Browsers forum: How do I block access to porn sites from my PC?

I will let others give you their own methods and ideas, but I just wanted you to be aware, if you are not already, about search engines.

For example Google allows searches in various "Safe" modes.

Off - No filters and 'anything' works. For example, searching for 'explicit' web sites will not be filtered out, and even searching for innocent search terms may turn up explicit web sites and other results.

Moderate (Recommended) - excludes sexually explicit video and images but innocent search terms may still result in unwanted listings.

Strict - filters sexually explicit video and images from Google Search result pages, as well as results that might link to explicit content.

I got those details from http://support.google.com/websearch/bin/answer.py?hl=en&answer=2519950&rd=1 and that might help you more.

I am unsure how you can prevent users from resetting or changing these filters.

Mark

There are services that can lock down a computer or home network, such as Net Nanny, etc..
Some are powerful enough that even tech savvy kids won't be able to get around them. The reason kids can't easily circumvent them is because they are "served" off-site, meaning that your internet connection is "Monitored" by a 3rd party vendor that consistently blocks porn sites as they come up.

Of course nothing is 100% perfect but there are some that do a pretty good job, and http://www.netnanny.com/ is one to take a look at. There are others, and a google search should give some options along with Net Nanny.
Just search for "Online Parental Controls".

Good luck!

You can choose which computers are being monitored. Do the research first before posting the potential repercussions?
Not trying to be snotty, but my suggestion was purely for the grandson's computer, and also assumes the OP is limited in computer-ease. Else the OP would not have been asked IMHO.

In short, I offered a suggestion that simplifies the effort and end result this OP was looking for!

Also, "3rd parties" are a fact of life, hence your internet provider, google, and the like. In essence the virtually only way not to be tracked is not to be online at all.

Cheers.

All I want to say is porn in comparison to what it used to be has become a lot more than just a little T&A and that actual sex and nudity vary greatly against the scope of what porn is now. There is some seriously disturbing and vile fetishes that could permanently warp a young kids mind. I am all for adults choosing to be into their own thing but kids still need to be parented. We aren't talking about the occasional playboy or hustler (etc) popping up from under the kids bed anymore...that's understandable and even a kid trying to look at porn on the internet is understandable when it comes their curiosity. There have been a lot of studies showing that porn has become so huge that it is affecting people's (not only men) libido, desire, development, and commitment to relationships in a very negative way. There was a recent study (I can't remember where I read it), that was saying that men in their late 20's and early 30's are now having performance issues with their sexual partners (if they had one) due to the alter reality created from the porn they have become addicted to. Now that's not to say that's everyone nowadays, but it is something to consider. Wouldn't a kid or man rather have real sex than pleasure himself with a hand or pocket [expletive] because it's convenient? I know some would say no (since being a relationship is so terrible and constricting), but I bet if you met up with them in their 50's or later, they may say they wished they had made an alternate choice when they were younger. When E.D. strikes and your all alone with your porn, who do you talk too? Or do you pop a blue pill and rub your monkey until its raw and unsatisfied? LOL, sorry, I couldn't help myself. I just wanted to point out that there are studies that have said otherwise. Porn for adults who choose is one thing but kids who find and become obsessed can be quite something else entirely.

Actually, when a society attempts to prohibit a behavior that is widespread, there really should be some evidence that discouraging such behavior is harmful. I don't believe that anecdotally citing Jeffrey Dahmer as a post hoc argument is generally enlightening.

If you know of such a study from a SCIENTIFIC (rather than a right-wing or religious) organization I would be pleased, if a bit surprised given the huge body of evidence with which it would conflict, to hear of it.

It mostly comes down to you being a good parent and knowing what your kids are doing. Not being a friend or foe but being a responsible parent. The hands off approach of allowing your kids to do whatever they want works just as much as being an over controlling, restrictive parent. Simply saying, it doesn't work. I have seen both parenting styles back fire miserably. I agree that kids will find a way when they want too, but allowing them free reign, especially something like this is not healthy. I'm sure many of the few on here that agree that allowing it to remain open (meaning access to porn sites) would be less inclined to let their children smoke pot or experiment with drugs, when realistically, it's the same danger factor.

Listen to your kids, know they are going to see things you don't want to see (this is part of growing up), and know what they are doing without being intrusive or controlling. That's all it comes down to. I don't think the openDNS is a bad idea, you can leave everything available and simply know whats going on. If anything because too common place or practice, then it's time to have a talk and possibly restrict some sites. It's a much different world for kids now in comparison to back in the day, really not that long ago either. Parents have to adapt to the changing times.

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Something to remember here is that the OP did not ask if it was a wise social policy, or for a group lecture on our ideas in the state or problems of current social systems and trends. He asked for help with a specific issue to prevent having to deal directly with a problem that should not be his to deal with.

Help is appropriate. The lectures, perhaps not so much.

...may I respectfully suggest you go straight to Google with the question. Why bother busy humans when you can just ask a computer?

My apologies to those offended by my lecturing. I thought I saw an opportunity to perhaps offer an alternative solution to authoritative repression. My assumption was clearly a mistake.

It wasn't my intention to waste your time, or mine. Looks as if I've done both.

No problem, but we were seeing long postings almost totally irrelevant to the subject.

This is not a parent or guardian, but a grandparent trying NOT to be the cause of problems by not making decisions or providing resources that might cause the parent to object. The cause is keeping the family happy, and I can get behind that. Also: I, for one, did not object to some discussion around the original topic, but feared we would never get BACK!

I just wanted us to get back on subject and in focus in time to do the OP some good: not to be critical.

... you cannot successfully hold back a tsunami without completely destroying something else.

The best way to deal with some situations is thru education NOT incarceration. Running around, spending money on locks and barricades only makes matters worse, IMHO.

The garbage is out there and he/she WILL encounter it, lockdown or no lockdown. If you truly want to protect the child, arm him/her with the awareness that filthy quicksand exists and why he/she should try to avoid it.... and do the explaining person to person. Be with him/her while surfing and when an inappropriate site is encountered, explain WHY it is not a "good thing," as Martha would say, and request that he/she respect himself/herself and the family enough to not go there again.

But here I go again... I know, I know... I should just tell him how to lock up his computer. Well, sorry. I can't help someone do what I think is a mistake.

I almost always have difficulty communicating with those whose expertise lies in focus, focus, focus and who adhere to a law/principle no matter what or when. And that's not always a "bad" thing. We need people who stick narrowly to some challenge and who are rarely sidetracked by those of us who try to remove their blinders. But as with the mythical lemmings and the cliff, sometimes it's important to take a large sheet of sandpaper to a problem rather than a drill.

Crispin Robles labeled me as a "moral relativist." Even though this term is, at best, wide open to interpretation and often is a fundamental hallmark of the religious mind, I accept it in so far as I admit to holding a generalist and fluid attitude as my philosophy of life. Just because a hammer is a useful tool at one time does not mean it is always the right one.

All I was attempting to do, obviously poorly, was to broaden the view that the only answer to this grandfather's problem was to lockdown the computer. But I do plead guilty to the charge that I wasn't strictly answering his question. I usually don't bother answering a question when I think it's the wrong question to begin with. I made a mistake herein using a floodlight amongst all these narrow beams.

As you say... if he wanted to make a latte why say a cappucino is better, and pontificate. Answer the guys question or dont bother talking and wasting everyones time!

There is a difference between knowing that your child will come into contact with schoolyard education and contributing to that withing your own home. It is another thing entirely for another party (family or not) to contribute to the problem.
This OP is taking a responsible approach.
Neither he nor the parents can shield the child from everything, or forever, and attempting to do so may cause more problems. It is the PARENTS job to have the discussions with the lad, and to decide what he should see within the home at this point in his life.
By restricting what materials he can access using the local computer, the OP is avoidning CAUSING a problem. He is not solving one, and it would not be is problem to solve, but he is trying to take reasonable precautions.

I think the OpenDNS, netnanny, and other suggestions reasonable.
I once used a free and open source community solution that was very good, but have been unable to find the name of that project. It worked much like a local version of WebSense (a commercial network protection project that requires a Windows Server on a Domain) and not only filtered content to prevent material that was excessively explicit, it also blocked access to known threat and malware sites, and the worst offenders among sites that encouraged illegal behavior. All of this while appearing totally transparent when accessing 'safe' sites. If anyone can provide a pointer to that product or any offspring, it might be a very welcome

Very good advice from Flatworm 3/24/12 4:17 AM Also I desire prompt recovery to that gran pa from his aliments. I also wish the very best for the boy in concern.

Dears,
i think it would be better to use k9web blocker it will help alot as i am using it.
K9 Web Protection Features:
Block web sites in more than 70 categories, including pornography, gambling, drugs, violence/hate/racism, malware/spyware, phishing
Force SafeSearch on all major search engines
Set time restrictions to block web access during designated times
Configure custom lists for "always allow" and "always block"
Override a web page block with password
Trust the enhanced anti-tampering, even children can't break
View easy reports to monitor and control web activity
Real-time categorization of new adult and malicious sites
Best free parental controls software/internet filter available
Compatible with Windows or Mac machines