A Reminder to Parents: Holiday Gifts Can Open Pandora's Box - Protect Your Child's New PC

Ask any expert and they will tell you that computers should be kept in high-traffic areas of the house, such as the kitchen or family room. Almost everyone will agree that letting a teenager have his or her own computer in the bedroom is not a good idea. But in a time when many families have more than one PC in the home, teens having their own Internet connection is an unavoidable reality. Add to that fact that this is the season of giving and making young wishes come true, chances are a lot more teens will be online with their own connections within the next month.

As technology advances, however, parents can easily give their online youngsters privacy and freedom, while at the same time protect them from the dangers online. One word: monitoring software!

Parents need to be smart when giving teens their own PC. It's important to adopt and enforce a new set of rules, such as leaving the door open and a “no Internet after" time. Also, visit your child's room often when they are online, and ask them questions about what websites they are visiting and who their online friends are.

“But before you even do that, as you get ready to give them the 'big gift' this year, make sure it is outfitted with the proper parental control software, such the latest PC Pandora release, version 5.0." says Pandora Corp. co-founder, James Leasure.

Tools like PC Pandora make it easy to find that happy medium between teens being able to freely use the Internet socially, and parents not being left in the dark about their child's online activity.

Co-founder Manuel Coats explains, “PC Pandora works like a TiVo for your PC, by recording and taking sequential snapshots of what is on the computer screen. This enables parents to see exactly what their children see." Coats continues, “ In addition, it has all the features that other programs utilize, such as website filtering and blocking, time scheduling, and it will even email a busy parent at work with updates on their child's online activity."

The new version 5.0 boasts a revamped user interface, new webcam snapshot capture and Instant Messenger blocking.

If someone is approaching your kids with ill intentions, you will know. It's really the best all-around defense you can get to help keep your children safe online.

As a special promotion for the holidays, the company is offering the software at a discounted price. Parents can use the code 'holiday07' at the pcpandora.com store to get $15 off the Standard or Pro editions of the program.

The www.PCpandora.com website has become a place where parents can go to discuss issues, get tips, educate themselves and find answers. They have an interesting Blog and you can find 18 Tips for Safe Surfing.

Online safety is an important topic, now more so than ever - and parents are the first and best line of defense for their kids. Parents, educate yourself on the Net, talk to your kids and protect your PCs with PC Pandora!