family safety

MetaCert aims to block porn throughout the home (podcast)

There are lots of tools out there to help parents keep their kids away from what's typically considered inappropriate online content. Most, however, run on PCs and Macs, which means all bets are off if, for instance, a child surfs via a smartphone or a tablet.

MetaCert has a different idea. It's now beta-testing a server-based porn filter parents can set up to automatically block access to pornographic sites across their entire home network. It does so by hosting the filter on a DNS, or domain-name system, server -- effectively pushing the filter from individual computers into the … Read more

AVG spreads its mobile shield

AVG Family Safety has extended kid-proofing mobile protection to the handful of Windows Phones on the market today, as well as revamping its app for iPhones and iPads.

AVG, which has more than 110 million active users, is offering the app in free and paid flavors. When installing, simply elect not to supply Family Safety account info and the app will be available in its restricted but free mode.

For $19.99 per year, you get a Web browser alternative, automatic link scanning courtesy AVG's LinkScanner tech, and access to a reasonable set of parental control tools.

The free … Read more

How to teenager-proof a Windows 7 PC

Families share: meals, money, space, telephones, computers, you name it. Depending on the circumstances, the sharing can be a source of joy or of conflict -- frequently it's a little of both.

If there's a computer in your household that more than one person uses, you can minimize the chances that the machine will breach the family peace by configuring the system to meet the unique needs of each user. If one or more of those users is a teenager, you owe it to all of us to help prevent malware from spreading by implementing some basic safety … Read more

Moby's private location sharing hits Android

Moby, the free, multiplatform location-sharing app, has just extended its reach to Android.

Previously the app was only available on the iPhone and BlackBerry platforms, but it appears Contigo Systems, Moby's developer, is making good on its promise to connect families no matter what devices they may be carrying.

Considering the release of Apple's Find My Friends app and the continued adoption of Google Latitude, some might feel like Moby is pushing its way into increasingly dangerous territory. But to Moby's credit, it seems to be taking a different route from the others. While most of the … Read more

Facebook offers security tips for teens, parents

Facebook brings families closer together. But as with any medium, Facebook is sometimes abused, occasionally to damaging effect.

The Facebook Privacy Settings options let you control who has access to your personal information. The page includes a Block List that prevents contact with the people and e-mail addresses you specify without their knowledge.

A welcome addition to Facebook's security arsenal is the new Safety Center that provides information specifically for children, parents, educators, and law enforcement. The Safety for Teens section addresses bullying, public bad-mouthing, and how to report abuse. (If you'd like to remove an unflattering photo … Read more

Simple security software

Windows Live Family Safety provides a simple set of tools for keeping children away from questionable material online. With a professional layout and a great deal of flexibility, this is a great tool for cleaning up your home Internet access.

The program's interface is agreeable, with a look and feel similar to all Windows products, and it feels instantly intuitive. The only catch is that you must fill out an online registration, but it's free. From there you can click a single button to choose between three levels of filtering, ranging from nothing to strict. The program smartly … Read more