Posted on: Thursday, December 30, 2004

Cyber-monitors can keep watch

By Treena Shapiro
Advertiser Education Writer

Instant messaging, e-mail, chat rooms, blogs, music and games: these are among a multitude of ways your child can get distracted while doing homework on the Internet.

Parents who are concerned about their children's computer activities have several options for monitoring their use — to ensure not only that they're keeping up with schoolwork, but also that they are not viewing inappropriate content, downloading illegal material or viruses or falling prey to Internet predators.

"Constant supervision and communication is the most important thing, as is trust," said Carol Sahara, technology coordinator at Radford High School.

If your trust is weakening, however, there are several ways parents can find out what their kids are really doing on the computer.

One of the easiest things to do is look in the Web browser's history file to see what Web pages your child has visited. Of course, it's even easier for your child to erase the history every time he or she leaves the computer.

Oceanic TimeWarner's Road Runner Service has recently started offering the EZ Armor Security Software free of charge to its customers. Alan Pollock, vice president of marketing, said installing this software will allow parents to restrict some content.

"You can put in a word like 'sex,' for example, that will block Web sites that kids can go to as well as coming into your e-mail," he said.

Another option for Road Runner users is to block Web use altogether. "Parents can turn off or on the Internet when kids aren't supervised," Pollock said.

For even more control, parents can add America Online to their Internet service, which has parental controls that allow parents to set limits on who their children e-mail and chat with, as well as what kind of Web content they view.

Parents also have several software options that will help them block specific kinds of material or even keep an eye on what their children are up to.

For instance, one type of software can track whatever is typed on the keyboard so you can read your child's e-mails, instant messages and search queries.

Or parents can install software similar to what is used in many school computer labs, which allows the teacher to view their student's computer screens remotely and shut down the computer if the student is viewing inappropriate content.

However, parents should keep in mind these controls are not foolproof.

Hawai'i's public schools have set up a firewall to block student access to instant messaging programs, but, Sahara points out, "There's always a way around things. We have kids that can get around the firewall like nobody's business."

Reach Treena Shapiro at tshapiro@honoluluadvertiser.com or 525-8014.