Three free tools for parents peace of mind

Do your children use the Internet?

• Do you worry about what they will find there?
• Do you worry about everything getting messed up on your computer?
• Do you think you should be keeping better track of what they use the Internet for?
• Do your children find the browser confusing?

Here are three free tools that can be used together, or just pick and choose the ones you like. These tools solve different problems, but they all relate to improving the Internet experience for children. This website is not focused on technical how to instructions, but the HelpShop.com tools are intended to empower our clients, and a safe Internet contributes to that goal. So, I will just describe a bit about what these tools are, and link to other places where you can get more information.

1. OpenDNS.com
   • Google.com, Yahoo.com, and HelpShop.com are domain names. They are people friendly names that tell your browser how to find the webpages you are expecting. Each time you type HelpShop.com into your browser address bar, a central directory is asked for the computer address which is like the zip code + 4 but for computers instead of homes. That central directory is called the Domain Name System (DNS). The DNS system doesn’t know what content you are looking for, it just sends you robotically to the destination. If you have a misspelling or typo in the address, or you are clicking on a link in an email, you have a good chance of finding yourself in the seedier section of the Internet. OpenDNS.com was created as a middleman that tries to correct those misspellings or refuse your request and block your destination when that destination is some place you want to avoid. You can avoid phishing attacks which are mimick websites designed to look like trusted banks and similar sites so as to steel your bank and identity information. And, you can avoid the sites you don’t want your children finding on the Internet. There is a lot of power in this tool. Go to OpenDNS.com and find out more. Also How-To Geek has a tutorial that you may find useful.
2. Surf Knight
   • Internet Explorer, FireFox, Safari, Opera, Chrome, etc. They are the browsers that you use to read the web. In many ways they have gotten more complicated over time, as the power of the Internet has grown. The experience for kids has not always improved. Surf Knight (Windows only) aims to be a browser just for kids. I quote: “Surf Knight is a web browser specially designed for kids! It includes a friendly design and parental controls that will empower the younger users with the latest technology, as well as protecting them from undesired content and malicious software.” You can read a review over at Mom’s Daily. You can go to SurfKnight.com to download the software free of charge.
3. Microsoft SteadyState
   • Once you have your windows computer set up the way you want, you don’t have to dread that your child will wreak havoc and at best confuse your settings. You don’t have to, if you use the free software SteadyState from Microsoft. You can prevent or undo changes. Even the contents of your hard drive are safe. LifeHacker has a tutorial. Go to Microsoft to download the software.

Let us know if these tools helped you, or what tools you like to use, in the comments or feedback.

How to monitor your website or blog status

I am proud of my website, but I can’t check that it is working around the clock, without a service to monitor it for me. There are many choices, but for now, I am using mon.itor.us. They offer a free service that anyone can use.

It is pretty simple. The basic steps are:

1. Open an account
2. Create an email contact
3. Create an IM or SMS contact
4. Create a test for your website address
5. Verify that everything is working

My website status is now being checked automatically. When things go wrong, I am notified, so I can do something about it. If you ever notice a problem with my site, please email me or call me about it. Computers are helpful, but there is nothing better than people for knowing what is important. If you have a blog or website, sign up with mon.itor.us, it’s free and gives you insight into your visitor’s experience.

Southern Sales Services sells building materials at auction.

I wanted to have more “s” words in that title, but it just got too silly. If you type in the domain name from memory like I did, you might make the mistake of skipping the double “s” for the end of “Sales” and the beginning of “Services”. That just takes you to an advertising squatter page. The domain address is www.SouthernSalesServices.com.

So what is Southern Sales Services? It is an auction held 10 times a year for new and damaged new building materials. There are plenty of high end items for sale, but it is an auction. At auction you are not always going to get a deal. Still, I think a lot of people are getting a deal here. The inventory changes, but I have seen Pella windows, Viking stoves, Kohler fixtures, 3/4″ cherry flooring, fancy European front loading washers, tile, doors, kitchen cabinets, and more.  There are multiple auctions going on at the same time, so it can be a little confusing. You sometimes feel like you have to be in two places at once. The crowd can get a little overwhelming too. Around the appliances space can get pretty cramped.

If you want to bid, you have to preregister for a bidder number. It is a lot easier to preregister the day before the auction which is the preview day. Don’t get caught up in the excitement of an auction and bid more than you planned. And, if you want to bid on a Sub Zero refrigerator or other appliance, “camp out” ahead of the crowd in front of the item you want, or be prepared to push your way to a spot where the auctioneer will notice you. If you are bidding on an item, and don’t win, the auctioneer will usually let you have second choice after the winner has chosen the items they want. If you don’t bid, and the winning bid is low, sometimes the auctioneer won’t let anyone else have the deal. He is trying to make sure the crowd doesn’t adopt the strategy of not bidding in hopes of keeping the prices down. I thought the prices were pretty good, but there are some better deals out there. In a future post I’ll tell you about some other auctions.

Maggie and Peter Baumbach are Realtors with Long & Foster Real Estate Inc.  If you are in the market to buy or sell a home, then hire us to guide and represent you. We are client focused. We are here to help you make good decisions.

Don’t miss the next exciting post in the HelpShop.com blog. Subscribe now, and you can receive these gems free in your email or blog rss reader. It is easy to subscribe.

« Previous Page