Parental control software How do I set up parental controls?

Your operating system may already include some parental control features.

Set up parental controls in Windows XP

Windows XP has very few parental control features built into it. However, you can set up a ‘Limited’ user account (go to Start > Control Panel > User Accounts > Create Account). This will restrict the user who logs on from changing most computer settings and deleting important files, but it doesn’t go much beyond that.

Individual Windows XP components have a few settings of their own that can be customised, such as DVD ratings in Windows Media Player (go to Tools > Options and select the DVD tab) and the Content Advisor option in Internet Explorer (Tools > Internet Options > click the Content tab), but these only have a very basic level of effectiveness. Your best bet with XP is to install a third-party parental control tool such as K9.

Set up parental controls in Windows 7 and Vista

Windows Vista offers parental controls

Go to Start > Control Panel > click on ‘Add or remove user accounts’. Click on the ‘Create new user account’ link, enter a name for the account into the box and make sure that ‘Standard user’ is checked before clicking the ‘Create account’ button.

Now click on the icon for the new account you have just created and then on the ‘Set up Parental Controls’ link on the left. Click on the user account icon again and put a check next to where it says ‘On, enforce current settings’. Now you will be able to customise specific settings.

Click on Time Limit to block or allow your account holder from using the computer at certain times of day. Click on Games to specify whether the user is allowed to play games at all and, if so, whether to block certain games by their age rating or specific games by title. Click on ‘Allow and block specific programs’ to limit which applications the user can run.

Windows 7 helps children stay safe online

Windows Vista users will have two further options on this screen. They will be able to put a check next to ‘Activity Reporting’ to receive logs and information about the account holder’s computer usage. They will also be able to click on ‘Windows Vista Web Filter’ to block or allow internet content and downloads. Windows 7 users can add similar functionality by downloading the free Windows Live Essentials pack.

Note that in both Windows 7 and Vista, the administrator account will need to be password protected in order for the parental controls to be effective. Make sure your user account has a password by going to Go to Start > Control Panel > User Accounts and Family Safety > Change your Password.

Set up parental controls in Mac OSX

Parental controls are a feature of the Mac OSX operating system

Go to Apple > System Preferences > Accounts, click on the plus (‘+’) sign (bottom, left) and fill out the account holder’s details, making sure that you select ‘Standard’ from the New Account dropdown menu at the top. When you’re finished, click Done, then put a tick next to ‘Enable parental controls’ in the Accounts dialogue and click the Open Parental Controls button.

Now highlight the new account and use the tabs along the top of the dialogue (System, Content, Mail & iChat, Time Limits and Logs) to set up each element of the parental controls as required.