Here are the tools we discussed today:
1. X3Watch -
http://www.x3watch.com/ - If you are looking for low-budget, low-intrusion, anonymous, yet comprehensive accountability, this tool is terrific. The free version runs in your application tray, takes about 1 minute to install, does not slow your computer down, does not block any sites or require passwords, etc. All it does is track where you go and emails up to two people (for me it is myself and an accountability partner) every two weeks with the IP address of any questionable sites. It also emails them if you try to uninstall or disable the software (like I said, comprehensive). For the accountability partner, the commitment is very low. An email every two weeks - just use a tool like
http://www.arin.net/whois/ - to determine if any IP addresses in the email are problematic, and you are good to go. The application loads automatically, does not "announce" its presence and if you share the computer with your family, most non-computer savvy folks will not even know it is running. If anyone happens to notice it running on your computer (wife, IT staff), just tell 'em it is a requirement of your men's bible study - a good witness and I don't think they'll mind!
I will volunteer to be anyone's accountability partner - just enter my pauldiemer at gmail dot com (replace at with @ - and dot with . sorry I get enough spam) email address as one of your partners - and tell me separately what you listed as your login name, so I know who to follow up with when I get the emails. I will guarantee absolute confidentiality for you.
2. Bsafeonline -
http://www.bsafehome.com/ - If you are looking for a comprehensive Internet Filter for your familly - then this is a good tool. It will filter both Internet browsing and all kinds of communications like IM, Chat, etc. There is a $$$, but isn't it worth it?
Here is another resource of interest -
http://www.covenanteyes.com/ - there is a fee but it provides filtering/accountability.
