Internet Filtering Software

From Pastor Mike:

From time to time people ask me for my recommendations on the best options to protect their family (not just their kids) from the unwanted content that proliferates the internet. Rather than give my latest reviews, which change all the time with new updates, I thought it helpful to give you the links to the review information that I most commonly use.

My best is advice on the matter is do not wait until someone is caught or comes forward to confess that he or she has given into to temptation. If you have human beings in your home, and they are subject to the temptation of the sinful nature, then you have this problem in your home. Living in denial will not fix it. But there are some simple precautions you can take to help everyone in your home avoid temptation.

First off, download and print this Online Access Agreement, and talk it over as a family, post it in a prominent place. It is geared towards parents and kids, so if there are points that don't work, customize it to fit your family situation. But make sure everyone in your home knows the family rules and the reasons behind them.

Lastly, don't worry about finding the "right" software. You can always use the free trial for a while, and then change if you don't like something. But anything is better than a wide open internet connection. (Job 31:11; John 2:16-17)

Consumer Search

This website summarizes the reviews from other websites, and gives a great basic education about what filtering software does and how to use it. This is a great place to start.

• Full Report (Updated April 2010)
•  What To Look For
• Top 4 Best Reviews
• Free and Online Filtering Programs

PC Magazine

The most complete and unbiased reviews of the latest software and hardware solutions for filtering. Consumer Search relies heavily on them, and they are a good place to check back for updates.

Top Ten Reviews

This is an annual review, and gives a great visual chart of ten different options available, but not as complete as PC Magazine.

The Kim Komando Show

Her website has some great articles on how to activate different parental controls in Windows, and how to keep your kids safe in an increasingly digital world.

• Keeping Your Children Safe in Windows 7
•  Setting Parental Controls in Windows Vista

And as always, feel free to email me if you have any questions. But hopefully this information is enough to get you started on the path of having an internet safe home.