Vista Parental Controls: A How-To

Many Windows Vista users don’t even know that they have the option to set up parental controls. But while it can be a bit complicated to set up and maintain, it is certainly a step in the right direction.  For concerned care givers, the time spent is more than worth the peace of mind that comes from knowing that you’re making the Internet a little safer for young web surfers.

Begin by starting up your computer and logging in. (Please note, in order for you to maintain sole access to the parental controls, make sure that you are the only one that knows your log in password. Kids and teens are brighter than you may give them credit for, so make sure your password is not something they will easily guess.)

Once you’ve logged on, click on the START button in the lower left hand corner of the screen. (It looks like a circle with four colored squares within it)

When the Start Menu opens, find the search box at the bottom. Type “parental controls” in the box and then hit the enter button on your keyboard. A box will pop up, asking if you would like to continue. Click yes, and you will be taken to the Parental Control Welcome Screen.

Now you’re ready to set up a new user identity for each of your kids. Click on the option that says Create New User Account to begin. Here you will be prompted to create a user name for each user. (They will have the option to create their own password the next time they log in.) This is where it can get tricky.  If a user with more freedom forgets to sign out, then all your work will be for naught.  Also, be prepared to referee shouting matches, threats and bribes between your young ones as they try to wheedle each other’s passwords.

Once you have set up an account for each user, Windows Vista will monitor most of that person’s activities for you. Here are some examples of the controls that you can customize for each user:

Windows Web Filter: In this category, you can select the level of internet filtering that you’d like to set up for each individual user. It is automatically set at medium, but you can relax this, if you want. You can also set it at High, which will block everything except pages meant specifically for children. The web filter is also where you can block certain web pages by entering their URL. One of the most important features to explore within this category is the custom button, which allows you to block out certain categories all together- like pornography, gambling, hate speech, drugs, or alcohol. *Please note, as Window’s Parental Controls is not monitored by actual people, not all content in these areas can be controlled. For more in depth parental controls, you should look into a fully managed internet filtering system.

Configuring Time Restrictions: When, from the user control page, you select the option for time limits, you will be able to control when each user is allowed to use the computer. You will be taken to a simple grid- and by clicking on the time boxes, you can designate certain hours when that user is not able to log onto their account.  Once again, a fully managed internet filtering system like My Internet Doorman can really help in this regard, creating very specific profiles for there clients that allow for very restricted filtered Internet use during the day, then something a bit more lax once you get home from work and then locking i out compleatly during the late night hours.

Game Restrictions: For many parents, the kinds of internet games that their children are exposed to are a major concern. By configuring the user’s game restrictions, you can help alleviate some of the worry over what they are doing in their free time. On the gaming restrictions page, you can decide if a certain user can play games at all (now there’s an incentive to get homework and chores done), and what rating and content types they are allowed to access. You can also block certain games all together.

In addition to individual user settings, you will also be prompted to set up global boundaries for your parental controls. For example, you can decide which games rating system you would like to use, how often you’d like to see each user’s activity report (A list of which websites each user has visited, emails sent, games played, etc) and when you’d like to receive important updates.

For more information on Windows Parental Controls, or to find out how to upgrade to Vista, please visit the Windows home page at www.windows.com