Do you want to make sure your children are protected from mature content when they use a browser to view content on the Internet? With the launch of Windows Vista, Microsoft has introduced a new security feature called Windows Parental Controls. Windows Parental Controls allows a parent to configure, on a per user basis, various restrictions on what that user can do on the Windows Vista computer. These Windows Parental Control settings range from blocking websites to controlling what games they can play. Having access to these types of controls allows a parent to feel comfortable with their children using a computer and at the same time gives them the flexibility to customize these settings to their specific needs.
One of the more powerful features of Windows Parental Control in Windows Vista is that you will be able to view reports of the activity for each user that you have configured Parental Controls. The information you see will be determined by whether or not the user is using applications that are compatible with Windows Parental Controls. Assuming that all the applications are compatible you will be able to monitor the following activity.
- Most recent websites blocked.
- Attempts to visit sites that have been specifically blocked or allowed.
- What files were downloaded.
- What file downloads were blocked.
- When the user logged on.
- What programs they have run.
- Emails sent and received
- Instant Messages sent and received.
- What games were played.
- What media such as movies and videos were played.
In this guide we will go into detail on how to configure Windows Parental Controls in Windows Vista to restrict a user’s activity.
To set up standard user accounts
- Click on Windows Vista Start, then Control Panel, and then Add or Remove User Accounts.
- You should see a dialog box that asks for your permission to continue. Click Continue.
- Click Create a New Account.
- Type the user name you want for your child.
- Make sure the Standard User option is selected, and then click Create Account.
- Repeat for each child who will use the computer.
Turn on Parental Controls
- Click on Windows Vista Start, then Control Panel, and then, under User Accounts, click Set up Parental Controls.
- If you’re prompted for an administrator password or confirmation, type the password or provide confirmation.
- Click the account for which you want to set Parental Controls.
- Click On, enforce current settings, and then click OK.
Now that Parental Controls are on for your child’s account, you can set activity reporting, Web filtering, time limits, and gaming and program restrictions.
Set up Web restrictions
To control which Web sites your children can access and which programs they can download, under Windows Settings, click Windows Vista Web Filter.
With Web restrictions, you can do the following:
- Windows Vista Web Filter: Block some or allow all Web sites, forbid downloads, or choose blocked content sensibility for a user account.
- Time Limits: Determine when a user account can access the computer by selecting blocks of time for each day of the week.
- Games: Allow or forbid a user account to play games; you can block/allow a specific game or apply game ratings. Game ratings are similar to movie ratings; you can tell Vista not to let a user account access any game above a certain rating.
- Allow and Block Specific Programs: Allow or block access to specific applications on your computer for a given user account.
You can choose which level of restriction to apply for each family member.
Set time limits
To set the times when your child can use the computer, under Windows Settings, click Time limits.
Use the grid to set blocks of time when your child can use the computer.
Limit child computer use time:Allowed hours are white and blocked hours are blue. Your child cannot log on during blocked times, and if a child is logged on when time limits expire, he or she will be logged off.
Control what games your child can play
Here, you can allow or block games based on rating, or you can choose to allow or block specific games.
To block games by official game ratings or content:
- Under Windows Settings, click Games.
- Click Set game ratings.
- Choose which game rating system you want to use and then set the rating.
- Parental Controls will allow games at that level and lower.
To block specific games:
- Under Windows Settings, click Games.
- Click Block or Allow specific games.
- Click Always Block for the game or games you don’t want your child to play.
- Click OK when you finish setting game permissions.
Set up activity reports
If you want a report on what sites your kids visit, what games and programs they play and download, and when they are online, make sure to select On under Activity Reporting. Click View activity reports to see the report for the child’s account.
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January 13th, 2009 at 3:20 pm
I prefer to have professional stand-alone tools with easy-to-use interface. Actually, there are not so many parental control software support Vista 64-bit. But the one I use works just perfect on x64 machine Ez Internet Timer:www.internettimer.net
Using this software I can schedule the number of hours each of my children can use per day.