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Encouraging Heroes. You can be one too.

(Editor’s note: please welcome Andrew’s guest post with some strategies we can all use to keep our kids safer. Thanks, Andrew!)

Kids are the most curios people on earth. They can ask questions hundreds of times a day. As a way to satisfy their curiosity, they may do surprising things. Our generation now a days is rapidly changing and the kids of this generation are the most vulnerable section of our society, exposed to much of the highly advanced technology and its hidden threats, specifically email virus.

As technology changes there are some, who tend to take advantage of it in the wrong way. Lets face it, most of us are not computer security experts when it comes to protecting our individual files or email messages. This is why, it is important to have a computer security tools to protect your family or a company’s computer systems against viruses or email spam.

The Ways To Email Security

Assuming that your computer is connected to the online world, there are many ways, a cyber predator can explore to get through your standard email security and steal your personal data. Here are four most effective ways to protect your computer from cyber theft:

1. Computer placement. If the computer is used by your children, place it in the living room or in the kitchen, where you can always have an easy access to quickly glance at the screen to know at all times what ‘s going on. Never leave an internet connected computer in the child’s room, without having an unobstructed view from other parts of the house.

2. Supervise. Kids need to have clear directions, where they can go online, what websites are acceptable, what games they can play or who they can communicate with (if anybody). This is why the computer placement is so crucial, it allows to enforce your rules, if they are about to be broken.

3. Anti Virus Program with Parental Controls. The truth is that you will not be able to supervise your kids one hundred percent of the time. However, somebody else will be able to, or rather something else. Not every piece of software will give you the security and piece of mind. As a matter of fact, most computer security solutions are not complete or that efficient. There are some very effective antivirus tools on the market, which are more capable than others of providing real protection for your family computer. The important features will include: parental controls and antivirus tools, antispyware, anti-phishing and firewall protection.

4. Email Anti Spamming and Antivirus Software. To have a total security, you will also need a very strong email antivirus software. Most of your threats will come through your email messages. Most software tools available, provide partial or limited protection and that is not acceptable. You will want all basis covered, instead of allowing cyber criminals an open door to your computer.

Again, There are couple of really good programs available out there, with all must-have features able to protect your emails, whether you use Outlook, Gmail, Hotmail, Thunderbird, Windows Mail or any other email systems. Your email messages should not be allowed near your computer, until all of them are checked for viruses, worms, etc. This is the best way to protect yourself from: malicious emails, messages with suspicious attachments, spamming emails and self executing emails.

Email Viruses = Cyber Theft

Don’t think for a moment that you are safe from an online threat, just because nothing has happened to you yet. Without warning, you or your child may become victim of a cyber theft resulting from a cyber attacks through email viruses. Is it worth it to take chances like that, especially when you do have available at your disposal few great and very inexpensive tools right now?

Take a closer look and become well informed parent and a computer user. You owe it to yourself and to your family, especially when you have nothing to loose and so much to gain. The good software tools will always have “Money Back Guarantee” and free trials. Why, they are very good at what they do and you will see the benefits pretty quickly.

Andrew Thomas is an author and an expert on email security. His goal is to educate, about hidden digital threats facing us and our kids, as well as to recommend to an average computer user, what currently are the best tools to protect us from a cyber threat. He is a publisher at webbaster.com.

Photo courtesy of Mediajon via Creative Commons license, some rights reserved.

Earnest Parenting: help for parents who want their kids to be safe online.