The software monitors all inbound and outbound Internet traffic, and creates a software barrier between the Internet port into your PC and everything else on your PC. Once installed, it lets you get out to the Internet, but it does not allow unauthorized access from the Internet to your PC.Software firewalls have an advantage in the way that they can implement rigid controls over what software is installed on your PC will be allowed to access the Internet. Many people use both a hardware firewall and a software firewall.It is similar to having a fence to protect access to your yard, and then a front door to protect access to your house.Everyone should use at least one firewall, hardware or software.If you

have a laptop, you should use a software firewall. That way the firewall goes with you, wherever you go, protecting your PC.

Installing firewall software and antivirus software, and running anti-spyware software and privacy software should go a long way to protect you when your are surfing. Here, again, some common sense applies. Avoid sites that do not "feel" right. Sites that are constantly trying to get you to fill out forms before you have much of a chance to learn anything about the site and the organization who owns the site are highly suspected.

Pornographic  sites are famous for downloading spyware and viruses onto people's computers.. "Protecting Your Kids,now that you have taken care of the basics and protected your PC, it is time to specifically worry about keeping your kids safe.

When trying to protect your children, it is important to: Set expectations, Monitor and control what your children do online. It is important for you as a parent to be clear with your children what you expect of them when they are using the PC. You need to be clear about what you consider to be appropriate online behavior, as well as what is and what not is appropriate to be accessing online. Children should be taught

* Before you allow your children to go online without your supervision, make sure you establish a set of rules that you are all agreed upon .

* If you're not sure where to start, here are some ideas on what to discuss with your kids to teach them about using the Internet more safely:

* Encourage your kids to share their Internet experiences with you. Enjoy the Internet along with your children.

* Teach your kids to trust their instincts. If they feel nervous about anything online, they should tell you about it.

* If your kids visit chat rooms, use instant messaging programs, online video games, or other activities on the Internet that require a login name to identify, help him  in  choosing  that name and make sure it doesn't reveal any personal information about  him ..

* Insist that your kids never reveal  their   address, phone numbers, or other personal information, including where they go to school or where they like to play.

* Teach your kids that the difference between right and wrong is the same on the Internet as it is in real life.

*Show your kids how to respect others on internet. Make sure they must  know that rules for good behavior don't change just because they're on a computer.

* Insist that your kids respect the property of others online. Explain that making illegal copies of other people's work - music, video games, and other programs - is just like stealing it from a store.

* Tell your kids that they should never meet online friend spersonally . Explain that online friends may not be who they say they are.

* Teach your kids that not everything they read or see online is true. Encourage them to ask you if they're not sure.

* Control your children's online activity with advanced Internet software. Parental controls can help you to  filter out harmful content, monitor the sites your child visits and find out what they do there

The PC that your children use should be setup in a public location where it is easy for you to monitor what your children are doing. It is very difficult  to ask questions to a child  about his online activities  when everyone in the family can easily look over his shoulder. If you have children who participate in chat rooms or use instant messaging software you should regularly ask them whom  they are communicating with. If they are evasive or do not tell you, take away their computer privileges. Having a safe sad   child is better than having an unsafe happy one. There is also software that can help parents  to protect their children. Software which helps to  keep children safe available in two forms: monitoring software, and parental control software.

Monitoring software helps parents to monitor activity on the family PC

To monitor computer activity many packages will allow your activity  including web surfing activity, chat messages, e-mail, and instant messaging. Some software will even allow screen shots to be taken at predetermined increments of time. Many of these packages will operate in stealth mode, meaning that no one will know that the software is even installed and running.

When using filtering software, you may need to explain to them that you are doing it to protect them from material that you consider to be harmful. Just as you might not let them to go to certain places in your home town, you have the right to keep them away from surfing to certain types of places in cyberspace

 if your child becomes secretive about what he is  doing online. Averting a computer monitor, or quickly turning it off whenever someone walks into the room is not normal  behavior. It is, however, the behavior of an individual who is trying to hide something. If your child is exhibiting "odd" computer behavior question them. If you get no answers or not satisfied  with answers, take away their computer privileges and/or get software that monitors their activity.As has already been stated, a mad safe child is better than a happy unsafe one - Author: Rob Pirozzi