Last time I told you about OpenDNS.com where you can set up ways to restrict website access from your home computers. Microsoft also adds a similar feature in Windows Vista and 7, titled, "Parental Controls."
"Parental Controls" are useful to help manage how and when your children use a computer. You can set up games they can play, programs they are allowed to run and time limits on computer use.
You need to be an Administrator on the computer in order to perform the following actions. To access "Parental Controls" in Windows 7 go to the Start button / Control Panel. Next, select User Accounts. You will need to set up an account for each child you wish to restrict if one does not already exist. If your children are equal in age, ability, trustworthiness, etc. you may only need one account with a password. You will see the settings for the account you are currently using. Make sure it says the account is password protected. You may not want your children accessing your account.
Make sure when you set up the account for your kids, or before setting up Parental Controls on an existing account, you set the account to a Standard user account. If your child is an Admin on the computer they will have all rights.
Next, click the Set up Parental Controls link at the bottom of the screen. From the Parental Control screen, select the child’s account you wish to restrict. Change "Parental Controls" to "On, enforce current settings." You will see links for Time Limits and Games and Program controls.
Using the "Time Limits" link, you can set limits on when the computer can be used. For example, you can have the computer log on from 7 PM to 9 PM every day and then block all access to the user account.
Click the Games link to control what games can be run. You can filter by rating, content or title. This setting only applies to games in Windows 7’s Game Explorer area. If they aren’t there they cannot be affected.
The last link is, "Allow or block specific programs". Here you can stop access to any programs installed on the computer. This will take a couple of minutes to set up since it will search your system for all programs which can be affected. Once the list loads you can check the applications you want to enable that user to run. Be cautious since some of them are not labeled well and you may allow access to the wrong application.
Next week we will look at a few more things you can control on your computer using Windows Live Essentials.
