Parental controls

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.

• LeechBlock Time limit web site usage.

• 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.

• Melon's Censor
• Jmaxxz vulgar word blocker

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:

• Safe Eyes
• CyberPatrol
• Cybersitter
• DansGuardian

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

• PC Magazine
• FilterReview.com
• Internet Filter Review 2006

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:

• ZyXel HomeSafe and similar products (CNET review)

Searches

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

• Google preferences -- SafeSearch Filtering
• Ask.com -- Content Filtering
• Bing Preferences -- Safe Search
• Video Surf -- Explicit Filter (upper right corner)
• Yahoo! Search Preferences -- Safe Search
• YouTube -- Safety mode (bottom of page), You Tube Safety

Background

• Parental controls - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
• Set up Parental Controls, Windows 7, local use of time, not connected to internet

Other solutions

• Windows 7 and Vista include parental controls (read this for Vista and this for Windows 7 for setting them up). For more information on Windows parental controls in Firefox 3, see this blog post and bug 355554.
• OpenDNS is a free service that protects your entire network, including your browser, from websites based on criteria you choose.
• How to block content, parental controls, Surf anonymously (MozillaZine forum thread)
• No Block Sites Option? Why not? (MozillaZine forum thread)

See also

• Blocking sites
• Removing unwanted content on webpages

External links

• Parental controls (Firefox Support)
• Firefox 3 – Parental Controls (Mark Finkle’s Weblog)
• Windows 7 Features: Parental Controls at microsoft.com
• Explore the features: Parental controls (on Windows Vista) at microsoft.com

Related bug reports

• Bug 232816 - Implement Link Filter / Content Filter Rules (parental controls)
• Bug 355554 - File downloads should honor Vista's parent control setting (Fixed in Firefox 3.0)