Richard C.
&
Daniel C.
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Verified by
Inês P.
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Last updated:
September 7, 2024
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(0)
The internet is a wonderful educational tool that can be great for a child’s development, opening their eyes to the world around them. The internet also has a dark side. No one wants their children exposed to threats like cyber bullying and online predators. That’s why so many parents turn to parental control software to monitor internet activity and alert them when their child sees something they shouldn’t. Parental controls are also able to filter online content you don’t want your child to see. These controls are not just limited to computers: they also work on mobiles, so you can block unwanted apps and limit screen time.
Parental control software works on just about any device you can think of, including tablets, phones, and video game consoles. As some software will be designed primarily with one device in mind, it’s common to find parental control software aimed at serving only phones or desktops. Frequently, this specialization means the software will have exclusive features not found in more general parental control solutions.
While some companies do cater to a greater number of devices, for larger families it can be worth looking into parental controls you can configure on your router so that every device connected to your Wi-Fi is instantly protected. This is especially helpful, since it can be a tedious process to set up parental controls on every device your children have.
It’s also worth keeping in mind the age of your child. Older children will likely need a parental control application with a variety of monitoring options for different social media applications. On the other hand, simple parental control filters to block inappropriate content may be enough for a younger child. If you have children from different age groups to protect, then a more well-rounded parental control application is the way to go.
Now that you know exactly what your needs are, it’s time to search for parental control software that can match them. You’ve already come to the right place: we’ve shared our expert reviews of all the major software, as well as comparisons where we look at the pros and cons of each solution.
Unfortunately, parental control software isn’t able to do everything. Although you’ll have more protection from some dangers, without other measures you’ll find that there are further online threats to your children. Phishing attacks, ransomware, and hacking are just some of the wider threats that are a danger to anyone, but children are especially vulnerable. However, a good internet security suite should protect you from these threats as well as others like malware and viruses. Similarly, VPNs are a must-have for increasing your online security. Not only will they keep you anonymous while browsing, but they’ll ensure you always have a safe connection – perfect when using public Wi-Fi.
Poor password hygiene is also a large problem: simple, obvious, and common passwords are the major cause of data breaches. Encouraging your child (and yourself) to use a dedicated password manager ensures you’ll have unique, safe passwords all stored in an encrypted vault for you to access.
Getting great parental control doesn’t mean you have to spend a lot of money. All the major operating systems come with their own built-in parental controls, and there are even free solutions available. Windows users can access Microsoft Family Safety, iOS users have Screen Time, and Android users are able to utilize Google Play’s parental controls. Of course, these have their limitations when compared to dedicated parental control software.
As mentioned, there are ways to experience specialist parental control software without paying anything. Some are free options like OpenDNS and KidLogger, though they’re limited compared to premium offerings. Almost every solution will offer some kind of free trial. You can also take advantage of the free trials of other security services – like internet security suites, password managers, and VPNs – so your family can have maximum security at zero cost.
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