To enable and adjust Parental Controls settings in Windows Vista or 7, click Start, type parental controls and press Enter.

The Internet is filled with websites that are inappropriate for anyone, much less children.

Kids get into trouble online all the time, even when they arent looking for it.

Misspelling a website address, screwing up a search term, or clicking a risqu ad can lead to some awkward bedtime conversations.

Online bullying, predatory adults, and illegal downloading of copyrighted content are other threats.

Though we cant make the Internet itself kid-safe, we can at least make its darker crevices harder to access.

Setting up parental controls and content filtering on computers, tablets, smartphones, and other gadgets is easy.

More important, these precautions empower your devices to protect kids from digital dangers when you arent around to supervise.

The most effective precaution you can take to safeguard kids while theyre browsing is to set up Web filtering on your router with OpenDNS.

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You can enable Web filtering on most devices individually, but I recommend trying the free or premium service from OpenDNS because it can filter Internet access across all computers and devices connected to your router.

OpenDNS offers three parental control options: FamilyShield, Home, and Home VIP.

OpenDNS FamilyShield, the simplest option, offers preconfigured adult content filteringjust set it on your router and forget it.

OpenDNS Home allows you to customize the filtering and security settings.

Best Internet Filters Install A Program

You also need to create an account and install a program on at least one PC in your home.

OpenDNS Home VIP, the high-end option, starts at 20 a year and provides additional features such as Internet usage stats and premium support.

To get started with OpenDNS, visit the companys website and choose the service that suits your needs.

Setting up content filtering on mobile devices for when your kids are connected to other Wi-Fi networks or to a mobile 3G or 4G network is trickier: You have to install a Web browser that offers filtering.

I recommend K9 Web Protection, downloadable from the Google Play store for Android devices and from the Apple Store for iOS devices.

For Windows Phone 7.5 or 8 devices, give AVG Family Safety 8 a whirl.

Starting with Vista, every copy of Windows includes parental controls that allow you to control and monitor PC usage based on which account is signed into the PC.

The controls let you limit how long specific accounts can use the PC and which games and programs they can run (based on content ratings or simply your fiat), and let you introduce stringent Web filtering.

You can also view activity reports on those accountsor have them emailed to youand centrally manage the settings for all protected accounts and PCs on the Family Safety site.

For Windows Vista and Windows 7 PCs, you must download and install the Family Safety application, a part of the free Windows Essentials software package, to use all the Parental Controls features.

The Parental Controls features are built into Windows 8, where they remain grouped under the moniker Family Safety.

Best Internet Filters For Mac