Parental Controls Are as Close as Your Router

Reader Hank Henderson writes: I need to be able to control access to the Internet for my two sons and their laptops. They access the Net over our wireless network at home. Is there any way to do this?

Like lots of parents who have made the move to wireless broadband access at home and multiple laptops for multiple kids, Hank has a dilemma: He wants his kids to have access to the Internet, but he also wants to make sure they are not venturing into kid-unfriendly realms with the newfound freedom of a laptop and a closed bedroom door.

To answer your question, Hank, yes, there are ways to control access to the Internet for your kids. The first place to start, usually, is with your wireless router, many of which provide parental control options. Unfortunately, your model, the Netgear WGT624 does not have effective parental controls, according to PC Magazine. (Isn't that always the way?)

So if you're up for switching to a new wireless router to give this a whirl, here are a few possibilities:

Netgear WGT624SC: If you've been happy with your Netgear model, this upgraded version comes with a parental control service ($29.95-a-year subscription) that you can access from the router's browser-based administration console. When activated, the parental controls will block access to web sites in a dozen potentially offensive categories (and will keep track of attempts to reach those sites). But you can override any blocked access with a password. That way, the kids will have to come to you to ask if they can go on a certain site. And you can delete and add to the list of blocked categories. Another benefit: You can set controls for individual users, which allows you to create individual accounts and to customize access for each of your kids.

Belkin N1: This pre-N router (pictured) comes with the respected ZoneAlarm Internet Security Suite, which includes parental controls. With these controls, parents can filter sites in about 30 different categories, including pornography and weapons. A downside is you can't set up individual accounts, so what is restricted for your kids is restricted for you, too.

Linksys WRT54GS Wireless Router with SpeedBooster: The Linksys Parental Control Service allows parents to set up individual profiles and time-of-day and even day-of-week access limits. There are 16 different web content categories to restrict if you choose, and parents can get email and instant messages when access to these sites is attempted, along with individualized activity reports. A free trial of the service is included with the router.

Another option, though it ends up being a pricey one and I can't yet attest to how well it works, is the D-Link SecureSpot Internet Security Device (DSD 150).  (It's $100 for the unit and service the first year and $80 a year for service thereafter.) You hook up the SecureSpot box via Ethernet cables between your computer and your wireless router. On a web page, you can set Internet time restrictions for individual family members and block specific kinds of content and web sites from being accessed via your browser. Parents can also set limits on email and IMs, and they get reports on family members' computer and Internet usage.

Whatever option you choose, don't implement it without talking to your kids about your parameters on where they go on the Internet and why you don't want them to go to certain sites. You've given them a privilege—laptops with Internet access—and that privilege comes with responsibilities. Don't let a hardware solution take the place of one-on-one time talking to your kids.

Those are a few ideas. Parents, if something else is working for you, let us know. And, Hank, let us know what you decide and how it works.

Related links:
A Hardware Solution to Parental Controls
Do Parental Controls Belong in Hardware or Software?