The new FaceBook for 6 - 10 Year Olds??

Just saw this article about "Togetherville":

http://www.cnn.com/2010/TECH/05/19/wired.togetherville/index.html?hpt=T2

Not condoning or supporting it in any way yet but I will definitely do some research.

At first glance it looks promising but I wonder if it will catch on.

John XXIII School Middletown Rocks!!

What a great day.  After the cyber-bullying presentations for the kids I did my standard Internet Safety presentation for the parents and met some great people.  Everyone was very attentive, inquisitive, and kind to me.  Thanks so much for having me come up.


The resources I referred to in my presentation tonight can be found in the archive of this blog.  If you look on the right side of the screen under "Blog Archive" you can click on the arrow next to 2009 to open the entries form last year.  Then if you click the arrow next to November you will see the title "Handouts from the Presentation."  This is where you will find the resources and how-to documents for the stuff I talked about (like setting your search engine filters).

E-mail me at mpdermody@gmail.com with comments or questions.

Cyber-Bullying Presentation for Kids - First Run

Thanks to John XXIII School in Middletown I had my first run of my new cyber-bullying presentation for kids this morning.  We did two sessions, one for the younger kids and one for the junior high kids and it went very well.  What a great bunch of kids and my compliments to the faculty - you have a great school.  GO FALCONS!!  Tonight I'm doing my Internet Safety presentation for the parents.  Looking forward to it.


The materials for my new cyber-bullying presentation are now available here:  
Gradeschool Presentation: http://docs.google.com/fileview?id=0B5gdVOuWJv-cZWVkYTQwNjEtYTk2Yi00Y2E5LTkxYzYtNmYzN2Y0ZmU2ZDQ5&hl=en


Junior High Presentation: http://docs.google.com/fileview?id=0B5gdVOuWJv-cYmVmNjQwNzMtZWE4ZC00N2ZkLWFlY2YtNmU1ZjRjMWYxMDk3&hl=en

Great Cyber-Bullying Video

I thought this video was very well done (good for kids to watch - only 6.5 minutes long).  It was produced by an organization in the UK called Digizen (digital + citizen = digizen).  Good resources on their website about being a good digital citizen, especially for teachers and administrators: http://www.digizen.org. 

Click the video to start, click again while playing to enlarge.

How to Not Raise a Bully

With all of the attention lately on cyber-bullying, I thought this article at Time.com was timely.  The things that make a kid a bully are the same whether they are bullying in cyber-space or on the playground.


http://www.time.com/time/health/article/0,8599,1982190,00.html?hpt=T2

K9 Web Content Filtering Software

I got a call a couple of months ago from some friends who were panicked.  Their kindergarten son was over at the babysitter's house and he and the babysitter's daughter (same age) had accidentally stumbled onto some pornography.  Here's the disturbing part...they were on the My Little Pony website dressing ponies in different outfits when a window popped up showing a very graphic scene.  No, My Little Pony isn't promoting porn.  The machine had a hijacker on it that would open new windows and show whatever website it wanted whenever someone was on the internet.  Hijackers are one of many programs referred to as malware that reside on your computer and take control of your browser, redirecting you to different websites.  Some sites use hijackers as a marketing ploy - when you try to leave their site, they wont let you - they keep redirecting you back to their site.  Other hijackers are posted by people who just want to cause trouble.  Either way, they are bad things to have on your computer and they are all over cyberspace.

How frustrating is this for parents?  You spend the time researching sites before you let your kids on them and try to set limits but it doesn't matter.  Webkinz, My Little Pony, Pop Cap...all the harmless kid sites are now a threat if your machine has a hijacker.  The only way to keep your kids from seeing porn is to turn the machine off.  Aren't you glad you spent $1,500 for that new machine?

My friends wanted to know what they could do to keep the same thing from happening on their computer at home.  The first thing I told them is to get their computer clean.  Not being extremely tech savvy, they didn't know what to do other than fire up Norton's scanner so I took their machine and went through it with a fine tooth comb (437 malware infections to their surprise).  Once the machine was clean, I recommended they put some web content filtering/parental control software on it.  The problem was that the machine was older and my friends didn't want to spend a lot of money on  software like NetNanny or CyberSitter (both excellent programs but costly).  So I did some research and came across K9 Web Protection Software from Blue Coat.

So far, I really like this product.  First and foremost, it's free.  Setup is easy and their website does a good job of helping parents through the process.  Once installed it filters the websites that your children access by a variety of methods.  Parents can log into a control panel that allows them to tweak the settings to customize access specifically to their own standards.  The program receives updates automatically from K9's website and is always on whenever your children are on the internet.  The best part for me (other than the content filtering of course) is that it doesn't slow your computer down.  Many filtering applications cause lags in connection speed and slow browsing down considerably.  I didn't even notice that K9 was running while I was testing it.

There were only three drawbacks to the software that I noticed: 1. It doesn't filter chats or messaging.  2. It doesn't filter files that you download (which would be very difficult to do so I don't really hold this as a strike against K9) and 3. K9 sends the administrator access info to the parents e-mail address so if you are a parent who (like many) leave their e-mail open all the time, it wouldn't take much for your child to find the password and disable K9 (but again, how else could K9 handle this? - I don't hold this as a strike against them either).

Overall, I am pretty impressed by K9.  It does as good a job filtering as some of the expensive programs and it's free.  You really have nothing to lose in trying it out.  I would definitely recommend it to anyone.

Here is a link to the K9 website for more information:
http://www1.k9webprotection.com/aboutk9/index.php.

Mobicip Safe Browser Review

It's taken me a month or so to get to this but I finally got to spend some time with Mobicip.  Last month one of my readers turned me on to Mobicip and asked me to review it.  So here goes.

I try to start my reviews with a statement of my overall opinion.  I like Mobicip, more than SafeEyes Mobile.  Though I'm not going to rush out and get it for my kids because I've already purchased SafeEyes and Mobicip didn't outperform it enough for me to want to make the change.  For those of you who don't know what Mobicip is, it's a web browser for mobile devices like the iPhone and iPod Touch.  If you follow this blog, I have reviewed SafeEyes Mobile in the past.  Mobicip does the same thing though it behaves a little differently. 

The big difference between Mobicip and SafeEyes Mobile is that SafeEyes is a program and Mobicip is both a program and a portal.  What does that mean?  When you install SafeEyes onto your device, all of it's settings are contained within the program itself.  It does not connect to any third party for updates or to get it's "instructions" for how and what to filter.  Mobicip does connect to a third party service and this has definite advantages and a few drawbacks.

The advantage of Mobicip and it's third party connection is that is receives it's "orders" from a central location sponsored by the company that makes Mobicip.  The settings it uses to filter objectionable content are a clone of the settings most schools use to protect students from bad stuff.  Instead of you deciding which sites should be blocked, you can rely on the same expertise that makes those decisions for schools (though you still have to put some time in).  It also gets updated whenever that master list gets updated so your filter list will always be current.  This functionality alone is a huge plus.

The downside of connecting to a third party is that it affects browsing speed, though speed drops were seldom and the amount only slight.  Before you get to any internet site you have to first travel through Mobicip's site for the filtering to work.  The busier their site is, the longer it takes you to get through. But I have to be honest with you,  I used it at various times of day and I never noticed much of a performance hit.

Another cool thing about Mobicip is that it looks exactly like Safari, the browser that comes on iPhones/iPods.  SafeEyes has it's own browser that looks different.  If your child is embarrassed by not having the same browser his/her friends have, then this should do the trick.  Except for a splash screen that appears for about 2 seconds when the program is opened, there is no way to tell you aren't using Safari.

Mobicip's main features include:

• Real-time Internet content filtering
• Data encryption for added security over public WiFi
• Simple setup using predefined web filter configurations used in schools
• Easy, intuitive filtering administration
• Support for 3G, EDGE, Home WiFi, Public WiFi (including hotspots that require purchase or agreement)
• Safari-like User Interface, including pinch and zoom, bookmarks, tabs, landscape view, etc
• Operates with no load on the device and no noticeable delay.

The control panel for parents is pretty easy to use.  After downloading Mobicip, the app immediately walks you through creating a Mobicip account and setting filtering settings at different levels. Ideally, the setup should be done by whoever will administrate the account so that the account will not be editable by your child. The account settings and control decisions are made by the administrator (you) at mobicip.com, which also has a very simple and easy to use website. You don't need not be an expert to set up and edit the account.

The best part about Mobicip is the price.  $4.99 as opposed to $19.99 for SafeEyes.

All in all, Mobicip worked well, and is something I would definitely recommend to any concerned parent.  But make sure that once Mobicip has been installed on your child’s iPhone, the Safari browser has been taken off via the restriction settings. Otherwise there really is no point to downloading it.  If you need help disabling Safari, turn to Google and search on "disable Safari iPhone".  That's how I figured it out.

Teen Texting

Wow!  I knew teens texted a lot but not this much.  See this article from Channel 9:

http://www.wcpo.com/news/local/story/Texting-Teens-Out-Of-Control/gbhMCqLGm0OL7a9AnEeXUQ.cspx

Apple is Cleaning Up it's App Store

Good article about Apple's latest efforts to make it's App Store (where people buy applications for their iPhone or iPod Touch) more family friendly:

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/35529860/ns/technology_and_science-wireless/

iBoss Router

A couple of weeks ago, my friend Nancy asked me about the iBoss Router.  iBoss is a router for your home that filters and monitors the internet on every computer that connects to the internet through it.  I was intrigued so I decided to get my hands on one and try it out.  After two weeks of working with it, I feel a little more confident to write a review.

The first thing I have to say about it is, while it works well and does a good job, if you have or plan on getting Windows 7 on your computers at home, then you may not need iBoss.  iBoss costs only $40 to buy and then another $60 per year and while it does do several things that Windows 7 can't do, I personally wouldn't pay the extra money.  BUT then again, I am technically saavy and can tweak my computer and internet settings on a regular basis to make sure they're safe.

iBoss is basically a plain old wireless router like Linksys or NetGear would make.  Most wireless routers have parental controls built into their software but iBoss is better in two ways: 1. It is easier to setup and configure than most routers and 2. It offers many more options for filtering and monitoring content.  Setup took about 15 minutes and was pretty intuitive.  Unlike most routers, iBoss connects through the web to the manufacturers website to get definition and configuration updates on a regular basis.  That means that the filtering capabilities will stay up to date, unlike a typical router which receives no such parental control updates.

iBoss lets you control every computer in your house that connects to the internet, provided they connect via the iBoss.  You can configure each computer individually or use a preset level of protection for any and all computers.  That means when someone brings a laptop or mobile device into the house, it will be filtered as soon as it connects to the internet (that, I liked).  Many area high schools require students to have laptops and if your kid's buddy brings his/her computer over to the house, its internet connection will be filtered as soon as it comes online.

iBoss also gives you more options for filtering content than Windows 7.  iBoss uses the same technology/software as most schools to filter content so it is fairly reliable.  I could configure not only the type of content I wanted filtered from each computer, but I could also add specific websites to my "blocked" list.  I could also set certain times of day that I didn't want computers to access the internet.  So if my kids were home for an hour or so before either parent, then I could block the internet during that time.  Windows 7 allows this as well but it was nice to have all the features rolled into one package.

As a parental control device, I was impressed with iBoss but as a general wireless router, I was a little let down by it.  It was slow, especially when multiple computers were connected.  I tested 4 consecutive connections and it definitely had noticeable performance issues when all 4 were accessing the internet.  It also had a more limited range than a typical router.  I can put my Linksys wireless router in my basement and still access the internet on the second floor with no problem.  The iBoss didn't have such a range.  If you need three stories of coverage, it's not going to cut it.  At best you'll get two floors out of it.  It also did not work well with mobile devices like the iPhone or iPod Touch that use wireless to connect to the internet.  It still filtered the content that these units received but the pages didn't render correctly and sometimes not at all.  It was definitely frustrating trying to browse the web with a mobile device using the iBoss.

So what is my advice?  It's definitely a good unit.  It does its job well and is easy to use.  As long as you can deal with speed, coverage, and mobile device limitations, it's worthwhile.  I personally wouldn't buy it but I can do the work to get the same results without it.  However, most parents may not be able to roll up their sleeves and work with each computer to set the parental control options.  OR, you may not want to mess with configuring 4 machines individually and enjoy the convenience of a single interface to control all content in your house.

So Nancy, I think you bought a good product and it was worth the money.  But the techy geek population may be let down by it's limitations. 

Here is a link to a review on Cnet:  http://reviews.cnet.com/routers/iboss-home-parental-control/4505-3319_7-33669195.html#cnetReview.

And here is a link to the iBoss website:  http://residential.iphantom.com/

Mobicip and iBoss Reviews Coming Soon

I love the feedback from readers.  Based on a couple of requests, I will be reviewing two different items (actually, I have been reviewing one for the past week and will start reviewing the other today).  They are:

• The iBoss router - a web content filtering and internet activity control device for your home
• Mobicip - a web content filtering and monitoring device for mobile devices (like SafeEyes).

Check back soon for both reviews and thanks to the readers who submitted the requests.

Dueling rulings on school MySpace discipline

Interesting article on schools ability to discipline kids for what they post on MySpace (or Facebook).

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/35244016/ns/technology_and_science-tech_and_gadgets/

Safe Eyes Mobile - First Hand Experience

Back in December I posted a segment introducing you to an "app" for iPhones and the iPod Touch called "Safe Eyes Mobile."  At the time, my experience with it was limited to what I had read online and a few opportunities to see the app in action on friend's devices.  For Christmas, my kids (11 and soon to be 13) both got an iPod Touch, so naturally I wanted to make their online experience with their new toys as safe as possible (and let me remind you that the iPod Touch can connect to the internet through a wireless connection just like a computer).  I purchased the app for $19.99 and loaded it onto both of my kids' iPod Touch.

Installing it was easy.  There were a few screens of setup I had to do on each iPod and it required me to create a master administrative account so that I alone could change settings.  During setup I chose the types of site content I wanted filtered out (like adult, violence, hate, etc.).  Naturally I checked most of the options only to find that it filtered EVERY site out, including most news sites and even National Geographic Kids.  Lesson learned - you can't go crazy with blocking things out or it will block everything. The nice thing about the app is that I can change settings as we go along.  When a site is blocked that shouldn't be, I can add it to the "allow" list.  If a bad site slips through the filters I can add it to the "block" list.  The app will obviously have to evolve as my kids use it which means, like any filtering/monitoring software, it will require my time to maintain and adjust it.  I've said it before and I'll continue to say it, when it comes to keeping your kids safe online, there is no magic application that you set once and walk away from.  If you want the software to do its job you have to put some time in.

Safe Eyes Mobile is actually it's own browser, it is not a filtering device for the iPod/iPhone's native browser (called Safari).  When you install SafeEyes, your kids must access the internet through it or it will not work.  That means that you have to disable Safari once Safe Eyes is installed.  The cool thing is that when you install Safe Eyes, it reminds you that you need to disable Safari and walks you through the steps to do it.  And, don't worry, you can always enable it later if you want to (though your kids can't).  You should also keep in mind that there are other browser apps out there that your kids can download and install.  If they do, then Safe Eyes is worthless.  Check your child's device often and look for other browsers.  Honestly you should be checking them regularly anyway so you know what is on them.  If you don't know what an app is, make them open it up and show you.

So far so good.  I like Safe Eyes Mobile.  For $19.99 it was worth it.  I would certainly recommend it to other parents.  Here is the link again if you are interested: http://www.internetsafety.com/safe-eyes-mobile-iphone.php.

Facebook's New Privacy Settings Not as Good as Everyone Thought

I've been reading about this on various IT blogs for a couple of weeks and now it has appeared as a story on USA Today's website.  If you are a regular to this blog, you know that I have written about Facebook's ever evolving privacy settings, the last batch coming out about two months ago.  Facebook claims that their new privacy settings allow users to be very selective about what the public sees on their page and this claim is absolutely true.  The catch is that you have to take the time to set it all up and if you don't you are actually authorizing Facebook to share the information that you haven't locked down with the rest of the world. 

Think about a teenager anxious to get their new Facebook account up and running, are they really going to take the time to go through the seemingly endless security and privacy settings?  Even if they did would they really comprehend the implications of their choices?  Most kids will just blast through all of the "technical" garbage and get their page posted...thereby opening the door for Facebook to share information that should be kept private.  Facebook calls it "flexibility" but it seems to be turning into a trap for young people who don't take the time to pay attention to the fine details.

Since Facebook is by far the largest social networking site in the world, it has been given the title as the most dangerous.  Personally, I think MySpace is worse since they A.) Advertise objectionable content in their ads section of everyone's pages B.) Sell your (and your friends) e-mail addresses to spammers though they claim they don't and C.) Provide far fewer privacy options to users.  But MySpace isn't used by as many people so if you look at sheer numbers, Facebook would be the biggest threat.

Here is the article: http://content.usatoday.com/communities/technologylive/post/2010/02/facebook-viewed-as-riskiest-social-network-by-companies/1?loc=interstitialskip.

Teen Chat Decoder

Thought this was amusing.  You can enter any chat phrase like "LOL" and it will translate it for you.

http://www.teenchatdecoder.com/