Moms' Buzz Editors Hot Picks is just that what Moms' Buzz finds "caliente" in the cyberspace for busy moms. Moms love to be in the loop, get the scoop and keep things in our radars, especially if they will make our lives easier and more enjoyable. If you have a product to recommend for this Lista Caliente just pass it along to us! Editor's Hot Picks comes out every 15th of the month. 
Is your computer safe from cyber-attackers? Are your kids safe from computer intruders? Is your child looking at Go Diego Go or something less age appropriate? Although computer security is easy to ignore, you have 1 in 3 chance of falling prey to some sort of online security breach according to a 2006 survey by Consumer Report National Research Center. There are 3 big threats: Spam, Spyware and Virus.
1. Spam are ads or any annoying emails sent into your inbox without your permission. The survey showed that in households with kids under 18, 8% had a child inadvertently see pornography as a result of junk e-mail. Allume Systems Spamcatcher (www.allume.com) beats other at detecting and blocking spam according to Consumer Reports. $30. Windows only.
Consumer Reports highly recommends the following programs to protect your child from viewing inappropriate emails:
- Safebrowse.com Safe Eyes ($50). It offers the best combination of protection without mistakenly blocking non-offensive site. It is both MAC and Windows friendly.
- Microsoft Parental Control, which is free with MSN service. Similar protection as Safe Eyes, but for Windows only.
- AOL Parental Control, free with AOL service. This service offers the best pornography-blocking and time-management controls. It is good for both MAC and Windows computers.
2. Spyware are software downloaded to your computer without your permission that tracks your actions. Some spyware even record passwords and credit card to steal your identity. Consumer Reports recommends Webroot Spy Sweeper (www.webroot.com) $25 or Spybot Search & Destroy (www.spybot.com). Free. Windows only.
3. Virus is a program that embeds itself on a computer's hard drive and replicates to infect others, just like human virus. BitDefender (www.bitdefender.com) $30 and Zone Labs (www.zonelabs.com) $30 are excellent according to Consumer Reports. Windows only.
For MAC, a reliable software for spyware and virus is Norton Antivirus $50 plus a $15 annual fee.
Well Research Reviews, a webiste dedicated to review and compare programs to protect children has WebWatcher as their best pick. It basically allows you to monitor a computer from the Internet, as all of the information from the computer being monitored is accessible from your own private, password-protected website.
Stay safe online, you and your family!
- The Moms' Buzz
Source: Consumer Reports ShopSmart 2006. www.wellresearchedreviews.com
Accordingly with your statement ‘’Stay safe online, you and your family!’’
I strongly believe that Internet is this ‘’today’’ part of new technologies and like any powerful tool of nature, has to be managed and accessed properly to get real benefits out of it.
I think educators, parents, and members of the community are looking for new tool to support their children educational role about Internet that’s why we created AxylomClass ® a 2nd generation of Internet parent control software based on an innovative approach without exploiting standard technological filter or censure approaches but a Trust mode of navigation.
AxylomClass ® lend a hand as parent to develop and to sustain self-governance, ethical and critical attitudes from yours children electronically connected to the world with a solid control on Internet clutter.
Finally, to give them a reason to push aside all of that clutter and focus on reaching their true potential, in school and beyond.
Posted by: Yvon Brousseau | April 02, 2007 at 10:27 AM