best affordable security appliance?

[foredogg]

Hello,

New to the forum and tried searching on this topic but couldn't find anything. I'm a parent with two kids and am looking for a good security appliance that can monitor chat, IM, web, social media, etc. without having to pay subscription services to bluecoat, etc

I don't need to monitor conversations (but would be a plus) but just the recipient ID, etc. I have a teenager and want to control social media and porn short of standing and watching over her shoulder every minute. Basically just need to monitor for pervs on IM, who she is communicating with, etc and prevent the unwanted. I saw in one post Spector software was recommended but we have multiple computers (macs and PC) and would prefer something at the router level rather than each PC. Is there a security appliance that can do the above, maybe not as detailed as Spectorsoft but enough for high level monitoring to alert me?

I'm willing to spend a few hundred if the appliance can do a good job. Appreciate any recommendations.

Thanks!

 

[stevech]

already using OpenDNS to restrict?

My relatives required their under 18 kids to use the computer in the family room. Wah, wah, wah. Too bad.

 

[foredogg]

Never looked into openDNS, will look into it. I am hoping there is some kind of security appliance that could do the trick.

 

[YeOldeStonecat]

Edge devices (like UTM appliances)...can block things, and can report on where they've been (websites).

If you want details such as chat logs...so you can watch/view chats, see e-mails typed, facebook chats...you'll need to run an application like SpectorSoft on their local PC. Chats and e-mails and stuff like that..it's encrypted..so content of it cannot be monitored/logged from an edge appliance.