Taking care of your kids while they are online is not an easy task. Being taken advantage of while bullies or seeing them hurt in any way is distressing to every parent. Thankfully some virtual convenience tools are available to assist you to protect your kids.   Kaspersky Safe Kids and Net Nanny are two of them.

Kaspersky Safe Kids verses Net Nanny (Overview)

If you have a kid that can use a computer or mobile independently, you should explore the use one of these tools to see what your child is being exposed to while surfing on the internet. We’ll be going through a detailed review of Kaspersky’s Safe Kids vs. Net Nanny.

General Information

Offered Features	Kaspersky Safe Kids	Net Nanny
Parental Control	✔	✔
Internet Filter	✔	✔
Screen Time Management	✔	✔
Apps Usage control	✔	✔
Texting Management	✔	🗶
YouYube Monitoring	✔	✔
Free Version	✔	🗶

This chart is simply a brief overview.  Now, let’s explore which parental control app is the best.

Kaspersky Safe Kids and Net Nanny Compared

Kaspersky Safe Kids:

This parental control software is developed by Kaspersky. It protects your kids from harmful content on the internet by blocking them. It allows parents to manage their kid’s screen time and check where they go.  Read the full Kaspersky Safe Kids review where you’ll also find downloads for Windows, macOS, Android & iOS.

The free version comes with limited features but it’s a great way to test out even just the basic features, which include an online content filter, safe search for YouTube, the ability to control the usage of apps used by your kids, and screen time management.

Net Nanny:

The parental control software offered by Net Nanny was developed by ContentWatch inc. This software allows parents to monitor and control their kid’s activities on the Internet to prevent them from watching or surfing inappropriate content.

Net Nanny works on devices having Windows, macOS, Android, iOS, Kindle & Chromebook.

As you see, most parental control monitoring apps focus on very similar goals.https://www.safesearchkids.com/apps-for-parental-controls/

Features

Both parental control software programs offer parents the ability check and control activities of kids on their phone, as well as on tablets or computers. Let’s review some of the outlined key features that are being offered by both companies.

Internet Filter

Internet Filtering is a feature that allows parents to whitelist and blacklist websites. Whitelist is a list of websites that are approved by parents and can be accessed by kids. Whereas the blacklist is the list of the blocked website due to adult or inappropriate content. Without doing anything, default filtering is set up to restrict kids from bad content.

One cannot expect a parents first downloading and installing the software to manually allow or block websites they don’t even know about.  However, there is a feature that enables parents to block (or allow) specific websites or a category of content.  Reasons for this may be allowing certain websites for teens, as compared with younger kids in the family.

Both Kaspersky Safe Kids and Net Nanny offers internet filtering features to manage kid’s online activity.

YouTube Monitoring

YouTube is one of the most popular websites visited worldwide.  So it stands to reason that kids will be attracted to it.  Setting up parental controls for YouTube according to age through a Google account does not mean kids won’t have access to videos you won’t want to them see.  Kaspersky allows parents to check kid’s activities and protect them from inappropriate content by using an Online Content Filter feature.

On the other side, Net Nanny allows you the same feature to check kid’s YouTube activities. Net Nanny offers users the ability to filter YouTube content for their kids by using the Internet Filter feature.

Screen Time Management

Sure, there is plenty on the internet to worry about.  That’s the main reason to choose a parental control program.  But spending time in front of a screen even while watching harmless or even educational material can have unrelated negative effects.  It can affect a kid’s behavior as well as habits. To prevent issues of too much screen time, Kaspersky allows parents to monitor and control the time their kids spend on the devices.

Whereas Net Nanny options related to screen time focuses on setting usage limit, such as a a daily time limit allotment.

Texting Management

If you are worried about a specific contact that is in touch with your kid. You can flag and monitor those conversations using Kaspersky Safe Kids.  You will be able to check all call logs and text messages. However, this feature is limited to Android users only

Net Nanny doesn’t provide any text management feature.  No monitoring is available but it allows you to block texting and related apps.

Child Locator

With Kaspersky you can check the real-time location of your kid. Additionally, it allows you to set a geofence. Geofence allows you to set the location where you expect your kid to be.

Net Nanny doesn’t have any feature like geofencing but it shows you the current location of your kid.

Pricing Comparison

Kaspersky Safe Kids pricing

Kaspersky offers a free version with limited features. To truly test it out, you’ll need to give the software a try via the free 7 day trial of the paid version.  It it gives you a bundle of great tools to protect your kid online. Kaspersky Safe Kids software is cheaper than Net Nanny.  For a one year plan you will be paying $14.99 a month.

Net Nanny pricing

Net Nanny doesn’t offer any free version or free trial to users. Currently, it has 3 below outlined plans are available.

1 Desktop, For PC & MAC	5 Devices, For PC, Mac & Mobile	20 Devices, For PC, Mac & Mobile
$39.99/Year	$54.99/Year	$89.99/Year

In the debate of Kaspersky Safe Kids vs. Net Nanny, doing your own research is key to finding the right solution for your family.  What works for you is dependent on the size of your family and the number of devices you want to implement parental controls on.  Kaspersky is the most budget conscious when dealing with one single device.  There 7 day free trial certainly makes it a convenient way to test out the software on your child’s particular device, as well as giving you a feel for the monitoring features as a parent.

For many years, Kaspersky has been a well known software company providing complete internet security resources. More recently, they’ve entered the parental control zone with Kaspersky Safe Kids.  It’s an excellent parental control option for parents as they navigate to find the best means to protect their family.

Kaspersky Safe Kids can be implemented as part of a total internet security bundle, which includes privacy protection, anti-virus, anti-hacking, anti-malware, and even a VPN.   Or you can choose to subscribe to receive only the parental control options.  Keep in mind that if you own a computer you should already have the basic internet security features activated on your computer. These includes built-in features such as Windows Defender, as well as anti-virus protection and malware protection.

It can be a confusing landscape. To clarify, if you are seeking parental controls with a reputable software program like Kaspersky Safe Kids you can download it alone or as part of Kaspersky Total Internet Security with a bundled price.

Kaspersky Safe Kids – Parental Controls

Not sure about Kaspersky Safe Kids?  There is a free version that offers free parental controls but with limited features. It’s a great way to get a feel for how parental controls work, especially if you are new to this type of online protection for your kids.  Let’s first review the differences between the two.

The Free version of Kaspersky Safe Kids includes:

• App usage, allowing the ability to monitor and control the usage of apps.
• Screen time management, limiting the amount of time a child can use their device.
• Online filtering of websites, similar to our Safe Search Kids filtering app.
• YouTube Safe Search, which provides YouTube parental controls and blocks harmful videos in browsers and on the YouTube app.

Kaspersky Safe Kids – Full Version

The premium version includes the following parental control features;

• Online filtering to protect your family from searching for and accessing harmful websites and content.
• App usage control, including setting time limits and usage limits according to age and categories.
• Screen time limits for device access as shown on the free version with the additional ability to set exact times for access.   For example, it is possible for you to limit internet and/or phone access overnight or at school.
• YouTube filtering and search history monitoring.  Just as Kaspersky Safe Kids FREE allows you to block bad content, the premium version enables you to also keep an eye on their YouTube History.
• GPS location, allowing parents to monitor their kids whereabouts on a map.
• Battery tracker, a unique option not available in other parental control programs. It let’s parents know when their child’s phone battery may be out of juice resulting in them losing touch with their child.
• Real time alerts.  This parental control feature is a staple of all good parental controls software programs and apps.  It simply means you don’t have to login to your Kaspersky parental control account everyday do be sure everything is fine with your child’s online activity.

Setting Up Kaspersky Parental Controls

Whether you are seeking Total Internet Security or only the Safe Kids parental control app, here are the steps for easy set up.

1. Locate the program you want to download:  Kaspersky Safe Kids (scroll down page to see free version), or Total Internet Security
2. Set up your My Kaspersky account.  This is the universal account that give control of any Kaspersky software you install and use.
3. Install the software on any device in your home that you wish to monitor. Set up security options and parental controls.
4. From within your account, select parent mode so that you can manage the various options available.

Available for Windows® | macOS® | Android™ | iOS®

Kaspersky Internet Security with Parental Controls

Kaspersky is a longtime trusted name in cyber security.  Within the last few years they have developed a parental control app for their customer base, as well as new users seeking parental controls with multiple options. Kaspersky Safe Kids can be downloaded even if you are not currently using Kaspersky’s internet security solutions. If you desire, you can bundle their parental controls with other software, such as anti-virus, anti-malware and anti-hacking.

The 100% free downloadable version of Kaspersky’s parental controls is available for iPhone and android, but with limited features. This is not a free trial. The free version is available for indefinite use and includes web filtering, basic app monitoring, screen time management, and filtering of YouTube videos.

The full version of Kaspersky’s parental control app includes additional options to protect kids fully on their devices, such as YouTube search history monitoring, a GPS locator, more control over app usage and screen time schedules. A unique feature of this app for iPhone is battery management.  It allows parents to know if their child’s phone is about to lose power. If they are not home, you can remind them to plug in their iPhone before it goes offline and no longer can be tracked.

There are currently 6.5 billion smartphone users in the world, each carrying an array of applications in their pocket. Apple’s App Store and Google’s Play Store combined offer over 8 million apps available for download. While most of the applications in official app stores are considered secure, many malicious programs still find their way to these platforms.

One can never be too careful when downloading mobile apps. On top of raising awareness about potential security issues, it is recommended to implement safety measures to increase data security in general. One of these measures would be using a VPN and connecting to a VPN server to encrypt data and devices, thus preventing cybersecurity threats in time.

Here are a few tips that will help you recognize malicious apps on app stores.

#1. Check for Inappropriate Permissions

The most obvious hint that the application you’re about to install is unsafe is the list of permissions it asks for. Normally, an application will require a set of permissions to operate on a mobile device. For example, a camera app will require permission to use the device’s camera to take photos and videos.

However, if you’re installing a game that has nothing to do with video recording, yet the app still asks for permission to use the camera, you have a reason to be worried. Make sure to check whether the required permissions are aligned with the app’s purpose. If not, look for an alternative app instead.  Learn how to detect and remove PUP (Potentially Unwanted Programs)

#2. Look at the Contact Emails

If you check the information about the app developer, you should come across a contact email address. Professional developers would never list a contact address that was opened with a free service such as Gmail or Yahoo!. Therefore, if the email address ends with gmail.com or a similar domain, you are either dealing with a very unprofessional developer or a malicious app.

Even if the app wasn’t malicious, it is most likely low quality, since the developers are not putting enough effort into the project. On the other hand, some apps won’t have any contact addresses listed, which is also a reason to be concerned. If there is no contact email at all, chances are the app is not as legit as you would like it to be.

#3. Read the Description Carefully

Malicious apps designed to scam people and steal information often have very poor descriptions. For instance, if you look at any professionally designed application, you will notice that the app’s listing in the app store is flawless. The description flows naturally, and all of the photos are high resolution.

Suspicious apps, on the other hand, don’t have such professional listings. Make sure to read the app’s description carefully and check for grammar errors or inconsistent wording. Any illogical errors of this sort could point to the fact that the app could be dangerous. If you find any bad language or low-quality images, it’s best to stay away from the app altogether.

#4. Check the Reviews

Users should be exceptionally careful when checking the reviews of said applications. The reviews section is a good place to look for evidence and check whether previous users had any issues with the app. However, one thing you should keep in mind is that the reviews can be staged.

If the app has a poor description and low-quality images, yet it only has five-star reviews, chances are that the developers paid people to write positive reviews without even testing the app. No matter how professional an app is, there should always be a good balance of positive and negative reviews that point to areas that need improvement. Therefore, if the review section is nothing but praise for the seemingly low-quality app, chances are it was staged to fool you.

#5. Google It

Whether it’s the Apple or Google Play, the simplest way to screen for malicious apps and research information is to Google the application you are interested in and check what people have to say about it. There are plenty of review websites out there that take time to test mobile apps and report back on their experience. This is an easy way to check whether any of the previous users had security issues because of a specific application.

Start Paying Attention

According to statistics in the US, 57% of digital media usage comes from mobile applications. We use mobile apps on a daily basis, sometimes even more often than we should. This excessive use of applications gives hackers room to sneak in, steal data, and gain unauthorized access to our accounts. Thus, it is important to stay away from potentially malicious applications that could be hiding in app stores. Another way to stay safe is to invest in a VPN to encrypt your data and browse the internet anonymously.

This article is about malicious apps.  Read about ways to protect your computer as well from ransomware.

And explore was to further protect kids regarding their app data.

Simple Wikipedia is a separate version of the primarily used Wikipedia. It is written in basic English and is ideal for younger kids, tweens or even teens who read at lower grade level. You can find any topic on Simple Wikipedia that is available on the main English version.

The simple version of Wikipedia is also an online encyclopedia.  However, sentences are shorter and grammar is easier to understand.

Simple Wikipedia for Learning English

Simple Wikipedia can also be beneficial for people from cultures that are just learning English or those who have a limited understanding of the language. Readers with learning disabilities will find it helpful as well.

Because Safe Search Kids promotes safe search resources, we provide yet another version of Wikipedia for kids that is not directly affiliated with Simple.Wikipedia.org.  It also serves multiple languages. Our version of wiki for kids has been created by our partner KidzSearch and can be searched at the top of our website.

Getting back to the topic of the official Simple Wikipedia, this alternative version will also be beneficial for anyone researching difficult to understand topics. Simply put, concepts of higher education or technical subjects can be easier to grasp when written in a simple way.

When learning about any topic, remember that Wikipedia should only be used as a starting point. Wikipedia’s popularity has grown because of how easy it is to find so much information on a single website, all with without ads or external links within the articles. But you cannot always trust what you read as absolute fact. Your local or school library remains to be your best tool for good information.

Simple Wikipedia for Research

A suggested research method for older students is to first read the regular version of Wikipedia. Work to understand what is being communicated. The history, the characters in the unfolding story, or the detailed explanation of a complicated theory.

Make a few notes and write a brief summary of what you’ve learned. Then, search for the same article in the Simple Wikipedia version. You may find further insight thanks to the use of less complex words and sentences.

When doing any research on Wikipedia, whether the simple version or not, it is essential to understand that Wikipedia is an “open source” online Encyclopedia. This means anyone can change it, so make sure you explore all aspects of the article, including all cited references and external links to reputable sources. Many articles will make a note if a fact is not fully verified.

As mentioned, Simple Wikipedia should not be your sole resource on any topic. Don’t forget to visit your school library to confirm facts and details. These findings from published books should be your sources when writing an article or paper. If you are a student, check with your teacher’s views regarding the use of a Wikipedia as a research tool.

How Wikipedia Articles Are Created

Anyone with access to the internet can write and post a Wikipedia article on their main site. There are no formal eligibility requirements to become a Wikipedia editor.  The platform is open to contributions from people worldwide. Posting a successful Wikipedia article involves several key steps, such as maintaining a neutral point of view, citing reliable sources, and following the manual of style to ensure the quality and accuracy of the content. Due to strict quality there has been a growing new to seek out wikipedia writers for hire to ensure guidelines are followed.  

Writers must conduct thorough research to ensure the topic is notable and has reliable sources.  They must know how to draft their article to ensure it is well-structured, neutral, and properly cited with verifiable references.  Following Wikipedia’s formatting standards is vital, and the writer must avoid the use of original research. These are facts and ideas that cannot be backed up by reliable sources.

Once the draft is ready, the article can be moved to the main space, where it may undergo review by other editors.  Engaging with the Wikipedia community for feedback and making necessary revisions can further enhance the article’s credibility and longevity.

Wikipedia:  The Open Source Network

Wikipedia and Simple Wikipedia are “open source” platforms where anyone can contribute. After an entry is approved and published, it can be edited by anyone to correct errors or update information. Knowing how to properly cite reliable sources is essential. Popular Wikipedia articles often have moderators who review edits to ensure accuracy. This review process helps Wikipedia become more reliable. Still, even Wikipedia states that it is not a reliable source. on it’s own.

What We Have Learned about Wikipedia’s

• Wikipedia is a free online Encyclopedia written in English, as well as many other languages.

• Simple Wikipedia is an additional English version of Wikipedia, written at a lower reading level.

• Wiki for Kids is our own form of Wikipedia created for younger kids. It employs safe search and is kept separate from the main unfiltered Internet.

Remember, when conducting research, it’s crucial to consult multiple sources to gain true expertise of any subject.  

The Idea Behind Wikis (Explained in Simple Terms)

A wiki allows collaboration on a subject with input from people anywhere in the world. All they need is a computer, tablet or phone with an internet connection. In the case of Simple Wikipedia, a wiki page is edited to make it more simple for readers. From there any one can edit it and correct a mistake make about a fact or update it with new information.

Learning how to read can be a tedious developmental process. Every child learns at a different pace and in a variety of ways. The goal is to not only teach the skills necessary to get through school, but to also instill a desire to keep reading for life. This is why it’s important to discover ways to make reading captivating.

So, how does a parent or teacher spark a passion for reading in every child? What are the methods to help them pay attention and remain interested?

Fun and Creative Ways to Help Kids to Read

For any type of leaning, making each step of the journey engaging is the key to encourage lifelong learning and enjoyment.  So, here five ideas that can plant the seed of a lasting love for reading in every child.

1. Use Nursery Rhymes and Kids’ Songs

Nursery rhymes and kids’ songs are a lot of fun, and their rhythm and rhyme enable children to hear syllables and sounds in words, which is a good way of learning to read. Phonemic awareness is an important ability required in learning. It entails being in unison when singing and clapping rhythmically together. Such bonding and playful activities are fantastic ways for children to grow their literacy skills that are the building blocks to developing successful reading habits.

2. Displaying Words and Letters in Class and their rooms at Home

Kids are naturally inquisitive. By displaying different letters and words around in class and their bedrooms, they’ll be encouraged to ask you questions about those words. By doing so, they’ll be learning without realizing it. You can also try labeling objects in a classroom and rooms such as doors, windows, tables, and chairs. Or placing words like ‘black,’ ‘red’ and ‘blue’ with the font’s color matching the word. This can especially help the reading skills of boys and help all kids to learn by associating words with what they see.

3. Reading Together Daily and asking Questions

There are many skills children can acquire just by reading the stories out loud. First, they learn the art of sounding out words. Second, you’ll be helping them develop major comprehension skills, expand their vocabulary as well as give them a chance to know what fluent reading is like. But most importantly, regular reading drives your child to enjoy reading. Strengthen your kids’ comprehension skills simply by asking them questions when reading. Use pictures to encourage younger kids to engage and ask older kids questions that are a little bit more complex.

4.  Playing Decoding Games

Decoding is simply sounding out words. Once your kid learns the letter’s sound or the sounds of different groups of letters, they can start to put words together. Learning how to decode is a very crucial stage of learning to read, preparing them for higher subject levels in school. This is because the more a student can decode words, the quicker they can automatically identify different words. You can make the decoding lessons fun by incorporating simple games.

5.  Word Search Bingo

As earlier mentioned, reading to kids out loud helps to develop their listening and language skills while preparing them to figure out written words. Nevertheless, some kids have difficulty sitting still and focusing while listening to the reader; therefore, you need to find a way of keeping them engaged in reading. One such way is by creating bingo games.  Hand out paper sheets to your students containing words from the text you are reading. Ask your students to circle the words on their list that they hear you reading, and in the end, talk about these words. Playing word bingo not only makes the activity interactive but also reinforces vocabulary and comprehension in a fun and dynamic way.

Developing a Love for Reading

Another way to instill a reading culture in your young children is to simply lead by example. It’s been said that kids ultimately develop their life long habits by doing what you do, not necessarily by what you say. Younger kids imitate their parent’s actions. What better way to teach the importance of reading than to have them to see you reading on a regular basis.

It begins at a younger age by taking the time to read with them everyday. Let them pick out the books they want. Make it fun. As they get old enough to read on their own, carve out time throughout the week for them to read their own books while you read yours. Do it together. You’ll not only be instilling a love for reading early on and guiding them towards reading success, you’ll be creating quality time together.

Other ways to encourage reading would be by registering your kids at centers for early learning. To find a reputable early learning center near you, search the internet for valuable venues and resources.