Web Filtering Software should be one of the primary programs a parent uses to defend against sites that are not acceptable to young viewers. With these filters, such websites and content are blocked so that children can not see them or access them. It will block advertising, chat rooms, IMs, blog postings, emails and anything that deems inappropriate for them to see. These programs are so good, in fact, that some call them over protective.
Monitoring software is the next step a parent should take. This type of software runs in a mode that is undetectable. The children do not know that their activity is being monitored. What it does is keep track of the history of activty your child is performing on the computer, like websites visited. It will keep track of who they are talking to and what sites they are trying to access. Older children are known to become very advanced when using the internet and sometimes try to outsmart the filtering systems. This is when the monitoring comes in handy.
There are some programs that offer both of the above in one software program. Some parents only want one or the other, depending on the age of their children or what their personal needs are. The programs can offer other functions that add to the monitoring, like a timer on when the child can and cannot use the computer.
With the above safety measures taken, parents can rest a little more easy, knowing that their children are more protected when using the internet.
