by Dale Farris, President, Golden Triangle PC Club
October 2001

Program Overview

Like it or not, when businesses and schools begin to support computer networks, invariably the information systems (IS) support staff will be called on by leadership to control what users can do with the computers. This usually involves placing restrictions on Internet sites and newsgroups, and preventing modification of the desktop.

Today, many educational programs that integrate the use of computers in the classroom, or teach computer programs and networking are aggressively controlling the PC setting changes already built into the operating system, along with installing Web site filtering software. These efforts are driven by legitimate concern for the costs involved when IS professionals move around the organization fixing problems on workstations caused by users, as well as the significant concerns for a comfortable workplace and the need to restrict obviously obscene material.

When user-caused problems frequently happen, IS teams realize the need to find a way to lock down their workstations, and support only the productivity applications employees are paid to use to produce work the company needs them to accomplish. With families, these concerns are further complicated as small children begin to use a Web browser and get involved with the Internet.

While many readers may likely already be very familiar with the issue of Web site filtering, the need to be able to control meddling with the computer soon also becomes as much of a concern, especially when this type of interference results in a system that will not boot, or fails to effectively operate.

To the rescue of those having to deal with these frustrations comes ChildLock 3 from the Visionsoft Corporation. ChildLock protects a PC from meddlesome system alterations, and also protects children from "unsuitable" Internet Web sites.

Super Included Features

Stop Run from working
Stop Find from working
Protect your Start menu
Protect desktop icons from being moved/altered/deleted
Protect the Taskbar
Protect the Wallpaper
Allow only Specified programs to work
Protect Private Folders from being viewed with Explorer
Protect the Control Panel applets from being activated
Stop alterations to Printer, Modems, Sounds, Systems
Protect against "unsuitable" Internet content
Enable Internet Ratings quickly and easily
Activate Microsoft Agents
Log attempted prohibited actions

Convenience of Operations

ChildLock can be automatically activated when your PC is switched on. When you turn off the program for your own use, ALL the program's restrictions are instantly removed. You even will get a log of all prohibited actions that were attempted while ChildLock was running.

If you would rather your children not be able to change a computer's setup, or not have access to certain programs, or not be able to experiment with your computer, then ChildLock is the tool you need to lock down these and many other similar changes on a PC

You simply decide how you want your PC to be set up, which programs can be run, which folders are to be made private, and what Web site content should be avoided, and then activate ChildLock to do what you tell it.

The newly added Internet security is a very wise idea for any family with small children that has access to the Internet. Many families that are already members of AOL remark that one of their primary reasons for staying in this online service is the ability to use the built-in parental controls so children cannot go where their parents do not wish. Now with ChildLock, families that are not in the AOL community can do the same thing, and feel more comfortable about what their children may be doing with their computer.

Every time a web site is loaded using Internet Explorer (IE), ChildLock will check against its configurable library of inappropriate language to identify if the site is suitable. If not, it simply closes down IE. You can add, delete, and modify words in the library, and allow exceptions such as when children might need information about "Middlesex."

Note that this feature is as good as you will find in any of the many competing Internet Web filter software applications that are now so abundant. Most all of these programs must be diligently managed by adults, precisely because there is no such thing as "exact" preciseness when setting up a Web browser filter. With ChildLock you are responsible for working with the program over time, in order to help it help you with your parental responsibility to supervise what your children do with your computer, especially when using the PC to access Internet sites.

No software program can ever substitute for a parent. Although this program does this filtering job very well, not only will you need to be prepared to set up exceptions that represent legitimate sites, but you will also need to remember your responsibility to always, always manage how small children interact with the PC.

Shopping malls, public libraries, and the television are not babysitters, and neither is ChildLock.

The program makes full use of Microsoft Agents. This is of particular benefit to parents with children not yet old enough to read, but old enough to click a mouse in places they shouldn't.

Basic Functions

ChildLock is simple to use and only requires you to have a password to switch on and off the program at the touch of a button. The idea of the program is to restrict use of certain areas of the computer, along with the Internet, and the program's settings facility lets you control all these features very easily.

You can tell the program to always activate itself when the PC starts. This assures the program is activated automatically, and the PC will remain protected until ChildLock is either shutdown or deactivated. 

ChildLock provides a combination of controls over Web surfing and experimenting with computer settings. The program will pre-load a comprehensive list of Internet ratings for IE without the inconvenience of parents having to manually configure these. These Internet protection facilities are fast and thorough, and provide virtually no time delay.

You can use the program to also protect the PC from being modified by those curious about what the changes will do, as well as those that make changes precisely to cause problems. If you are using the program to protect many PCs, just export your ChildLock settings and import them to the next PC.

With one click, you can control and protect your PC. The user interface has been designed to make this process as easy as possible, focusing on the features that can be controlled.

With the Run command not active, you prevent users from running external applications along with file or folder paths. With the Find disabled, this stops users from searching for files or folders. This also means users cannot change file and folder attributes from within the Find feature.

Protecting Wallpaper changes wallpaper back to how you set it up, and stopping the Shutdown feature means users are forced to stay inside Windows. Hiding all shortcuts means all desktop icons are hidden.

Deactivating control over the Control Panel applets means users cannot change various machine settings, and you can easily teach ChildLock new Control Panel applets by dragging the applet icon into the "Stop these control panel applets from running" window and following the onscreen prompts.

Deactivating the program is as easy as turning it on. You just right click on the icon and select the "Deactivate ChildLock" feature, and enter the correct password. Then the system is returned to its unrestricted and unprotected state.

Targeted Customers

This is a super program for all families with children, and businesses and schools that support many desktops for their internal customers. All children, as well as adults, want to experiment with their PC, alter settings, play games, and families and organizations need a way to protect against this eagerness to fiddle around with their PC. The controls over what Web sites users can access is also much more than a concern merely for families. Many companies set up internal Web site filtering for reasons similar to why we obviously do not want children exposed to everything that may be accessible on the Internet.

ChildLock is also very easy to set up and use, to control the way you want your PCs to be set up, and to control access to any sensitive files and folders. With ChildLock, you can eliminate unnecessary IS support calls that waste a lot of company time and money. If users cannot mess with system changes, then there is less opportunity for them to screw up a machine bad enough to cause the call for help from IS.

Recommendation

For any family not involved in the AOL online service, ChildLock is a super program that will enable parents to set up controls over Web sites surfed by their children. In addition to this vital Web site filtering feature, ChildLock goes even further by providing features that will enable you to also control users from changing system settings. This will help prevent system crashes or other failures that can be caused by experimentation with these types of changes. 

With the parental controls over the Internet and the added benefit of controlling changes to the PC, ChildLock provides a very valuable benefit for families, businesses, schools, and libraries.

This combination of protection for children when surfing the Internet, and protection against system changes provides a combined value that makes the already reasonable price even more reasonable. The program can also easily be duplicated across many PCs in either a business or school setting. Contact the company to discuss their very attractive site licensing options.

Price

$30 individual user
$159 educational site license

Corporate licenses are available. Please contact sales@visionsoft.com

Minimum System Configuration Requirements

Windows 95, 98SE, and 98ME

Check the below contacts to get more details from the company regarding the specific requirements.

About Visionsoft Limited

Visionsoft Limited produces leading edge security and professional audit software that is synonymous with quality and affordability. This British company has offices in the U.S., France, Australia, and of course, the U.K. The company currently has over 50,000 organizations as customers around the world.

In addition to ChildLock, the company also sells the well-known Visual Audit PRO 11, a network auditing tool, Multiplex, used to view or control any PC on a network, WinLock PRO, the program that eliminates malicious or accidental problems brought about by inexperienced meddling users, I-SPY, which allows you to monitor and record practically all the activity on your PCs, and Incorporate, used to protect your display configuration. WinLock PRO is a professional-grade program that further enhances the features built into ChildLock.

Contact Information

Salmin Shamin
Visionsoft Limited
115 Route 46 West, Suite F1000
Mountain Lakes, New Jersey 07046
973-335-6969
FAX 973-335-1544
salman@visionsoft.com
support@visionsoft.com
www.childlock.com
www.visionsoft.com