Anyone whose children use the Internet feels caught in a technology paradox. On the one hand, they know how important it is for children to experience new technologies and the wonderful benefits they offer. On the other hand, parents are afraid of the dangers in cyberspace. In many cases, kids are more technologically advanced than adults, so some parents may feel intimidated and refrain from enforcing rules that are imperative to protect their children as they surf and socialize online.
Peer-to-peer (P2P) file sharing invites new privacy problems for parents when their children have access to use the software. These programs allow people to browse and download files from Internet-connected personal computers of anyone else who uses the same program. This makes it easy for cyber criminals to spread viruses, Trojan horses, and spyware. Kids can also accidentally download pornography that is labeled misleadingly, or participate in chat rooms from within the P2P software that is completely unregulated and not monitored.
To protect your computer against unwanted viruses, Trojan horses, and spyware, it is important that you run protective security software such as Anti-Virus software or Internet Security Software. You should also scan your computer periodically with Anti-Spyware/Adware Software to ensure you haven't unwittingly installed spyware on your system.
But how do you control and monitor what your child is downloading and viewing from P2P clients? Unfortunately there is no security software available that can restrict what kids see and do while using P2P software. But there is internet and computer monitoring software acts like your very own detective that hides on your hard drive and monitors all computer and Internet activity. This software allows you to record and take snapshots of the websites visited, emails sent and received, Instant Messages sent and received, Chat room conversions and ALL other computer and Internet activity that is done on your PC. With this software you are able to monitor your child while they use the family PC!
