Choosing Internet Safety Software...for YOUR Family
By Joshua F. Finer, MBA - President,
Software4Parents.com
Parents are quickly becoming aware that Internet Safety
is an important issue to deal with. However, many don't
know what the first step is, or what type of software
products are even available. Sometimes the range of
choices can be overwhelming. However, it is our #1
priority at Software4Parents.com to help you choose a
great product to keep your children safe online!
There are two main types of Internet Safety software:
MONITORING SOFTWARE - This is software that lets parents
see everything their kids are doing online. It can be
installed either totally invisible or in a mode that warns
children that they are being watched. Monitoring software
can record every single email, instant message, chat
session, website, and even children's passwords.
FILTERING SOFTWARE - This is software that blocks kids
from inappropriate websites such as pornography, hate,
violence, or generally any other topic a parent does
not want their child to see. It is usually quite
customizable (parent can add words/phrases that interest
them) and also has some supplemental features: the
ability to limit the amount of time kids spend online,
privacy filters that can prevent a child from revealing
their name, address, phone, or any other personal detail, etc.
Once you decide if you are more interested in MONITORING or
FILTERING, the next step is which specific product is best
for your needs.
MONITORING PRODUCTS
Our #1 recommendation for monitoring software is Spector PRO.
It recently won PC Magazine Editor's Choice for "Activity
Monitoring" and is by far the easiest, most reliable, and
best supported package we sell. It is also our #1 seller.
It captures ALL instant messages, ALL email (including
Hotmail and Yahoo mail) all websites, keystrokes, and more.
However, to view what has been recorded with Spector PRO, a
parent must sit down at the computer to access it.
For parents who may work late or travel a lot, a
REMOTE MONITORING solution may be best. eBlaster is
similar in features to Spector PRO, but will EMAIL you
the recorded information remotely. That way, if your child
comes home from school and you are still working, you can set
it to email you exactly what they are doing while you are at
work. eBlaster is also a very reliable product and includes
live phone support, just like Spector PRO.
Last is our best value monitoring package: IamBigBrother. It
includes most of the same features as Spector PRO, but only
has email based tech support available. This product is best
for people who are somewhat computer familiar, and are comfortable
downloading and installing software with limited tech support.
FILTERING PRODUCTS
Our #1 recommendation for filtering is Cyber Sentinel. It is
based on words and phrases that are totally customizable, but
also the context in which these are used. The software is
very easy to use and flexible, and includes live phone support.
Features include: web/email/chat blocking, time limitations,
privacy filters and more. One limitation is that you can only
set up a "master" profile - not separate preferences for different
children.
For parents with children of different ages, Net Nanny may be
a good choice. It is similar in features to Cyber Sentinel, but
you can set up specific preferences for each child who uses
the Internet in your home. That way, you can be more flexible
with a 16 year old, but more restrictive with a 11 year old. Please
note that Net Nanny is NOT for AOL users!
Lastly, we have Cyber Patrol - our most expensive product. Cyber
Patrol is licensed on a yearly basis...all other products are a
one time fee only. Cyber Patrol has similar features but is
even more powerful as it allows various categories of content
to be blocked or unblocked.
Overall, choosing a safety product can seem like a tough task, but
with the right experts and advice, it does not have to be. Please
feel free to email us with questions specific to YOUR family!
Resource: Joshua Finer, Internet Safety expert and CEO of
Software4Parents.com - Please feel free to email us at
support@software4parents.com
for help choosing!
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