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Microsoft has collaborated with the UK's Child Exploitation and Online Protection (CEOP) Centre to launch a child-friendly version of Internet Explorer 8.
The IE8 Click Clever, Click Safe browser offers a number of features aimed at keeping children safe on the internet, as well as advice on what to do about viruses, hacking and problems with mobile browsers.
The re-jigged browser also offers a number of reporting tools that can flag up inappropriate material, for example, or report incidents of online bullying.
Microsoft said that a 'web slice' feature can be added as a bookmark feature to the service, which also will notify the user of any updates to their favourite pages.
"Internet safety advice needs to be at your fingertips and not hidden away. Parents and children should not have to go searching through numerous web pages to find the help they need," said Jim Gamble, chief executive of CEOP.
"The new browser will embed advice, help and report services directly into the toolbar to provide a constant, reassuring presence for families who will be one click away from the support they need.
Microsoft has backed up the release with the news that 64 per cent of under 18s had been contacted online by someone that they did not know, and that over a third had responded. The firm argued that this makes the use of such security and filtering tools much more important.
The launch of the new version of the browser coincides with Safer Internet Day, an EU initiative designed to promote safer and more responsible use of the internet among the young. Some commentators have wisely pointed out, however, that the time and resources spent on such an exercise would be better directed at their elders.
09 Feb 2010
