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Parr8hed

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So the wife brought an older, used laptop home from work that was being discarded.  We are going to let the rugrats use it.

 

Sugestions on what to do to maximize safe computer useage and mimimize chances of my kids seeing other people's genetailia on line?

 

It appears that almost everything has been erased off the hard drive. 

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I think kids will find it if they are looking for it.  If I was young in the computer age, no way in hell anyone would have prevented me (or most kids).  

 

That said, in Chrome there is "safe search", that filters out stuff as long as it is on that setting.

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There is software that blocks that stuff. I don't know all the types out there. There used to be one called Net Nanny. Search around and I'm sure you can find a list of someone who's researched them to an uber degree.

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Run a minimum of Windows 7 if you are running a Microsoft Windows operating system.  Windows XP support was discontinued by Microsoft on April 13, 2014.  It is fast becoming a hacker's/malware writer's paradise.  Make sure it is patched to the most recent levels.

 

Get a free copy of Avast! Antivirus by googling for it.  Install it.  Also install the free MalwareBytes and use it occasionally.  Use a browser other than Internet Explorer (e.g., Chrome for Business, Firefox) and install the Adblock Plus extension.

 

Note to your kids the most frequent ways of getting viruses and malware --free game/mp3/software download sites.  Lots of free things have strings attached.

 

Use OpenDNS Family Shield to set its network settings to provide a minimum safe level of Internet filtering for free.

http://www.opendns.com/home-internet-security/parental-controls/opendns-familyshield/

 

Finally, make a habit to know what your kids are doing online.  Require that you be their friend on any social networking site and up to a certain age, check their sites every so often.  If they are younger than a certain age, require that the computer be used in a public place in your household.  And explain to them the "Think Before You Post" motto.  Once it's on the Internet, you can't take it back.  Have a friendly discussion about what should be kept private, and what the consequences can be for not doing so.  The ads below may seem a little creepy --but they're the best illustration I can give as someone who has worked in educational IT for a dozen years, and seen the fallout.

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4w4_Hrwh2XI

 

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So the wife brought an older, used laptop home from work that was being discarded.  We are going to let the rugrats use it.

 

Sugestions on what to do to maximize safe computer useage and mimimize chances of my kids seeing other people's genetailia on line?

 

It appears that almost everything has been erased off the hard drive. 

Don't let them online.

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Don't let them online.

There are a couple of websites that I would like for them to visit.  Starfall and coolmath4kids come both highly recommended by their teachers (and my mom who was a teacher).  Those two websites and of course redtube....

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It is interesting...my friends 2 kids are not on facebook..he just finishing his freshman year of college...she just graduated from high school....I know your kids are way young...But lots of talk about being very careful  what kids post on line...cos it it there forever.   I don;t thin you are worried so much about facebook...I see you wanting the kids to enjoy some of the educational stuff out there...and the fear of accidentally finding porn (at least another year or two before they actually look for porn...right?!!! )

 

Good Luck....I have come across some stuff accidentally  :whistle:

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