Internet Security (Teenager)

5,197 Views | 43 Replies | Last: 7 yr ago by Absolute
94DallasAG
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AG
TIA for any help.

What is the best internet filter program for a laptop computer? Are there any where you can specify the site(s) they can go to and how well do they work?

The situation is this: homeschooled and can't trust the teen at this point but she needs to be able to go online to access the study material.
Stasco
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AG
Not sure there's anything you can do to the computer itself, at this point, that's going to keep a semi-intelligent teen from seeing whatever he or she wants. I would just keep the internet devices in the family areas of the house, to the extent possible.

Also, you probably have less to worry about with a teen girl than a teen boy.
mickeyrig06sq3
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AG
You can do a combo of two things. Set the DNS servers that the routers give out via DHCP, to the adult filter servers from OpenDNS. Then, create a rule in router to deny any DNS query to other servers. This will prevent them from manually changing the DNS server on their computer.

But, if she has a smart phone it's a moot point. Aside from installing certain software on the phone, there's not much you can do to stop what she does there.
kb2001
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AG
Short answer- you won't be able to stop her

The few things you can do, as suggested above

-Keep connected devices in family areas
-Use OpenDNS
-Good idea to block DNS requests to other servers, I hadn't thought of that one


BrazosDog02
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I use K9. I think its pretty good.
94DallasAG
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AG
Can you bypass software like K9 or Net Nanny?

I ask because I'm far from IT intelligent. I appreciate the replies.
DrSocrates
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not sure if I barking up the wrong tree here but my Netgear allows me to set times & access per IP/PC.

Here's a link it gave me under "learn More":
https://opendns.zendesk.com/forums/21313122-Netgear-Live-Parental-Controls
BurnetAg
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Any kids nowadays is going to give it their best effort to bypass the software. The key is to ensure they don't have admin rights on the local laptop and or tablet. Heck, I disabled access to the play store on my kiddo phone. she realized that if she went to to to play.google.com on a laptop and get the darned apps. Smart little girl. Smart girl.

Ways to get around it K9 or netnanny.

  • Use a bootable usb drive and boot up to a different operation system. Takes a little bit or work, but there's enough motivation out of a teenager to do this.
  • Reinstall the entire operating system. Tricky and risk getting caught.
  • Use a VPNService that will bypass the proxy setup.
  • Use Tor for browsing

In our house, I use use a multi layer defense. I start at the router and have parental controls enabled and block specific sites such as RedTube, Tumblr, and just for fun at times YouTube. Also, knowing their devices on the router is very helpful for when you want to force family time.

For the mobile devices, I use My Mobile Watchdog or Teensafe. Pretty decent app. Works on both Apple & Androids.

As for the computers & laptops, I used to use Kidswatch. However, I haven't put it on since the last refresh.

It's tough being a parent and even worse when the kids know more about technology than people who do this for a living. At the end of the day, we talk about internet safely, bullying, and why its important and real life examples. I honestly have probably scared the crap out of her, but it is for her own good. MTV had a great series (maybe) called "Sexting in America". I encourage you to watch it with your kids.

91AggieLawyer
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AG
quote:
Also, you probably have less to worry about with a teen girl than a teen boy.

Huh? You serious?
FatZilla
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AG
Do you know all the sites she will need to visit? You can set the rules to only allow those specific sites and to deny all traffic else ware. You can also set up and allow yourself to remotely control your router to add any sites on the fly from anywhere. That way if any new ones come up she will have to get them added by you. Most of this will also hinge on if you have a router with software that allows this. Basically setting up a firewall with a deny all traffic and then punching specific holes in it for only sites you allow.
AggieJason
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OP - as someone that's been there and tried everything under the sun, take my word on this: If he wants to look at porn / illicit content, he's going to find a way. Even if that involves just going to a friend's house where the internet use is unrestricted. I'm going to get blasted for this, I'm sure, but there's no substitute for having a "grown-up" talk with your kid about responsible internetting and/or keeping computers in a common, shared space.
Whos Juan
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AG
Pretty much agree with everything that's been said. Your kid is going to have enough time to figure out a way to get around whatever safeguards you put in place. The best approach would be to set restrictions on your router and not their computer, but even then a factory reset will negate that.
The Collective
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AG
Do teenage girls look at adult content as well (generally) or are their problems normally related to social networking sites and things like that? I do not look forward to parenting a teenager... especially in 10 years.
94DallasAG
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AG
^
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Unfortunately you'd be quite surprised what's in the minds of teenage girls. Wish I had know this 30 years ago

Thanks for all the advice. I think we'll try something like Net Nanny with the options above (like the router) that I can set up/get an IT friend to set up.
The Collective
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AG
I wanted it to be so true when I was 16. And now, I'm terrified that it might be true as mid-30s dad.
BurnetAg
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Teenage girls are far worse than boys in my experience. My kiddo is pretty good at Internet safety but when she was younger I was worried alot. She's earned some trust but why test it? A friends daughter dated the neighbors son to get wifi.
As we head into the teenage years, I am more worried about what can happen from selfies.

wangus12
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AG
If they don't have a phone, no selfies
agmrpink
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X3Watch is another handy accountability PC software that extends filtering and access reports to smartphones as well.
LOYAL AG
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AG
I've never even thought about using tools to control where my kids surf. Our approach to all of parenting has been to give them the tools to make the right decisions, correct them when they get it wrong, then give them another chance to get it right. IMO parenting isn't about preventing them from doing things we don't like, it's about teaching them about right and wrong and helping them learn to make the right decisions in life. At some point you have to realize that your teenager is not far from leaving you home forever. If all you've ever done is control what they can and can't do how are they going to figure out how to make their own decisions when you're not there to make them?
BurnetAg
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LoyalAg - I agree with you to a point. However, there are some kids who just don't think about the consequences of their actions. I can't tell you how many times I've had a teenager tell me "I trusted my boy/girlfriend" and they sent them questionable pictures. So yeah, those kids need to have controls in place.
Wyoming Aggie
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AG
Note to self...stay single and don't have kids.
Pro Sandy
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AG
To prevent their access solely with a technological solution is impossible. It requires other restrictions such as when and where the computers can be used.

Others have mentioned modifying router configurations. That's the best thing you can do. My router allows me to blacklist sites and adjust your DNS server. I like using Google's, so I leave my DNS on 8.8.4.4 and 8.8.8.8, but do blacklist sites.

On the computer itself, it is too easy to encrypt sites in the browser for any solution to be effective. If they are dumb and don't know how to use a proxy or VPN, these solutions might work. You can also modify the HOSTS file and put 127.0.0.1 for sites you want to sinkhole.

Even with those, running TOR or even just anonymoX on Mozilla bypasses them.

You would have to use a very locked down device which would likely lead to them just using another device without your knowledge.

I use all the above at our house. We restrict the computer to the family room, they can't use it after 8PM, the router has blacklisted sites, and I modified the HOSTS file. And you know what? Everything I would like to restrict can be found on YouTube...
sam callahan
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Koala Safe

Not a panacea, but helpful.
wesag
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AG
quote:
I've never even thought about using tools to control where my kids surf. Our approach to all of parenting has been to give them the tools to make the right decisions, correct them when they get it wrong, then give them another chance to get it right. IMO parenting isn't about preventing them from doing things we don't like, it's about teaching them about right and wrong and helping them learn to make the right decisions in life. At some point you have to realize that your teenager is not far from leaving you home forever. If all you've ever done is control what they can and can't do how are they going to figure out how to make their own decisions when you're not there to make them?



Pretty much not what anybody is looking for with this thread, but thanks, ace.
VanZandt92
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quote:
To prevent their access solely with a technological solution is impossible. It requires other restrictions such as when and where the computers can be used.

Others have mentioned modifying router configurations. That's the best thing you can do. My router allows me to blacklist sites and adjust your DNS server. I like using Google's, so I leave my DNS on 8.8.4.4 and 8.8.8.8, but do blacklist sites.

On the computer itself, it is too easy to encrypt sites in the browser for any solution to be effective. If they are dumb and don't know how to use a proxy or VPN, these solutions might work. You can also modify the HOSTS file and put 127.0.0.1 for sites you want to sinkhole.

Even with those, running TOR or even just anonymoX on Mozilla bypasses them.

You would have to use a very locked down device which would likely lead to them just using another device without your knowledge.

I use all the above at our house. We restrict the computer to the family room, they can't use it after 8PM, the router has blacklisted sites, and I modified the HOSTS file. And you know what? Everything I would like to restrict can be found on YouTube...



Is this a foreign language. No idea what you just said.
VanZandt92
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I'm going back to the
Border Violence.......Again (hear anything RGV-AG?) thread.
Thomas Ford 91
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quote:
quote:
I've never even thought about using tools to control where my kids surf. Our approach to all of parenting has been to give them the tools to make the right decisions, correct them when they get it wrong, then give them another chance to get it right. IMO parenting isn't about preventing them from doing things we don't like, it's about teaching them about right and wrong and helping them learn to make the right decisions in life. At some point you have to realize that your teenager is not far from leaving you home forever. If all you've ever done is control what they can and can't do how are they going to figure out how to make their own decisions when you're not there to make them?



Pretty much not what anybody is looking for with this thread, but thanks, ace.


You revived an 8 month old thread to make that comment?

This thread is about internet security for teenagers. That dude has it right; the best security is to let them learn responsibility. You cant't stop kids with authoritarian methods. Did you learn nothing from Footloose?

If they don't learn to use a computer responsibly, they don't need a computer. "They need it for some schoolwork" is a crock. Pull the plug if they cant be trusted. The old school options still exists. There is a public library with books within 25 miles.
VanZandt92
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quote:
quote:
quote:
I've never even thought about using tools to control where my kids surf. Our approach to all of parenting has been to give them the tools to make the right decisions, correct them when they get it wrong, then give them another chance to get it right. IMO parenting isn't about preventing them from doing things we don't like, it's about teaching them about right and wrong and helping them learn to make the right decisions in life. At some point you have to realize that your teenager is not far from leaving you home forever. If all you've ever done is control what they can and can't do how are they going to figure out how to make their own decisions when you're not there to make them?



Pretty much not what anybody is looking for with this thread, but thanks, ace.


You revived an 8 month old thread to make that comment?

This thread is about internet security for teenagers. That dude has it right; the best security is to let them learn responsibility. You cant't stop kids with authoritarian methods. Did you learn nothing from Footloose?

If they don't learn to use a computer responsibly, they don't need a computer. "They need it for some schoolwork" is a crock. Pull the plug if they cant be trusted. The old school options still exists. There is a public library with books within 25 miles.



Tell us about personal responsibility Thomas. That's what people are here for. They aren't here for specific technical advice on software and Hardware.
wesag
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AG
People bump eight-month-old threads so that new advice threads are not created when the existing information is already available. Sometimes you have to poke fun at a rube along the way while bumping.

Advice threads. One of the best things about Texags.
wesag
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AG
Sorry, not a rube, but a luddite.
Tabasco
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AG
What do you do after you change to something like google's DNS? Is it already configured to screen out inappropriate sites, or you have to enter them manually?
Tabasco
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AG
Or open DNS. I see an early post referencing adult filters. Can someone explain?
mickeyrig06sq3
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AG
quote:
Or open DNS. I see an early post referencing adult filters. Can someone explain?

They have their own list of blacklisted sites. If someone tries to resolve the IP for a website on the list, the server won't hand it out, or will hand out an IP to a "You've been blocked." page.
Absolute
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Look up Circle by Disney. It is a hardware device that connects to the router.

I just got one and have only played with it a little, but so far I like it. Can set limits easily. Can control multiple devices networks access for the kid.

Best option I have found so far in my search for this type of control. Though still not perfect.
Tabasco
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AG
quote:
quote:
Or open DNS. I see an early post referencing adult filters. Can someone explain?

They have their own list of blacklisted sites. If someone tries to resolve the IP for a website on the list, the server won't hand it out, or will hand out an IP to a "You've been blocked." page.


Thanks. Any opinion on which is better, open dns or googles?
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