Recommended Internet Resources
These are all products I use myself and highly recommend!
BlueHost Web Hosting
I was searching for a web hosting service I could use for myself and for client sites, that was fast, reliable, and full-featured, but did not promote adult-oriented content. I was very pleased to find a blog entry by Blue Host president Matt Heaton, in which he took a strong stand on this issue. I respect his position and decided to use Blue Host as a result. I have not been disappointed in the quality of their service. If you are looking for a hosting service, give Blue Host a try.
Bluehost does not and will not tolerate adult material of any kind on our servers. Sometimes profit comes second and personal responsibility and ethics come first. -Matt Heaton
SpamHero Email Filtering
Email spam comes in all forms, from the mildly annoying to the downright disgusting. At best it's a waste of valuable time. If you'd like to put an end to it, I recommend SpamHero. I have tried many different spam filtering programs and online services and this one just works! It's easy to set up and is highly effective at blocking spam while allowing the emails you want to come through without interference. Also it's very reasonably priced.
CyberPatrol Internet Filtering
I have used Cyber Patrol for many years now and cannot imagine accessing the internet without it. You don't have to go searching for filth on the internet, it will find you if you don't defend yourself and your family.
For the ultimate in control you can easily set up Cyber Patrol to permit access to only the specific sites you set up in your list of approved websites. This is very effective for younger children. You have total control over what they can view. If you turn this feature on, any site that is not in your list is blocked by Cyber Patrol.
As your children get older you can tailor the restrictions by setting up different accounts. You are given control over websites accessed, chat and instant messaging, total time on the computer, time of day restrictions, monitoring reports of computer activity, and much more.
I can't say enough good things about this software. You just need to give it a try!
eVoice Online Voicemail/Messaging
I have used eVoice for several years now. It is a convenient, easy-to-use voicemail system. You can be notified by text message or email when a call is received. Messages may be retrieved online or through your phone. Online messages are stored in an inbox, similar to an email account. Click a message title to listen to the recorded message. If you don't like giving out your home or cell phone number online, this is an economical and safe alternative and can be used for business or personal use.
Over the years I think I've literally tried every antivirus program out there - Norton, McAfee, Trend Micro, etc. etc. Some of the software would slow my computer down to a crawl. Others would conflict with software I needed to run. And some just didn't work at all, allowing viruses to creep in. Recently I tried Vipre and have been very pleased with it. I barely even notice that it is running, which is the way I like it. :)
They have very affordable pricing options for 1, 2, and unlimited home license for all pcs in your home. Check out their free trial.
