Avira Socialshield: This is how the protection tool works

The anti-virus manufacturer Avira has developed the "Avira Socialshield" tool so that parents can protect their children on social networks. In this practical tip, we explain what exactly it is, how it works and how you can use it yourself.

What is Avira Socialshield and what can it do?

• Avira Socialshield is a service that can connect to the social networks Facebook, Google Plus, Twitter and Formspring. This gives you access to certain areas of your child's account to monitor and protect your child.
• The service always scans and analyzes your child's activities. The advantage here: No software is installed. The application is added to the social network as an extension. Protection therefore always takes effect, regardless of whether your child is online at home, at school or on the cell phone.
• For protection to work, you need to register for the service here. Avira Socialshield is completely free and ad-free. Either connect to the service via Facebook or leave your name and email address. You then need to connect your child's Facebook account to the account.
• You will always receive an up-to-date report on the security status on the Avira Socialshield website. There may be a warning if there are dubious friendship requests or posts contain certain words that indicate inappropriate behavior or cyberbullying.
• In addition, you will receive an email for every critical warning and a weekly report with a summary of all important incidents.

Avira Socialshiled gives you complete control

• Ultimately, you have insight into just about every action your child does on Facebook. You will see every activity, post, comment and picture of your child. Messages cannot be viewed directly, but if they contain special words that are noticeable during the scan, you can read the content of the message.
• According to the manufacturer, this is not a spy tool because only the parents receive a report. Nevertheless, you intervene deeply in the privacy of your child and, if in doubt, learn everything your child does.
• Regardless of whether you use Avira Socialshiled to protect or control your child, you should definitely talk to your child about it. Even if you, as a parent, should not neglect the duty of supervision, use the social scanner to intrude deeply into your child's privacy.

The best child protection programs for the Internet can be found in this practical tip.