I’m often asked what my “diagnosis” is for a family’s internet safety. I usually have them fill out a one page form and it tells me what I need to know to give them the basic steps I would take to help them protect their family. Sometimes, though, parents want to make the most minimal changes possible. Maybe it’s a budget/financial thing, maybe it’s just time, or it’s a lack of true motivation. I don’t know. What I do know is that there are two major tools that no family should be without when it comes to being protected online.
The first tool is a filter.
A filter blocks content that you don’t want accessible on your device. These filters are usually specific to a browser and so you should keep track of any new browsers that may have been installed on a device you are trying to protect. I recommend that you use filter that “reads web content in real time.” This means that instead of just looking at the address or ip of a site, they are actually using the content to decide if the page should be blocked or not. This is critical because of a workaround called proxies, that can bypass filters that only look at the web address or ip.
When choosing a filter you get what you pay for. The more controls and user friendly the UI (user interface) the more it’s going to cost you. You usually pay for the filters annually or monthly. There are also filters that come built into hardware that you may use. Some routers are now including basic filters in their “back-end.” Or something like circle will allow you to set up controls on any device using your wifi.
“Giving your kids a smartphone without a filter is like putting them in an adult book store and saying, ‘Be good!’ It’s a bad idea.” -Joe White
The second tool is accountability software.
Imagine a high security building. They have the laser grids on the doors and windows and an alarm system that will go off if someone tries to break in. Security guards patrol outside to keep an eye out for any possible intruders. With all of that work to keep anything unwanted from getting in you’d think they’d be satisfied, right? No, they’re not. You will always see security cameras in high security buildings. This is because things can slip through. This is why I always recommend accountability software.
Accountability software will identify any unwanted online content and send a report to the person set to be notified. Some even send text messages immediately when something was accessed. This is the security camera inside your online safety net. It’s another layer of protection that will allow you to see when something you aren’t expecting slips through your safeguards. Conversations with your kids are more important than any software or hardware you can use and accountability software allows you to know exactly what conversations you need to have.
Not either-or, both-and.
The answer to “what is the ONE thing I should do to protect my family online” is to do TWO things. Install accountability software and use the filters built into your operating system. If you have had some problems with catching someone viewing things they shouldn’t you may be concerned they would go looking for it again. In this case I recommend purchasing and downloading a more feature filled filter software.
These steps are really just the beginning. Obviously staying informed on what is happening in your kids’ digital world is critically important which is why an annual membership to this site would be a major help. Click to go register.