SiteAdvisor

One of the tools that I am a big fan of is a link validator. I use McAfee's SiteAdvisor. One of the main reasons to use on is to validate links such as in a Google search through a trusted source in this case McAfee, that the linked sight can be trusted. Trusted sites have a green check and so forth. Other uses include: "... (warning) you before you interact with a dangerous Web site. Traditional security products focus on trying to clean up problems after they occur. McAfee SiteAdvisor also complements and enhances your existing security software by detecting threats which traditional security products often miss, including spyware attacks, online scams, and sites that spam you."

While i am not recommending our endorsing McAfee products in general (as this is the only McAfee product I use) I am recommending that users use some way of validating the security of web content before viewing it and SiteAdvisor works for me.

TechSmartz

October is Cyber Security Awareness Month (as every worthy cause or any cause for that matter now needs and awareness month) to that end Linn county is hosting forums/workshops for parents and teens to learn more about protecting them selves on line. More info can be found at linnonline.org. I have also posted links to the right of organizations that I belong to NCSA and MSISAC both of which deal with the topic of keeping kids and families safe on line In addition to resources found at my employers website. I have also started to put together my own list of content filters and web monitoring tools when it is finished I will make them links on this blog.

Update- I have added some more links to the right and included "The Parents Guide to Cyberbullies" (pdf) and other information about "cyberbulling".