Parental Monitoring Software

Parental monitoring software allows parents to have some control over what their children view online. Without the control a child could easily find sites that are inappropriate. Internet parental control software captures everything that is typed, every website visited, all chats and instant messages, email messages being sent and received, online searches, and reviews all blog entries. This type of software can also be used by an employer to track an employee's Internet use. The program records all activity and records the information to the computer. Information can be sent by the program that includes a summary report of overall web usage including, dates and times of visits, actually address and names of websites and has the capability of being set up to block specific websites. Programs that are used to control access will also allow the user to set up keywords and phrases that need to be kept track of. The software detect these keywords and phrases automatically sending an email alert to the person supervising the program.

There are many websites on the Internet that contain graphic language and pictures that should not be viewed by children. The only way that a parent can be sure that their children are not visiting these types of sites is to purchase and install parental monitoring software. The software also allows a parent to restrict times when a computer can be used. A parent may want to initiate this option when he or she is not home to watch the children. In addition, a guardian can set up special times when the computer can be accessed.

An employer who is having concerns about employees surfing the net when they are suppose to be working might want to seriously consider purchasing Internet parental control software. Some programs can be set up to monitor an entire network of computers at one time. This not only protects confidential information on the server but it limits web browsing for personal use during work hours and does not allow access to websites with explicit content. Filtering settings do not have to be set up on each individual computer but only have to be set up once on the server computer. This feature provides convenience and security since users will not have access to the server computer and cannot access filter settings on any other machine.

Software used for examination of web surfing can be set up in advance to replace a desktop screen with a list of accessible programs by the parent or employer. Parental monitoring software allows the user to choose the games and websites that a child or employee can access making it virtually impossible to access anything else on the computer. Having this type of control will allow the parent or employer to safeguard their computer from potential viruses found on questionable sites. In addition, a program may be set up with time limits on how long the child or employee can play on games or visit specific websites.

Parents need to be aware that there are millions of porn sites that can be accessed over the Internet. All a child has to do is type in a keyword that is related and he or she can get on a site that has sexual content. Internet parental control software can stop this for happening. Normally children do not deliberately look for these types of sites but innocent searches can lead them to sites that can be harmful to them. Some other sites that may be harmful to a child are ones that contain violence, hostility, and liberal content. Most caregivers do not want their children exposed to information that can cause them distress or fear. The best way to make sure that this type of exposure does not happen is to invest in a good program that blocks access.

Chat rooms are another place that children might be tempted to go into to find new friends. Unfortunately a chat room is not a safe place for children to converse with others, simply because there is no way to know who their really talking to. Parental monitoring software can block the access into chat rooms or can be set up to notify the caregiver immediately when this type of site is accessed. Sexual offenders often hang out in chat rooms to try to get others to meet them. They talk to children for awhile and gain their trust. Oftentimes they will masquerade as someone the child's age. They may ask personal questions or try to get a child's address and phone number. Most children are very trusting and have no idea that talking to someone they do not know on the Internet can be dangerous. "A prudent man foreseeth the evil, and hideth himself: but the simple pass on, and are punished" (Proverbs 22:3).

Filtering software can stop a child or an employee from going to a potentially dangerous site. Some Internet parental control software has the capability of using filters to block specific website addresses and keyword searches. Programs made for remote monitoring can allow the parent to check on children when they are on a trip or away from home. Reports with surfing information can be sent via email that shows every single site a child has visited, how long he or she was there, and the date and time accessed. Caregivers should do some research and find out more information about the dangers that lurk over the Internet and become knowledgeable about ways to keep their children safe.

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