Ask Slashdot: Good Low Cost Free Software For Protecting Kids Online?

An anonymous reader writes "I have two kids, 7 and 8. I would love to allow them internet access on a regular basis. The problem is what's out there: I really don't want them to deal with porn ads and such, but making either a blacklist or a whitelist myself would take months. So I figured I would ask you: what free software would you use with preferably prebuilt lists to protect your kids online? What is out there with fairly easy configuration ability (to allow for game servers — they love Minecraft), but secure enough they can't just bypass it using a Google search?"

Comments

Re:Net Nanny

[cheekyjohnson]

I've seen no evidence to support your conclusion that it's unlikely they'll be hurt by it.

That's kind of like asking me to prove that Santa doesn't exist. You're the one making the assertion, and if you're going to assert that something hurts people with no evidence, you might as well lock your kid in a basement. Or not. That might hurt them (and I'm sure research shows it would). Better off not having any! If you're going to restrict other people's actions, shouldn't you at least find to evidence to back up your nonsense? I'd rather not have everything be banned by default, thank you.

but I would hypothesize it's even more unlikely that they will be hurt by the lack of hardcore pornography.

They'll probably get around any meaningless filters, and then, assuming they're idiots (as some people like to believe), the lack of guidance they received from their parents could damage them.