The Internet is a scary place for kids and a constant worry for their parents. Inappropriate content, predators, and malware lurk around every corner. It is critical that we teach our kids how to use the Internet safely as well as equip our computers with necessary safeguards. First we will cover some foundational security information, then we will delve into tools and settings to help secure the Internet for kids.

Consumers Union found that households containing people under 18 had a larger propensity to being infected with malware. The following situations can easily occur:

• A child might post on Facebook that the family is going on vacation
• Children download apps without understanding the hazards or reading the reviews
• Younger kids may click on links within email, without thinking about the risks
• Not downloading copyrighted material needs to be taught to minors
• Popup warnings from security software are usually ignored

Educating Your Kids

The most important element in creating a safe place for your kids to use the Internet is Education. No piece of software or hardware can replace teaching your kids right from wrong, and candidly discussing all the bad topics that can be found on the Internet.

Some topics parents should cover:

• Do not reveal your passwords
• Use social networking safely
• Do not reveal too much personal information
• Beware of online fraud

We suggest you monitor your kids closely and place computers in a central location, not hidden away in their rooms. A family room or kitchen that is easily seen is a good bet.

Microsoft has a very useful article on teaching kids online security basics.

Secure your computer, web browser, Internet connection

Follow our guides to secure your Windows PC or secure your Macintosh by installing the right software, firewall, antivirus software, etc. Secure your mobile devices: iPhone, Android smartphone or tablet, iPad. Configure the settings and add plug-ins to you web browser so that it is more secure. Consult our tutorials for: Internet Explorer 9, Google Chrome, and Mozilla Firefox. Secure your Internet Connection: Wireless Network, Public Wi-Fi.

Built-in Parental Controls

Many operating systems have parental controls already built in. There is no need to add additional software or hardware to enable them.

• Microsoft
• Macintosh OS X
• Apple iOS
• Android does not include parental controls

Apple’s iOS 5 or newer includes an option to shut off In-App Purchases. We suggest you enable this option to prevent kids from purchasing items within games.

Software Parental Controls

Parental control software helps filter inappropriate content from the Internet. This software interfaces with your browser and operating system to do the following:

• Block specific websites
• Filter inappropriate content
• Monitor Internet usage
• Manage Internet access

Most software products have long lists of sites that they block. These lists are constantly updated.

Internet Access Control for Kids using Software

Computers can be configured to block inappropriate websites utilizing several different techniques. Some involve customized browser software, while others strengthen the lower level plumbing in one’s computer.The following software packages include parental controls and content filtering.

K9 Web Protection – Free software to control browsing. No controls for email, instant messaging, games. Windows, iOS (iPhone, iPad), and Macintosh.

Norton Online Family – Free software to control browsing, instant messaging, limit computer use, monitor usage. Free version with limited functionality. Windows and Macintosh.

Windows Live Family Safety – Free parental control software for Windows 7 and Windows Vista. Get usage reports, choose websites, games, programs they can access. Control time periods when they can use the computer.

Most parents install this type of parental control software to help manage their kid’s Internet access.

Internet Access Control for Kids using Domain Name Filtering

The following free options allow you to set your Internet router to automatically block inappropriate content.

OpenDNS – has a free family service which incorporates parental controls to block inappropriate content.

Norton ConnectSafe for Home – Configures the domain name servers that your computer uses to special ones that include options to filter porn or to be family friendly.

Using Virtual Machines for Kids

A virtual machine is software that allows a computer and its operating system to run within your existing computer. The software emulates another computer, so you can set it up with a configuration that is more optimized for kids. Here are several free options for you to deploy virtual machines in an effort to create a safe environment for kids. The kids should do all their surfing within the virtual machine, so that your main computer will not polluted with their usage.

Microsoft Virtual Machine – Designed for web developers to test compatibility with different versions of Internet Explorer, these Virtual Machines for Microsoft’s Virtual PC allow you to run a Virtual computer on your desktop with Internet Explorer and Firefox pre-installed. You can manually install Google Chrome. If you mess up the Virtual computer, you can just delete it and start fresh from a new image. Keep in mind some malware is capable of detecting virtual machines and acting innocent until you move into your main system.
If you use VMware Player, you can add the following line to your .vmx file so that it writes all changes to a temporary file, which will be deleted when you power off the virtual machine.:ide0:0.mode = “independent-nonpersistent”

Dell KACE – has a free secure browser based on a virtualized and contained Firefox Browser with Adobe Reader and Flash plug-ins. You can manually install Google Chrome.

Creating an Account for Your Kids

It is wise to create a separate user account just for your kids. This will prevent them from altering or adding to your software, add-ons, bookmarks, etc. To create an additional account under Windows 7, do the following:

Setup a Standard user or non-administrative user account and allow your kids to use that instead. A non-administrative account or Standard user account can use most software and change system settings that do not affect other users on the same computer, nor can this user affect the security of the computer. Note: Some malware, has from time to time, found the ability to grant itself administrator privileges bypassing Internet Security. Running as a standard user still minimizes risk. There will be times when using the Standard user account is annoying, due to lack of sufficient privileges to complete certain tasks. In the end the security increase is worthwhile. To create a Standard user account follow these steps:

1. Click Start Button
2. Type Create Standard user account into Start menu’s Search Box
3. Select Create Standard user account from the results
   
4. Click on Standard user
5. Enter a new account name in the dialog
6. Click Create Account

Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA) of 1998

Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act is intended to help parents by banning any child under the age of 13 from joining social media platforms such as Facebook or from setting up general purpose communications accounts such as email or Skype.

While this is a noble goal, in practice many parents help their kids circumvent this Act, by setting up accounts with these services anyway. Any kid under the age of 13 who has an email account is skirting this Act. 38% of children on Facebook are 12 and under per a recent poll by MinorMonitor.

Facebook Parental Control

Facebook is everywhere and is widely used by kids. Protect your kids on Facebook with our How to Safely use Facebook article as well as add on software.

MinorMonitor – Helps identify possible bullying, drug use, sexual references, and more.

Apple iOS – iPhone and iPad Internet Safety

Kids are seen using their parents’ iPhones and iPads all over the place. It is important that we take steps to control their access to these ever-more present devices. Starting with iOS 12, Apple has added extensive parental control features with the screen time feature. Here are some additional free apps to help you accomplish this:

Parental Control App (Kidslox) – Has app blocking, content filtering, and daily limits on screen time.

Android Parental Control Apps

Android has no built in parental controls outside of app store restrictions, so users need to install third party apps to fill this void.

Cloudacl Safe Browser – Cloud based content filtering browser.

Google Family Link – Set digital ground rules and monitor online activity.

There are many resources to help insure your kids are using the Internet safely. Parental control software is available, but in the end it is important to educate your children regarding safe Internet usage.