Windows Security Checklist - Part 22: Child Security Online

by Larry Stevenson, aka Prince_Serendip, CastleCops Staff Writer
April 24, 2005

The Internet is wonderful in so many ways. It brings us together by means undreamt of, even fifty years ago. Using pictures, words, music, applications and more, we can share, learn and communicate. It extends our circles of friends and associates, furthering our hopes and aspirations.

Internet is also a new frontier, wild and free, where literally anything goes. From the sublime to the despicable, anything can be indulged at anytime from anywhere. Like shark infested waters, plenty of dangers await the unwary while surfing on Internet.

CastleCops is a family friendly website as stated in Our Vision". Family includes children of all ages and capabilities. Child safety and security are of paramount importance to parents both off and online. Parents would not allow their child to walk alone late at night in any big city. Internet is always a big city at night, even in the day. Websites can be safe havens of prosperity and growth for a child or they can be utterly vile and dangerous. Parents need to be security savvy online, providing for their own safety as well as that of their children.

As a parent concerned about online child safety and security, you will first need to learn how to protect yourself. To do that please review the Windows Security Checklist Archive . Combined with the actual checklist in the Checklist Review and Security Checklist Review II, it will give you the basic information and applications that you need to protect yourself using Microsoft Windows.

Tips for Child Security Online

- Discuss with your children what they are doing on the Internet - tell them to show you.
- Children cannot use the Internet in a locked room - you have the right to walk in and peer over their shoulder once in a while. If you walk in and the child is busily shutting down windows, then you need to find out why.
- Carefully monitor interactivities such as e-mail and chat. The safest approach is to simply block them completely until you feel the child is mature enough. Content, e-mail and chat filters can help with this too.
- Children must never reveal their identities or aspects of it in any way. They might think that telling someone the state that they live in or their age is harmless, but anyone intent on discovering infomation on a another chat-room participant can make full use of any shred of truthful infomation.
- Help them to be wary of phishing scams. For more information and help go to the CastleCops Phishing, Fraud and Dastardly Deeds Forum.
Explain to the children why there are rules and what you are concerned about at a level that they will understand.
For more tips visit Microsoft's Kids Online Tips page.

Content Filtering

Many Internet Service Providers (ISP) now offer content filtering with your monthly service or for a small fee. This may be a better solution for your family than buying and installing filtering software? ISP filtering is activated at your ISP and content that is not acceptable will not be transferred to your computer. Filtering software that is installed on your computer has the content transferred to your computer and then viewing is blocked. Some ISPs even offer filtering software that you can install. It's worth checking out if you can get Internet filtering that's acceptable to your family with the service that you are already paying for.

Advantages

- The cost may be included with the fee you're already paying.
- Instead of installing software, all you may have to do is call your ISP to activate the filtering or activate it online.
- You need not be concerned about constant updating since your ISP will do that for you.
- The filtering is much harder to over-ride because the offending content is not even delivered to your computer.

Disadvantages

- You may not be able to over-ride the filtering if you want to view a site that is being blocked.
- The content that is filtered may not coincide with your family's values.
- If the ISP just provides software, you will still have to update it.
- If you can activate the filtering online and your child has your password, the child can easily turn it off.

A Few ISPs That Offer Content Filtering

AOL (America Online)
EarthLink
RoadRunner

To see if your ISP offers filtering or parental controls, go to their homepage or give them a call.

Content Control Softwares

Child Web Guardian

This application is an example of software you install yourself to filter web content. It keeps track of and checks the content of every web-page the child browses in Internet Explorer. It blocks obscene and objectionable content by preventing the viewing of the material. It integrates with Internet Explorer. Reasonably priced and available at Windows Marketplace or from the Child Web Guardian homesite.

WinProxy for Home Networks

You can perform your own filtering by using a software proxy solution which filters all access to the Internet from your own home. A good product in this area is WinProxy. It can be a bit challenging to set up, but properly configured it solves many of the problems of home networking including content filtering.

When you use a proxy solution, you can use a dedicated computer or one of the other computers in the home. It is important to remember that when someone has physical access to the proxy system they can defeat any security or filtering policies enforced by the proxy system. While you can take steps to enhance security by using a server operating system, you should never assume that any measure is unbreakable.

Besides other features such as a stealth firewall, anti-spyware, antivirus and anti-spam protection, WinProxy provides Content Control with URL filtering of over 7 million rated websites. It analyzes all requested web pages in realtime, providing superior Content Control. It's a good value for the price. Go to WinProxy v6.0 Secure Suite for more information.
Direct Download of WinProxy from CastleCops

Be cautious when searching online for softwares that promote child safety and security. As in some other Internet business, not all providers are trustworthy nor reputeable.

For more information, help and guidance on how to protect your family online please visit Microsoft's Security at Home: Protect Your Family webpage.

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Best regards and always take care of your family's security.