K9 Internet Protection
It was early morning, and I was on my way out the door to work. I remembered I had promised to find a recipe for banana bread I had made…a recipe I pulled off the internet. So I sat down at my computer and typed “banana bread” into the search, forgetting to put the quotes around the phrase…
Boy, did I get an eyeful. I really did not need to see that with a half-awake brain. Later, after I recovered my shock, I realized that even the most innocent searches can lead to things that would be inappropriate for children to see.
Why You Shouldn’t Rely on Built In Protection
The scary part was, I had locked down the browser a while back, using the built-in controls. Our router is also set to screen out certain words. But my husband and I had been unable to access the family vacation pictures (and they were completely innocent), so I had lifted the lock. And forgotten to put it back.
The scary thing is that the built-in tools often give us a false sense of security, thinking that they will automatically weed out what shouldn’t be there. But unfortunately, browsers have these safety features as add-ons, rather than as their primary purpose.
How I Lock Things Down
After talking to some of my co-workers, I settled on a paid package. It was hard to get around (”Honey, can you unlock the computer so I can enter my timesheet? It’s telling me I can’t access a military site.”), but easy to configure. However, it didn’t keep up with the times, and still wasn’t working with IE7 after the browser had been out for months. I asked for, and was granted, a refund.
Right now we are using K9 Web Protection. Totally free, it is fairly easy to make exceptions, and to block categories of sites. It can also restrict access based on time of day, and lock down the web if too many restricted sites are requested. It is made by a reputable manufacturer (BlueCoat) who provides filtering for many workplaces.
In The End, Though, I Never Rely On Software Completely
While I am very happy with K9, I have never had to test it fully. After all, my daughter is very young. But I also know that no software is infallible, and so when it comes to her use of the internet, I will be the one monitoring it, being in the room while she is on the computer. Working with her is my best way of making sure she doesn’t go where she shouldn’t. Sure, it will take time, but what about parenting doesn’t?.
Photo by Darwin Bell
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Thanks for the info about K9. It is a great filter program!
Filtering is a great tool in general, but it’s not the only kind of software out there. Have you ever heard of accountability software? Accountability software is specifically for adults who want to guard where they go online without any blocking or filtering. Combined with filtering, it’s a great Internet safety solution for the whole family. If you want more info about it check out my post “Is Filtering All There Is?” (http://www.covenanteyes.com/blog/2008/06/12/is-filtering-all-there-is-introducing-accountability-software/)