Parental Control – Its Role and its Importance

Does your computer’s security software have Parental Control features in it? If no, then this blog will tell you why you should have one.

With summer holidays coming to an end, kids will be bombarded with homework and assignments. And if you have Internet in the house, then your kids may have a hard time concentrating on their tasks. Not only this, but in general, kids are constantly exposed to Internet threats like cyber bullying, malware attacks, social media scams, and pedophilic crimes to name a few. So, how can you keep Internet from hampering your kids’ academic progress and their personal life, as well? Parental control could be the answer – one that encompasses good parenting and a reliable Parental Control software, as well.

Parental Control – Its Importance for Kids

In today’s digital era, where a newly found technology ages and gets replaced by a new one within minutes, most kids have access to stuff which their parents could never even have imagined. And one of them is Internet – an ever-expanding and ever-evolving entity. And given the several types of dangers in the online world, it is only imperative for parents to make their kids aware of cyber security, and help them inculcate safe web practises. And that can be done by understanding their interests and intents, effective communication, making the learning process fun rather than a chore, and making use of appropriate tools such as a security software that come with reliable Parental Control features, whose benefits have been discussed below.

Internet Scheduler:
Benefit – helps your kids spend their time constructively, and keeps them from becoming “Internet-addicts”.

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As responsible parents, you must ensure that your kids use their time constructively. With the aid of a Parental Control tool, you can allot a specific time schedule when your kids can access the Internet; for example, you can decide which days they can access the Internet, and for how long. This tool is especially helpful during examinations, and times of heavy assignments and homework.

Website Blocking:
Benefit – shields kids from inappropriate websites.
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You can block access to a particular website using a Parental Control tool, by adding its URL to the list of blocked websites. Along with the website, you can also choose to block its subdomains, as well. For instance, if you block “google.com” and its subdomains too, then access to all URLs containing “google.com” will be denied.

Category Blocking:
Benefit – blocks websites with inappropriate categories, even if the user is not aware of the URLs.

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If you are not aware of a website’s URL, then the tool also has a list of categories that you can choose to block or unblock. For instance, if you deny the access to an “Adult” category, then all websites containing adult content will be blocked. The tool also provides you with an “Exclude” list. For instance, if you have blocked the “Social” category, but wish to allow access to Facebook, then you can add Facebook’s URL to the “Exclude” list.

Blocking Category With Malicious Content:
Benefit – reduces risks of malware attack.

From email attachments to myriad websites, malware are hidden everywhere, and it is most unlikely for kids to sense such threats. By denying access to categories like “Spam Sites”, “Hacking and Illegal Software”, etc., you can cut down on the risk of cyber threats.

Blocking All or Specific Users:
Benefit - Control over Internet activity for multiple users.

If you have set up multiple user accounts on your computer, then you can have different Parental Control settings for every user. For instance, you can choose to put more limitations on Internet access for your younger kid than for your older one.

Quick Heal Total Security comes with improved Parental Control features, that provide extensive protection to your kids from online dangers, on all platforms such as Windows, Mac and now for Android smartphones.