Limit your child's time on the computer. Monitoring the use of the computer and programs. Content filtering programs

One of the problems that parents are forced to solve is their child’s access to a computer and the Internet. How much time can a child spend in front of a monitor screen? How long is he allowed to play games? How to make your little user’s time on the Internet safe? Each family answers these and many other questions for itself. However, that's the problem parental controls has long been common, it says that tools for restricting access to applications, games and sites were included in Windows Vista. Similar tools have recently appeared in many comprehensive security applications, for example, Norton Internet Security and Kaspersky Internet Security. There are also special programs, intended solely for parental control. If a few years ago almost all of them were English-speaking, today it is not a problem to find an application developed specifically for Russian-speaking users, which undoubtedly indicates that there is a demand for such solutions.

Parental Controls in Windows Vista

If you are using at home Windows computer Vista, you can use built-in parental controls.

To do this, the child must have their own account created. It is clear that administrator rights there is no need to prescribe for her. Next, you need to go to the Control Panel and in the “User Accounts” section, click on the “Task” link parent elements control". Next, you need to select the user for whom restrictions will be enabled, and in the "Parental Control" group, set the switch to the "On" position.

Windows Vista makes it possible to control your child's computer use in four ways: limit the time he spends in front of the monitor screen, block access to certain sites and other Internet services, and prohibit the launch of certain games and programs. In the “Restrictions on Internet Use” section, rules for a child’s access to Internet resources are established, and you can also prohibit downloading files.

By default, the medium level of protection is enabled, which filters for sites dedicated to weapons, drugs, pornographic content and obscene language. By selecting a custom protection level, you can add to the prohibited categories sites about alcohol, cigarettes, gambling, as well as those sites whose content the filter cannot evaluate automatically. The most serious restrictions on web content are imposed when using a high level of protection, when a child can only visit sites that are identified by the filter as “children’s”. Regardless of which content filtering mode is selected, you can create a black and white list of sites, that is, determine which resources a child can or cannot access, regardless of the automatic filter settings. Since the filter does not always work, it is very useful to keep the activity tracking function turned on. In this case, Windows will save the addresses of all sites that the child viewed. If an unwanted address is found in the generated report, it can be added to the blacklist. The time limit settings for computer use are very simple. There is a grid that looks like a school schedule, in which the parent indicates the hours during which access to the computer is prohibited for the child. Restrictions are set separately by day of the week.

In the "Games" section, restrictions on launching games are set. Let us note right away that you should not rely on this section of the settings, since Vista does not perceive some games as such, mistaking them for ordinary applications. The same applies to rating restrictions. In theory, you can specify a rating for games that a child cannot play, but in practice, a child may be running a game that won't be found in the Vista database. That is why it is much safer to use the “Allow or block individual programs” section. It displays all the applications that are installed on the computer, and parents can mark those that the child is allowed to run. You can add a program to the list manually. This approach is good because the child will not be able to run, for example, new game, which he took from a classmate without showing it to you.

Parental controls in Kaspersky Internet Security

Parental controls can often be found in online safety apps. Let's take the Parental Control module in Kaspersky Internet Security 7 as an example. When parental control is enabled, all users are assigned the “Child” profile and, accordingly, the restrictions set for it in the program settings are set.

The second profile - "Parent" - allows you to freely surf the Internet, without restrictions, without turning off parental controls. The first thing you need to do when setting up this module is to select the “Parent” profile and set a password for it. After this, you can turn off parental controls or switch to the “Parent” profile only after entering your password. Using Kaspersky Internet Security 7, you can configure access rights to certain sites, mail and other Internet services. Parents can select categories of sites that the child will not be able to access, and prohibit his communication by mail and chats. In addition, you can create black and white lists of resources.

Another option for parental control is limiting the amount of time you can use the Internet. You can set a daily limit for staying on the Internet or set the hours during which you are allowed to use the Internet. However, unfortunately, there is no provision for changing these settings depending on the days of the week.

If a child tries to access a prohibited page, a message is displayed that the site is blocked.

All pages that are visited by a child when parental controls are enabled are recorded in the report. Kaspersky Internet Security 7 does not have the ability to restrict computer work in general, but the program can be successfully used in conjunction with applications such as CyberMama.

CyberMama

Developer: Cybermama
Distribution size: 3 MB

"CyberMama", unlike Kaspersky Internet Security 7, allows you to control the time a child spends on the computer, but does not have tools for filtering web content. After launching "CyberMom", the computer can operate in one of two modes - "parent" and "child". When you first start it, the “parent” mode is set and you can enter a password. It is this set of characters that will be used to unlock the computer after the time allotted for the child to work with it has expired. Using "CyberMom" you can set restrictions on working with the computer, as well as prohibit the launch of certain applications. The parameters responsible for time limits are quite flexible. A schedule is selected separately for working days, as well as for weekends and holidays. In the program settings there is a calendar in which you can mark all holidays. A very thoughtful decision, considering that each country has its own holidays.

Parents can decide how many hours a day the child can work on the computer, allow or prohibit the use of the Internet. In addition, you can allow the use of the PC only during certain periods of time, and for each of such periods, allow or deny access to the Internet. Everyone knows that you need to take breaks while working at the computer, but not everyone adheres to this rule. Meanwhile, this is especially important for a child’s body. Using CyberMom, parents can set the frequency of breaks (for example, every 45 minutes) and their duration. During this time, the computer will be locked. Regarding launching applications, “CyberMama” provides two modes of operation: when the child can launch all programs except those that are blacklisted, and when he can launch only those applications that are whitelisted.

When you switch to “child” mode, an alarm clock icon appears at the bottom of the screen. It shows the child how much time he can still use the computer. However, if desired, the child can disable it by right-clicking on the program icon.

The child can also look at his work schedule - how long he can still work, how long the break will last, etc.

Five minutes before the allowed time expires, a warning appears on the screen reminding you to save all documents. When the program is running in "child" mode, it is impossible to close it from the task manager window - it immediately starts again. Attempts to turn time back are also unsuccessful. Moreover, if a child tries to do something similar, the strict “CyberMom” will immediately record these actions in a report, which the parents will then view. Rebooting does not help get rid of the program either - “CyberMama” remembers that the allowed time has already expired and blocks the computer immediately after startup.

KidsControl 1.6

Developer: YapSoft
Distribution size: 4.4 MB
Distribution: shareware
The purpose of KidsControl is to control the time a child spends on the Internet. The peculiarity of the program is that if a prohibited site is detected or an attempt is made to access the Internet at the wrong time, the child will not be able to load the web page. In other words, the program does not reveal itself in any way - it does not show any warning messages, does not say that the page is blocked, etc., it just displays in the browser empty page"Server not found." KidsControl consists of two modules - the application itself, which is responsible for blocking sites, and the control panel. To enter the control panel, a code is used (yes, it’s a code, not a password). The control panel login window contains buttons from zero to nine, with which you can set the access code. This was done to prevent possible password interception by keyloggers.

The control panel provides several profiles - “child” and “no restrictions”; you can also set profiles for other family members. If a code is not entered when starting KidsControl, the program will start with the “child” profile; to switch to another profile, you need to enter a certain combination of numbers. The code for accessing the control panel and for activating the “without restrictions” profile and others are different things; each profile has its own combination of numbers for access. For a child, KidsControl provides the following restrictions: a web filter by category, black and white lists of sites, a time limit on working on the Internet, and a ban on downloading certain types of files.

Despite the fact that the web filter, according to the developers, is based on a directory consisting of a million sites, our testing showed that it can hardly be relied on. By turning on all filter categories, which even included video and music sites, we freely opened resources from the first page Google search by request "mp3". Pages found for the query “porn” also opened without problems. Therefore, KidsControl is best used in conjunction with Kaspersky Internet Security 7, where the filters are more stringent.

Limiting work on the Internet by time works more correctly - during prohibited hours it is impossible to open a web page or even check email. However, the bad thing is that there is only the ability to create a work schedule, and it is impossible to set the total number of hours that a child can spend on the Internet per day.

Black and white lists work a little differently than in other programs. If you create a white list of sites, this will not mean that the child will be able to visit only these resources, just such pages will not be blocked. When creating a black and white list of sites, you can use the "*" symbol. For example, if you blacklist the string “*tube*”, then the child will not be able to access either Youtube, Rutube, or any other sites whose names contain this combination of characters. However, if you whitelist Youtube.com, it will not be blocked. Finally, it's worth talking about download restrictions different types files. Our testing showed that it works quite correctly, but it would be nice to add the ability to add prohibited file types manually. For example, KidsControl has the ability to block downloads ZIP files, but RAR archives can be downloaded without problems.

Time Boss 2.34

Developer: NiceKit
Distribution size: 1.6 MB
Distribution: shareware
Time Boss, as well as standard Windows tool, allows you to set account-based restrictions. The program window displays a list of all users who have access to the computer. For each account you can determine the type of account – “Chief” or “Slave”.

Time Boss makes it possible to limit the time you use your computer, time spent on the Internet, and also create a list of prohibited programs and folders. The tools for limiting work time are quite flexible - you can set how many hours the user can work per day or per week, specify the hours during which the computer can be used, and create a schedule by day of the week. There are also separate buttons for quickly adding bonus time for the current day or for the weekend. Similar restrictions can be set for working on the Internet. Please note that by default the program perceives only browsers as Internet applications. Internet Explorer, Opera and Firefox, all others must be added manually in the program settings. True, there is a checkbox for automatic detection applications that use the Internet, but it's better to be safe. One of the interesting features of Time Boss is the ability to set the time for using a specific application. With its help, you can limit the time your child spends playing computer games. Time Boss allows you to install system limitations. These include: a ban on using the system registry, control panel, task manager, changing the date and time, downloading files through Internet Explorer. In addition, you can disable the ability to search and run applications from the Start menu and set restrictions on access to disks.

Depending on the administrator's preferences, Time Boss can operate in one of two modes - normal and invisible. In the first, the user sees how much time is allotted for him to work by clicking on the icon in the taskbar, but in the “Invisible” mode the program does not reveal itself at all. To alert the user that the time limit has expired, you can enable alerts that will appear five minutes before the end of the allowed time. The warning may appear as text message, pictures, or in the form of a system error.

A separate section – “Prizes” – is designed to add additional time to the user while working with the computer or the Internet. If you check the “Disable time limits” checkbox in the prize parameters, the user will be able to use the computer and the Internet, regardless of the set schedule. Time Boss leads detailed statistics the work of each user at the computer and presents it in a visual form. In the Log you can view all the actions performed by users, and it is possible to filter the logs. For example, only attempts to access prohibited sites or a list of running programs. In addition, statistics on computer and Internet use are provided in text and graphic form.

It is worth noting a very useful ability to create screenshots. Time Boss will take screenshots at set intervals, which can then be viewed in a log. For convenience, you can start a slide show by setting the time for each photo to be displayed on the screen.

However, it is necessary to take into account that by default, screenshots are saved in a very unreliable place - in the Screenshots folder, which is placed in the Time Boss installation directory. To prevent the users you are monitoring from discovering it, you should specify a more secure location and also deny everyone access to this folder. Finally, it is worth noting that getting rid of Time Boss is very difficult - the program is not removed from Startup; when the process is completed, it immediately restarts. To unload it, you need to click the "Prepare for deletion" button in the settings.

Conclusion

Of course, children are sometimes much smarter than their parents, and there is probably no way to stop them from finding a way around the restrictions. Therefore, you should not rely entirely on programs for providing parental control; they will not replace conversations with mom and dad about the rules of behavior on the Internet and why you need a computer. On the other hand, they may become excellent helpers in education, and in combination with live communication about the benefits and harms of a computer, can provide excellent results.

Parental controls in Windows are a built-in feature of all Microsoft operating systems, with which parents can organize their child’s work on the computer, prohibit the use of certain programs or sites, and view PC activity statistics.

The function will be useful in any family, because you will always be aware of how much time the child spends on the computer, what sites he views and what games he plays. One of the main parental control options is setting the PC turn-on time. You can prohibit your child from turning on the computer, for example, after six in the evening. As a result, he will not be able to log into his account.

Parental Control Features in Windows

Using the standard control option, parents will be able to:

Track all the actions your child performed on the computer. What programs did you run and how long did they run? The system provides the PC administrator account with a detailed report on children's accounts. This way, you can get the most complete picture of the child’s interaction with the computer over the course of a week or month;
Parental control on a Windows computer allows you to install game programs, taking into account their age restrictions. The child will not even suspect the presence of an active control function. During the game installation process, the system will automatically check digital signature installer, which contains the name of the game, developer company and age limit. If the age is higher than what you allow, the application will not be installed under the guise of a system error;
Full control over your browser, search engines and various web resources. Monitor the history of your child’s activity on the Internet, limit the use of sites whose descriptions contain the keywords you specified;
Limiting time spent on the computer. Set a time period during which the child can turn on the computer. After the required time has elapsed, the gadget’s operation will be automatically completed. This option will allow the child to organize his daily schedule and help him get used to limited sitting at the computer without constant requests from parents to turn off the device.

Creating Password Accounts

Before setting up parental controls in any of the Windows versions, you need to create two accounts on your computer - for you and your child. If the parents’ account does not have a password, the child will be able to easily bypass all the restrictions set by logging in as an administrator.

The child's account does not need to be protected with a password. No input code word It will be easier for the account owner to get started with the computer. Just click on your profile photo and wait for the desktop to load.

Follow the instructions to create multiple system users in Windows 8/10:

Open the Start menu and click on your profile photo;
Then, in the drop-down list, click on the “Change account settings” field;

In the window that appears, go to the “Family and other people” section;
Click on the “Add family member” button;

Then go to the mode of adding a child account and follow the instructions of the installation wizard. After completing the procedure, two accounts will appear on the computer – yours and the child’s;

To set a password for a user record, click on his photo and select “Access Password” from the list. If the administrator account is associated with a Microsoft Online service, the access password is the password associated with the account Email.

Instructions for Windows 7 users:

Go to the control panel and select the “Category” view mode;
Click on the “Accounts” field, and then on the button to add a new profile;
Set a password for your account and for your child's page. In Windows 7, this is done by simply clicking on the user's photo and entering the code word in the settings. There is no connection to the Microsoft Online service.

Setting up a function in Windows 7 - how to enable it

Parental controls in Windows 7 support the following options:

Limiting the time the computer is turned on;
Setting up a list of allowed programs;
Limitation on the operating time of games.

To enable control, make sure that a child account has been created on your computer. Then open Control Panel and select the User Accounts box. Select an administrator profile.

Check if a password is set. To view documentation about parental controls from the OS developer, click on the field indicated in the figure below.

Any additional profiles will be displayed under the admin entry. Click on the child's entry, in our case it is the Tester icon. Next, a window will open with additional information.

In the “Selecting Allowed Actions” section, enable parental controls.

Now you can begin to restrict the work of the second user. The above window displays a set of options that you can change. The first of them is setting the computer operating time.

You only need to mark the time range during which you will be allowed to use the PC. Settings can be made for each day of the week. Click on the white square to change its color. Blue color means that the child will be able to work on the computer during this time.

To select several cells at the same time, hold down the left mouse button and select the desired period of time.

The next function is setting up work with installed games. Here you can prohibit or allow the inclusion of gaming applications, set the allowed age rating, or manually select those installed on your computer from among the games installed on your computer. Which the child can turn on.

Notice! If an application does not indicate its rating, it will also be blocked from the second account.

To save the settings, click on the “OK” button at the bottom of the screen.

If pirated games are installed on your computer, it is recommended to configure access to applications manually, since these programs will not be displayed in the window for selecting the permitted age limit.

To verify that all settings are correct, be sure to test all functions yourself. Try to turn on a prohibited program or game. If necessary, double-check that the settings are correct.

Setting up parental controls in Windows 10

Parental controls in Windows 10 support more more features and opportunities. The innovation that the developer launched is an option to control purchases in the Microsoft store. Parents can set the maximum purchase amount and age limit. Thus, a child cannot buy a game that is intended for a certain age.

In total, there are 5 software categories in the application store, divided by age:

6+ years;
12+ years;
16+ years;
18+ years old.

Create a child account as described above and set a password for the system administrator page. Now you can start setting up parental controls.

Immediately after creating a new account, log in using its name and check whether it was really created in the “Child” category. Also, you can customize the desktop design and add to it all the shortcuts necessary for your child’s work. This will allow children to get to work faster and not have to look for necessary programs across all system folders.

To manage your child’s account settings, go to https://account.microsoft.com/account/ManageMyAccount?destrt=FamilyLandingPage and log in with the computer owner (administrator) account details.

The second account is already linked to yours. To start setting up, just click on the additional profile icon.

Available settings:

Operation timer. To limit the time spent at the computer, set the allowed time range for each day of the week.

Also, in the parental control settings window there is an option to control the child’s location. If he uses a portable gadget with Windows 10, parents will always remain aware of where the child is now. This is possible using real-time location services.

Disabling parental controls

Let's look at how to disable parental controls on Windows 7.10. To deactivate the function in Windows 7, just go to the child account settings and uncheck the box next to the “Parental Controls” field.

To deactivate the option in Windows 10, go to your family account on the Microsoft website and reset all previously set restrictions.

Additional parental control programs

Besides standard tools control, you can download other programs for organizing children’s work at the computer from the Microsoft Store.

Waky Safe

Waky Safe is a simple and functional utility for organizing information searches on the Internet. The utility is used absolutely secure browser. Which is recommended for use by children. There are built-in mini-games.

Kid Search

Limits the ability to work with the Internet. Parents can configure settings for working with search engines and social networks.

Let's look at how to set up parental controls on any computer and protect your child's online activities.

Parental control is a special feature that allows you to easily set restrictions on how children can use the computer.

In operating systems, you can use built-in functions or download special programs for this task.

Below is a selection the best ways organizations safe work from PC to Windows, Mac OS and Linux.

The ability to limit the functionality of the OS will be useful for any family, because this is the only way parents can always be aware of what sites their children visit.

Also, you can configure the time you work at the computer - turning it on only at certain hours or turning off the system after a specified period of time.

Windows

Parental controls in Windows are available as a standard feature of the operating system.

All versions of Windows OS have the ability to configure Parental Control.

Function characteristics:

Recording of all computer activities in the form of a separate report. You can log in under your admin account at any time to see all the information about using the browser, games and other programs. This allows you to analyze exactly how restrictions should be set;
Control of game installations. Before launching the installer with any game or application, parental controls will check whether the software has age restrictions. If a child tries to install a program with a high age rating, the OS will throw an installation error and the user will not realize that the action was limited by parental controls;
Creating a list of prohibited sites or allowed resources. You yourself can create a list of URLs that your child is allowed to access or use the built-in library of links to sites to which access will be blocked;
Timely shutdown of the computer. If you cannot agree with your child on the optimal time for finishing games on the computer, simply use the electronic work log function. You select a date in the calendar, a user name, and indicate at what hours the computer can be turned on. For example, if you allow playing games only until 17:00, then exactly at this time the computer will automatically turn off. The child will be able to turn it on again, but will not be able to log into his account.

How to set up standard Parental Control?

In Windows, the parental control option is enabled and configured as follows:

Open the search box at the bottom of the taskbar and type "Family settings." Click on the found settings item;

In a new window you will have access to all the functions that will simplify your work with your computer. In the “Parental Controls” section, configure the desired restriction - Internet protection, setting operating hours, generating reports, limiting the purchase of games, etc.

After selecting the desired setting, you will be automatically redirected to the official Microsoft website.

Child Web Guardian

Child Web Guardian is a program that will allow you to completely organize control parameters for another PC user.

Please note that the application can only be launched and configured from an administrator account.

After installation and registration, you can select the one you need other user's profile type:

"Home";
"School Computer";
"Office".

Depending on the account type, a window with a list will open required settings. Program features:

Managing user groups. Child Web Guardian allows you to create user groups and set rules for working with the computer for them. Convenient if you want to set up accounts for several children at the same time;
List of prohibited words. You can activate ready-made lists of words and expressions that will be in background tracked on all web pages. If prohibited words are found on the site, such a resource is blocked;
Web filter. Parents will be able to create white or black lists of sites by simply copying their addresses. This is an easy way to disable the use social networks in one click. Note that a child can bypass this ban with the help of anonymizers, therefore, along with blocking sites, it is better to set a limit on the operating time of the OS;
Schedule. As in the standard version of parental control, here you can set the hours your child sits at the computer.

Hide Tools Parental Control

Hide Tools Parental Control allows you to configure in one window all parental control features:

Launching applications. Here you can specify a list of allowed programs and games, as well as set their operating hours;
Lists of sites. Limit the use of untrusted resources in all browsers;
Typed text filter. All phrases typed by your child will be monitored by the program for the presence of profanity;
Computer activity. Specify days or individual hours when the PC can be turned on;
Taking screenshots. In this window, you can configure the regular creation of hidden screenshots, which will then be added to the parent report.

You can download the utility for free using the link.

Kindergate Parental Control

Kindergate Parental Control is a new development from Entasys, which is known for its computer security systems.

The application is aimed at limiting work according to a given schedule.

Also, you can control the sites you visit or block unwanted content.

More features:

Selecting the content access level. You do not need to create lists of prohibited sites. Just select the level of protection (there are 5 in total) and the program itself will organize your child’s work on the Internet;

Automatic database update. The application connects to a database that contains more than 500 million sites, so you can be 100% sure that the user will not be able to access prohibited resources;
Installing and uninstalling parental control software is only possible from an administrator account.

Child Control 2013

The main feature of this program is the ability to set up a work schedule not only with the computer itself, but also with the Internet.

You can activate the function to block access to global network or set up a schedule.

The program also monitors the OS for viruses and malware.

The built-in setup wizard allows you to use 4 parameters quickly organize the Child Control utility:

The “Time limits” parameter allows you to select the hours during which work is allowed;
The “Blocked times” field is necessary to set the time interval during which access to the computer or Internet will be frozen;
Web Control – a list of allowed and prohibited sites that you can always edit;
Other settings. With their help, you can select an acceptable level of security, configure the creation of reports, or receive remote access to the program from your smartphone.

MACOS

IN latest versions Mac OS now has an improved parental control option.

To enable the function, go to the “Apple” menu, click on “System Preferences” and select the “Parental Controls” section.

At the bottom, click on the lock icon to allow setting restrictions;
Check the “Enable Parental Controls” checkbox. And click on the “Open Controls” button;

In the new window, configure the controls. First you need to determine which applications the other user will have access to. From the list of programs that appears, you need to check the allowed options. Contacts with whom the child can correspond are selected in the same way. If he tries to send a message to prohibited addresses, you will receive a message about this on your iPhone or email;

To set restrictions in your browser, open the Web tab and choose a control method - no restrictions, automatic blocking using Apple algorithms, or blocking websites from your list.

Also, parental controls on Mac OS allow you to limit the use of the store App Store, iTunes and the iBooks Store service.

Other features include limiting PC operation, managing privacy, and viewing activity history.

Mipko Control app

Almost none for OS X third party programs parental controls, but recently the Mipko development studio introduced new software that will keep your child safe while working on the computer.

The application is also available for Mac OS.

Possibilities:

Full control over how your computer is used via messages on your iPhone or iPad;
View Internet surfing history, even if it was deleted by the user;
Record Skype conversations and text messages;
Tracking the history of correspondence on social networks;
Taking screenshots and sending them to your phone;
Recording the time of computer startup and shutdown;
Blocking unwanted content in browsers and games.

The free version of the application is available for 7 days from the date of installation. You can download Mipko from the link.

Linux

In Linux OS it is quite difficult to set up parental controls, but there is one effective method installation of such a service.

With GNOME Nanny you can control the following actions of the child:

Working with websites;
Setting the duration of work with the computer for each day of the week;
Email and social media data tracking.

Such a small number of functions is explained by the fact that the utility is still in the process of development and testing.

It can be installed on everything Linux versions and Ubuntu.

Download the application through the developer's website.

Since all parental control programs offer approximately the same list of functions, you can set up restrictions for your child’s account in any case.

If you want to receive real-time messages about what is happening on your PC, it is better to use third party software, since standard services for Windows and Mac OS do not have such a function.

Thematic videos:

Good afternoon, comrades, today I want to tell you how to determine and how this time can be limited, for example, for children who sit and play on the computer instead of studying. This functionality has long been part of the operating system, but unfortunately not all users know about it and do not use it properly this technology, I will try to correct these gaps in knowledge in your bright minds.

And so earlier we had an update to Windows 10 Anniversary Update 1607, after which we received the operating Windows system 10 Redstone. You are faced with a task or interest in how to find out the operating time of a Windows 10 computer and I will help you with this.

First way

The Tens Task Manager will help us solve this problem. To get into it, click on the start area, right-click and select Task Manager from the context menu, or you can press the Windows 10 hotkeys CRTL+SHIFT+ESC.

Go to the Performance tab and at the very bottom you will find the Windows 10 Redstone uptime item. In my example, I just booted up and my time is 5 minutes and 53 seconds.

This is the simplest method of all.

Second way

The second method will be done from the Windows command line. Right-click on the Start button and select Command Prompt from the context menu.

To find out the operating time of a Windows 10 computer in the cmd window, you must enter the following command

Third way

In order to find out the time windows work 10 , we will use another command line command, namely

net statistics workstation

After it has been processed, you will see the Statistics after and date field, this is the operating system boot time.

Fourth method

We press WIN+R and in the window that opens, enter ncpa.cpl.

Network Adventures will open, select the active network interface and right-click on it, select Status from the context menu.

In the Network Interface Status window that opens, find the Duration field, this is the operating time of Windows 10.

Fifth method

Here we will use powershell capabilities to determine the operating time of Windows 10 and WMI data. First let's do the WMI output.

$wmi = Get-WmiObject Win32_OperatingSystem
$wmi.LastBootUpTime

$wmi.ConvertToDateTime($wmi.LastBootUpTime)

As a result, we see what we need.

You can also display the operating time with millisecond accuracy.

$wmi.ConvertToDateTime($wmi.LocalDateTime) - wmi.ConvertToDateTime($wmi.LastBootUpTime)

Sixth method

IN this method we will use Windows 10 logs, right-click again on the start button and select Event Viewer.

Go to the System log, click Filter current log, in the window that opens, enter code 6005 and click OK.

As a result, this log will be filtered by the System and you will receive the necessary events. We see our system boot time.

Limiting computer operation by time windows 10

And so we learned how to calculate uptime, now let's learn how to limit the computer's operation by time in Windows 10. Our task is to limit the local account that belongs to your child so that he can do his homework. Why don't we use parental controls if we log in under a child's controlled account, and in it go to the account settings and enable a local account instead of an account Microsoft records, parental controls stop working.

How to set a time limit for a local Windows 10 Redstone account

What we need, firstly, if your child has a local account with administrator rights, then you need to make it a regular user. To do this, open the control panel.

In Control Panel, select User Accounts.

I have a Children account and it has full admin rights. If you do not have another account, then at this point you can create one.

And we make it standard.

As a result, we see it became a regular account.

Now, in order to limit the operation of your computer by time in Windows 10, you need to open command line on behalf of the administrator. Enter the command:

net user username /time:day,time

In this team:

Username - account name Windows user 10 for which restrictions are set.
Day - day or days of the week (or range) in which you can enter. English abbreviations of days (or their full names) are used: M, T, W, Th, F, Sa, Su (Monday - Sunday, respectively).
Time - time range in HH:MM format, for example 14:00-15:00

If we need to specify several ranges, for example, entry is possible from Monday to Friday from 19 to 21, and on Sunday from 7 am to 21 o'clock, the command can be written as follows:

net user username /time:M-F,19:00-21:00;Su,07:00-21:00

To remove all restrictions from your account, enter

net user username /time:all

Now we try to log in under the Children account after 15-00, and we see the inscription. You are unable to log in at this time due to your account restrictions. Please try again later.

The goal has been achieved, but keep in mind that children are now smart and will be able to Google correctly and get around this limitation, so the most correct method would be to talk to dad)))

However, the fact that the problem of parental controls has long been common is evidenced by the fact that tools for restricting access to applications, games and sites were included in Windows Vista. Similar tools have recently appeared in many comprehensive security applications, for example, Norton Internet Security and Kaspersky Internet Security. There are also special programs designed exclusively for parental control. If a few years ago almost all of them were English-speaking, today it is not a problem to find an application developed specifically for Russian-speaking users, which undoubtedly indicates that there is a demand for such solutions.

Parental Controls in Windows Vista

If you are using on home computer Windows Vista, you can use built-in parental controls.

To do this, the child must have their own account created. It is clear that you do not need to assign administrator rights to it. Next, you need to go to the Control Panel and in the “User Accounts” section, click on the “Set parent controls” link. Next, you need to select the user for whom restrictions will be enabled, and in the “Parental Controls” group, set the switch to the “On” position.

In the “Restrictions on Internet Use” section, rules for a child’s access to Internet resources are established, and you can also prohibit downloading files.

Regardless of which content filtering mode is selected, you can create a black and white list of sites, that is, determine which resources a child can or cannot access, regardless of the automatic filter settings.

Since the filter does not always work, it is very useful to keep the activity tracking function turned on. In this case, Windows will save the addresses of all sites that the child viewed. If an unwanted address is found in the generated report, it can be added to the blacklist.

The time limit settings for computer use are very simple. There is a grid that looks like a school schedule, in which the parent indicates the hours during which access to the computer is prohibited for the child. Restrictions are set separately by day of the week.

That is why it is much safer to use the “Allow or block individual programs” section. It displays all the applications that are installed on the computer, and parents can mark those that the child is allowed to run. You can add a program to the list manually. This approach is good because the child will not be able to launch, for example, a new game that he borrowed from a classmate without showing it to you.

Parental controls in Kaspersky Internet Security

Parental controls can often be found in online safety apps. Let's take the Parental Control module in Kaspersky Internet Security 7 as an example.

When parental control is enabled, all users are assigned the “Child” profile and, accordingly, the restrictions set for it in the program settings are set.

Using Kaspersky Internet Security 7, you can configure access rights to certain sites, mail and other Internet services. Parents can select categories of sites that the child will not be able to access, and prohibit his communication by mail and chats. In addition, you can create black and white lists of resources.

If a child tries to access a prohibited page, a message is displayed that the site is blocked.

All pages that are visited by a child when parental controls are enabled are recorded in the report.

Kaspersky Internet Security 7 does not have the ability to restrict computer work in general, but the program can be successfully used in conjunction with applications such as CyberMama.

CyberMama

Developer: Cybermama
Distribution size: 3 MB

"CyberMama", unlike Kaspersky Internet Security 7, allows you to control the time a child spends on the computer, but does not have tools for filtering web content.

After launching "CyberMom", the computer can operate in one of two modes - "parent" and "child". When you first start it, the “parent” mode is set and you can enter a password. It is this set of characters that will be used to unlock the computer after the time allotted for the child to work with it has expired.

Using "CyberMom" you can set restrictions on working with the computer, as well as prohibit the launch of certain applications.

The parameters responsible for time limits are quite flexible. A schedule is selected separately for working days, as well as for weekends and holidays. In the program settings there is a calendar in which you can mark all holidays. A very thoughtful decision, considering that each country has its own holidays.

Everyone knows that you need to take breaks while working at the computer, but not everyone adheres to this rule. Meanwhile, this is especially important for a child’s body. Using CyberMom, parents can set the frequency of breaks (for example, every 45 minutes) and their duration. During this time, the computer will be locked.

Regarding launching applications, “CyberMama” provides two modes of operation: when the child can launch all programs except those that are blacklisted, and when he can launch only those applications that are whitelisted.

The child can also look at his work schedule - how long he can still work, how long the break will last, etc.

Five minutes before the allowed time expires, a warning appears on the screen reminding you to save all documents.

When the program is running in "child" mode, it is impossible to close it from the task manager window - it immediately starts again. Attempts to turn time back are also unsuccessful. Moreover, if a child tries to do something similar, the strict “CyberMom” will immediately record these actions in a report, which the parents will then view. Rebooting does not help get rid of the program either - “CyberMama” remembers that the allowed time has already expired and blocks the computer immediately after startup.

KidsControl 1.6

Developer: YapSoft
Distribution size: 4.4 MB
Distribution: shareware

The purpose of KidsControl is to control the time a child spends on the Internet. The peculiarity of the program is that if a prohibited site is detected or an attempt is made to access the Internet at the wrong time, the child will not be able to load the web page. In other words, the program does not reveal itself in any way - it does not show any warning messages, does not say that the page is blocked, etc., it just displays a blank “Server not found” page in the browser.

KidsControl consists of two modules - the application itself, which is responsible for blocking sites, and the control panel. To enter the control panel, a code is used (yes, it’s a code, not a password). The control panel login window contains buttons from zero to nine, with which you can set the access code. This was done to prevent possible password interception by keyloggers.

For a child, KidsControl provides the following restrictions: a web filter by category, black and white lists of sites, a time limit on working on the Internet, and a ban on downloading certain types of files.

Despite the fact that the web filter, according to the developers, is based on a directory consisting of a million sites, our testing showed that it can hardly be relied on. By turning on all filter categories, which even included video and music sites, we freely opened resources from the first page of Google search for the query “mp3”. Pages found for the query “porn” also opened without problems. Therefore, KidsControl is best used in conjunction with Kaspersky Internet Security 7, where the filters are more stringent.

Finally, it is worth mentioning the restrictions on downloading different types of files. Our testing has shown that it works quite correctly, but it would be nice to add the ability to add prohibited file types manually. For example, KidsControl has the ability to block the downloading of ZIP files, but RAR archives can be downloaded without problems.

Time Boss 2.34

Developer: NiceKit
Distribution size: 1.6 MB
Distribution: shareware

Time Boss, as well as standard remedy Windows allows you to set account-based restrictions. The program window displays a list of all users who have access to the computer. For each account, you can define the account type - “Boss” or “Slave”.

Time Boss makes it possible to limit the time you use your computer, time spent on the Internet, and also create a list of prohibited programs and folders.

The tools for limiting work time are quite flexible - you can set how many hours the user can work per day or per week, specify the hours during which the computer can be used, and create a schedule by day of the week. There are also separate buttons for quickly adding bonus time for the current day or for the weekend.

Similar restrictions can be set for working on the Internet. It should be taken into account that by default the program perceives only Internet applications Internet browsers Explorer, Opera and Firefox, all others must be added manually in the program settings. True, there is a checkbox to automatically detect applications that use the Internet, but it’s better to be safe.

One of the interesting features of Time Boss is the ability to set the time for using a specific application. With its help, you can limit the time your child spends playing computer games.

Time Boss allows you to set system limits. These include: a ban on using the system registry, control panel, task manager, changing the date and time, downloading files through Internet Explorer. In addition, you can disable the ability to search and run applications from the Start menu and set restrictions on access to disks.

Depending on the administrator's preferences, Time Boss can operate in one of two modes - normal and invisible. In the first, the user sees how much time is allotted for him to work by clicking on the icon in the taskbar, but in the “Invisible” mode the program does not reveal itself at all. To alert the user that the time limit has expired, you can enable alerts that will appear five minutes before the end of the allowed time. The warning can be displayed as a text message, picture, or as a system error.

Time Boss keeps detailed statistics of each user's work on the computer and presents it in a visual form. In the Log you can view all the actions performed by users, and it is possible to filter the logs. For example, only attempts to access prohibited sites or a list of running programs can be displayed. In addition, statistics on computer and Internet use are provided in text and graphic form.

Finally, it is worth noting that getting rid of Time Boss is very difficult - the program is not removed from Startup; when the process is completed, it immediately restarts. To unload it, you need to click the "Prepare for deletion" button in the settings.

Conclusion

Of course, children are sometimes much smarter than their parents, and there is probably no way to stop them from finding a way around the restrictions. Therefore, you should not rely entirely on programs for providing parental control; they will not replace conversations with mom and dad about the rules of behavior on the Internet and why you need a computer. On the other hand, they can become excellent educational assistants, and in combination with live communication about the benefits and harms of a computer, they can provide excellent results.