A new product is being launched to seek to help parents keep their children safe when using the internet.
Recent studies have suggested that up to a third of children under ten have already watched online pornography, and we hear news stories about children who have been “groomed” by paedophiles they have met on social networking sites. CYBERminder™ has been specifically designed to enable parents to prevent that happening.
It allows parents access to the internet, whilst making sure their children can only view material which is appropriate to their age group. CYBERminder™ packs contain two special USB keys – parents use the “Supervise” key, and their Children use the age appropriate “Protect” key. Once the right key is plugged into a spare USB socket, all the rest is done automatically.
CYBERminder™ is being sold in the UK on the www.superviseandprotect.com website by IT consultant Nathan Wright:
“We are continually hearing stories of children either getting into serious trouble having met the wrong person on the internet, or even just looking at inappropriate material – many parents feel powerless to protect their children, who can be extremely vulnerable to the dangers lurking in cyberspace. How do you make sure they are safe?”
“In addition, children often seem to know more about technology, and how computers work, than their parents. This is why CYBERminder™ is such a valuable tool – it is easy for any parent to use, even if they have no technical knowledge. But, it gives them complete peace of mind that their children are protected, while still allowing them to use the internet in a fun and beneficial way.”
CYBERminder™ means parents don’t have to continually watch what their children are doing while using a computer, it’s claimed. Their children can still access material which is appropriate for their age, and thereby get the full benefit of the internet for learning, fun and research purposes.
The “Protect” key comes in three different age bands, so that as children get older, they can access different material on the internet. The age ranges are under nine, nine to 12 and teenager – the older the child, the more access they have. Each “Protect” key restricts access to pornography or gambling sites.
Once a child has finished using the computer, their parent has to take out the “Protect” key, and insert the “Supervise” key, to enable unrestricted access. If a child needs to view a website which is blocked by the “Protect” key, they can use the “Supervise” key temporarily to enable access.
An icon is displayed on screen, to tell parents which key is inserted, and as you can see from the attached photo, the keys are visible and distinctive so that parents can the makers say easily check which is being used.
“CYBERminder™ puts parents back in control. The internet is a very powerful tool for learning and enjoyment, as long as it is used correctly. CYBERminder™ makes sure that’s exactly what your children will be doing.”
Software to enable the CYBERminder™ system is installed automatically when the “Supervise” key is used for the first time, and there is no need to “configure” it. It is also updated automatically, so the restrictions are always current. CYBERminder™ works on Windows XP, 2000, Vista and Windows 7.
CYBERminder™ is available from www.superviseandprotect.com priced at £28.50.
