Computer Spot dot Net

If there is one thing that people like it is something that is available to them for free. This especially goes for computer software.

Various places offer free software programs for people on a trial period or shareware versions of products that are free. These can range from business products to games. There are many places that you can visit and start downloading computer software off the Internet.

CNet’s Download.com is one of the world’s top places to go for downloading computer software off the Internet. They have different types of software on this site.

These programs include developer tools, web browsers, spyware and virus protection programs and drivers for hardware programs. Some fun software, like screensavers or games, can be found on Download.com too. Read the rest of this entry →

Monitoring your kids’ use of the internet by sitting with them is the most ideal way to keep them away from all the threats possible online. But this isn’t possible all the time.

So, to make sure that your kids are safe using the internet when you aren’t around, there are a number internet safety rules that your kids should know.

1.    Follow the specific time to use the computer. Explain to them why there is a need to set internet time. Let them develop obedience as a virtue and a sense of responsibility for their actions.

2.    Never share personal information to strangers you meet online. These include: name, home address, phone number, email address, password, school information, bank account information, and credit card numbers. Online predators are everywhere and their main targets are your kids who are innocently giving their personal information that can put their safety on the line. Read the rest of this entry →

Your kids are the primary target of internet-based threats like computer viruses, adware, and spyware through the websites they frequently visit and misleading information they receive.

This is the reason why, as parents, it is important to discuss with your kids how to surf the net safely and away from any internet-based threats.

Downloads

Downloading files from unknown source is one of the most common reasons why the computer is infested with viruses and spyware.

Free games, flash animations, bundled emoticons, jokes, screen savers, and even free spyware removal downloads are potentially unsafe. Read the rest of this entry →

Peer-to-peer file-sharing is very popular among kids. But using this may involve illegally downloading, sharing or copying copyrighted files which is considered piracy and punishable by law.

So to keep your kids away from the possible risks of p2p file-sharing program, here are the things you can do:

1. Inform your kids about the impending risk.

Piracy is considered stealing. And any civilized society imposes penalty on those who steal files from other people.

Also, p2p file-sharing is a venue for spyware and viruses to enter your computer and infest the files on it.

You may experience that it isn’t enough to tell your kids that it’s bad so it will help if you discuss further the consequences of doing such things.

•    P2P file sharing can put your computer at risk from viruses and other internet-based threats like spyware and adware.
•    The computer and other files associated with illegal downloads such as disks and flash drives can be confiscated.
•    A fine of $30,000 can be imposed to the pirate according to the U.S. copyright law. Read the rest of this entry →

Your kids’ email addresses may be bombarded by unsolicited junk emails or spam everyday. So it is very possible that they open emails and download attachments from unknown senders.

Since spam is known to be a growing source of computer viruses, your kids may be inviting internet-based threats unknowingly.

Thus, it is very important that they know what to do to avoid attracting junk mails and keep their computer free from viruses.

Teach your kids to protect their email addresses. Make sure they know that it is dangerous for them to share their email addresses to someone they don’t know through instant messaging, online chatting, and signing up to websites for access. Read the rest of this entry →

Internet addiction isn’t common to parents and teachers; and it isn’t that widely recognized in the medical community as well. But it doesn’t mean that you can ignore it as a serious health condition.

Here are the things you should know about Internet addiction…

Internet Addiction Symptoms

There are several symptoms visible to kids with internet addictions. Physical symptoms include headaches and migraines associated with the use of the computer, carpal tunnel syndrome, backaches, neglect of personal hygiene, lack of sleep and inconsistent sleeping patterns, and dry eyes. Read the rest of this entry →

Our access to information has never been as convenient. In ancient times, only young men were allowed to go to school and learn about philosophers and literature.

When the ultra-conservative Middle Ages came along, knowledge was left in the hands of the religious, and wouldn’t see a renewal until the Renaissance.

As the centuries passed, people were granted greater access to information, until our modern day scholars decided to make things easier for everyone.

From libraries stocking books in order, we moved to databases that stored information in a way that it could be stored, searched through, and retrieved. Read the rest of this entry →

Violence, sex, nudity, and explicit language, pornography, online gambling, online predators, viruses, spyware, and adware; these are some of the threats that your kids can encounter while using the internet.

And since you can’t monitor them all the time, you need to find ways to protect your kids from these threats. Here are some of those ways:

1.    Teach them to stay secure. Talk to them about personal security while using the internet. Tell them to refuse giving any personal information to people they meet online. Avoid filling out membership and survey forms that would entail them to state their personal information.

Read the rest of this entry →

Have you heard terms like Facebook, MySpace, YouTube and Twitter? If you haven’t, I guarantee your kids have.

These are just a few of the social networking sites where kids can meet other peers and create their own page to highlight who they are.

Before letting your kids interact on these or any other teen sites, fill them in on a few precautions in order to help them stay safe.

No one wants to rob their child of the joy of being a child. But, the world is a dangerous place. Even though your children are not yet adults, they need to be aware of what is going on around them. Read the rest of this entry →

Internet is great technology. Internet can be accessed by all ages, races, and all genders.  More people can read about their favorite subjects without having run to the library or purchase an expensive encyclopedia set.

With more knowledge organized in a format that can be easy to search through, retrieve, and work with, more people can learn faster and do more research online.

This revolution in information technology and presentation comes with its own disadvantages. Not all information presented online is true or edited.

Not all websites are safe to access, and not all files that you download from the Internet are free from malicious programs that can give hackers access to your computer. Read the rest of this entry →