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Links to Resources in Internet Security


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Monitoring Software

Spyware

Further Information for Parents

Monitoring Software

There are many products on the market to assist parents in managing their children's relationship to their computers, and the following three market leaders were chosen for their high degree of acceptability among reviewers. Their inclusion here is not intended as an endorsement of the product, but are given as examples of their product type. Parents will want to review all products available to make the most appropriate selection for their circumstances.

Click this link for one source of an overview of products.

Net Nanny, by Content Protect, is considered by reviewers to be among the easiest of the content control applications available. Its user interface is intuitive, and enables parents to block interactive functions, types of websites, language, website ratings, etc. It can be configured to allow only specific sites to be accessed, or specific types of websites. One must purchase one license per computer, so may not be the most cost-effective program for multiple-computer households.

Safe Eyes, by InternetSafety.com, is reviewed as being a very close competitor to Net Nanny, and the license enables the owner to install it on up to three computers. The filter can be altered by remote computer, so a parent can adjust settings while at work, for instance, to give their child access to a needed website. It is also one of the few products designed to be Mac-compatible.

CyberPatrol is designed to provide similar functionality as the products above, while also allowing parents to control computer gaming choices made by the users, blocking media downloads and interactive activities as specified by the parent.

Spyware

Spyware, while suffering from an image problem as overly intrusive, asserts the parent's right to parent. The Internet is a dangerous place, and children are trusting, so parents need to see what they are doing in that dangerous environment. Also, when children know they are being monitored, they are more effective self-monitors. Spyware applications are more expensive than monitoring software, but they generally offer multi-station licenses.

Spector, by SpectorSoft, is a very easy-to-use, difficult to defeat application which runs full-time in the background while anyone uses the computer. The software takes screenshots of all Internet activity, records keystrokes while the computer is on-line, and can be configured to notify the computer owner if the user is engaged in risky behavior on-line. Available for Windows or Mac.

eBlaster, by eBlaster.com, boasts similar functionality, and also will e-mail copies of all correspondance from the computer automatically to the owner.

Further Information for Parents

Wired Kids is an organization developed by security and safety attorney and mother Parry Aftab with vast resources for parents, kids, educator and law enforcement. Visit their website for the latest in Internet security information. Download their Parenting Online leaflets in English or Spanish here:

English PDF 363 KB

Spanish PDF 155 KB

The Federal Bureau of Investigation, yes, the F.B.I., maintains vigilance over the Internet (the glossary includes some of that work) and they have published A Parent's Guide to Internet Safety.