ESET Unveils New tool to help parents monitor their children’s online activities
Global Security software provider ESET has unveiled a new tool to help parents monitor what their children are doing online. The ESET Parental Control for Android app provides provides age and category-based filters and will restrict children’s access to inappropriate web content.
The application also comes with an ‘Application Guard & Time Management’ function that will also help parents regulate the amount of time their children spend on gaming and internet browsing. It also comes with a ‘Child Locator’ service which can be used to track their child’s location.
Speaking during this announcement, ESET East Africa Area Manager, Mr. Bruce Donovan said that children are increasing accessing the internet from mobile devices as opposed to computers increasing the need for parents to manage what their children do with their tablets and smartphones.
“We conducted a study that showed 88 percent of parents are worried about what their children can access online. Out of these, 71 percent mentioned their children had in the past forwarded personal details to strangers; while 61 percent highlighted excessive amounts of time spent on devices,” Mr. Donovan said.
Despite parental fears and the move by the Communication Authority through the Child Online Protection Campaign, only few of parents have installed a parental control app to help manage their children’s online experiences, the survey revealed.
The company says the ESET Parental Control for Android app safeguards children on smartphone devices by giving them protection and user experience, without limiting performance. Designed to help parents protect their children against internet threats and inappropriate web pages, the app boasts a wealth of child protection features and a friendly user interface.
“Even as we offer protection, it is important that the application creates and builds a respectful relations between parents and children who use their own smartphones or tablets,” Mr. Donovan added. It enables them to be sure that children of all ages can enjoy the wealth of information and entertainment available online without the fear of online threats.
The app contains an added option for children to ask their parents for special permission to access certain apps or web content, or ask for extra gaming or browsing time. ESET Parental Control for Android is available from the Google Play Store, at the my.eset.com portal or via ESET’s partners.
“It is always best to first teach your child the correct way to use the internet then make them aware of the risks and dangers that can result from misuse, making it clear that parental control tools are installed for their own safety,” concluded Mr. Donovan.
Other additional features of the ESET Parental Control app include the ‘Parental message’ which is allows the parents to read SMSes sent to the child and the ‘Reports for Parents’ which sends regular emailed to parents on their children’s internet usage.
