Parental Control

The Internet can be used as a wonderful learning and communication tool but it can also be a scary and even dangerous thing to allow children to access unsupervised.  Thankfully there are some software tools available that can help keep children safe from the bad parts.

Advanced Parental Control
Advanced Parental Control 1.6
From Retina-X Studios
Advanced Parental Control enables you to control, restrict and monitor users of your PC. You can control for how long and when users are allowed to use the computer or Internet. Also halt the use of specific programs, block access to any URL, restrict access to Windows functions and more. Block chat or web site activities and intercept the user if specific keywords (of your choice) are encountered. Also capable of monitoring user activities.
Free to try; $39.97 to buy

CyberPatrol
CyberPatrol
From SurfControl

CyberPatrol lets you monitor and control your child's online activities and protects them from harmful content, including Spyware and Phishing sites. It lets you block or filter chat and instant messaging programs as well as safeguard against abusive language in chat sessions.

You can choose to manage the time they spend online and help prevent them from divulging their personal information. CyberPatrol lets you choose where, when, and how your child surfs online - even when you can't be there.

Free to Try; $39.95 to buy

IamBigBrother
IamBigBrother
From InternetSaftySoftware.com, Inc.

Iambigbrother allows you to record standard computer activity (such as emails, IMs, keystrokes and so on) as well as all programs that were run by the person you are monitoring. This is a great feature for parents who really want to get a sense of what their kids are spending their time doing. The way the information is displayed can be a little tedious to get through, but there is no question that it looks nice. It treats each website launched in its own window as a separate application, so it provides a quick overview of your child’s web surfing habits.

Free to Try; $29.99 to buy