Online Privacy and Security for your Family

apps, FAM, GEAR, health By September 19, 2013 Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , No Comments

Privacy is only a concept, and we all have different definitions of what our privacy means. The NSA has been proven to have one, which many citizens feel violates their rights. Facebook has an incredibly complex end-user agreement that changes faster than most people get their hair cut. Online privacy and security for your family have become one of the biggest concerns for our generation. Gary Kovacs, CEO of AVG Technologies points out that in the next 5 years another 2.5 billion people will connect to the internet, doubling the number of people online. As parents, we snap photos and instagram special times so that family members thousands of miles away can be closer to the moment. We tweet our thoughts, post photos to online albums and we’re excited to buy our mother-in law a computer so she can skype with the kids from afar.

But we have reached a turning point. We are now realizing that the content we put forth on the internet is not secure. We must think of the future reputation of our children as we post funny baby pictures. And even scarier? Bad people can cross reference information and find out exact locations and schedules of our kids.

I’m a trusting person. I recently attended a launch event for AVG, a company that provides (free) internet security for people across all platforms. I’m all for banking security and things, but as a parent I’ve been posting photos and names of my kids without worry. Really, what could happen? I spent a full day learning and had extensive opportunities to interview the executive team. The experience has changed my approach to online security.  15 million people currently run the free AVG ‘Do Not Track‘ program so they control who knows they are going on certain websites.

Did you know that hackers can put code onto your computer so that the ‘google-type’ ads you see on the sidebar are not run through Google at all? If you buy the product in the ad the hackers make money…. Did you know that when you plug your cellphone into a public charger, information from your phone may be collected and sold?… That In mobile, credit card hacking is much easier? The mobile app silently sends your credit card number and you will likely not notice a $3 charge on your bill next month.. That even though you might not use your children’s names on the internet, that a file with your last name and image of your son’s photo can be cross-referenced with his newspaper birth announcement?  Bingo: the hacker now has a full name, image and (if data attached to the photo are present), a location.  And you thought Hallowe’en horror movies were scary.

If you work off a PC, AVG offers an incredible new internet security program for 2014 that highlights protection, privacy and performance.  I’m excited not only by the spy-like encryption and privacy, but the ability for the performance aspects to save my battery life so I’m not always seeking out a charger!  The most secure option, it costs just under $60 and boasts a ton of features.  There is also a free version if you are not dealing with sensitive information on your PC.

Highlights of AVG 2014:
– Anti-virus and anti-malware protection
–  Anti-spam
– Online shield, which screens incoming links and files to make sure they are secure
– File Shredder, which permanently deletes sensitive information (it overwrites the files you want deleted)
– Data safe, which encrypts and stores your files for extra security.  You can create ‘safes’ of sensitive information.  Like when you don’t want your kids to see your tax documents.
– AVG Do Not Track, AVG Identity Protection, Anti-Spyware, and AVG WiFi Guard prevent spying and data theft
– Enhanced Firewall protects banking and credit card information
– AVG Turbo Scan, Game Mode, and AVG Smart Scanner enhance performance
– AVG Accelerator gives you faster video streaming.  Yes please!!

For mobile (iOS, Windows and Android) AVG offers some of the following apps for each platform: image shrinker (smaller photos), tuneup, privacyfix, cleaner (clean up cached memory), uninstaller (removes little-used apps), family safety (protects kids from unsafe websites) and safe browser (avoids malicious sites).  SIM Lock and Camera trap were added this year.  If someone steals your phone it takes a photo of their face and sends it to authorities.  Gotcha.

Here are the other tips I learned for keeping your family safe online:

1. Passwords should be a series of random words like ‘LakeCheeseSkirt’ to prevent people guessing. If you have to add a year, don’t make it your birthday, and for goodness sake, as an employer who has waded through piles of resumes, PLEASE don’t make sexymel1981@gmail.com your email address.

2. Software like PrivacyFix should be running on all of your devices. It allows you to monitor all of the end user agreements for Facebook, Twitter, Linked In, Google + and programs that have access to your accounts so that you can control your own privacy to the degree that you feel comfortable. You can remove Facebook ‘friends’ from seeing all of your updates and regain control of your online profile.  It’s interesting when you set it up that you are given your personal ‘worth’ as a dollar amount to each program.  It starts to hit home that our information and the way we engage online has value to many players.

3. Turn off location settings when sharing photos, and also do not name the photos with your children’s names. Google will cross-reference names and locations and even if you name a photo Dave.jpg and your account is under your own last name, it will put the two together and your child can be recognized. 20% of kids now have an online profile before they are even born. I spoke to a colleague today and she warned that this can cause classism and repercussions for the rest of their lives. Before they are born. OMG.

4. Always register domain names for your kids so nobody else can take them. This is step 1 of reputation management. GoDaddy allows you to register www.kidsname.com and when they are older they will want to own it. It’s like a resume. You won’t want 4 axe murderers with the same name to appear in search results above your kids when they are interviewing for jobs. Employers will always Google and the ownership of their online reputation is a professional must. $10 per year is a drop in the bucket for reputation management (think of it as an RESP). You can set up a free wordpress site for them, but just owning the domain is enough.

5. While you are at it, register their names on twitter (and yours) and set up a google alert for all of your names. You will then know if any of you are ever mentioned on the web. (This works for exes and celebrities too. Just saying.)

6. Don’t allow your kids access to your work email account. They may send something by mistake or seek revenge during an angry episode, which could hinder your reputation with colleagues.

7. Never allow the kids to have the password to download apps on their devices. Many apps are free, but the in-app purchases than many kids don’t understand they are buying will set mom and dad up with a massive bill.

8. Make a rule in the house such as a ‘tech basket’ so during certain times like dinner or after school, the tablets and phones are put in one location for the entire family and personal interaction is necessitated.

9. Know passwords for your kids’ devices and keep them by your own bed at night. Check them often. One friend who hosted an exchange student disabled the internet at night so the student could not skype or go online.

10. Be very aware of end-user agreements. Some games meant for 6 year olds request access to location and other data and this is not necessary in the least. They are possibly preparing to sell the data such as location information although the actual game doesn’t need location information to run. Don’t let your kids play these seemingly innocuous games. Clicking ‘Accept’ at each step isn’t necessarily a great thing.

11. Change all passwords regularly.

12. Dump everything on your computer to an external hard drive. Photos, music, documents and emails. Trust us. You don’t want to lose any of your memories or records.

We interviewed AVG Technologies executives Yuval Ben-Itzhak, Chief Technology Officer and Tony Anscombe, Senior Security Evangelist about keeping our families and children safe online.


The important thing to remember about internet security, safety and privacy is that you should have the control to set different programs and applications at different levels. If it is overly complex, that is a bad sign. From what I learned, AVG provides a ton of value free of charge with extra options for people who require it. I am so grateful especially for PrivacyFix. I had no idea. And I’m a good mom. We all want to protect our kids no matter what and it’s pretty scary when we don’t even know they are at risk.

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Advice to New Parents from Barbara Coloroso

FAM, grow, health, kids, LIVE By September 17, 2013 Tags: , , , , No Comments

UrbanMommies was given an opportunity to interview and hear advice to new parents from Barbara Coloroso.  An internationally-known author of five parenting books, acclaimed speaker and consultant, we discuss her three tenets of parenting, navigating criticism and following your instincts as a parent.  More of Barbara Coloroso’s wisdom can be found at Kids Are Worth It.

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Ford Fusion Hybrid Electric Vehicle

auto, GEAR By September 17, 2013 Tags: , , , , , , , , , , 3 Comments

The boys are getting used to our ‘borrowed cars’ and they even humour me by describing what they like as we drive.  The big hit will always be the ‘tracking device’ (GPS) but with the Ford Fusion Hybrid, they added another item to their top 10.  The sleek lines of the Fusion made us think that the car would sound like a souped-up sports car when the ignition was engaged.  But no.  Silence.  The only sound was from the back seat.  “Mommy, is it going?  We’re not going to make it to school!  The car doesn’t work!”  Like something Q would have designed for James Bond, we could sneak up on the least suspecting person. He he.

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Karl Subban

Karl Subban and Hyundai Hockey Helpers

FAM, fitness, GEAR, kids By September 11, 2013 Tags: , , , , , , , , , No Comments

Hyundai Hockey Helpers Program

It might be Canada’s unofficial national sport (after lacrosse…) but hockey can cause parents a ton of stress.  And we’re not talking about Stanley Cup Playoff season.  Early mornings, expensive equipment and growing children can mean a winter season filled with budgetary demands for families.  Fortunately there are a few options for parents.  Applications are now open for Hyundai Hockey Helpers, a program entering its second year. The program provides grants to help under-resourced Canadian families get their kids in the game and they’ve partnered with Montreal Canadiens defenceman P.K. Subban and his father Karl to help spread the word.

UrbanMommies was given the special opportunity to interview Karl Subban, a former school principal and hockey dad, with a few pressing questions from parents whose kids love the good ol’ hockey game.

1.  Our family spent a chunk of the summer making playtime and family time a priority.  It was tough!  When a child is focused and enmeshed in one activity and wants to be at the top of their sport, how do you pull them away from it?

It’s wonderful to see a child focused on something that they love. It also teaches them focus and self-control, two necessary ingredients for success and high achievement.

However, parents must take an active role in creating balance. Schedule family time and time to play. The younger the child, the more involved parents should be in those activities. Parents should also lead by example. Demonstrate the balance you want to see in your children. If your children see you devoting all of your time to work or one pursuit, this will influence them to do the same.

2.  I love your advice about rewarding effort and milestones instead of the wins.  Could you name a few hockey milestones that parents might encourage and watch for in their children?

Celebrate the day your child truly develops a passion for the game – the day they want to go to practice, the day they can’t wait to get those skates on. For some kids, it comes automatically. For others, it takes time.

The drive to get involved with the game is a big milestone. My sons PK and Jordan wanted to get right in the game from the start, while Malcolm did not want to chase the puck. We celebrated the day his eyes lit up and he truly got into the game with his team.

Some milestones are harder on parents, like the day kids want more independence. But I look at it this way – I’ve set them on the right the path. The rest is up to them.

3.  What advice do you have for the parent whose child thinks they want to play and then gets discouraged or wants to quit halfway through the year?

Kids love attention and praise, so we need to make sure that those two ingredients are there in plenty. It raises their self esteem and confidence. A lack of those two things can be the reason why they are discouraged.

If they are discouraged, ask them why they don’t want to play anymore. Are they having fun? Are they being praised and feeling confident? Is someone on the team bullying them? Do they wish they could have time to devote to other activities? Find the root cause so you can help them achieve a balance, and see if there are any larger issues. It could be a complex problem, or as simply as switching their position on the team.

Kids get turned off if they aren’t having fun, and the biggest barrier I’ve seen is when the playing and practicing balance is off. At a younger age, they should be playing more than practicing. This balance can shift as a child grows.

You should also take the time to explain that a new skill is difficult, but rewarding. If they get used to quitting when the going gets tough, it will be hard for them to stick to any activity and develop their skills.

4.  You are an accomplished educator and also the father of a hockey pro.  I loved that one of your recommendations for kids is to teach them to give back.  How did you encourage P.K., Malcolm and Jordan to give back when they were young?

Parents have to model the behavior and encourage the whole family to get involved. At our school, our family always participated in our local food bank program.

I also encouraged to them to show gratitude to important people in their life through small gestures. At the end of the year, our sons would select a small gift for their hockey coach. It was usually just a new whistle, but the small token and a thank you card means a lot. My son PK continues to be heavily involved in the community at a grass-roots level, from the Hyundai Hockey Helpers program to visiting local schools.

5.  The Hyundai Hockey Helpers program is such a boon to the industry and Canadian families in need.  You put three boys through hockey and made many sacrifices.  Do you have tips for parents in addition to the grants that are offered as to how they can ease the financial burden of getting their kids involved in hockey?

The cost of hockey grows along with your child. There are steps that parents can take to minimize costs in the early stages of the game, from purchasing wooden sticks instead of composite, to carpooling with other families.

Outdoor rinks were a financial savior for me and my boys. Outdoor rinks and public skates cost little and are a great way to get ice time cheaply or for free. We also purchased used equipment to help further reduce our costs.

If you have two or more kids, ask your local hockey association if they can offer you a discount, they often will. It’s also common for them to assist with goalie equipment in the minor leagues.

Finally, get your kids working when they are old enough! It will teach them the value of a dollar and ease the financial burden on the family. PK worked at hockey schools, teaching drills and setting pylons.

Additional Tips:

  • Kids need balance. While long drives to tournaments and early morning practices can be overwhelming, it’s important to include family and play time. A child overwhelmed with a demanding schedule may soon lose his or her passion for the game.
  • Kids need direction. Let your kids know why they are participating in an activity. Not only are they gaining skills to be a better player, but they are gaining the skills to be a better person, including confidence, teamwork, and communication. And most of all, they are playing to have fun.
  • Motivate by rewarding effort, not wins. It’s easy to take your child out for an ice cream if they win a game, but it means more to celebrate milestones achieved through hard work and perseverance.
  • Remind children that they get better over time, not over night. Kids can get frustrated when they don’t feel they are making progress. Maintaining current skills is an accomplishment, and those tiny, incremental improvements are leaps and bounds for children.
  • Keep them fueled. Aim for balanced meals, but don’t obsess over nutrition. Kids can be picky. Try feeding them like a professional athlete and you will fight a losing battle. Remember, even pancakes (our family favourite) have protein-rich milk and eggs.
  • Be an active listener. You want to influence young people, but more importantly you want to inspire them. Listen to your child’s subtle cues.
  • Teach kids the importance of giving back from a young age. Regardless of socio-economic status, all kids can give back.  Whether it’s giving up a seat on public transit to someone in need or holding a door, small acts of kindness can go a long way to instill the values that ultimately make a great hockey player.
  • It truly does take a village to raise a child, so don’t be afraid to ask for help. Organize a car pooling schedule for your team. If finances are an issue, there are organizations that can help for almost every sport. Hockey parents in need can visit HyundaiHockey.ca to confidentially apply for grants for equipment and registration fees.
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12 Tips for Taking Kids to Portland Oregon

ROAM, USA By September 10, 2013 Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , 1 Comment

Portland by train is possibly the best idea I could ever have had.  Kind-of.  Participating in the Travelocity ‘Go Seize the Summer’ challenge, I was given a credit towards travel with the family and tasked with a summer excursion.  As readers know, I like to do educational trips and was in a conundrum as to what to do.  My husband was away for most of August whilst climbing Kilimanjaro so I had a number of opportunities for the boys and I. In the end we decided on three nights in a Portland, Oregon hotel and we would pay for an Amtrak train and expenses ourselves.  Booking the hotel was simple.  We chose the city and dates, and I selected different options on Travelocity.ca to fit into our price range.  It was confirmed immediately and very easy to do.  (When I was contemplating a cruise for the same period I actually called and the customer service was very good as well.)  With a few hours of relaxation on the train, my boys helped put together this list of 12 tips for taking kids to Portland, Oregon.

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Balancing Technology Use as a Parent

LIVE, rest By September 9, 2013 Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , 1 Comment

As a writer for the Tech Timeout Challenge by life insurance provider Foresters, I made a huge commitment as summer began.  I set off to up the ante and do a full week without technology with the whole family.  Over the summer, how hard could it be?  It was hard.  And I am embarrassed to say that we did not succeed.  We lasted 3 days.  But in the process we did accomplish the original intent of the program.  We sat as a family for a minimum of an hour a day for the whole summer, talking, playing board games and playing in the sand.  The art of balancing technology use as a parent proved far more challenging than I expected. 

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Healthy School Lunch Ideas for Picky Eaters

EAT, lunches By August 29, 2013 Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , 7 Comments

I had a panic attack last week about the kids going back to school.  Our summer has been hot and full of learning.  Also a fair bit of goofing off.  And now I must think about fall clothes, proper shoes and (ugh)… school lunches.  Healthy school lunch ideas for picky eaters are hard to come by, so we’ve scoured our resources and assembled a comprehensive list for you.

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homemade chocolate ice cream

Easy Homemade Chocolate Ice Cream

EAT, family meals By August 24, 2013 Tags: , , , , , , No Comments

What’s the end of summer without trying a few old-fashioned kid activities?  Especially delicious ones.  To make an easy homemade chocolate ice cream is the stuff of memories.  Kids learn exactly how much sugar can fill their favourite treat and parents can control the quality of the ingredients.  It also teaches patience.

Ingredients:
3/4 cup sugar
1 cup milk
1/4 teaspoon salt
2 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder
3 egg yolk, lightly beaten
2 ounces semisweet chocolate, chopped
2 cups heavy cream
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

 

Directions:
Combine sugar, milk, salt, and cocoa powder in a saucepan over medium heat, stirring constantly. Bring to a simmer. Place the egg yolks into a small bowl. Gradually stir in about 1/2 cup of the hot liquid and return to the saucepan. This will assist in amalgamating the egg into the hot mixture.  Heat until thickened, but be careful not to boil. Remove from the heat, and stir in the chopped chocolate until melted. Pour into a chilled bowl, and refrigerate for about two hours until cold, stirring occasionally.

When chocolate mixture has completely cooled, stir in the cream and vanilla. Pour into an ice cream maker, and freeze according to manufacturer’s directions.  An ice cream maker to finish the treat is easiest, but if you don’t have one you can fill a big bowl with ice and put the cold liquid into another metal or plastic bowl nestled into the ice bath.  The family can take turns stirring.  If nothing else the kids will learn patience!

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Tested: the Emjoi Micro Pedi

beauty, GEAR By August 24, 2013 Tags: , , , , , , , , , No Comments

I have a friend who is famous for foot rubs.  Excited to be invited for dinner, I asked his wife permission to ask for a quick foot massage, and she was very graceful in sharing her husband.  But when the guru saw my feet he refused to touch them.  Come on!  I haven’t had time to get a pedicure recently!  Dejected and sad I left with sore feet.  But I now have no more reason to be embarrassed.  This tool might be my new favourite beauty product.  The Emjoi Micro Pedi requires 2 AA batteries and eliminates the need for sharp metal callus removers.  It enabled me to skip pricy, time-consuming pedicures at the salon.  (Some find the spa experience relaxing but it stresses me out.)  Seriously.  As if I needed another reason to be a hermit at home!

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Summer Zucchini Muffins

EAT, snacks By August 21, 2013 Tags: , , , No Comments

The garden is thriving and the kids have been eating poorly since school got out.  Well, mine have anyway.  Time to hide some veggies in their favourite foods.  When we made these summer zucchini muffins, we tripled the recipe, baked one pan of muffins and saved the other two batches in large ziplock bags in the freezer.  A perfect start to the school year. Simply defrost the dough the night before and fill 12 tins for fresh breakfast treats or lunchbox snacks.

3 cups grated fresh zucchini (no need to take the peel off. The green adds depth.. and saves you time.)
2/3 cup melted unsalted butter
1 cup brown sugar
2 eggs, beaten
2 teaspoons vanilla
2 teaspoons baking soda
Pinch salt
3 cups all-purpose whole wheat flour (or replace 1 cup with wheat germ)
2 teaspoons cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon nutmeg
1 cup walnuts (optional)
1 cup raisins or dried cranberries (optional)

You don’t need a mixer for this recipe.

1. Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C). In a large bowl combine the sugar, eggs, and vanilla. Stir in the grated zucchini and then the melted butter. In a separate bowl, mix together the flour, baking soda, nutmeg, and cinnamon. Stir these dry ingredients into the zucchini mixture. Stir in walnuts, raisins or cranberries if using.

2. Coat each muffin cup in your muffin pan with a little butter or vegetable oil spray. Use a spoon to distribute the muffin dough equally among the cups, filling the cups up completely. Bake on the middle rack until muffins are golden brown, and the top of the muffins bounce back when you press on them, about 25 to 30 minutes.  Set on wire rack to cool for 5 minutes. Remove muffins from the tin let cool another 20 minutes.

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