Logging On and Creating Kid Accounts

Each Parent account can have up to six Kid accounts associated with it. If you are switching over from STI’s Family Net, your current Parent and Kid accounts have already been created. However, if you want to change the settings of these accounts, follow the instructions below.

1. After your computer restarts, access the Internet as you normally do. At this point, KidsNet will ask you for your Parent ID and password to log onto the Internet. (This KidsNet login screen appears whenever a software application or anything on your computer attempts to access the Internet.)
   
   
   1. If you use Internet Explorer as your browser, the first page you access on the Internet will be the KidsNet Account Setup page located at http://www.KidsNet.com/accounts or http://sti.KidsNet.com.
      
      
   2. If you are not automatically taken to the Account Setup page, please browse to http://sti.KidsNet.com. Click the Accounts Manager link or choose the option for “Accounts Manager” from the KidsNet icon in the system tray (the little box with a K in the lower right corner of your screen).
      
      
2. Fill in your name and address when asked for them, following the instructions on the screen. Click the “Add Kid Account” button to create accounts for your child or children. If you are converting from STI’s Family Net, your settings have already been created, in which case you would choose the Edit Kid Account button.
   
   
   1. Choose pre-set or custom settings. The “Create New Account” Web page lets you choose from four pre-set, age-based settings (Y, G, PG, T) or you can choose the “Control Panel” to select individual settings for your child.
      
      
   2. If you choose one of the pre-set categories, you may edit it later by returning to the Account Setup Page (http://sti.KidsNet.com), and clicking the Edit Kid Account button for the child in question. You will need the child’s password in order to edit the account. You can find those passwords displayed on the Account Setup page.
      
      
   3. If you choose the Control Room Settings button, you will set separate filtering levels for various categories. Choosing a setting automatically includes all the lower settings in the same category (for example, selecting option 4 also allows options 1, 2, and 3).
      
      
   4. Some of the categories have brief titles. To find their definitions, click the Help button or the More Information link. Warning: Some examples in the Help file are explicit.
      
      
3. When you finish setting up the Kid account, click Return to create another Kid account or click Log Out to end your session. You can have a maximum of six Kid accounts. The next attempt to access the Internet will bring up the KidsNet login box. Have your child log in using his or her ID and password.
   
   
4. To access any of the KidsNet software features, use the KidsNet icon in the system tray (the little box with a K in the lower right corner of your screen).

Many of the KidsNet functions are accessible through the KidsNet icon in your computer’s system tray or from the KidsNet program group. Below you’ll find instructions on accessing the KidsNet settings, followed by brief descriptions of the KidsNet desktop icon and the KidsNet system tray icon.

Open the KidsNet Settings Menu from the System Tray
Right-click or double-click on the KidsNet icon in the system tray (the lower right corner of your screen).

The Settings Menu Accesses KidsNet Options and Settings
When you are logged in as a parent, you see a different list of available options than you would when logged in as a child or not logged in at all. The available options are displayed in black text while the unavailable options are gray (grayed out).

Options

Account Manager - Choosing this option opens your browser to the Account Setup page of the KidsNet Web site. This is the place where you can add, modify, or delete accounts for your children (you can have a maximum of six Kid accounts). This is also where you modify your children's settings to customize their Internet experience. Add-Remove Websites - This opens the Web Site Manager which allows you to over-ride the master KidsNet database. KidsNet has rated and reviewed Web sites accounting for over 98% of all World Wide Web traffic. Occasionally, you may come across a site that you cannot access or one that you may wish to block. The Web Site Manager allows you to add a Web site and choose to Block or Allow it for each Kid account.

Help - Choosing this option opens your browser to the KidsNet Help Web page. Login - This brings up the login dialog box so you or your child can log into KidsNet to begin an Internet session. If you are already logged in, this option is unavailable. Logout - This logs the current user out of KidsNet and prevents further access to the Internet. Change Login - This allows you to change the login from one user to another. It logs out the current user and opens the login dialog box so a new user can log in. Parental Over-Ride - Only available when a child is logged in. It allows a parent the option of over-riding a rating in the master KidsNet database. Click here for directions on how to use this feature. Parents Resource Center - This option opens your browser to the Resource Center Web page with links for parents to learn more about Internet Safety, and information on issues concerning children's use of the Internet. Security Timeout - Choosing this option allows you to set the length of time before the timeout function activates. The timeout function monitors keyboard and mouse activity and automatically logs off KidsNet when there is no activity for the time specified. This helps ensure a child does not accidentally gain unsupervised access to the Internet. Forgot Password - This option allows you to retrieve your password by answering the challenge question asked when you set up your account. If you are logged in, you will not be able to access this option (as you must have known your password to log in -- you can log out and then this option is available). Change Password - This option opens the change password dialog box and allows you to enter a new password. This feature only works if you are successfully logged in as a parent. Upgrade - This feature is for future versions and will allow seamless installation of new KidsNet software. About KidsNet - Choosing this option displays information about the version of KidsNet you have installed, as well as links to items on the KidsNet Web site.

KidsNet Program Group
If you prefer, you may use the KidsNet Program Group instead of the KidsNet System Tray icon. The Uninstall option is the only option made available in the Program Group that is not accessible from the System Tray icon. To uninstall, you will need your Parent username and password. This prevents a child from uninstalling KidsNet and gaining unsupervised access to the Internet.

KidsNet Desktop Icon
The KidsNet Desktop Icon changes color depending on the current status. If a parent is logged in, the icon is green , showing the current user has full and unrestricted access to the Internet. When a child is logged in, the icon is blue , showing the current user has access only to the sections of the Internet that the parent allows. If the icon is red , it indicates that no one is currently logged in to KidsNet and no Internet access is allowed.

   KidsNet System Tray Icon
The KidsNet System Tray icon allows the user to launch KidsNet and open the KidsNet login box. If the user is logged in, clicking on the KidsNet icon on the desktop will log the current user out and open the login box for a new or different user to log in. For additional assistance, please visit the KidsNet Help Web page.

Important note: Many computers have programs (instant messenger, time synchronization, and others) that automatically and continually attempt to connect to the Internet, even if there is no current Internet connection. When any program attempts to connect to the Internet, KidsNet will start. This prevents programs and applications from reaching the Internet without going through the KidsNet Parental Controls.