Parental controls: Difference between revisions

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Firefox and the Mozilla Suite do not feature built-in parental controls, content filtering, pornography blocking, or website blocking features.  Thanks to the extension mechanism, however, you can add these yourself. Additionally, web filtering software is available which will filter the internet for any program on your computer.
Firefox and SeaMonkey do not feature built-in parental controls, content filtering, pornography blocking, or website blocking features.  Thanks to the extension mechanism, however, you can add these yourself. Additionally, web filtering software is available which will filter the internet for any program on your computer.


== Extensions ==
== Extensions ==
Extensions can provide content blocking for firefox, but they can be easily disabled by a knowledgeable user and cannot provide filtering for other software, such as Internet Explorer or instant messaging applications.
Extensions can provide content blocking but they can be easily disabled by a knowledgeable user and cannot provide filtering for other software, such as Internet Explorer or instant messaging applications.


*[http://www.glubble.com/ Glubble] - "Family Fun Browsing"
*[https://addons.mozilla.org/firefox/addon/1803 ProCon] for Firefox provides a content blocking mechanism. It is suitable for blocking '''accidental''' visits to objectionable sites, but not intentional visits because the filter is blunt, leaving many objectionable sites accessible and blocking access to non-objectionable sites.


*[https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/1803 ProCon] for Firefox provides a content blocking mechanism. It is suitable for blocking '''accidental''' visits to objectionable sites, but not intentional visits because the filter is blunt, leaving many objectionable sites accessible and blocking access to non-objectionable sites.
*[https://addons.mozilla.org/firefox/addon/4476 LeechBlock] Time limit web site usage.


*[https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/4476 LeechBlock] Time limit web site usage.
*[https://addons.mozilla.org/firefox/addon/4351 FoxFilter]  helps block pornographic and other inappropriate content.  Described as "THE Parental Control for Firefox".
 
You can search at [https://addons.mozilla.org addons.mozilla.org] for [https://addons.mozilla.org/firefox/search?q=parental+control&cat=all  other parental control add-ons].


== Greasemonkey scripts ==
== Greasemonkey scripts ==
There are several [https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/748 Greasemonkey] scripts which can be used to filter out vulgar language. As with other extensions, Greasemonkey is easily disabled and the filters cannot affect other programs.
There are several [https://addons.mozilla.org/firefox/addon/748 Greasemonkey] scripts which can be used to filter out vulgar language. As with other extensions, Greasemonkey is easily disabled and the filters cannot affect other programs.


*[http://userscripts.org/scripts/show/2300 Melon's Censor]
*[http://userscripts.org/scripts/show/2300 Melon's Censor]
*[http://userscripts.org/scripts/show/2287 Jmaxxz vulgar word blocker]
*[http://userscripts.org/scripts/show/2287 Jmaxxz vulgar word blocker]


== Web Filtering Software ==
== Web filtering software ==
Third party web filtering software can filter objectionable content from all programs. Many ISPs provide free parental control mechanisms. Contact your ISP for more information.
Third party web filtering software can filter objectionable content from all programs. Many Internet Service Providers provide free parental control mechanisms. Contact your ISP for more information.


While no software can completely block all objectionable contact, third-party software exists that can provide a very high filter level. Some examples:
While no software can completely block all objectionable contact, third-party software exists that can provide a very high filter level. Some examples:
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* [http://internet-filter-review.toptenreviews.com/ Internet Filter Review 2006]
* [http://internet-filter-review.toptenreviews.com/ Internet Filter Review 2006]


== Router Filtering ==
== Router filtering ==
The most reliable filtering of content is done before it gets to your computer. If you have a broadband internet connection,
The most reliable filtering of content is done before it gets to your computer. If you have a broadband internet connection,
then you can use a router with parental controls. This router would be placed between your cable/dsl modem and your computer.
then you can use a router with parental controls. This router would be placed between your cable/dsl modem and your computer.
If you have multiple computers, they can all use the same router, so you need not purchase multiple copies.
If you have multiple computers, they can all use the same router, so you need not purchase multiple copies. You may optionally purchase a 3rd party filtering service which the router can use.
You may optionally purchase a 3rd party filtering service which the router can use -- for $30-40 annually.


Routers with parental filtering:
Routers with parental filtering:
*[http://us.zyxel.com/products/category1.php?indexcate1=1088621451&indexFlagvalue=1088555542 ZyXel HomeSafe]
*[http://reviews.cnet.com/ZyXEL_HomeSafe_HS_100W_Parental_Control_Gateway_Router_wireless_router_with/4505-3319_7-31552150.html  ZyXel HomeSafe and similar products] (CNET review)


== Other Solutions ==
== Searches ==
Do a search on  -- "Parental controls"  site:example.com


* [http://www.google.com/preferences?hl=env Google preferences] -- SafeSearch Filtering
* [http://www.ask.com/settings  Ask.com] -- Content Filtering
* [http://www.bing.com/settings.aspx Bing Preferences] -- Safe Search
* [http://www.videosurf.com Video Surf] -- Explicit Filter (upper right corner)
* [http://search.yahoo.com/preferences/preferences Yahoo! Search Preferences] -- Safe Search
* [http://www.youtube.com YouTube ] -- Safety mode (bottom of page),  [http://www.google.com/support/youtube/bin/request.py?contact_type=abuse&\1hl=en_US You Tube Safety]
== Other solutions ==
* Windows 7 and Vista include parental controls, local use of time, not connected to internet (read [http://windowshelp.microsoft.com/windows/en-us/help/585539d0-0862-41e4-9b39-53467648efc51033.mspx this for Vista] and [http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows7/Set-up-Parental-Controls this for Windows 7] for setting them up).  For more information on Windows parental controls  in Firefox 3, see [http://starkravingfinkle.org/blog/2008/05/firefox-3-parental-controls/ this blog post] and [https://bugzilla.mozilla.org/show_bug.cgi?id=355554 bug 355554].
*[http://www.opendns.com/ OpenDNS] is a free service that protects your entire network, including your browser, from websites based on criteria you choose.
*[http://www.opendns.com/ OpenDNS] is a free service that protects your entire network, including your browser, from websites based on criteria you choose.
*See [[Blocking sites|this article]] for more solutions to block sites.
*[http://forums.mozillazine.org/viewtopic.php?t=338572  How to block content, parental controls, Surf anonymously] (MozillaZine forum thread)
*[http://forums.mozillazine.org/viewtopic.php?t=338572  How to block content, parental controls, Surf anonymously]  
*[http://forums.mozillazine.org/viewtopic.php?p=1626727#1626727  No Block Sites Option? Why not?] (MozillaZine forum thread)
*[http://forums.mozillazine.org/viewtopic.php?p=1626727#1626727  No Block Sites Option? Why not? ]
 
== See also==
* [[Blocking sites]]
* [[Removing unwanted content on webpages]]
 
==External links==
*[http://support.mozilla.com/kb/Parental+controls Parental controls (Firefox Support)]
*[http://starkravingfinkle.org/blog/2008/05/firefox-3-parental-controls/ Firefox 3 – Parental Controls (Mark Finkle’s Weblog)]
*[http://www.microsoft.com/windows/windows-7/features/parental-controls.aspx Windows 7 Features: Parental Controls] at microsoft.com
*[http://www.microsoft.com/windows/windows-vista/features/parental-controls.aspx Explore the features: Parental controls (on Windows Vista)] at microsoft.com
* [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parental_controls Parental controls - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia]
 
 
===Related bug reports===
*[https://bugzilla.mozilla.org/show_bug.cgi?id=232816  Bug 232816 -  Implement Link Filter / Content Filter Rules (parental controls)]
*[https://bugzilla.mozilla.org/show_bug.cgi?id=355554  Bug 355554 -  File downloads should honor Vista's parent control setting] (Fixed in Firefox 3.0)


[[Category:Privacy and security]]
[[Category:Privacy and security]]
[[Category:Websites]]
[[Category:Websites]]

Latest revision as of 03:40, 12 September 2011

Firefox and SeaMonkey do not feature built-in parental controls, content filtering, pornography blocking, or website blocking features. Thanks to the extension mechanism, however, you can add these yourself. Additionally, web filtering software is available which will filter the internet for any program on your computer.

Extensions

Extensions can provide content blocking but they can be easily disabled by a knowledgeable user and cannot provide filtering for other software, such as Internet Explorer or instant messaging applications.

  • ProCon for Firefox provides a content blocking mechanism. It is suitable for blocking accidental visits to objectionable sites, but not intentional visits because the filter is blunt, leaving many objectionable sites accessible and blocking access to non-objectionable sites.
  • FoxFilter helps block pornographic and other inappropriate content. Described as "THE Parental Control for Firefox".

You can search at addons.mozilla.org for other parental control add-ons.

Greasemonkey scripts

There are several Greasemonkey scripts which can be used to filter out vulgar language. As with other extensions, Greasemonkey is easily disabled and the filters cannot affect other programs.

Web filtering software

Third party web filtering software can filter objectionable content from all programs. Many Internet Service Providers provide free parental control mechanisms. Contact your ISP for more information.

While no software can completely block all objectionable contact, third-party software exists that can provide a very high filter level. Some examples:

There are also a few sites which review the effectiveness of such filters:

Router filtering

The most reliable filtering of content is done before it gets to your computer. If you have a broadband internet connection, then you can use a router with parental controls. This router would be placed between your cable/dsl modem and your computer. If you have multiple computers, they can all use the same router, so you need not purchase multiple copies. You may optionally purchase a 3rd party filtering service which the router can use.

Routers with parental filtering:

Searches

Do a search on -- "Parental controls" site:example.com

Other solutions

See also

External links


Related bug reports