How to Block Chatroulette on your PC
If you’re a PC user and are worried that your child might be exposed to inappropriate images and behaviors on the video chat site Chatroulette, here’s how you can prevent them from accessing the site.
The answer lies in your computer’s Windows Control Panel. These directions are for Microsoft Vista, but both XP and Windows 7 are similar.
First, shut down the webcam. Open the start menu, select Control Panel, and then find and open the Device Manager. Look under sound, video and game controllers and select the monitor webcam. Open the Driver tab and select “Disable.”
(Note: Doing this will not only prevent the webcam from being used on Chatroulette, but on any video chat site or webcam-enabled program.)
Next, set up a separate user account for the kids. In the Control Panel, select “User Accounts” and then open “Manage User Accounts.” Choose to add a new user. Once the “Add New User” window opens, select standard user, which will allow kids and other guests to use the computer, but will not allow them to make system changes like turning the webcam back on.
The third step involves protecting kids while they browse online. Browsers such as Internet Explorer and Firefox contain parental control settings to block objectionable material. If you use more than one browser, you may have to adjust the settings for each one.
Window’s Internet Explorer contains a feature called Content Advisor that allows you to control the types of Internet content that can be viewed on your computer. Content Advisor uses ratings that websites voluntarily provide to block or allow certain content. Unrated websites are automatically blocked.
To switch on this feature, open Internet Explorer and find Tools in the upper portion of the window. In IE8, it’s in the upper right corner. Open the dropdown menu and select “Internet Options,” open the “Content” tab and then select “Enable” Content Advisor. If you want to block particular sites, go to the “Approved Sites” tab, type in the Web address or URL, and then click “Never,” which will override the site rating.
Mozilla, the creator of Firefox, recommends two parental control add-ons for Firefox, both of which are free.
Glubble for Families is designed for parents with children under 12 and offers games, chat, safe surging and a kid-friendly safe search.
Parents might also consider ProCon Latte, which filters out objectionable language, replacing letters with asterisks, and makes it easy to create a site “Blacklist” – a list of blocked sites.
Google’s Chrome browser does not offer parental controls.
Families might also consider purchasing an Internet filter software program, which may offer more features than those available in browsers.
These types of controls will probably not come as a shock to the kids. If they use a computer at school, they are familiar with blocked access to sites.
Technewsdaily.com
Filed Under: How-To
