A unique, easy-to-use ‘key’ that allows parents to lock their computer and protect their children from online predators was launched on 18 January by a North East software company.

KidSafe, developed by Newcastle-based Software Development Associates (SDA), is a USB device which controls internet access and works with any Windows operating system.

When parents want to use the PC simply push the KidSafe key into the USB port. When they want to lock the PC they take it out.

The product, which uses SDA’s patented software, has already received interest from around the world – and SDA signed a deal with a US distributor to sell the product in a major chain of electrical stores across America and via a TV shopping channel.

The company believes there could be a multimillion pound market for KidSafe, and expects intense demand as parents seek a safe, simple way to protect their children from online dangers.

Managing director St.john Goldfinger said: “KidSafe tackles the growing problem of children’s exposure to inappropriate and harmful material on the internet - the dangers of allowing unsupervised access to the ever-expanding list of internet chat rooms and social networking sites are well documented.

”Children and teenagers often know more about the computer than their parents – but the beauty of KidSafe is that it enables parents with little or no computer knowledge to control and moderate the use of the computer by their kids.

“Traditional software-based control systems fail to protect by over-complicating the problem or enforcing overly stringent control.

“The KidSafe system enforces security and authentication, giving the parent total confidence that when the ‘key’ is in their pocket or purse the computer is not being used and their children are not in danger online.”

KidSafe will retail at around £29.99 in the UK.

Relevant links

KidSafe 

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