Monitoring Your Child's Online Activity

Software options for parents who are concerned about their child’s online safety
by Brian A. Conner, lpc (Reprinted with permission from member organization, Ridgeview Institute)
With recent events in the news about students committing suicide after being bullied online by their peers, many parents are re-thinking whether to pull the plug on their children being able to use social networking websites such as Twitter, My Space and Facebook. In addition to the above concerns, parents also fear not knowing exactly with whom their children are communicating. With the events in May 2010 of the compromised personal data on Facebook, parents have also inquired if their child could possibly become a victim offline by a predator.
I have often been asked about the options available for parents to monitor, limit or completely restrict their children from using certain websites. And how is this possible when your child still needs to access the internet for homework, research, etc. and you can’t always be present to monitor them? Fortunately, technology provides not just the curse, but the cure.
There are several dozen programs that may be installed on one computer, all computers or even a home server/network. They allow parents varied levels of monitoring options and control of what comes in and what goes out. All of these programs are compatible with all versions of Microsoft operating systems as well as Mac.
How the software works
The software has the ability to allow you to simultaneously monitor and limit what activities take place on the computers you install it on. The two main categories are:
• Keystroke/keylogger software – Literally captures every keystroke, password, etc on the designated machine and emails you that activity in an html-based daily email log.
• Restriction software – Allows the user to customize which websites are allowed and what times of day they are allowed. It sends you a daily email log of all activities on the computer as well as attempts to bypass.
The programs also have code built into them to scan, detect and block websites that are considered proxy servers. These servers falsely appear as legitimate websites and are not initially blocked by the restrictive software, allowing the user to get to blocked websites through the proxy site (i.e.: Facebook, My Space, etc.).
Download the programs directly
The most convenient method for researching and downloading these programs can be found at www.download.com. This website is an extension of a larger known website, www.cnet.com. Cnet is a technology review website that gives advice to consumers based on both editor and consumer reviews of a wide range of tech-based products.
At www.download.com, navigate to the link for Security Software. You may then move to the Monitoring Software and Parental Control links for a more detailed list of available software.
Top-rated programs
These are just a few of the programs available that have a 4½- to 5-star editor rating. All are free to test before you purchase and most cost less than $50.
• Net Nanny 6.5 – Protect your children and monitor Internet use. This latest installment of Net Nanny includes some of the top customer requested features, especially around social networking, filter accuracy and circumvention. $39.99
• System Surveillance Pro 5.5 – System Surveillance Pro logs keystrokes, IM chats, applications used, and Web sites visited, and can capture screenshots at user-defined periodic intervals. $49.95
• Family Cyber Alert 4.30 – Monitor computer activities by logging keystrokes, chat sessions, Web sites and screen shots. $39.95
• Optenent Web Filter pc 9.8 – Protect your family online, block harmful content and control what’s downloaded to your pc. $39.95
Brian Conner, LPC has served as the Education Coordinator for Ridgeview Institute’s Youth Services since 2006. As a certified teacher, he works closely with school counselors to ensure students stay current with their academic responsibilities while in treatment, as well as facilitate a smooth transition upon return to school. He is also able to administer end-of-course tests and final exams for both public and private schools.
Brian is a Licensed Professional Counselor and a certified Professional School Counselor in the state of Georgia. He has worked in residential, psychiatric and school settings in the Atlanta area since 1994. You may contact Brian at (770) 434-4568, extension 4106.