h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Diary???
Surely you mean, like, blog or something?

Nope, I don't keep my bank details stored anywhere online!

Oh, you mean you keep your blog offline then?

(hey, I am just kidding you, you know. It's rather unusual to hear of diaries these days, now that everyone is blogging.)

Y.

Why not buy another computer just for them to use when they visit? It may sound like an expensive option but ensuring you continue to see your kids and total peace of mind seem like something worth splashing out for.

I agree with SoRB - don't let them use the computer.

They shouldn't be on the computer if their time with you is limited to spasmodic visits. Take them to the zoo or even the local park.

2 questions:

1) How old are the children?
2) Which room is the computer located?

Actually, with regards to 2, where ever it is usually located, move it to a family room, even if this is a bit inconvenient. That way nobody can use it without others seeing. I'm hugely against children having private access to computers anyway.

Sneaky, but you could just tell them it is broken. (Removing the fuse from the plug might re-inforce this if they decide to disbelieve you, and you can always pop it back in when they are asleep.)

However, I do like the idea of getting them a cheap PC or a laptop for their own exclusive use. It will make them feel special when they come to visit, you can install all kinds of parental controls and reassure their mother that you are taking the issue of their online safety very seriously. Install a few of the more educational or problem solving types games rather than the violent ones. And keep in in a family room, not a bedroom so that you know what they are looking at.
(teacher on holiday!)

If they're teenagers I doubt they'll appreciate childlock controls on their computer use somehow .

Gah didn't mean to hit post then, things you need to clean up, and possibly disable permanently:

Web page history
Saved passwords
Download history, and any downloaded files themselves
Cookies
Temperary internet files/cache
Auto-complete

Basically if you don't know what you're doing already, and don't have experience of playing around with options and using file manager then you'll probably find it quite difficult to get it all.

A more lasting solution without buying a whole new computer, again quite tricky to set up, but you could partition your hard disk and install a second copy of your operating system, then encrypt the old bit.

I can thoroughly recommend Windows Washer - cleans out everything including the registry, temp files, net cache, history, search history, and reclaims a load of wasted space to boot. It's by a compnay called webroot, and only costs a few quid.

Ta for the advice. Weekend went well.

Traveller in Time on his head
"Glad the kids are still 'innocent' "

I dont know about that but at least they still think I am.