Innovative "parent-friendly" software designed to prevent children being exposed to paedophiles on the internet has been devised by an award-winning Scots firm.
Innovative "parent-friendly" software designed to prevent children being exposed to paedophiles on the internet has been devised by an award-winning Scots firm.
The all-in-one package allows children's internet activity on one computer to be monitored from two others elsewhere.
The system also lets parents track and record youngsters' conversations on instant messenger services.
It is the brainchild of Netintelligence, a Glasgow-based firm lauded for devising the first publicly-accessible internet database of sex offenders, following the passing of Megan's Law in the US.
Phil Worms, director of product marketing at Netintelligence, said: "It means parents sitting in their office at work can now check what their kids are doing on the home computer, as well as set time limits."
The package, due to be launched today under the tradename Keygold Secure, and expected to be in high street stores by the end of the year, is designed for use by people with no technical knowledge.
Worms, a father-of-three, said: "It is designed to be used easily because the best internet protection is worthless if a parent can't make it work.
"We created the package from the perspective of the average parent, and very much mothers specifically. They are often the ones generally perceived as being responsible for child welfare, while the men are usually expected to have the technical knowledge. It is just a case of downloading the programme and off it goes. It wouldn't need updating or anything like that at all."
The package of filters and blockers, said to contain the largest database in Europe of "harmful" sites, also enables parents to install time restrictions and block objectionable words and other content.
Based in the Bearsden area of Glasgow, the company recently scooped a top technology award for its software developed to alert US parents to convicted paedophiles living in their area.
US parents now have the right under the so-called Megan's Law - passed after the murder of Megan Kanka, aged seven, in 1994 - to view the register.
