What Types of Parental Controls Should Your Child Have?

What Types of Parental Controls Should Your Child Have?

If you aren’t worried about your child’s safety online, you should be–statistics show that 69% of teens regularly receive personal messages online from strangers–and most of them don’t tell a trusted adult about it. Additionally, 64% post photos or videos of themselves, while more than half (58%) post info about where they live. Concerned about this kind of activity? Then read on about the four kinds of parental controls you should absolutely consider:


If you want a blanket solution to your worries about your kids’ Internet activity, you may want to consider a kid-friendly Internet browser. Browsers like the popular (and free) KidZui for Firefox restrict the web to 600,000 approved sites; kids can share and tag videos and photos, but not any personal information. Kids also receive an Avatar, or “Zui” identity, they can engage in some limited social networking activity. It also contains a great number of fun, kid-safe games. In addition, anytime one of your children begins a new account or adds a friend, the parent receives an e-mail notification. The standalone software is available for download on Windows or Mac OS X platforms. Other similar sites include: Kido’z or Zoodles.


Concerned about your kids’ wireless Internet usage? Consider smartphone monitoring software like Phone Sheriff. It’s compatible with the most popular smartphones–Android, iPhone, and Blackberry–and allows administrators to record user activities (including SMS text messages and calls) as well as track location. Phone Sheriff also allows you to place time restrictions on your child’s phone and block certain websites and applications. My Mobile Watchdog and Mobile Nanny are other comparable apps that you may want to consider.


For more information visit ZoneAlarm at:

http://blog.zonealarm.com/2011/04/what-types-of-parental-controls-should-your-child-have.html

How To Teach Your Children To Interact With Strangers Online

How To Teach Your Children To Interact With Strangers Online by ZoneAlarm

It’s inevitable: Your child probably will be approached by a stranger online. So how do you help him/her prepare?


Teach Them The Definition of A Stranger


One of the most important things you can do to educate your children about interacting with strangers online is defining exactly what “stranger” is and means. Tell your kids that a “stranger” is someone they don’t know well–or, if you really want to restrict the boundaries, perhaps for a very young child–tell him/her that a stranger is anyone outside of his/her immediate family. Emphasize that strangers can be people that the child sees everyday–mailmen, school bus drivers, etc. Also emphasize that these people don’t all mean harm, but that the child should do his/her best to stay clear if they’re not friends. For online purposes, since identities are much harder to prove or reveal, a “stranger” is anyone that a parent doesn’t define otherwise. Make sure your child knows your screenname, her own screenname, and the usernames of grandparents, aunts and uncles, siblings, etc.–most of all, what a screenname actually is. If your child can’t remember all these, post them in a list near the computer.


Define the Limits of Conversation


Once your child knows who or what a “stranger” is, make sure to outline a set of acceptable conversation topics should he/she come across one online. Remind your child not to give out personal information–phone numbers, her real name, addresses, name of her school–to anyone online. Definite inappropriate conversations. It’s best to tell your child not to interact with these people at all, but in case they forget, or are lured in somehow, identifying “red flags” in online speech can help her shut down the conversation right away. And tell your child not to fill out forms online, either.


What to learn more? Read the full article at:
http://blog.zonealarm.com/2011/04/how-to-teach-your-children-to-interact-with-strangers-online.html

For complete internet security try ZoneAlarm

http://www.zonealarm.com.au/