Safe Search Kids is powered by Google for filtered search results.
Safe Image Search
Safe Search Kids delivers safe filtered images, powered by Google.
Safe Wiki Search
Safe Search Kids delivers safe wiki articles for kids and teens.
Safe Video Search
Search for safe filtered videos from a variety of trusted sources.
Category: Internet Filtering & Security
What to do when your Social Media Account is Hacked
Cases of social media accounts being hacked has been on the rise in the recent past. You will know that your social media account has been hacked if you find activities that you didn’t initiate in your account. These could be posts, private messages, following or unfollowing people and sent friend requests.
You could also get notifications of changes to your profile or password. Depending on how much private information you have shared on your accounts, you risk your identity being stolen, or the hackers getting access to your financial accounts. If you notice such malicious activities, here is what you should do.
1. Scan your device
One way hackers could have gotten their hands on your password in order to hack your social media is by injecting malware to your device. That is why the first thing you should do is to run a full virus scan on your computer. If you find any malware, make sure you remove it. Restart and rescan your computer to be sure that it is safe. This is the only way to ensure that hackers do not have access to your device any more.
2. Enhance the security of your account
After cleaning your computer, change the password to the compromised account. If you have used the username and password on other accounts, be sure to change there too. The new strong password should not be anywhere near the old one. Make it stronger by including lower case letters, capital letters, numbers and symbols. Enhance the security of the accounts by enabling the 2-Step Verification. This will ensure that you receive a unique code to your phone whenever there is a change to your accounts settings. This locks out suspicious people from your account since they can’t access the special code sent to your phone.
3. Connect through a VPN
Another way social media hackers get your information is by spying on your activity over the internet when you connect through a public Wi-Fi. You should close up this loophole by installing a VPN in your device. Ensure that you use it to connect to the internet whenever you are browsing.
So, what is VPN? This is a virtual private network that works as a safe tunnel between your device and the sites you visit. This means that your browsing history is kept private and third parties can’t spy on it, limiting chances of hackers getting your information.
4. Notify your family and friends
Your family and friends might notice the messages that they received weren’t from you. However, you shouldn’t assume this; ensure you inform them that your social media was hacked so they stay wary of clicking on suspicious emails. There are cases where hackers ask money from your contacts, warning them will ensure that they don’t send their hard-earned cash to criminals. Besides warning them, go ahead and pull down any posts that were sent by the hackers. Delete the suspicious messages and report them to the compromised social media site. If there are games or third-party apps downloaded to your account, ensure that you delete them too, including any other that you do not use.
5. Check the settings to your email account
Hackers could have changed your email settings in order to gain control of the email activities. Ensure that you check these settings and change them accordingly. Change your signature and turn off auto-responder if they have activated it. As a preventive measure, always make sure to lock your computer while you are away from your desk. In that way, having a password-protected laptop will ensure that even if you are away from your computer, other people will not be able to access your data.
6. Update the apps on your devices
Whenever apps and software developers release an update, there are enhanced security features that usually come with the update. That is why you should ensure that the apps in your devices are updated to the latest versions. There could be a notification feature whenever someone tries to log into your account from an unfamiliar location that you could miss if your app is not updated. Take advantage of enhanced security fixes to ensure that you are notified of malicious attempts to your accounts. Be sure to set your devices to auto-update so that apps are updated automatically in case you forget to update them.
Social Media Hacked! Conclusion
Do not panic if your social media is hacked as this happens to a lot of people. However, to limit the amount of information that hackers can steal from you, avoid posting your private information in your social media accounts. Too much information about you gives the hackers an easy time guessing your security question. If you notice any suspicious link or message, do not click on them, instead report them to the site so that they can stop the spread. Finally, educate yourself and your family about the importance of cybersecurity. From adults to kids, if someone is able to manage a social media a account they are also able to protect it.
Cases of social media accounts being hacked has been on the rise in the recent past. You will know that your social media account has been hacked if you find activities that you didn’t initiate in your account. These could be posts, private messages, following or unfollowing people and sent friend requests.
You could also get notifications of changes to your profile or password. Depending on how much private information you have shared on your accounts, you risk your identity being stolen, or the hackers getting access to your financial accounts. If you notice such malicious activities, here is what you should do.
1. Scan your device
One way hackers could have gotten their hands on your password in order to hack your social media is by injecting malware to your device. That is why the first thing you should do is to run a full virus scan on your computer. If you find any malware, make sure you remove it. Restart and rescan your computer to be sure that it is safe. This is the only way to ensure that hackers do not have access to your device any more.
2. Enhance the security of your account
After cleaning your computer, change the password to the compromised account. If you have used the username and password on other accounts, be sure to change there too. The new strong password should not be anywhere near the old one. Make it stronger by including lower case letters, capital letters, numbers and symbols. Enhance the security of the accounts by enabling the 2-Step Verification. This will ensure that you receive a unique code to your phone whenever there is a change to your accounts settings. This locks out suspicious people from your account since they can’t access the special code sent to your phone.
3. Connect through a VPN
Another way social media hackers get your information is by spying on your activity over the internet when you connect through a public Wi-Fi. You should close up this loophole by installing a VPN in your device. Ensure that you use it to connect to the internet whenever you are browsing.
So, what is VPN? This is a virtual private network that works as a safe tunnel between your device and the sites you visit. This means that your browsing history is kept private and third parties can’t spy on it, limiting chances of hackers getting your information.
4. Notify your family and friends
Your family and friends might notice the messages that they received weren’t from you. However, you shouldn’t assume this; ensure you inform them that your social media was hacked so they stay wary of clicking on suspicious emails. There are cases where hackers ask money from your contacts, warning them will ensure that they don’t send their hard-earned cash to criminals. Besides warning them, go ahead and pull down any posts that were sent by the hackers. Delete the suspicious messages and report them to the compromised social media site. If there are games or third-party apps downloaded to your account, ensure that you delete them too, including any other that you do not use.
5. Check the settings to your email account
Hackers could have changed your email settings in order to gain control of the email activities. Ensure that you check these settings and change them accordingly. Change your signature and turn off auto-responder if they have activated it. As a preventive measure, always make sure to lock your computer while you are away from your desk. In that way, having a password-protected laptop will ensure that even if you are away from your computer, other people will not be able to access your data.
6. Update the apps on your devices
Whenever apps and software developers release an update, there are enhanced security features that usually come with the update. That is why you should ensure that the apps in your devices are updated to the latest versions. There could be a notification feature whenever someone tries to log into your account from an unfamiliar location that you could miss if your app is not updated. Take advantage of enhanced security fixes to ensure that you are notified of malicious attempts to your accounts. Be sure to set your devices to auto-update so that apps are updated automatically in case you forget to update them.
Social Media Hacked! Conclusion
Do not panic if your social media is hacked as this happens to a lot of people. However, to limit the amount of information that hackers can steal from you, avoid posting your private information in your social media accounts. Too much information about you gives the hackers an easy time guessing your security question. If you notice any suspicious link or message, do not click on them, instead report them to the site so that they can stop the spread. Finally, educate yourself and your family about the importance of cybersecurity. From adults to kids, if someone is able to manage a social media a account they are also able to protect it.
What is Internet Privacy and How to Protect Yourself
We share our details whenever using the internet without knowing it: websites track our geolocation, credit card or phone numbers, search, and purchase histories. Imagine what would happen if frauds will get such data! We will tell you why you must disable third party cookies or install reliable antivirus.
Most of all social connections take place on the Internet. We chat with friends, publish photos, or look for new sneakers. So if it matters for you that your correspondence and private files don’t leak into the public domain, then you should think about privacy issues.
What’s so special about Internet privacy?
Privacy on the Internet reflects in which way the site or company gathers and stores our data, and how they transfer or sell it. Based on received data, they form a broad customer base, that includes details such as telephone number, home address, or even clothing preferences.
Why we should care about such things as privacy on the Internet? Data leakages may result in stealing money from our credit card, appearing of annoying ads that are based on our purchase history, and receiving tons of spam emails.
Here’s some advice on how you may protect your privacy. They’re really simple, so both children and adults will manage to use them.
You can secure your details by such means:
1. Disable tracking cookies
If you want to prevent websites from monitoring your activity, you need to block third party cookies. It will help you deal with annoying ads, formed by your search history, and prevent your confidential data leakages. Here’s a guide that explains how easily block cookies in any browser.
2. Use a VPN
Another way to protect your info is to download and turn on the VPN. The major benefit of this method is that your data remains encrypted. Even your ISP won’t be able to find out which pages you’ve visited. VPN allows you to visit blocked sites and bypass filters on work or school computers. We suggest taking a look on top free VPNs.
3. Don’t share your private details with suspicious websites
If you find yourself on a suspicious site that asks you to enter private data, credit card numbers, or other intimate details, be extremely careful! These websites preserve data, create huge databases, and sell them to advertising companies. Therefore, we recommend you think twice whether a coupon for a free burger or participation in suspicious sweepstakes is worth intimate information leakage.
4. Turn on the private browsing mode
If you turn on the private browsing mode, you prohibit websites to gather and preserve your actions and data. On the contrary, this method won’t give full protection. ISP, smart tracking, and websites will still see your private data. This guide explains how to turn on private browsing mode.
5. Set up a verified antivirus
Antivirus is a great helpmate when we talk about data security. Top antiviruses suggest such services as web protection, antispam, online payment’s security, and parental control. Scammers can steal people’s intimate files to extort money in exchange for deleting stolen data. However, if you have installed antivirus, no one will get your sensitive files, correspondence, and photos. Here you can find a list of the top reliable antivirus programs.
If you are concerned about the security of your private details, you can avoid scammers, stealing money from credit cards, or annoying spam. With our tips, you will easily maintain confidentiality at the right level. Just remember to be extremely cautious during an Internet session, and your data will be safe.
We share our details whenever using the internet without knowing it: websites track our geolocation, credit card or phone numbers, search, and purchase histories. Imagine what would happen if frauds will get such data! We will tell you why you must disable third party cookies or install reliable antivirus.
Most of all social connections take place on the Internet. We chat with friends, publish photos, or look for new sneakers. So if it matters for you that your correspondence and private files don’t leak into the public domain, then you should think about privacy issues.
What’s so special about Internet privacy?
Privacy on the Internet reflects in which way the site or company gathers and stores our data, and how they transfer or sell it. Based on received data, they form a broad customer base, that includes details such as telephone number, home address, or even clothing preferences.
Why we should care about such things as privacy on the Internet? Data leakages may result in stealing money from our credit card, appearing of annoying ads that are based on our purchase history, and receiving tons of spam emails.
Here’s some advice on how you may protect your privacy. They’re really simple, so both children and adults will manage to use them.
You can secure your details by such means:
1. Disable tracking cookies
If you want to prevent websites from monitoring your activity, you need to block third party cookies. It will help you deal with annoying ads, formed by your search history, and prevent your confidential data leakages. Here’s a guide that explains how easily block cookies in any browser.
2. Use a VPN
Another way to protect your info is to download and turn on the VPN. The major benefit of this method is that your data remains encrypted. Even your ISP won’t be able to find out which pages you’ve visited. VPN allows you to visit blocked sites and bypass filters on work or school computers. We suggest taking a look on top free VPNs.
3. Don’t share your private details with suspicious websites
If you find yourself on a suspicious site that asks you to enter private data, credit card numbers, or other intimate details, be extremely careful! These websites preserve data, create huge databases, and sell them to advertising companies. Therefore, we recommend you think twice whether a coupon for a free burger or participation in suspicious sweepstakes is worth intimate information leakage.
4. Turn on the private browsing mode
If you turn on the private browsing mode, you prohibit websites to gather and preserve your actions and data. On the contrary, this method won’t give full protection. ISP, smart tracking, and websites will still see your private data. This guide explains how to turn on private browsing mode.
5. Set up a verified antivirus
Antivirus is a great helpmate when we talk about data security. Top antiviruses suggest such services as web protection, antispam, online payment’s security, and parental control. Scammers can steal people’s intimate files to extort money in exchange for deleting stolen data. However, if you have installed antivirus, no one will get your sensitive files, correspondence, and photos. Here you can find a list of the top reliable antivirus programs.
If you are concerned about the security of your private details, you can avoid scammers, stealing money from credit cards, or annoying spam. With our tips, you will easily maintain confidentiality at the right level. Just remember to be extremely cautious during an Internet session, and your data will be safe.
Most parents can easily come up with a list of potentially harmful elements on the Internet that their kids could be exposed to. But as long as that list gets, most will not even think about malware. Precautions to block certain content from causing lasting damage in young minds includes making sure malicious software (malware) does not invade our child’s privacy.
Malware can secretly infect any computer through infected websites, bad software, music and movie file sharing sites and even seemingly innocent online video games. It can expose kids to harmful materiel and at the very least reek havoc on computer. And like any type of virus, it can spread to other computers.
In this article, we’ve collated some of the best ways to take measures regarding Internet security and privacy in order to keep your children’s browsing and gaming safe. Most of these precautionary measures include having an open dialogue with kids about the unseen dangers of malware. Additionally, software solutions a necessary.
Get an Anti-Malware Program.
An anti-malware program will save you from future headaches. It protects your browsing and gaming from unwanted viruses and malware; an effective anti-malware program will keep the Trojan virus away. Trojan viruses are a class of code or app that seems to be innocuous when downloaded, but once it’s part of your computer system it goes to work to cause mayhem.
If you’re looking for an efficient anti malware program, Malwarebytes Premium can do the job. It offers blanket protection from most threats including Trojan horses which even top of the line antivirus systems do not have. It does it’s best to blocks “suspect” programs, as well as conducts daily scans to subsequently removes threats that are attempting to change the way your computer behaves.
Setup Digital Boundary rules.
This is where effective communication comes through. Setting up digital boundary rules with your children is fundamental in making them understand that while the Internet is a great place to obtain information, play games, and communicate with their friends, it can also be a dangerous place for someone vulnerable.
Talk to them about rules that you’ve decided upon, or better yet, allow them to participate in the decision-making process. For example, ask them what their stance on no Internet or gadgets after a certain time on weekdays. If you prefer they go to bed before 10:30 PM, it’s wise to set up no Internet by 9 PM or thirty minutes earlier. It’s also a great decision to tell your kids what sites they can or can not access. If they ask, answer them honestly.
Create a Safe Space for Kids via Parental Controls.
Teaching kids to make good decisions about online use can only go so far. Any device you have in your home should have parental controls installed. This includes smartphones, laptops, iPads and of course, desk top computers and laptops. Once installed, parental controls can be customized to automatically block sites according to the age of your child. You can also monitor what your kids are doing online.
Effective parental control will also allow you to set usage restrictions according to the time of day. In addition to blocking websites, monitoring social media and filtering content, it can also track location. You may decide to set up rules with your kids to adhere to without setting up blocking features. Leave up to them so make the right decision, but you’ll know if they went online after hours for example, thanks to monitoring. This will help them build self control skills.
Always Communicate with your Kids Regarding their Internet Concerns.
Even when you already have set up everything and it’s all going very well and smoothly, encourage your kids to express concerns they may have about their Internet use. Re-enforce why staying away from harmful content is for their own benefit. Slowly give them responsibility to “do the right thing” within the safe confines of your parental control settings.
You can’t protect your children from mature and adult content forever. That’s why keeping the lines of communication open is essential to nuture a strong relationship of trust between you and your child. When kids feel listened too, they feel less of a need to rebel from the rules.
Takeaway
Parental supervision is only the start. No parent should feel inadequate for not being able to monitor their child’s activist online all the time. Most computer systems do a good job of preventing virus infections. But malware is much more deviant. It is not uncommon to install a anti-malware program like Malwarebytes for protection, even from innocent website, software programs or video games. The same goes for parental control software which blocks access to the worst parts of the web.
Most parents can easily come up with a list of potentially harmful elements on the Internet that their kids could be exposed to. But as long as that list gets, most will not even think about malware. Precautions to block certain content from causing lasting damage in young minds includes making sure malicious software (malware) does not invade our child’s privacy.
Malware can secretly infect any computer through infected websites, bad software, music and movie file sharing sites and even seemingly innocent online video games. It can expose kids to harmful materiel and at the very least reek havoc on computer. And like any type of virus, it can spread to other computers.
In this article, we’ve collated some of the best ways to take measures regarding Internet security and privacy in order to keep your children’s browsing and gaming safe. Most of these precautionary measures include having an open dialogue with kids about the unseen dangers of malware. Additionally, software solutions a necessary.
Get an Anti-Malware Program.
An anti-malware program will save you from future headaches. It protects your browsing and gaming from unwanted viruses and malware; an effective anti-malware program will keep the Trojan virus away. Trojan viruses are a class of code or app that seems to be innocuous when downloaded, but once it’s part of your computer system it goes to work to cause mayhem.
If you’re looking for an efficient anti malware program, Malwarebytes Premium can do the job. It offers blanket protection from most threats including Trojan horses which even top of the line antivirus systems do not have. It does it’s best to blocks “suspect” programs, as well as conducts daily scans to subsequently removes threats that are attempting to change the way your computer behaves.
Setup Digital Boundary rules.
This is where effective communication comes through. Setting up digital boundary rules with your children is fundamental in making them understand that while the Internet is a great place to obtain information, play games, and communicate with their friends, it can also be a dangerous place for someone vulnerable.
Talk to them about rules that you’ve decided upon, or better yet, allow them to participate in the decision-making process. For example, ask them what their stance on no Internet or gadgets after a certain time on weekdays. If you prefer they go to bed before 10:30 PM, it’s wise to set up no Internet by 9 PM or thirty minutes earlier. It’s also a great decision to tell your kids what sites they can or can not access. If they ask, answer them honestly.
Create a Safe Space for Kids via Parental Controls.
Teaching kids to make good decisions about online use can only go so far. Any device you have in your home should have parental controls installed. This includes smartphones, laptops, iPads and of course, desk top computers and laptops. Once installed, parental controls can be customized to automatically block sites according to the age of your child. You can also monitor what your kids are doing online.
Effective parental control will also allow you to set usage restrictions according to the time of day. In addition to blocking websites, monitoring social media and filtering content, it can also track location. You may decide to set up rules with your kids to adhere to without setting up blocking features. Leave up to them so make the right decision, but you’ll know if they went online after hours for example, thanks to monitoring. This will help them build self control skills.
Always Communicate with your Kids Regarding their Internet Concerns.
Even when you already have set up everything and it’s all going very well and smoothly, encourage your kids to express concerns they may have about their Internet use. Re-enforce why staying away from harmful content is for their own benefit. Slowly give them responsibility to “do the right thing” within the safe confines of your parental control settings.
You can’t protect your children from mature and adult content forever. That’s why keeping the lines of communication open is essential to nuture a strong relationship of trust between you and your child. When kids feel listened too, they feel less of a need to rebel from the rules.
Takeaway
Parental supervision is only the start. No parent should feel inadequate for not being able to monitor their child’s activist online all the time. Most computer systems do a good job of preventing virus infections. But malware is much more deviant. It is not uncommon to install a anti-malware program like Malwarebytes for protection, even from innocent website, software programs or video games. The same goes for parental control software which blocks access to the worst parts of the web.
Most parents seeking parental control software options have kids in their home using multiple computers and devices, all of which are connected to the Internet. Even a single child may have a phone as well as a computer or tablet. They also are often using their parents personal computer from time to time for school projects or simply to print something.
If that isn’t enough to manage, your family members are connecting to the Internet at school or at a friend’s house. With proper parental controls you can ensure the safety and security of your kids online. Otherwise, it’s difficult to know where to begin. It’s hard enough for a person who has some technical savvy, but what if you are technically challenged?
Let’s face it, a lack of technical knowledge is the case for most of us. We live in an ever changing world where the optimal “kid safety zone” is a moving target. This is where parental control software becomes an essential tool in managing the various needs of any family, according to a range of ages and responsibility.
The good news is, effective parental controls allows you to help keep your family safe in one software download, whether you want to access it on an app or your computer. At Safe Search Kids, we recommend completeparental control management to meet the needs of any family large or small.
Let’s explore what parental control means on every device in your home.
Parental Control is Internet Filtering
Internet filtering is certainly the first priority when thinking about protecting kids from harmful aspects of the Internet. This is the primary focus of our search tools on Safe Search Kids, but we are only a single access search engine. Parent control software takes it one step further by filtering the entire Internet, regardless of what search engine your kids may be using.
Quit simply, it allows you to completely control access to the Internet. The level of restriction can be customized by age. After all, the places your 16 years old can go online is much different than your 7 year old. This includes allowing or limiting access on apps and social media, some platforms of which are only appropriate for older kids.
Parental Control is Screen Time Management
Once you have the peace of mind of knowing all the bad areas of the Internet are completely blocked on every device in your home, you can think about controlling the time your kids spend online. Imagine having peace of mind going to sleep at night knowing your teenager is not able to access the internet past 10 or 11 pm.
These controls can easily be set within the dashboard of your account. Likewise, you can restrict access from your 7 year old so that they can not get online after 8 pm, for example. This screen time management control is at your fingertips for any day of the week from the Net Nanny App or desktop dashboard.
Parental Control Software Monitors Apps
The dangers of the Internet are not just through a website browser. With a software application you can monitor what apps your kids are downloading. You can choose to also block apps you don’t want your family to access at all. As with managing screen time, you can individually customize accessibility for every one in the house and on every one of their devices.
Install the most-trusted Parental Control Software Program serving families since 1998. View family download options.
New apps are being developed and made available on the app store everyday. Whether the app is on an iPhone, Android or Kindle Fire device, you will be notified when a new app is downloaded and installed on any device.
Parental Control is a Location Tracker
Within the parent dashboard, you can also track the location of each family member in real-time from your computer or smart phone. There’s no need to login to an iCloud account and no additional tracking software is needed. The location tracking feature also allows you to check the past history of where your kids have been.
You can coincide their location with whether or not they’ve been online during that time. Let’s say you agree that it’s OK for your child to go to a friend’s house but you just want them to play. You don’t want them spending time surfing the web or going on social media. This is a way to check up on their activity while out of the house.
Alerts and Reports
With all these parental control features working in the background to filter, block, and monitor online activity there is an additional feature that will help you keep track of things. Firstly, only need to initially set up controls and restrictions for each family member one time. From there it’s easy to fine tune controls as needed. With built in alerts and reports you will then receive emails or texts that keep you up to date with each users online activity.
You decide how often you want to be informed. This may include being emailed when specific search terms are entered or when an app is downloaded. What your kids are searching for online is also an insight into struggles they may be having, including bullying or feelings of alienation with friends or at school.
Safe Search Kids recommends Net Nanny parental control software, which has an App for Android and iOS (iPhone) users, as well as dashboard access on computers and lap tops. Features can be applied on multiple platforms, including Android and iOS smart phones, Kindle Fire, Windows and Mac computers.
Net Nanny is provided by Content Watch, an innovative company focused on delivering Internet protection solutions for the consumer, library, education, government, and business markets. They are the #1 rated provider of Internet Protection tools specifically designed for the non-technical user.
Teaching Internet Accountability and Responsibility
Monitoring and Controlling online activity should always be coupled with showing kids how to be responsible on their own. We all know putting kids in a cocoon will not prepare them properly for life in the read world. Setting up boundaries for kids is of course important, but some of those boundaries can be more lenient for older aged kids while allowing them to learn online responsibility. An internet blocking software can protect kids while they learn how to be responsible with the level of freedom you give them. The older they get and the more responsibly they use that freedom, the more trust we extend.
Ask yourself these questions about your kids’ activities:
1. What exactly are my children doing online or on their mobile phones?
Are they chatting with social network sites like Facebook, Snapchat?
Are they visiting pornographic or other inappropriate sites?
Are they being bombarded with inappropriate ads on pages for guns, cigarettes, drugs or other illegal activity?
2. How much overall time is really spent on a daily basis on their phone and computer talking to friends or other socializing?
Now Here are Some Facts That May Surprise You
One in 5 kids between 11-18 have been solicited online.
60% of kids are exposed to porn before age 12.
Over 65% of kids have accidentally visited an inappropriate site online.
More than 25% of kids have been cyber bullied, but only 10% of these incidents were told to parents.
We trust our kids to do what is right, but there is so much filth lurking on all corners of the internet and as parents, we should be very concerned – even for the innocent child who is 100% aware of all the dangers involved, it is next to impossible for our children to be 100% protected. In addition to our lack of time, it is an impossible task to manually monitor our children’s online activities. The latest internet and mobile technology supersedes make it impossible.
Why Every Parent Should be Using Parental Controls on Every Device in their Home
Even with the most strict guidelines in place, it is nearly impossible to monitor your children’s activity online doing it manually. In the past several years, a new niche of software has been developed to help families monitor overall online and computer activity.
Parental Control Software is a must.
While there are several in this field, what they all have in common is that the specific monitoring is automated. This does not mean that you can rely on the system 100% of the time to monitor what your kids are doing – parental supervision is essential, whether they are using a laptop, desktop, tablet or mobile phone.
Parental Control Software provides an integrated time management and internet blocking & monitoring solution with the following key features:
Restrict Internet & Computer Usage based on a customizable schedule or time limits.
Monitors chatting/instant messaging based on a time limit or schedule.
Award-winning automated filter of porn, illegal, vulgar and other inappropriate websites.
Ability of parent to create White “Trusted” list and Black “Restricted” lists.
Dynamic Content Blocker – blocks inappropriate banner ads on webpages.
Automatic notification via email when a suspect phrase or word is written in a chat.
Most parents seeking parental control software options have kids in their home using multiple computers and devices, all of which are connected to the Internet. Even a single child may have a phone as well as a computer or tablet. They also are often using their parents personal computer from time to time for school projects or simply to print something.
If that isn’t enough to manage, your family members are connecting to the Internet at school or at a friend’s house. With proper parental controls you can ensure the safety and security of your kids online. Otherwise, it’s difficult to know where to begin. It’s hard enough for a person who has some technical savvy, but what if you are technically challenged?
Let’s face it, a lack of technical knowledge is the case for most of us. We live in an ever changing world where the optimal “kid safety zone” is a moving target. This is where parental control software becomes an essential tool in managing the various needs of any family, according to a range of ages and responsibility.
The good news is, effective parental controls allows you to help keep your family safe in one software download, whether you want to access it on an app or your computer. At Safe Search Kids, we recommend completeparental control management to meet the needs of any family large or small.
Let’s explore what parental control means on every device in your home.
Parental Control is Internet Filtering
Internet filtering is certainly the first priority when thinking about protecting kids from harmful aspects of the Internet. This is the primary focus of our search tools on Safe Search Kids, but we are only a single access search engine. Parent control software takes it one step further by filtering the entire Internet, regardless of what search engine your kids may be using.
Quit simply, it allows you to completely control access to the Internet. The level of restriction can be customized by age. After all, the places your 16 years old can go online is much different than your 7 year old. This includes allowing or limiting access on apps and social media, some platforms of which are only appropriate for older kids.
Parental Control is Screen Time Management
Once you have the peace of mind of knowing all the bad areas of the Internet are completely blocked on every device in your home, you can think about controlling the time your kids spend online. Imagine having peace of mind going to sleep at night knowing your teenager is not able to access the internet past 10 or 11 pm.
These controls can easily be set within the dashboard of your account. Likewise, you can restrict access from your 7 year old so that they can not get online after 8 pm, for example. This screen time management control is at your fingertips for any day of the week from the Net Nanny App or desktop dashboard.
Parental Control Software Monitors Apps
The dangers of the Internet are not just through a website browser. With a software application you can monitor what apps your kids are downloading. You can choose to also block apps you don’t want your family to access at all. As with managing screen time, you can individually customize accessibility for every one in the house and on every one of their devices.
Install the most-trusted Parental Control Software Program serving families since 1998. View family download options.
New apps are being developed and made available on the app store everyday. Whether the app is on an iPhone, Android or Kindle Fire device, you will be notified when a new app is downloaded and installed on any device.
Parental Control is a Location Tracker
Within the parent dashboard, you can also track the location of each family member in real-time from your computer or smart phone. There’s no need to login to an iCloud account and no additional tracking software is needed. The location tracking feature also allows you to check the past history of where your kids have been.
You can coincide their location with whether or not they’ve been online during that time. Let’s say you agree that it’s OK for your child to go to a friend’s house but you just want them to play. You don’t want them spending time surfing the web or going on social media. This is a way to check up on their activity while out of the house.
Alerts and Reports
With all these parental control features working in the background to filter, block, and monitor online activity there is an additional feature that will help you keep track of things. Firstly, only need to initially set up controls and restrictions for each family member one time. From there it’s easy to fine tune controls as needed. With built in alerts and reports you will then receive emails or texts that keep you up to date with each users online activity.
You decide how often you want to be informed. This may include being emailed when specific search terms are entered or when an app is downloaded. What your kids are searching for online is also an insight into struggles they may be having, including bullying or feelings of alienation with friends or at school.
Safe Search Kids recommends Net Nanny parental control software, which has an App for Android and iOS (iPhone) users, as well as dashboard access on computers and lap tops. Features can be applied on multiple platforms, including Android and iOS smart phones, Kindle Fire, Windows and Mac computers.
Net Nanny is provided by Content Watch, an innovative company focused on delivering Internet protection solutions for the consumer, library, education, government, and business markets. They are the #1 rated provider of Internet Protection tools specifically designed for the non-technical user.
Teaching Internet Accountability and Responsibility
Monitoring and Controlling online activity should always be coupled with showing kids how to be responsible on their own. We all know putting kids in a cocoon will not prepare them properly for life in the read world. Setting up boundaries for kids is of course important, but some of those boundaries can be more lenient for older aged kids while allowing them to learn online responsibility. An internet blocking software can protect kids while they learn how to be responsible with the level of freedom you give them. The older they get and the more responsibly they use that freedom, the more trust we extend.
Ask yourself these questions about your kids’ activities:
1. What exactly are my children doing online or on their mobile phones?
Are they chatting with social network sites like Facebook, Snapchat?
Are they visiting pornographic or other inappropriate sites?
Are they being bombarded with inappropriate ads on pages for guns, cigarettes, drugs or other illegal activity?
2. How much overall time is really spent on a daily basis on their phone and computer talking to friends or other socializing?
Now Here are Some Facts That May Surprise You
One in 5 kids between 11-18 have been solicited online.
60% of kids are exposed to porn before age 12.
Over 65% of kids have accidentally visited an inappropriate site online.
More than 25% of kids have been cyber bullied, but only 10% of these incidents were told to parents.
We trust our kids to do what is right, but there is so much filth lurking on all corners of the internet and as parents, we should be very concerned – even for the innocent child who is 100% aware of all the dangers involved, it is next to impossible for our children to be 100% protected. In addition to our lack of time, it is an impossible task to manually monitor our children’s online activities. The latest internet and mobile technology supersedes make it impossible.
Why Every Parent Should be Using Parental Controls on Every Device in their Home
Even with the most strict guidelines in place, it is nearly impossible to monitor your children’s activity online doing it manually. In the past several years, a new niche of software has been developed to help families monitor overall online and computer activity.
Parental Control Software is a must.
While there are several in this field, what they all have in common is that the specific monitoring is automated. This does not mean that you can rely on the system 100% of the time to monitor what your kids are doing – parental supervision is essential, whether they are using a laptop, desktop, tablet or mobile phone.
Parental Control Software provides an integrated time management and internet blocking & monitoring solution with the following key features:
Restrict Internet & Computer Usage based on a customizable schedule or time limits.
Monitors chatting/instant messaging based on a time limit or schedule.
Award-winning automated filter of porn, illegal, vulgar and other inappropriate websites.
Ability of parent to create White “Trusted” list and Black “Restricted” lists.
Dynamic Content Blocker – blocks inappropriate banner ads on webpages.
Automatic notification via email when a suspect phrase or word is written in a chat.
