Advice needed for parental control on XP

[Jubei]

My sister has asked me to help her set up a user account on her Windows XP (Home edition) PC for my nephew. The 8-year-old kid needs to go on the web to do school projects and my sister doesn't mind him playing some simple online java games. I know how to set up user accounts within XP, but was wondering whether XP has any built-in parental control / monitoring tools. Specifically, I'm referring limiting internet access time (both hour of day and duration), blocking of sites (or even better, allowing only permitted sites) and logging of activities.

If not, is there any freeware to deal with it?

Norton probably has commercial software for these purposes but I am reluctant to purchase it as I have had unpleasant experiences with Norton Internet Security Suite.

Thanks in advance.

 

[kramer5150]

I cant really help you with your original topic, but if he's playing those free on line java games... invest in a good spyware program. Get them into the habit of sweeping regularly, those www sites can be havens for all kinds of junk. Especially if they are using IE as their default browser.

 

[dj_mocok]

This is just out of my head, so I'm not really sure. Need confirmation from experts.

But how about creating a new XP user account for her son (and hers is password protected from now on), and then from that account, use the norton internet security to block all incoming traffic, and only type in a few webpages for the exception. Is it possible?

 

[kikkomang]

make that person use firefox or opera. (I do like opera better though) I am pretty sure that XP doesn't have any monitoring software inside it. Yes there is freeware monitoring software. (well at least my sister used one on me, but i quickly disposed of it.) For a good antivirus software, use Kaspersky or NOD32. AOL has a free version of Kaspersky that you can use. The AOL version isn't actually too bad. Just remember to not accept any type of toolbar that it asks to install.

 

[Jubei]

1. I have got my sister to use Firefox as the default browser already
2. The PC is running AVG anti-virus
3. I occasionally do a spyware scan for her, when I'm over at her place

I will be creating a new XP user account for my nephew, it is the monitoring and limiting of internet access that's the task. And the kid doesn't know his way around stuff yet, so I doubt he will be able to turn off the parental control software in the near future. In fact, he doesn't get to use the PC very often at all, which is why I think he should be allowed to use it more.