to sites by type ("hate", "pornography", "shopping", "social networks" - there are 40+ categories) or URL.
You get to see which sites your kids are visiting, their web searches and more. And you can configure the program separately for each child, as long as they have their own account on your computer.
This is easy to set up, with a password-protected icon in your system tray giving access to the main settings. Email alerts warn of problems (attempts to reach blocked sites, say), and detailed reports are available online, so you can access them wherever you are.
2. DNS Angel
DNS Angel is small, simple and only does one thing - but by way of compensation, it does it very well.
To try the program out, just launch DNS Angel, click "MetaCert DNS" - and that's it. Whenever you try to access a website from your PC, on any browser, it'll now send the request to the MetaCert DNS server. Try to visit a porn site and it'll be blocked, while everything else works as normal.
If this doesn't suit your needs, then the other DNS options (Norton ConnectSafe and OpenDNS) provide similar functions.
And if you want to undo your changes, click Restore DNS to restore your last network settings, or Default DNS to use your ISP's default settings.
3. Bitdefender Parental Control Free
Trying to block web access for your kids isn't always effective, as they can often get online from devices which you don't control.
Another option is simply to monitor their web activities to see exactly what they're doing, and that's where Bitdefender Parental Control Free comes in.
The program can track the websites your children are visiting, the programs they run, even their instant messaging conversations (if you have Yahoo Messenger or MSN, anyway).
There's an Android version which also includes SMS and call monitoring. And as you'd expect from a big name like Bitdefender, it's all very straightforward, with helpful wizards walking you through the setup process.
4. KuruPira WebFilter
If you're not quite sure which parental control functions you need, try KuruPira WebFilter - it covers virtually everything.
The program can block websites, for instance, and prevent your kids instant messaging or visiting social networks. You can choose when they're allowed to go online. The Application Filter restricts the programs they can run, and there are lots of ways to monitor what's happening (including regular screen captures).
Despite all these features, KuruPira is generally easy to use. But it can also be a little basic. There's no way to change the web blocking to suit the child's age, for instance, so whether they're 6 or 16, it works in precisely the same way.
5. FortiClient
Parental controls are sometimes included with security suites, so check your system carefully before you install anything new - you may have the functionality you need already.
Or, if you're also looking for a security suite, try something like FortiClient. It's free and fairly basic, but does have two useful features.
The Parental Control module helps you bloc k website access by category or URL, and logs all attempts to visit blocked sites for review later. And the Application Firewall does something similar for programs, allowing you to block them by group ("Instant Messaging") or as individual applications ("Skype").
6. Windows Live Family Safety
Family Safety is Microsoft's limited (but free) contribution to the family world. After installing it locally, you're directed to a browser-based interface where you can configure every child's account.
There are options to restrict website access, block your child from running particular programs and games, and decide when they can and can't use the PC.
It's basic, but free, and easy to use. And it's also convenient, as Famil y Safety comes with Windows 8, and is available as a part of Windows Essentials for everybody else.
7. Qustodio
As usual with the free version of a commercial product, Qustodio has some restrictions. In this case there's no social network monitoring, and no way to control which programs your kids can access.
What you do get, though, is capable website blocking, as well as a versatile scheduler which allows you to choose exactly when your child can use the PC, or go online.
The program is available for both Windows PCs and Android devices. A browser-based console means it's easy to view reports on your kid's activities, no matter where you are, and the entire package is well presented and generally very easy to use.
8. Cold Turkey
Cold Turkey takes a different, but occasionally very useful approach to web filtering: it blocks access to some popular or named sites, but only until a given date and time.
So rather than, say, banning YouTube altogether, the program allows you to disable it until after lunch (or tomorrow, or next week and so on), at which point you'll automatically be allowed access again.
It's far more difficult to get around this protection you might think - you can't just change your PC's time, for instance - and so Cold Turkey could prove helpful in controlling internet access for older children.
9. Spyrix Free Keylogger
Launch Spyrix Free Keylogger and you'll soon realise the program is the free edition of a commercial program, because it tells you, frequently, with very large adverts.
If you can live with that, though, you'll also find that it's a very capable PC monitoring tool. There are tools to record keystrokes, take regular screenshots, monitor clipboard activity and track whatever programs are being used.
There are some useful configuration options, it's easy to view the information you've captured, and Free Keylogger can run invisibly so your kids won't know what's going on.
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You've missed out Mobicip (https://www.mobicip.com) in this list.
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