Partnership Gives Parents Internet Safety Training
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Internet security company Blue Coat is teaming up with Habitat for Humanity to ensure that low-income parents have the tools and training they need to keep their children safe online. Partnered with the Austin, Texas chapter of Habitat for Humanity, Blue Coat will be providing its K9 Web Protection filter and internet training program to all recipients of Habitat homes in the state who receive houses with internet equipped computers.
Habitat For Humanity has been working in Austin since 1985 building homes for low income families. Homes for the program are built by volunteer labour and funded by community donations. Those who qualify to purchase the homes receive a zero-interest mortgage loan, and in exchange must attend mandatory educational programs and contribute approximately 400 hours of labour towards the program.
"Habitat opens the door for unlimited options to the families we serve and ensure those families are prepared for them. This technology initiative brings new and exciting worlds into the homes of Austin Habitat Home Buyers and K9 Web Protection makes those worlds a safer place for parents and children to explore," says Michael Willard, AHFH Executive Director.
The K9 Web Protection that Blue Coat is providing has been designed specifically with parents in mind, but uses the same filtering technologies that the company employs in its programs for government and business clients. The filter processes internet content into 60 categories and parents can then sort through these deciding to allow or block certain categories such as spyware or adult/mature content. The filter also allows parents to shut off access to the internet at specific times a day, ensuring that children who are supposed to be typing a paper for school aren't surfing the net instead, or sneaking onto the internet when their parents are out.
"We are pleased to train families who are eager to learn and appreciate the benefits of the Internet, yet are concerned about the potential safety issues that may arise," comments John Carosella, vice president of content control for Blue Coat Systems, "Working with Austin Habitat for Humanity is a tremendous opportunity for Blue Coat's Community Outreach Program to help first generation Internet parents who have minimal or no experience in using a computer or the Internet."
If all goes well in Austin, Blue Coat is hoping to create a nationwide partnerships to provide its internet safety training to Habitat home buyers throughout the U.S.