Why Internet Filters May Not Be Enough Protection for Your Children

Article Posted by Expert Author: Jesse Schwarz  on 10/31/2014

Most Internet providers offer the ability to filter websites and stop offensive material from popping up on your computer screen. This is a great first line of defense. But there’s much more you can do to protect your kids from inappropriate content. Internet security experts recommend that parents purchase web filtering software to more effectively control their children’s browsing activities.

A lot of parents are unaware of the dangers that lurk online – this is unfortunate, as the Internet is full of material not suitable for kids, and predators look for the vulnerable to exploit. Although protecting your little ones outside of the home may take the priority, it’s just as important to monitor your kids when they browse the Internet – these days, perhaps more so. You don’t have to do much to take precautions – filtering software is a good first step, and it’s very easy to install and configure. If you make the decision to buy a website filter, no question, you are doing it for the right reasons.

As previously stated, you need more than this basic level of protection to properly filter website content before it shows up on your computer. Also, the “ready-made” software from your internet service provider doesn’t necessarily make it possible to monitor your kids’ online activities while they surf – or afterwards for that matter. Monitoring is often more important than filtering simply because some questionable material may still make it through the filtering mechanism – no piece of software is perfect, but as a parent, checking up on your children is always effective because you’ll know when something is wrong the minute you see it. If you stay on top of things, you can stop problems before they even start and keep your kids away from dangerous content and people. There isn’t a software program on the planet that will look out for your loved ones like you do – parental monitoring is one of the best ways to keep your kids safe.

Internet filters are usually inexpensive and once you make the purchase, you simply download the file and install the program – the whole process is very easy and fast. This type of software can be customized to the level of protection you want for your kids, depending on their age and what they plan to do online. There are many different features available with these programs – some that do more than simply filter websites. For instance, you can monitor the sites your kids have been visiting so you can make sure they haven’t seen anything objectionable. When you get home from work or have spare time on the weekend, all you have to do is open the software and look up the web history of each child. It’s a simple way to stay on top of what your kids have been up to when you’re not around - rest easy knowing that they aren’t gaining access to information they shouldn’t see or read. At The Broadband Safety Guide there are many useful articles designed to help parents understand online safety.

Article Posted In:  parental controls  

Categories: internet service,  parental controls,  kids safety,  anti virus software,