Your software

...what are your plans?

Software is sometimes called the soul of a computer as it is the main way for hardware to run programs and applications. Several types of software exists for you to download and try, Read more...

The digital revolution

...an introduction

Since 1977 ,when Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak marketed their first Apple I, to today’s netbook revolution, computers have become increasingly sophisticated , now even making it possible for immense pieces of software to be Read more...

What is a virus?

...and how do I avoid them?

Viruses are miniature bits of software intentionally aiming to distort or destroy your PC or hard-drive. Formerly widening their reach via floppy disks, and later favoring instant messaging and emails, viruses Read more...

iparenting award

OFN helps kids stay safe and smart about what they’re doing online, by getting parents supervise internet time and to talk with their kids and educate them.

“We are extremely pleased that iParenting Media has recognized OnlineFamily.Norton as the best solution to protect kids online,” said Marian Merritt, Norton Internet Safety Advocate.

“Unlike existing parental controls software, which focus primarily on blocking objectionable sites and applications, OnlineFamily.Norton helps protect kids online by fostering a dialogue between parents and kids about their online lives.”

iParenting said that “unlike many parental control products, [OnlineFamily.Norton] aims to create dialogue between parents and kids, not assert draconian control.”

Norton’s other award winning software includes Norton Antivirus Security products such as Norton Internet Security 2010 and Norton 360. The Norton brand has continued as well respected and trusted software to protect customers from viruses, malware and phishing.

OFN allows parents to monitor search terms that their kids are using, and restricts unsuitable sites based on over four dozen categories. This is configured with your kids’ birth date, to ensure they view age appropriate content.

If a child tries to access a blocked site, they are either prevented totally or given a warning. If the warning is ignored this is then logged.

Users can also set a time limit for how long their child spends online, but kids can request extra time subject to parental approval.

It also looks at your kids’ IM accounts and parents can control who they talk to, whether to record chats and subject friend requests to parental approval.

At time of writing it is still free to use, and also comes bundled with Norton’s great all round protection software Norton 360.

On Windows system it requires a 300-MHz or higher processor, 512 MB of RAM (256 MB minimum) and 50 MB of available hard disk space. Mac users will also need 512 MB of RAM (256 MB minimum) and 50 MB of available hard disk space.

The awards honor outstanding software and websites. iParenting was founded back in 1996 as just pregnancytoday.com, before growing into a network of over 40 websites helping people start and raise a family along every step of the way. It is now part of the Disney Corporation’s network of family websites.

Online calls unsafe locally

Office confidentiality is a top priority in any business, but should security checks include spy sessions? Pavla Tolonen thinks they might as well.

Now flaunted as a customized spy tool, the UCSniff is not quite the free spy gear it is made out to be. It was initially meant for safety checks to secure voice over internet protocol (VoIP), which included video and audio calls, but later became denounced as a spy tool capable of intercepting executive level calls. Its level of sophisticating, however, did not match this eager review.

Eager hackers will be disappointed to know that VoIP jacking with the UCSniff only works within the same building if you have access to a central network. Once you are in, however, intercepting calls and video should work swiftly with a name search, without the need of an extension number.

Capable of redirecting the phone signal from an online conversation, the tool was created by two researchers at the Viper Lab by Sipera Systems. An enhanced video version called VideoJak can also hijack an image, however, additionally; it can feed another alternative one into the receivers screen. This could be used to stretch footage during a robbery.

Windows and Linux compatible, UCSniff captures an entire conversation on audio or video and stores it as an avi.file, which can be viewed in most media players. Thankfully most offices have realized the potential of self-spying to discover security loopholes and now can deter external spy devices.

Interception has always been a tool for enterprise; however UCSniff has hit a successful nerve in making it a click-to-capture venture. Now spying is slightly easier and detection of spying methods even easier. There is, however, one persisting level of barriers surrounding this action – the ever-needed local area network connection, which may soon be removed in the face of more sophisticated spying equipment.

To use the tool, the device scrambles a computer’s address resolution protocol (ARP), which, if not reconfigured, can turn an entire network into DOS mode blowing the hacker’s cover and ruining any future surveillance attempts. Therefore the tool may not be completely welcomed by hackers.