Parental control software What parental controls do I need?
Depending on the type of computer you have and the software and services you use, you may already have some parental control tools at your disposal.
Parental controls in Windows XP
Unfortunately, Windows XP has very few parental control features built into it. It is, however, possible to set up a ‘Limited’ user account, which will allow you to restrict some activities for anyone using this account. To find out how to do this, see our 'How do I set up parental controls?' page.
Parental controls in Windows Vista
Windows Vista offers parental controls
Windows Vista has some of the best built-in parental controls of any operating system. You're able to:
- set up individual ‘Standard’ user accounts for your children
- apply a wide range of content blocking, access management and other safety settings to each account individually
- set specific time limits for when and how long children are allowed to log on to the PC
- block access to specific games based on their age-rating and allow or block specific programs
- use the built-in web filter to limit the types of site that your child can access, restrict file downloading and block or allow specific websites
- set up activity reports to gather information about individuals' computer usage
To find out how to set up Vista's parental controls, see our 'How do I set up parental controls?' page.
Parental controls in Windows 7
Windows 7 helps children stay safe online
Curiously, the latest version of Windows actually includes fewer parental control features than its predecessor. However, it's possible to:
- activate parental controls on specific Standard user accounts
- set time limits
- block access to games based on age-ratings
- block specific programs
Windows 7 lacks the web filtering tools found in Vista. It’s possible to add these back in by downloading a separate pack called Windows Live Essentials, which also includes many components that are missing from Windows 7, such as Movie Maker and Windows Mail. Live Essentials is free to download, and the Family Safety component reinstates content filtering and activity reports and also includes a contact management utility that lets you decide precisely who your children can chat to in Windows Live Messenger and Hotmail.
You can find out how to set up parental controls in Windows 7 in our 'How do I set up parental controls?' page.
Parental controls in Mac OSX
Parental controls are a feature of the Mac OSX operating system
Apple includes a very decent parental control element within its OSX operating system. You can
- manage computer use by imposing weekday and weekend time limits
- allow only certain programs to be used
- set up internet content filters
- restrict Mail and iChat contacts to an approved list
- view logs of your child’s computer activity
As with Windows, you need to create individual user accounts for each child before you can apply these settings. To find out how to do this, see our 'How do I set up parental controls?' page.
ISPs and Internet security suites
It’s worth checking with your broadband internet service provider (ISP) – many broadband companies offer security software as part of their package, and often this will include a parental control element.
Similarly, if you’re looking for a complete security package for your home computer that includes anti-virus protection, spam filtering, firewall, anti-spyware and backup facilities in one package, you will find that many security suites also contain a set of useful parental control features.
Kaspersky Pure (£54.99), McAfee Total Protection (£51.99) and Norton 360 Premier Edition (£69.99), for example, all include a parental control component as part of their overall approach to computer safety. For more advice on choosing security software, see our reviews of internet security software.
Dedicated parental control software
Downloading K9 adds parental control features to your PC
If you use Windows XP, which includes only very basic parental controls, or if you require advanced features above those found in Windows 7, Vista or Mac OSX, then you may wish to consider a dedicated parental control package. Here's a selection:
• Cybersitter (from $24 for three years' protection on a single computer)
• Net Nanny (£29.99 a year) is available for both Mac and PC.
• K9 Web Protection (free)
• Sentry Parental Controls (from $2.99 per month)
In addition to the features mentioned, dedicated parental control software often includes a selection of advanced options such as remote management, which allows parental control of one PC from another over the internet, and email reports, both of which can help you to keep an eye on your kids even when you’re at work or away from home.
Some parental controls, including Net Nanny, offer extended monitoring tools that allow you to check on your child’s social networking activity, providing reports on friend lists, pictures posted and personal information used. They can even check on their instant messaging conversations.
The main benefit of dedicated parental controls, though, is the fact that the web content filter is usually kept up to date, often on a daily basis, helping to maintain a safe environment for children to surf in.