Help on Aol alternative

[cougar78]

Trying to talk my sister-in-law into getting broadband internet. However, she uses AOL dialup so she can use the parental controls for my niece. I need either something EASY to use as an alternative to lock times and websites. Or if anyone has any suggestions on locking internet access at the profile level so only AOL will be able to access the internet. Any help is greatly appreciated.

 

[Looney]

Isn't the AOL security software free now? In anycase, she can also join AOL broadband... which I believe is just your local DSL or cable service packaged with the AOL security software.

 

[cougar78]

The key is she wants to use AOL to control usage and sites my niece goes to. I'm not sure she has DSL where she is at so when I checked it was just cable. I know you can use AOL on top of a broadband connection but the trick is to make sure that she can't just pull up IE and surf unrestricted on it, bypassing AOL security.

 

[sonoma1993]

check out somethen like http://www.cyberpatrol.com/

 

[Looney]

Originally posted by: cougar78
The key is she wants to use AOL to control usage and sites my niece goes to. I'm not sure she has DSL where she is at so when I checked it was just cable. I know you can use AOL on top of a broadband connection but the trick is to make sure that she can't just pull up IE and surf unrestricted on it, bypassing AOL security.

Which is why i recommended just AOL things. Even on AOL dialup, your niece could have technically used any browser. AOL security, or any net nanny program, acts like an outbound firewall, so it doesn't matter what browser she opens up, she would still be limited by what the software allows.

 

[cougar78]

Last time I played with it, you couldn't use anything but aol to access websites. The big thing is using aol dialup everything goes through aol. Getting cable internet then she would be able to circumvent the restrictions placed by aol if I understand it correctly. So I would need a 3rd party program to restrict usage since I couldn't find anything that has a deal with AOL in their area for broadband.

sorry I'm just not familiar with any of the netnanny type software at all.

 

[Looney]

Have you actually tried downloading the AOL security suite or cyberpatrol yet and try them out? AOL is free, and cyberpatrol has a 2 week trial period.

 

[cougar78]

the cyberpatrol no I haven't.

 

[mechBgon]

You might also consider Windows Vista with IE7. Make each kid a Standard User account (and one for the parents too). Password-protect the Administrator account and no one use it except for actual Admin stuffs. Do not install alternate browsers. Set up the Parental Controls (what times, what websites, what games).

Besides the parental controls, you get all-around increased security. Vista Home Basic OEM comes in around $90, IIRC, so it might not be as unrealistic as it sounds at first glance.

If you get her broadband, also consider getting her a router to take the brunt of the worm/hacker attacks.