Using Windows Vista Parental Control
Control the Computer and Internet Activity of Children
The Parental Control features in the Windows Vista operating system allow parents to do exactly that. The options include defining what time children can work on the computer, what games and applications they will be allowed to use and the web-sites they can visit. Reports can also be used to review actual activity on the system. This article will walk through the configuration of this feature on a computer.
Before configuring the Parental Control feature, it is important to verify that all user accounts with administrator access have secure passwords assigned to them. Allowing the children to use another account with administrator rights defeats the goal of managing how they use the computer.
Configuring Parent Control
To begin the process click the Start button, then open the Control Panel, then click on the option that says “Set up parental controls for any user." If there is already a user account created for the child, it can be selected from the list by clicking on it. If not, a new account can be created with the “Create a new user account” link at the bottom of the Parental Controls page.
Once a user account is selected on the Parental Controls page, this will open the User Controls page. To enable the parental controls, select the “On, enforce current settings” radio button. To view activity reports about how and when this account is used, choose the “On, collect information about computer usage” radio button. The four options in the “Windows Settings” section of this page can then be used to configure the level of control desired.
Windows Vista Web Filter
Specific web-sites can be blocked or allowed using this page. There is also an automatic setting that can be used to block undesirable categories of web-sites. The more draconian option of blocking all web-sites unless they are specifically allowed is also configurable
Time Limits
.Specific days and hours of the day when the child is allowed to use the computer can be configured. The default setup allows 24/7 access. Access can be denied by clicking on the blue square beside the “Blocked” option at the bottom of the page. The mouse is then used to click on the hours to be blocked.
Games
This very useful feature can be used to allow or deny access to specific games. An automatic system can be used based on the ratings assigned by the Entertainment Software Rating Board. There is also a list of specific content types that can be denied based on things such as Language, Nudity or Violence.
Allow and Block Specific Programs
This feature is used when access to specific applications needs to be controlled. This can be very useful if there are applications that children should not use or if a program is installed for one child but should not be used by another.
One day, parents might have children that always do what they are told and the Internet will have no predators or harmful content on it. Until then, using Parental Controls can help to reduce anxiety about how they use the home computer.
