Thank you to Sophos for sponsoring this post helping parents to manage their kids online risk and keep them safe.
From the moment I found out I was pregnant, my quest to become a great mom began. I read dozens of books, gave up foods & drinks I loved, became cautious about things I never thought twice about, like asking waiters about ingredients in salad dressing and buying shoes based on comfort rather than style…wild times for a 28 year old!
Managing Online Risk
All of those changes were in the name of doing the very best for my baby, protecting her and ensuring her safety. Once she arrived, I quickly discovered it was far easier to ensure her well-being in my belly than out of it. After surviving the baby proofing years, the hours spent installing carseats, an occasional call to poison control for my plant eating son, and bandaging dozens of boo-boos, the elementary school era dawned and I felt pretty confident I had a grasp on child safety with a fairly impressive history of keeping my four kiddos alive.
And then came the new, unexpected challenges, the ones there weren’t tons of books written about, the ones that could be a danger right in my own home. I had to figure out how to manage my family’s online risk, to keep the internet access safe, fun, and manageable for young to old.
I wasn’t completely certain of the best tools to keep my children protected on the internet. There was chatter here and there about special software to block unwanted content but truthfully, I wasn’t quite sure what my options were when it came to helping my family have a healthy internet experience and then I discovered Sophos. Take a look at the options available when it comes to managing online risk, Sophos definitely leads the way when it comes to best features:
Sophos Home protects every Mac and PC in your home from malware, viruses, ransomware, and inappropriate websites. It blocks sites with pornography, online gambling, and more! It uses the same award-winning technology that IT professionals trust to protect their businesses. Best of all, you can manage security settings for the whole family from any browser. And it’s FREE! Yes, I said FREE!
Technology is a vital component in our daily lives, but it also leaves us vulnerable, especially since much of our lives and personal information is online and I’m trying to keep my kids from accidentally clicking inappropriate content. Sophos Home is a way to combat these vulnerabilities and a simple way for busy moms to keep their children safe on the internet. My favorite part? You don’t have to be an amazing tech guru and jump through 100 steps to install & set up Sophos, it’s completely mom friendly and simple to use!
Technology is so important in our daily lives, but it also leaves us vulnerable, especially when all of our work is online or we are trying to keep our kids from accidentally clicking inappropriate content. Sophos Home is a way to combat these vulnerabilities by helping people keep themselves and their loved ones secure online. There is also a toolkit that Sophos has come up with a a way to give tips and tricks about things like content filtering on YouTube and how to navigate the security settings on an iPhone. has come up with as a way to give tips and tricks about things like content filtering on YouTube and how to navigate the security settings on an iPhone. We’ve also got an excellent resource, The Worst Apps for Kids, that’ll help you navigate the tricky world of what your tweens and teens are downloading. If you’re looking for ways to manage all technology or screen time at your house, don’t miss our post on Technology 101 for Parents, it’ll guide you towards making your family healthy, smart users of smartphones, tablets, and computers.
There are many exciting and wonderful things about the internet and we’re all fortunate to live in a time of such amazing technology. Don’t fear what’s out there, take the necessary steps to protect your family, like using Sophos, and enjoy the advantages the 21st Century yields to us! Happy exploring!
Want more ideas for using the internet with your family? Be sure to read Taking Control of Technology Before Technology Takes Over Your Family, where you’ll find this free printable of Family Tech Rules:
Do you have a plan for managing online risk in your family? We’d love to hear your suggestions about keeping kids safe! Be sure to leave us a comment!
Caroline says
I am so glad that programs like this exist. Though I have the internet and social media to thank for my career, I know that I want my future kids to stay safe and far away from this crazy world til they’re old enough!
Amanda says
I am grateful for all the software that’s being developed to keep our kids safe from the dangers of the internet. I would love to check this out and see how it can be of convenience to me!
Debbie-jean lemonte says
This was a perfect read. I often struggle with my god-children on my devices and monitoring what they end up on.
krystal says
It is important to know that technology is a priviledge. I’m having issues with my FOUR year old memorizing my passcodes on the tablet and downloading apps! How did he figure that out?!
Amber Nelson says
This is such a good thing! You never know what kids will find online!
Reesa Lewandowski says
This is really very helpful to me. I often think my family is not as safe as they could be.
Tabitha Shakespeare says
This is a great product! Thankfully we have a while before we need to worry about this but I’m glad something like this is out there!
Jeanine says
Love these tips. My oldest doesn’t get that technology is a privilege. When I take it away you’d think it was the end of the world. I am loving that printable!
Wendy Polisi says
Such a smart tips! in our rules yes, we have our own rules and we are monitoring kids activities online and of course they have limitations.
Dana Vento says
This is important to remember. Kids nowadays are more likely the technology and we must be aware what they’re doing online.
Debra says
I totally agree, technology is totally a privileged and need to be checked on. Kids need to be watched over!
Taylor Mobley says
These are great tips! I don’t have tips and don’t have to monitor my husband LOL so this would be great with people who have kids.
Robin Rue says
My kids are to the age where they love to be online playing games. It is great that there is software like this to monitor what they are doing.
Dogvills says
We need to monitor our kids’ online activities closely. It’s good there are programs like this to help parents. I will recommend this to my daughter.
Allison says
That sign is wonderful! I am already starting to think about keeping our little one safe (he’s 10 months old) when he gets old enough to use technology.
Julie says
I absolutely love that sign and think more families could benefit from having something like that in their home! Technology can be such a scary thing if not used and monitored properly!
Terri Steffes says
That printable should be a staple in every household. It is important to know that it is a privilege. The software sounds great, too. I am in the market, so I will look into it.
Rebecca Bryant says
I love your sign. My son is good about using his technology wisely. I do however think it is strange now that all his school work in online as our High School has gone digital.
Stephanie says
I love these tips. Those rules are fantastic. I’ll probably print them out when LO is older!