Explore Anywhere

Those of us with young children and teenagers are now aware of MySpace and similar social networking sites more than ever. Packed with cool interactive tools like music, profile comments, blog posting, photo and video sharing, and even more up-to-date features like status and mood posting, it is no surprise that kids everywhere are glued to their computers looking for their friends’ latest updates. This relatively new phenomenon has not only changed the way this generation interacts with one another, it has also changed who they are interacting with. According to Connecticut attorney general Richard Blumenthal there is an “exploding epidemic of sex offender profiles on MySpace - 29,000 and counting - (which) screams for action.” If this comes as a surprise to you please do not make a rash decision such as deleting your child’s MySpace or other social networking page. Odds are your child will quickly and easily create another social networking page without your knowledge.

The fact remains MySpace is not dangerous. The problem arises from the 29,000 corrupt people who log on it. As the number of Internet users grows, there will always be more and more dangerous people connecting to the web. Parents and guardians who want to protect their young ones are often unaware of the software solutions available. An application like SpyBuddy will monitor and verify whom their child is talking to, what is being typed, and will even alert parents if certain inappropriate material is being discussed. Because some critics are concerned with the moral implications of this type of software they will often compare the installation of computer monitoring and spy software software to an action such as reading your child’s diary or journal. This could not be more absurd or further from the truth. As clinical psychologist John M. Grohol, Psy.D. most accurately stated it is very important to communicate with your children and teenagers, and also “trust but verify” who they are communicating with.

Dr. Michael Wasserman, a pediatrician with the Ochsner Clinic in Metairie, Louisiana, recently commented on a study conducted by the University of New Hampshire that found forty-two percent of users on the Internet between the ages of 10 and 17 have viewed pornography on the web in the past year. Wasserman says “it’s beyond the wild West out there. You’ve really taken away the age of innocense”. Sixty-six percent of these 10 to 17 year olds also reported they did not want to see these lewd pornographic images.

One of the most grave and disturbing consequences of this exposure to web pornography according to Sharon Hirsch, a psychiatrist at the University of Chicago, is this “could lead kids to become sexually active too soon, or could put them at risk for being victimized by sexual predators…” Furthermore it has been determined blocking and filtering software, used by cautious and protective parents, is not entirely effective.

Whether your child says they have viewed Internet pornography or not, using applications provided by ExploreAnywhere is the most effective way to determine what your child has been exposed to online, intentionally or accidentally. With the information and activity logged by an application like SpyBuddy, parents can accurately assess the steps they should take when discussing these incidents with their children.

The Associated Press article can be read in its entirety by clicking here.

Mario Sozou sent us a note regarding his experience with SpyBuddy and the ExploreAnywhere Customer Support technician that helped him along the way. We appreciate him taking the time to let us know he had a great experience using our software and interacting with our support team.

Mario wrote:

I would like to Thank You not only for the offer of a free upgrade but also for the service provided along with the exceptionally quick response time in answering my quires.

Your company should pride itself. It was and will be a constant pleasure doing business with Explore Anywhere Software and I will strongly recommend your company to family, friends and bushiness associates alike should the need arise.

Thank You once again.

- Mario Sozou

In an article written yesterday, Melissa Dahl (Sacramento Bee News) mentions ExploreAnywhere’s computer monitoring application SpyBuddy as a great solution for parents who don’t have eyes in the back of their heads. She explains SpyBuddy’s functions in further detail by writing:

“What it does: Also keylogging software, it records every keystroke, including both sides of IM (instant message) conversations, e-mails and any changes made to the hard drive. Users also can set up an account on a ViewMyLogs.com account, allowing them to access activity reports from anywhere at any time of the day. Stealth factor: This software can also be secretly installed. What you need: It works with any Windows system. How to get it: Order it at exploreanywhere.com.”

David Einstein of the San Francisco Chronicle recently mentioned ExploreAnywhere’s spy software applications (SpyBuddy and KeyloggerPRO) as an option for a local parent. The parent, who is rightfully concerned about child predators on the web, asked David what would be an effective solution for monitoring his or her son or daughters computer and Internet activity.

You can read the San Francisco Chronicle article by clicking here.